Tour Garlandsburg - Part 3

    Oh, look, here is a little sledding hill. This is for those not brave enough for the large one. May we borrow your sled? Thank you.

(Our photographer seems to have mislaid the photo of the cobbler's shop.)    Now we’ve come to shop row. Our cobbler is still fairly new to the town, but no one would dream of doing without him now. Why, who would sharpen all the skates or waterproof the boots if Mr. Hansan wasn’t around? Ah, that’s a sweet sight. Do you see those brothers pulling their sister?

The cafe. Oh, dear! Those poor visitors!

    Do you smell that? I’m sure the Grind Central Cafe is doing a fine business. Are you all ready for something hot to drink? Then let’s go in and get something. They have hot chocolate, coffee, and I think I smell hot apple cider!

Mayor Garland and family coloring before the quilt shop.

    Are your toes thawed out now? That’s good, because we still have a ways to go before our tour is ended. But come, let’s go next door and visit Needlework & Quilts. Miss Ann always has some lovely sewing project going on, and you ladies may have a hard time not spending all your money. Aren’t these rugs on the porch cozy?

    Let’s pause here a minute before moving on and listen to Mayor Garland and his family sing. They all have such lovely voices and they do like to sing. That was just wonderful, Mayor Garland. We were just enjoying the song. Oh, I like just about all Christmas carols, but perhaps some of my guests would like to request a song.

The Lodge. See the snowman?

    Ah, here we are at the lodge. Hello, Andrew. I heard you and Sugar have been out pulling sleds today. And what a charming snowman! Did you and your siblings built it? My snowmen never look that good. Yes, we would like to make a quick call on your mother before heading on our way again.

The path coming from the woods.

    Now we must travel through the woods a little ways, but don’t worry, there is a path. Yes, Garlandsburg used to end at the Lodge, but there have always been a few houses farther along the coast, and Rufus Garland was able to purchase the land, and now Garlandsburg has grown. And as you can see by the trampled snow, this path gets used quite frequently.
    Oh, look, up ahead are some other folks. It seems like they might be visitors to Garlandsburg too. Perhaps they are going to catch the stage. Yes, we do have a stage line. I’m sure we’ll see it coming along shortly.

Here comes Mr. Stathem on the stage!

    All right everyone, the stage is coming, so move over by the fence please. Mr. Stathem is a careful driver, but sometimes Chocolate Swirl can get a little frisky. Oh, yes, the kids just love the horse’s name! You see, Mr. Stathem always carries chocolate sticks with him to give to his passengers, and when he got this new horse, the children all agreed that Chocolate Swirl was the perfect name.

The beloved bookstore

    Here we are at Tattered Covers Rare Books. There are a few folks in Garlandsburg who seem to always be here at the bookstore. Yes, here is Mr. Page. How are you today, sir? Did you find a new book? That’s good. Have a Merry Christmas and I’ll see you tonight at the church.
    If you look in the window you’ll see Mrs. Eppingham and Whitney Shields. Whitney is Andrew’s youngest sister and a regular bookworm, and so is Danielle Moore. Yes, she is the sister of Lucas, the one we saw trying to fish. Now, I know some of you would like to go inside and browse, but if we are to finish the tour before it gets too late, we must continue on. But I promise you can come back and wait for the stage here in the bookstore.

Brickston Road and the poultry stand

    To our left is the Brickston road, named in honor of Hank Brickston, who, after Sam Garland moved away, came and helped Rufus for several years in designing the village. The road leads to the next town.
    If you are hungry, you can stop and pick up some fish or poultry for your supper. No one is interested? Well, maybe later.

Barnacle Bill's twins.

    Let us go down the hill now to Barnacle Bill’s Boat House. He’s probably working on a boat, even if it is Christmas Eve. Watch out! Brandon and Brian are having a jolly game of snowballs. Sure, you can throw a few at them if you want. But they might return them!

    Come, across the bridge to the other lighthouse. Excuse us, Travis. Have you been out fishing? I’m sure Crystal will enjoy cooking those. Merry Christmas! Travis is Adam’s brother and lives at the other lighthouse, though he often comes across town to help out at this one or to go fishing, as the cliffs aren’t quite so steep.

The second lighthouse

    We’ll go in and see the other light. I don’t know the keeper that well, but he seems to enjoy taking people up to the top of his light. Don’t worry, there aren’t outside steps like the first lighthouse.


    Well, here we are. Back outside and it’s getting darker and colder. Yes, I think we should button our coats. Suppose we go back to the bookstore and wait for the stage to return. It may be a little while, but you’ll be back before the Christmas Eve service.
    I do hope you all have enjoyed your tour of our fine town. Perhaps you’ll come again next year. Merry Christmas!

Tour Garlandsburg - Part 2

The Big sledding hill

    Here we are, back down from the cliff. We are behind the carriage house now and you can see the other big hill. You won’t believe how much fun that sledding hill can be, unless you try it. You want to? All right, let’s go. I’m sure whoever is sledding will let us have a spin or two. Do the rest of you want to wait for us at the Carriage house?

    Whew! That was fun, but it sure is hard work climbing up that hill again. Some people have suggested a sky lift, but Rufus Garland won’t hear of it. I suppose he is right, for we wouldn’t have seen those deer if we had a sky lift, I’m sure.

Village Square with Skating Pond

The Garlands' House

    But come, here’s the town skating pond. It’s quite busy right now. I’ve heard the best time to really enjoy the pond is first thing in the morning. This is the village park, as you may have guessed. It is very popular. Don’t forget to ring the bell in the gazebo. It’s a village tradition for visitors to ring it when they pass by.

    We’ll pause here just a moment until Little Me and Sissy go by on their homemade dog sled. It doesn’t look like Ruff is sure he wants to pull them both. There he goes. Now be careful you don’t step on any snow-angels.

    This is the town’s pride and joy: the home of Rufus and Betsy Garland. You can see their granddaughter, Hannah, in the window. It sure looks warm and cozy in there.

Ron's Music Shop

    Ah, listen. Ron is playing his violin and it looks like a few other musicians and a singer have joined him. Let’s step inside Ron’s Music Shop. I want to show you some of his music boxes.

Nicholas & Holly

    Oh, do you smell that sweet, surgary, slightly spicy smell? That must be coming from the bakery! We’ll take a shortcut and tramp up this hill to the road. Good day, Postman Owen. You have something for me? Why, thank you, it looks like a Christmas card. Don’t get run over. Here comes Nicholas Goodman and Holly Stone. They are getting married Christmas night and everyone is excited about it. Their story is very sweet. You see, Nicholas came down to visit his brother, the Reverend Goodman, last year, and he met Holly; she’s the eldest daughter of Baker Stone. They make such a lovely couple.

Hearthstone Bakery

    Oh, let’s go inside the Hearthstone Bakery. My mouth is just watering for a taste of his famous cinnamon buns! They must be hot out of the oven by the smell! Don’t run into Peter. He’s Holly’s younger brother, and he’s usually helping his father. It looks like Mrs. Johnson and Joel are buying a few things for supper.

    Now that we are all warm and have had a delicious snack, let’s continue on our way. You didn’t spend all your money, did you? Good, we have more places to stop.

Hotel

    The hotel is right next door. I hope you all have reservations for tonight. You do? Good, because if you didn’t, I’m afraid you would find yourself without a place to sleep tonight. Garlandsburg is always very crowded in December.
    Oh, here come Reverend Goodman, his wife and daughter. Their horse’s name is Coffee. It looks like they’re out to deliver some packages.

Clockwork Shop

    Here is the Clockwork Shop. Merry Christmas, Dr. Ketchum. Is your watch fixed now? Yes, Mr. Getty does a wonderful job, and it’s always good to have a watch that works. I would think it would be especially important for a doctor. Good bye. Oh, good day, Mrs. Stone. We saw Holly and Nicholas out for a drive not so long ago. Yes, Nicholas’s new horse is quite beautiful. Her name is Nellie? What a lovely name. Yes, it was good to see you too, Mrs. Stone. Merry Christmas! Now before we move on, be sure you all set your watch by the clock here. It’s always accurate. Did anyone want to go in and buy a watch? Or a clock perhaps?

The church (picture taken before Johnny came outside)

    That is a big snowdrift, but I think we can slip between it and the fence if we go single file. Hello, Krista. Are you watching Johnny for his mother this afternoon? I’m sure she appreciates it.
    As you can see, we’ve reached the village church. It may not look like much, but it will be packed this evening, with it being Christmas Eve and all.
    I can see Edwin Ketchum coming to deliver the rest of his poinsettias. So many! They are going to make the church look so lovely. You all will just have to come back tonight and see it.

Tour Garlandsburg - Part 1

    Welcome to Garlandsburg, folks. I’m so glad you could come. It’s such a perfect day to take a tour, I know you’ll all enjoy it. The snow is crisp and cold, the air has a nip to it and the sky is clear. I’m going to tantalize your nose with the smell of Christmas baking, get your blood flowing by a our travels, and leave you wishing you had more money to spend in the shops of our little town.

    Before we begin, I’d like to tell you just a little about this village and what makes it so special.

    Garlandsburg was founded many years ago by Rufus and Sam Garland. It was their dream to build a Christmas village that would hold onto the past as much as possible. They succeeded so well in their endeavors that Garlandsburg has become a well known destination for those seeking a slower paced holiday experience; a place where the charm of Christmas lingers everywhere. But I’m sure you’ll catch that charm and the essence of wonder and joy as we take our tour.

    One other thing you should know is that Garlandsburg is never the same each year and once the month of December is over, the village is closed and the folks of the town go back to their regular jobs and their own houses. It is during this time that Rufus Garland begins to plan. (Sam has since moved away and is no longer a part of the planning of the town.) The village is often completely redesigned, the streams are channeled into new beds, the hills are leveled or build up, and sometimes even the coastline is altered. Once the groundwork is done, all the shops and houses are settled into their new locations. The word is sent out right after Thanksgiving to all the inhabitants of Garlandsburg that it is ready for occupancy, and nothing beats the flurry and hurry as the shop keepers, their families, and friends and neighbors converge on the newly finished village. All are eager to see where they will be living for the month and who will be beside them. Most families live above their shops here in town and, even if they are smaller quarters than most families normally enjoy, no one minds.

    “It’s just all a part of Garlandsburg,” Mrs. Stone told me. “None of us could imagine Christmas time without the cramped quarters, the closeness we feel as a family.”

    The village is only open until December 31st, so I’m glad you arrived when you did. Though, there aren’t many visitors after Christmas. I suppose they’re all too busy with family or else too exhausted to think of traveling.

    Now, let’s get started. I know you are anxious to experience this special New England town.

The Carriage House

    To begin our trip–we’ll leave the warmth of the Carriage House fire behind us and start off across the bridge to the lighthouse. Oh, Landon Moore seems to have so many problems with his fishing. I do hope his uncle can teach him a few things, as he always seems to be in trouble.

    Excuse us, Mr. Thomas. Are you going up to the lighthouse too? How nice. Yes, I do think we might travel a bit faster, so thank you for letting us go ahead.

Lighthouse and Path

    Be careful on this path everyone, it’s right on the edge of the cliff and there are rocks below. Please hold on to the children’s hands. Oh, look, you can see Grandfather Uriah Donovan and his grandson Lucas at the top of the trail. They are no doubt watching for Adam’s ship. (Adam is Lucas’s father and his ship is due any day.) And here comes Torch to great us! Don’t worry, he’s a very friendly dog. A bit more frisky than his mother, Candle, but still nice.

    Down, Torch. Don’t jump on us. We came to see the lighthouse. That’s a good dog.

    Here we are at the top. Beautiful view, isn’t it? Catch your breath now, and we’ll say hello to Grandpa Donovan. No, he’s not everyone’s grandpa, but he’s the oldest man in the town and has been called grandpa for as long as I have known him.

    Come on, Crystal, Lucas’s mother is inside, and I’m sure she’ll be happy for some visitors. Perhaps we can even get Grandfather Uriah to let us climb to the top of the tower. Does anyone want to?

Lower Bridge and Upper Footbridge

    Now we must keep going. We’ll go down the back way. It’s a bit tricky at times, but we’ll be careful and go slowly. Watch these steps. That’s right. We’ll cross the stream on the foot bridge where Mr. Shields and Willie are fishing. Oh, hang on to your pole, Willie! It looks like you caught a fish!

The Christmas She Wanted - Part 2

Good morning Friday Fiction Fans!
Does it seem strange to you that Christmas is a week from today? Did Christmas come suddenly and quickly this year or has it felt like it was dragging? I know for me it's come much too quickly. And it's hard to believe it's Friday again!

I don't think I'll be doing much writing at all until January because I'm so busy and my evenings seem to all be full. I am looking forward to getting back to writing though and especially "The Graham Quartet." Yep, I'm going to be working on book 2 next month. You can all start praying that I get all the ideas I need and am able to get it written.

Oh, I wanted to tell you all that if you like special deals, free books and things like that, then you should go to Read Another Page and sign up for my mailing list. There will be times when I offer one of my books at a special discount or something to my mailing list group only. And no, I'm not going to be flooding your inbox with emails every day. (And for those of you who don't want to put your real name on the form, you can use whatever name you usually use online.)

Heads up readers, if all goes according to plan, I will be posting every day next week except Sunday. I hope you are all ready for lots of things to read. :) And we'll get started right now.

The Christmas She Wanted

Part 2

    The van pulled to a stop and a State Highway patrolman, warmly dressed, stepped over to the driver’s window. “Hello folks. Were you planning on driving farther than the town?”
    “Yes.” There was a note of hesitancy and question in Oliver Rush’s voice.
    The officer had noticed the children in the back. “Sorry, the road is closed past the town up ahead.” Before anyone could say anything, he went on. “There was an avalanche up in the mountains and the force of it sent snow everywhere; the road is blocked for over a mile. With the forecast calling for at least another foot or two of snow, it’ll probably be after Christmas before it’s clear again.”
    Mr. Rush tapped his fingers on the steering wheel for a moment. “Well, I guess if the road is closed, we can’t go on. I’m not sure what we’ll do now. Are there any hotels in town?”
    The officer nodded. “Sure, but I think you folks would be more comfortable at Saffell Park. They have winterized cabins there, fully furnished except for food, and with the size of your family, you might enjoy it more. The roads are clear to the park and it’s not many miles from here. I can give you directions if you want.”
    Leaning over, Mrs. Rush asked, “Will they be able to tell us when the road is open again?”
    “Oh, yes. We keep them informed, and they are always careful to let their guests know.”
    “Are you sure they’ll have a cabin? I mean, I’d hate to drive out there and find them full up.”
    “Hang on a minute and I’ll check for you.” The Highway Patrol walked over to his car and conferred with another officer. Soon he was back. “Yep, they have several cabins. If you want, you can give me your name and I’ll have them hold one for you.”
    Oliver turned and looked at his wife. What should they do? She gave a faint nod and he said, “That would be appreciated. The name is Rush. Oliver Rush, and there’s six of us. And thanks. We’ll have to get some groceries though.”
    “Not a problem. You can drive on to town and there’s a gas station, some grocery stores, and a few restaurants if you need them. Anyone in town can tell you how to get to the park. Drive carefully and have a merry Christmas.”
    “Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too.” Mr. Rush rolled his window closed, shutting out the frigid, snow-laden air, and gave a sigh.
    It wasn’t until the van was around the road block that groans and exclamations of annoyance and dismay filled the back. “You mean we have to stay in some old cabin?”
    “We should’ve flown there. I knew a road trip would be a disaster.”
    “Why can’t we go a different way?”
    “Should we go back home?”
    “Man, this is going to  be boring if we get stuck here too long.”
    “Why don’t we just go home again? At least we wouldn’t have to stay in some uncomfortable cabin.”
    Finally Mrs. Rush had heard enough. “All right everyone, be quiet! All this complaining isn’t helping matters right now. We need to figure out what we are going to do.” She looked appealingly at her husband.
    “I say we spend the night at the park and hope the roads are open in the morning.”
    “But he said they probably wouldn’t be open until after Christmas.”
    “Hmm. That’s right. Well, we’ll pick up some food and we’ll wait it out. I’m not driving all the way back home only to turn around and drive back. Besides, it’s growing late and the snow doesn’t look like it’s going to stop soon.” He carefully turned off the highway on to the off ramp. “If we decide not to go to Grandma’s after all, we can just go home tomorrow. If the roads are open.”
    The gas station was easy to find, and after filling up, Mr. Rush drove down the street to a grocery store. “All right everyone, let’s all go in and pick up some food for our layover.”
    There was some murmuring but no loud complaints this time. Coats were pulled on and buttoned or zipped. The only excited face was that of Lester. He viewed it all as a great adventure and couldn’t wait to get started.
    The shopping took longer than usual because Mrs. Rush didn’t have a shopping list and everyone had a different opinion about what they should get. Finally she turned, “Dixie, take your brothers and go to the front of the store and wait for us there. I cannot think with all of you talking at once.”
    “All of you stay together,” Mr. Rush admonished, looking directly at his youngest son who wasn’t fond of obeying his elder siblings.

    Carrying the grocery bags out to the van some time later, no one was in a very good mood. Lester was hungry and tired of waiting. Brad wanted to get back to the game he had been playing before everyone was interrupted, and he was hungry. Shawn and Dixie were getting on each other’s nerves and neither one wanted to go to the cabin. Mrs. Rush had a headache and was tired and hungry, and Mr. Rush hated having their schedule messed up. He had been looking forward to spending Christmas with his folks and now it didn’t look like that was going to happen.
    “Can’t we get ice cream?” Lester begged as Dad started the van.
    “No, Les,” his mom replied. “We’re going out to the cabin so we can get settled before it’s too dark.”
    “But I’m hungry.”
    “Yeah, me too.” Brad put in. He reached into his bag and pulled out his iPad.
    “You’ll just have to wait a little longer.”
    “Hey!” Brad’s exclamation startled everyone. “What’s wrong with this?”
    “With what, Brad,” Mr. Rush asked.
    “My iPad.”
    “Here, let me see,” Shawn tried to take it, but Brad pulled it away.
    “No, I want Dad to see it. You’ll probably mess up my game.”
    “I would not.”

Have you ever had a trip interrupted like this?

Would you have wanted to stay at the cabin?

What's wrong with Brad's iPad?

The Christmas She Wanted - Part 1

I almost forgot that I was going to post the start of this story today. Glad I remembered because it's 5 parts long and I am planning on still posting the "Tour of Garlandsburg." Enjoy!

The Christmas She Wanted

Part 1

    The snow was falling and Mr. Rush had the windshield wipers on. The heat in the van had been running since the family had left early that morning.
    “It sure is snowing,” Mrs. Rush remarked. “I hope it doesn’t keep up.”
    There was no answer from the back seats and after a quick glance back, Mrs. Rush looked over at her husband. “I think, Oliver, we could safely mention what their Christmas presents were going to be this year and no one would even know.”
    “Probably,” Oliver replied dryly, looking in the rearview mirror and seeing each one of his four kids utterly absorbed in an electronic device. He sighed. “I’m glad we never had those DVD players installed. At least it’s quiet.”
    Shifting to a more comfortable position, Diana turned and eyed her children. There hadn’t been any fussing or complaining except when they had driven through dead spots and no signal could be reached. But somehow it just didn’t seem right. She thought back to when she was younger and had taken long, family road trips. “We certainly didn’t have iPhones to keep us occupied.”
    “What’s that, Dear?”
    Mrs. Rush shook her head. “Nothing. I was just wishing we could do something as a family once again.”
    Without taking his eyes off the highway, Oliver raised his eyebrows questioningly. “Aren’t we taking a family trip?”
    “Well, it’s a trip, but I don’t think I’d call it a ‘family’ one. Even after we reach your parents’ house, the problem will just be expanded. The cousins will all have their eyes on screens; they’ll text each other instead of talking, and the only ‘activity’ the boys will want to do is play video games.” She gave a sigh. “You know, I wish we could have a real Christmas for a change. I wish the iPhones and iPads and TVs and computers would all stop working and we could sit and really talk, play real games; I wish Dixie and I could bake in the kitchen together using a real cookbook and . . . Oh, I guess I’m just wishing for the impossible.” The sigh she gave was deep and long. “Why did we ever buy into these gadgets anyway, Oliver?”
    “I don’t know. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Mr. Rush clicked the wipers to a faster pace and changed the subject. “There should be plenty of snow at Mom and Dad’s. We’ll have a white Christmas this year, Hon.”
    The Rush family had moved earlier that year, and this was the first trip back to see Oliver’s family. At Thanksgiving the family had flown to visit Diana’s family in southern Florida, but another plane trip so soon was too expensive for the family purse. Everyone had agreed that a road trip wouldn’t be an unbearable price to pay for a week at Grandma’s and time with all their relatives. It hadn’t been snowing when they left, but the further east they had driven, the more snow they had encountered.
    “We’ll have to stop for gas at the next town,” Mr. Rush remarked, noticing the low gas gauge.
    “Hey, Dad, after we get gas, can I drive?” Dixie had just gotten her license the month before and was eager to be in the driver’s seat.
    “We’ll see how hard it’s snowing, Dix,” was all the promise her dad would make. Lowering his voice he remarked to his wife, “It takes the right word to bring them up for air.”
    “Do you think if I mentioned ice cream—“
    “Are we going to get ice cream, Mom?” twelve-year-old Brad asked eagerly.
    “I want a double dip cone with mint chocolate chip and lime sherbet,” Lester put in. He was the youngest member of the family and had opinions and ideas that only a nine-year-old could have.
    “Hey, are we getting ice cream?” inquired Shawn from the backseat. “Man, it’s snowing. Hey, what’s so funny, Mom?”
    A merry peal of laughter came from the front passenger seat and a hearty chuckle echoed from Dad. “I told you it took the right words. Now you have to decide about the ice cream.”
    Still laughing, Mrs. Rush half turned in her seat. “Do you all really want ice cream in this weather?”
    “Yeah!”
    “Actually,” Dixie said, “I’d rather have something hot from Starbucks. Just looking at this snow makes me cold.”
    “Can we get ice cream, Mom?” Lester begged.
    “Well,” Mrs. Rush hesitated. “Let’s see if there’s any place around when we get gas. With all this snow we can’t drive as fast, so our stops will have to be shorter if we want to reach Grandma’s before tomorrow.”
    The younger two boys took that as a promise of the desired treat. “All right!”
    Shawn glanced over at his sister. He was two years younger than she was, though he was nearly a head taller. “How long’s it been snowing?”
    Dixie shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    For a few minutes the four children were interested in the snow falling outside their windows. It was coming down steadily and no grass was to be seen along the sides of the roads. Every tree had a layer of white on each branch. There was some speculation about how much snow would be at Grandma and Grandpa’s and how much they had gotten back at home. A sign for the next town came along.
    Suddenly Brad exclaimed “Dad! I see lights up ahead!”
    “I see them too!” Lester leaned forward in his seat and peered into the snow. “Maybe it was an accident. You might have to stop, Dad.”
    Mr. Rush was already slowing down. The flashing red and blue lights had caught everyone’s attention. “Looks like the road is blocked.”
    A groan came from the back seat. “I don’t want to get stuck out here,” Dixie said. “There’s not even a house to be seen.”
    The van pulled to a stop and a State Highway patrolman, warmly dressed, stepped over to the driver’s window. “Hello folks. Were you planning on driving farther than the town?”

What do you do when you travel?

Would you rather have ice cream or something hot on a cold, snowy day?

Because of a Christmas Tree - Part 4

Good morning Faithful Friday Fiction Fans!
I hope you've been enjoying this story as I've posted it more than just on Friday. Did I confuse anyone else about what day it was besides Blessing Counter? :)

This hasn't been a really good writing week. Monday night my brother and his family came over and surprised my dad for his birthday. They ate supper with us and hung out for a little while. Tuesday we thought we were going to babysit the kids while my brother, sis-in-law and Dad were at a political meeting so I didn't get ready to write. Then we got a call just before supper saying the kids weren't coming over and my brother had forgotten to let us know. I ended up doing some other things. Like reading. :) Wednesday I did get some writing done. I worked on the "Tour of Garlandsburg." I wrote a little more last night. You won't want to miss this tour. I'm hoping I can write tonight and maybe tomorrow night. We'll see.

We finally got the last of the decorating done. It's taken us a lot longer this year as we weren't sure what we were going to do in the kitchen and I wanted some advice from my sis-in-law about something. Would you all like to see some pictures of our decorations?

Now, if any of you are still shopping for Christmas gifts, here's another code for a book on Amazon. With this one you get 25% off, so don't forget those book lovers on your list. Use the code by the 14th though. Just put in 25OFFBOOK when you place your order.

Oh, and don't forget the giveaway on Read Another Page! Share it with your family and friends! More than one family member can enter if you use different e-mail addresses. 

Okay, I'll let you get on with this story. Enjoy!

Because of a Christmas Tree

Part 4

    Left in the shack with the sleeping man, Soper paced the floor muttering to himself. He should never have mentioned Christmas to the boy. But he had asked, and who could refuse his questions? Well then, he should have told him Christmas wasn’t for another week. But somehow one just couldn’t lie while looking into those trusting eyes. Pausing near the window, the young man pulled out his pocket watch for the seventh time. He stared at the face of it and then held it to his ear and heard the steady ticking of the second hand. With a grunt he shoved it back in his pocket. He didn’t know if he wanted the time to go by faster or slower. Oh, if only he could have joined in the search. Had they found Sonny yet? He resumed his pacing.
    “Doc?”
    So absorbed had Soper been in his thoughts, that he started when Old Marley’s voice sounded from the bed.
    “Doc? What’s got into you? I ain’t never seen ya so restless. Where’s Sonny?”
    “Out. I reckon I’d best get the soup heatin’ up. Sonny’ll be hungry.” Hurrying over to the stove so Old Marley wouldn’t see his face, Soper jostled into the bed.
    Old Marley, having lain in bed and watched the young man pace the floor of the small shack for a good ten minutes before he spoke, knew something was wrong. “Doc, what’s wrong? Why ain’t Sonny here? I know he ain’t just visitin’, else ya wouldn’t be wearin’ the floorboards out with all yer trampin’ to and fro. Now spit it out.”
    There was nothing for it. The young man knew he had to tell. He could only hope that Old Marley would have enough sense to remain where he was, in bed. Drawing a deep breath he turned and said. “Sonny’s disappeared. I reckon he’s gone out to find that Christmas tree you and he were wanting. But don’t worry,” he hastened to add, seeing a strange look cross the sick man’s face. “All the men’ve gone lookin’ for him an’ they’ll find him. He can’t have gone too far.”
    For several minutes, Old Marley didn’t speak. When he did, it wasn’t to Soper. “Ya know what that boy means to me, God. I’ve tried my best ta care for him an’ now he’s lost. If’n I hadn’t got sick we could a found that tree he was wantin’, but I did. It ain’t yer fault. But please be close to Sonny now. And God, it’s been a heap a years since I talked to You. I’m most ‘shamed a the way I’ve been leavin’ You out a my life. I want to come back to You, just like that son did in the story Sonny read the other night. Please take me back. An’ I reckon, God, I’d still be ignorin’ You if’n You hadn’t let me find Sonny that day back in the spring. He’s such a good little fellow, please . . .”
    Soper had stood with head bowed at the foot of the bed. Now, as Old Marley’s voice choked up, he dropped to his knees and took up the prayer. “Oh, Father in Heaven, I too have slipped away. It wasn’t intentional, but I reckon I haven’t done much thinking of you. Least ways not till Sonny came. But now, Father, Sonny needs help. Please let the men find him before it’s too late. Please, Father! You sent Your Son to be born so mankind might not be lost in sin, but Sonny is lost right now out in the snow, and he needs found. Help him, please.”
    The prayers weren’t eloquent, but they came straight from the heart of the two men. And after they were over, a strange feeling of peace seemed to settle over the little shack. Soper built up the fire in the stove, made a stew and heated the kettle of water for some tea. Neither one spoke, but waited and listened.

    At last the sound of many feet outside the shack was heard above the howling of the wind. The door was opened and the men from the other shacks came in bringing with them the missing boy and his Christmas tree. There wasn’t much room in the small shack for everyone, but somehow they all managed to fit in, even with the tree, which was soon sitting in a pail on the table in the corner of the room.
    Sonny’s wet boots and socks were quickly taken off and he was established, as bright as ever, though a little chilled, on the bed beside Old Marley. “Uncle Marley! I’m so glad you are feeling better. See, I found the right Christmas tree. Only it was hard to cut down and it started to snow before I finished. But the men came and carried it back. Now we can have a Christmas party!” He hugged the old man and beamed on the men crowded around.
    “It’ll be a wonder if’n that boy don’t catch phumonia,” muttered one older man to Soper who was fixing a pot of coffee.
    Soper looked anxiously at the bright face of the lad and sighed. He hoped Sonny wasn’t going to get sick.
    A few of the men had hurried to their shacks to fetch mugs and bowls, for all had accepted Sonny and Old Marley’s invitation to stay and have something hot. The smell of the pine tree, mingling with the sent of coffee and stew, filled the small room and no one thought they had seen a prettier tree.
    Slipping from the bed, Sonny pulled his Bible from the chest and holding it out said softly, “Mr. Soper, would you read the Christmas story to us, please?”
    Every voice became hushed as “Doc” Soper sat down on a stool near the lamp and opened the book.
    “. . . And the angel said unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people . . . Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will, toward men . . .”
    Old Marley lay on his rough bed, Sonny beside him, and watched the faces of the other men and looked at the tree in the corner. Sonny had taken a risk going out alone to find it for him. “And on earth, peace.” Those words seemed to repeat themselves in Old Marley’s mind and he remembered that feeling of peace which had come over him when he prayed.
    Slowly the men rose and slipped quietly from the lighted shack to tramp away through the snow, leaving the fragrant Christmas tree behind. Soper wasn’t to be coaxed into leaving Old Marley or Sonny that night and, wrapped in a blanket, he settled himself before the stove after seeing the boy fall asleep with a contented look on his young face.
    As for Old Marley, he lay awake for a little while longer, enjoying the smell of the pine, the sound of Sonny’s steady breathing and even “Doc’s” snore.
    “God sent His Son as a baby that first Christmas ta bring us peace. An’ this Christmas,” he thought, “He used another child ta bring me back to true peace. I’ll ain’t never gona smell another Christmas tree without rememberin’ this one.”

Do certain smells bring memories back to you?

If you could only have 1 thing at Christmas time, what would you choose?

Do you have a favorite Christmas tradition?

Because of a Christmas Tree - Part 3

And now the next part! Enjoy!

Because of a Christmas Tree

Part 3

    With anxious eyes, Sonny watched as Mr. Soper examined the old man, feeling his hot face, taking his pulse and listening to his labored breathing and hoarse coughs. After what felt like hours to the waiting boy, he turned and said quietly, “Sonny, I need to fetch some things from my place. I won’t be gone long. Can you get some water heating up to make some tea?”
    The boy nodded, glad to be able to something for this man who had taken him in and cared for him.

    All that day Sonny and Mr. Soper remained in the shack with Old Marley. The other men in the mining camp wandered by during the day to “see how things was goin,’ an’ did Doc need anything.” Mr. Soper, though he was young, was considered the “town doc” for he had spent one year at a medical school before lack of funds had sent him out west in search of gold to finish his training. All during the day Sonny had been quiet, which was quite unlike his usual talkative self.
    Sitting down for some supper that evening, Mr. Soper turned to the boy and asked, “Are you feeling all right, Sonny? You’re awfully quiet.”
    Sonny nodded. “Yes, sir, I'm all right. I’ve just been thinking about Uncle Marley and Christmas. How many more days until Christmas, Mr. Soper?” Though the other men in camp might call the young man “Doc,” Sonny never did. His polite manners and speech around the mining camp hinted that he had been used to more refined ways.
    Rubbing his stubby beard, Mr. Soper thought a moment before answering. “Well, the day after tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Did you have some plans?” His voice was kind, for the boy interested him and he promised himself that if anything should happen to Old Marley, he would take care of the boy.
    “Yes, Uncle Marley and I want a Christmas tree. We were out hunting for one all day yesterday, but we never found the right one. Do you think Uncle Marley will be able to go look for a tree before Christmas?”
    “Let’s just wait and see,” Mr. Soper replied softly, rising to add another stick of wood to the stove.

    The following day was much the same. Old Marley didn’t get any worse, but neither did he seem to improve.
    On Christmas Eve, Sonny sat on his stool by the stove, his chin resting in his hands, and stared at the floor. Uncle Marley was still sick. He couldn’t go with him to find a Christmas tree. And Mr. Soper couldn’t go because he must stay and take care of Uncle Marley. Could Sonny talk one of the other men into going to find a Christmas tree? “Uncle Marley wants a tree,” Sonny whispered to himself. “I just know it would make him better.” With the quick decision of a child, Sonny stood up and pulled on his coat.
    “Mr. Soper,” he said softly, “I’m going to go visiting, if you don’t think Uncle Marley needs me.”
    The young man looked up. “No, Sonny, Old Marley isn’t likely to be needin’ you for a while. And I reckon it’ll do you a heap of good to get out of this shack for a while. You just run along now and enjoy the sunshine.”
    Only pausing a moment beside the bed to touch the old man’s hand, Sonny hurried from the shack and up the road.

    A sudden shaking of the shack roused Soper from his light doze beside the bed. The room was dusky even though it was mid-afternoon. “Huh,” he muttered, rising and lighting the lamp. “Sounds like a storm might be blowin’ in. I wonder which shack the boy’s in.” Peering out the window, Soper took notice of the few flakes of snow which danced in the wind.
    “Doc?”
    The young man turned, stepping over to the bed and placing a hand against the old man’s face. “Yep, it’s me, Marley. How’re you feeling?”
    “Like I’ve been huntin’ for a week with no sleep. Where’s the boy?”
    Lifting the old man’s head, Soper held a tin mug of tea to his lips. “Take a drink of this and then get some more sleep. I reckon Sonny’ll be ‘round before too long. He’s gone visiting.”
    Taking several swallows before turning his head away, Old Marley relaxed for a moment. Another gust of wind shook the shack. “Winter storm comin'?”
    “Reckon so.” Soper rubbed his hand over the back of this neck and looked towards the door. Where was Sonny?
    “Doc?”
    Soper turned. “Yep.”
    “Sonny might like yer company tonight for dinner. I ain’t feelin’ up to fixin’ it jest yet.”
    “Just get some sleep, Marley. I’m not goin’ any place.” He watched as Old Marley’s eyes closed and saw him fall into a deep, healthy slumber. It was only then that he crossed the room to the window. It wasn’t snowing much, but he could feel the cold wind drifting through the cracks around the windowpane. If Sonny didn’t return soon, he might become stuck in another shack.
    Just then a step was heard outside, the door was pushed open, and someone almost blew inside. It wasn’t Sonny.
    “Bronson!” Doc Soper’s voice was low. “Anything wrong?”
    The newcomer shook his head, his tones equally low as he replied, “Nope, jest thought I’d see if’n ya needed anything. How’s Old Marley?”
    “Fever’s broke. He’ll mend quickly I reckon. Could you find Sonny and bring him back here? Old Marley was askin’ for him when he woke up. He’s gone visitin’.”
    “Sure thing.” And the rough miner stepped back out into the cold afternoon.
    Within an hour he was back with a few of the other men. “He ain’t around the town, Doc,” Bronson reported. “Ain’t nobody seen hide nor hair a him fer hours.”
    “Hours?” The young man’s eyes were wide and anxious. “But he’s been gone since this morning. Has he been to see any of you?”
    The men nodded and one spoke up. “Yep, asked me if’n I wanted to go hunt some tree with him.”
    Giving a gasp, Soper’s face turned pale. He had forgotten Sonny’s talk of finding a Christmas tree with Uncle Marley before Christmas. If no one in the shacks had seen him, he must have gone off to find a tree alone. And a winter storm would soon be on them!
    With a few rapid, but low words, he told the men of Sonny’s desire for a Christmas tree. It didn’t take more then five minutes for the men to comprehend everything and immediately they started off to round up the others and begin their search for the young boy.

Where is Sonny?

Did you see the giveaway on Read Another Page?