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THE
BEAUTIFUL
INKBERRY
EA A TREE
A Story for Young Virgin Islanders
PREPARED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF ESEA TITLE III
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
December 1969
Written by:
Ruth Moolenaar,
Project Coordinator-
Project Introspection,
ESEA Title II'
NOTE: The Inkberry, a member of the
Madder Family, (Rubiaceae)
specifically, Randia aculeata L.,
is a deciduous shrub 5-10 feet
high or small tree 20 feet tall,
3 inches in diameter with erect
axis and thin crown of many nearly
horizontal spiny branches which
end with widely forking gray
spines 1/4 3/4 inch long.
The names arbol de navidad and
Christmas tree refer to the use
of the tree as a christmas dec-
oration. A blue dye can be ob-
tained from the berries, the
source of the common names tin-
tillo and inkberry. Fishing
rods are made from the rigid
stems.
Range Southern Florida, Ber-
muda, throughout the West Indies
from Babamas to Cuba and Grenada,
Barbodos, Trinidad and Tobago.
Also in the thickets and open
forests of the lower mountain
range of Mexico, Central America,
Colombia, Venezula, Puerto Rico,
St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John,
Virgin Gorda and Anegada.
REFERENCE:
E.L.. Little, Jr. and F. Wardsworth, Common
Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
T-Wa~ ington, D.C.7: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1965), pp. 520-521.
PRE FACE
The "Beautiful Inkberry Tree" is
designed primarily to present to the
young Virgin Islander another reminder
or phase of his heritage. Through a
microscopic view of the past, refer-
ence is made to a typical family in
its preparations for the Christmas
Season. A broader purpose may be the
strengthening of the concept that
people everywhere are products of
their backgrounds.
Keeping an-alert eye on its basic
objective: to stimulate the Virgin
Islands child to achieve self-actual-
ization, Project Introspection, ESEA
Title III strongly affirms that to
understand others better we must first
understand ourselves well, hopes that
this story will help each student to
appreciate his family life and accept
himself as a creature of his ancestors
and to finally realize his indebtedness
to them.
Helen was all excited, and she had reasons
to be. It was Christmas Eve and her Aunt Leak
and Cousin Audrey, whom she had never seen were
coming to spend the holidays at their house.
Nestled at the foot of Denmark Hill, Helen's
house shone from within; it had been so scrub-
bed in readiness for the exciting days ahead.
With her parents and three brothers, Helen
lived in this cottage from birth. Mother had
spent many evenings getting the house ready.
Floors were scrubbed, furniture polished, new
curtains were bought and hung in place. As
Helen looked around she could hardly restrain
herself from shouting with joy. What ten year
old wouldn't with the sights and smells that
were typical of Christmas being everywhere.
She ran into the yard to ask mother about the
- 1 -
christmas tree but Mother just couldn't answer
at the moment. She was too busy pushing the
sweet breads around in the large dutch oven
with the broad wooden paddle. Mother smiled
as she pulled one of the sweet breads out It
was done and my, my, how good it looked a
rich brown round cake with prunes, cherries,
citron and nuts peeping through the baked crust.
Oh for a little taste!'yearned Helen, but then
she remembered Mother had given, her the bowl
and the wooden spoon to taste the batter Gee,
but that DID taste good. Finally Mother put
the wooden paddle to stand in a corner and
headed for the house. Helen looked back at
the paddle and smiled. It reminded her of a
picture of a beaver's tail she had seen in her
library book. The only difference'was that the
base of the paddle was wider. She hoped that
this same paddle would still be around when she
grew up. (And that she would also make delici-
ous sweet breads as well as those her mother
made).
- 2 -
J:l7inci Muth:r c a the way t t.e house,
Helen asked, "Will we get the tree before Aunt
Leah and my cousin get here?" Mother put her
arms around her daughter's shoulders and said,
"Yes dear, as a matter of fact Papa and the
boys have already gone to Frenchman Hill to
chop the tree They should be here any minute".
Helen clapped her hands and ran ahead of her
mother straight to a cardboard box that was
partly hidden under her bed. She pulled it
out and removed the contents slowly and thought-
fully. There were boxes of small Christmas
candles about three inches long, each candle
had the same ribbed design, but different
colors of red, blue, pink, yellow, green and
soft orange. Best of all were the glass balls
that looked like bubbles with frosting, while
others were decorated with etched pictures.
But there was nothing for the top of the tree!
As she knelt near the box pondering over a star
or an angel for the crown of the tree she heard
papa's voice shouting to her eldest brother,
-3-
"Leon,bring that kerosine tin over here"... The
pan, thought Ellen The tree is here! Now the
excitement began. How the family worked to-
gether. The tree was brought into the house
along with the tin which was about thirty-six
inches high. Placing the tree in the tin, the
boys next filled it up with rocks of different
sizes to steady the pan. Then father stood off
and looked at a job well done and mother looked
too She studied the shape When everything
seemed just right, the kids set about trimming
the tree. To finish the job, sheets of gayly
colored gift wrapping paper werewound around
the can starting high at the base to hide the
rocks and this was kept in place by a wide band
of red crepe paper which ended in a large bow
at the front. One thing seemed missing Or
was it really missing? No gifts were placed
under the tree. And again, as if by magic, by
nightfall there were packages and more packages
of different shapes and sizes all gayly wrap-
ped, lying under the tree.
- 4 -
* *
Any minute now Aunt Leah should be knock-
ing on their door. What seemed like a rather
long wait for Helen soon came to an end as a
taxi horn honked long and loud outside their
door. Mother quickly dried her hands from
washing the dishes, straightened her hair as
best as she could and opened the front door.
Hugging, kissing and introductions followed.
Her cousin Audrey, wearing heavy woolen
clothes, looked almost identical to Helen -
Her brown skin, however, was a lighter shade
due to climatic conditions of aNorthern city
like New York. The girls liked each other from
the start, and Audrey who wanted to know
about everything that seemed so strange, got
ready answers from her cousin. Taking quick
steps toward the tree, Audrey stopped suddenly
and looked. She was puzzled and this was very
plain to be seen. She pointed one finger to
tke tree and cried, "What's that!" Poor Helen -
she just couldn't understand her cousin's sur-
prise. Even though she was hurt- she tried not
- 5 -
to show it She couldn't embarrass her visit_ .
Mother had taught her to be polite, and even more
so to visitors in the home. She replied slowly,
"That's our Christmas Tree". Audrey threw back
her head and laughed "A Christmas Tree? No
its not. A pine tree is a Christmas tree; it
grows straight and tall, bears needles and also
grows cones instead of juicy fruits".
Aunt Leah, being very tactful, put her arms
around the two girls, drew them gently down on
the floor with her and as they sat together,
Aunt Leah told her daughter and her niece the
true meaning of Christmas. As she spoke, the
two girls listened. Then Aunt Lean continued
by speaking directly to her daughter "So you
see Audrey, around the world, Christmas joys
take many forms. In the United States, we
believe in Santa Claus, while some have other
figures representing the spirit of Christmas.
In cold countries, trees wither and dry in the
winter time, but since evergreens remain green
all year, they are chosen as Christmas trees.
- 6 -
In St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, this
Inkberry tree, (pointing to the tree in the
tin) is chosen as the christmas tree because
of its straight axis, its shapely clustered
branches and mostly because of the gray spines
that serve so easily as candle holders. When
it is decorated, it is just as beautiful as any
pine tree. This is the most beautiful christ-
mas tree I've seen in a long time". Aunt Leah
continued by telling the girls what good times
she had as a little girl when she did the same
things that Helen and her family were doing.
Very slowly Audrey leaned over and kissed her
cousin on the cheek. She didn't mean to hurt
her and she was sorry. Everyone laughed and
got up off the floor. Audrey asked, "Can I
help dress the christmas tree too? Is there
anything I can do?" Then Audrey remembered
there was nothing for the top of the tree and
said so.
- 7 -
Aunt Leah went to her bags and brought
some small packages into the room The girls
watched eagerly. Opening them, she revealed
some shiny bright silver rope. Together she
and the girls made a star for the top of the
tree. Taking the tinsel that was left, the
two girls wound it around the tree laughing
together as they went around and around, for-
ward and backward. Audrey began humming the
tune of "Oh Christmas Tree" and Helen and
Aunt Leah joined in. When that was finished,
dinner was ready and everyone, even papa, sang
as they gathered at the table "We wish you a
Merry Christmas". Papa alone sang the last
line as he poured guavaberry in each glass.
His loud tenor echoing through the house in a
solo, "And a Happy New Year".
T
H
E
E
N
D
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PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
GOVERNMENT OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
PREPARED BY ESEA TItLE III
PROJECT INTROSPECTIONi FOR OSE
IN ALL PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PRIVATE
SCHOOLS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE BATTLE OF THE VOICES
With Apologies to Clement C. Moore's
A Visit From St. Nick
T'was the night before Christmas
when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even
Aunt Lois
The sweet breads were placed on the
dresser with care
In hopes that the Carolers soon will
be there
The.ham was all done, but it was still
sizzling
In oZoves, other spices and rich
cherry herring.
Aunt Tit ie in her kerchief and I in
my nightie
Just had another nip of good guavaberry
When around the bend came the sound of
voices
I sprang from my chair spilling drink
and ices
Away to the door, I flew like a flash
Threw up the shutters, tore open the sash
The moon and the stars in the Tropical sky,
- 2 -
:Was a breathtaking picture to the human eye
When what to my listening ears did I hear
But a band of Carolers, sounding very near
.With a leader whose voice rose higher than
the clouds
I knew in a moment this MUST BE ALIC LLOYD
More sweeter than angels their jubilant
voices
Resounded! Hosanna, the glad earth rejoices
In spotless white and banners gleaming
The Carolers marched but continued singing
To the top of their voices, to the top of
the hill
And taking their places, I can hear them
still,.
And then in a twinkling, I heard from afar
Another group, I just knew was MISS ESTHER.
As I stepped into the yard to listen closely
Around the corner they came in rhythmic
steps so lively
Miss Esther, for the occasion was correctly
attired
A straw hat, a white dress,
By all she tws- loved and admired.
- 3
Over her shoulders in the shape of an are
Was a blue ribbon that read, MISS ESTHER MARKS
She resembled a prima donna waiting for her
cue
To let go the voice that opened earth and
heaven too.
The group, they all waited, till Miss Esther
nodded
Then together they sang voices exploded!
As one after another, Carols they sang
In a challenge or competition to Lloyd and
his gang.
From over the hill, the answers came
Solo, duets, chorus refrains,
Hosannas, BHalelujahe, again and again.
Lloyd had accepted and supreme he reigned,
As eaah aarol faded, the voices grew sweeter
But morning was breaking and the contest was
over.
So as daylight dawned and the sun began to
shine,
The Caroters retreated to rest and dine
But as they returned to homes cosy and merry
They sang "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND ENJOZ.
YOUR GUAVABERRY".
PREPARED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF ESEA TITLE III
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
December 1969
Written by: Ruth Moolenaar,
Project Coordinator-
Project Introspection,
ESEA Title III
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