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The school room, Castle Ward. Thursday 26th November 1898.
Primary 6 and 7 gather together to receive their schedule from head footman, Gordon. Lord and Lady Byron had kindly invited the children of Saint Joseph's, Tyrella to visit their home, Castle Ward, for Christmas. The children were introduced to the house staff; Joy the house maid and footmen Alan and Geoff. The children left the school room quietly, in a line, hands behind their back. As Victorian children should. They made their way to the main house. Lord Byron had granted permission for the children to use the grand staircase, rather than the stair well the house staff used. As they entered the drawing room, Geoff told the children that tonight his job will be to stand by the Christmas tree and observe the lit candles. He will have to stand still with his gaze fixed on the fir tree all night or at least until Lord Byron retires to bed. Joy explained to the children that for the past couple of years Lord Byron has been trying out a new invention of Ralph Morris, an American telephone exchange operative. Just 3 years ago, in 1895, Master Morris created fairy lights for our fir trees. The children left the comfort of the drawing room and ventured along the dimly lit tunnel to the staff quarters. It was tine for some games. First was 'find the thimble' followed by and extremely exciting round of 'pass the stocking'. Excitement building, the children had a look inside the stocking which the Governess has packed up or the young people who live on the grounds of Castle Ward with their mother and father. Inside the stockings the children found apples for health, a coin for wealth and a small toy for happiness. As well as this there was a container of salt for luck and a lump of coal to keep the family warm. Moving back through to the school room it was time for arts and crafts . Lord and Lady Byron had provided the children with felt to create a robin red breast to place on the Christmas tree. After lunch Gordon invited the children to write a letter to their loved ones. Lord Byron had sent over some special Christmas paper with holly bordering each page. The children added ink to their wells, picked up their writing utensils and penned a letter home wishing their families a happy Christmas and telling them about their experience at Lord Byron's home. After a short recital of a Christmas poem they had learned, it was back to 2015 for primary 6 and 7 children and home to Saint Joseph's, Tyrella.
