Oddly enough, Mum was telling me (again.. she's 86) about the Chrisdtmas ALL six daughters got an orange. They weren't moldy. I must ask her if the sons got moldy oranges.

Now, the year she got new shoes for her birthday was a definite highlight. She was about 8 years old and told she could pick them out. She wanted fancy looking ones that would be ruined if they got wet. Me Mere pointed that out and Mum said she would wear her old shoes in bad weather. Me Mere told her that her old shoes would be passed on when she got the new ones. Mum pointed out there were no sisters that could use hand-me-downs and Me Mere ensured her that there was. Mum opted for the "sensible" shoes and was instructed that she should never say anything if she saw her old shoes again. It puzzled her but, back then, you did what you were told. The next time she saw her old shoes they were on the feet of a girl that lived up the street a ways... a "sister" who needed those old shoes. A valuable lesson indded.