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A Christmas Story #6401264
12/17/18 10:10 AM
12/17/18 10:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,558
Robert Lee, TEXAS
bulletbox Offline OP
trapper
bulletbox  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,558
Robert Lee, TEXAS
[Linked Image]




This is what Christmas is all about...

Better bundle up - the goose bumps will freeze you!! I think I need to read this every year at Christmas.

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what..

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?

Yeah," I said, "Why?"

"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his r ight shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"

Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say
something, but it wouldn't come out.

"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as mu ch as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.

Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.

Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that,but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.

For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, to you and yours...

Last edited by bulletbox; 12/17/18 10:11 AM.

Good Luck and God Bless you and yours,

bulletbox,
TEXAS



Even sheep are smart enough to shade up when it gets over 100....
Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401268
12/17/18 10:16 AM
12/17/18 10:16 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,750
Southern Virginia, 50 yr old
V
VaBeagler Offline
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VaBeagler  Offline
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V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,750
Southern Virginia, 50 yr old
Thanks for putting this up again. It has become a tradition at my house that on Christmas Eve I read this story to my daughter. This will be the 8th or 9th year.

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401270
12/17/18 10:18 AM
12/17/18 10:18 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
S
snowy Offline
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snowy  Offline
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S

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
Thanks again.


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401278
12/17/18 10:39 AM
12/17/18 10:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,949
Central New York
D
Dewey NY Offline
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Dewey NY  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,949
Central New York
Great story.. Thanks for Posting..

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401287
12/17/18 10:53 AM
12/17/18 10:53 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,292
Ontario, Canada
S
slydogx Offline
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,292
Ontario, Canada
Thanks yet again, great story


Just happy to be here.
Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401330
12/17/18 11:53 AM
12/17/18 11:53 AM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 424
PENNSYLVANIA, USA
C
cpizzicharlie Offline
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C

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 424
PENNSYLVANIA, USA
Thank you Sir, look for your posting each year.

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401342
12/17/18 12:14 PM
12/17/18 12:14 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,740
Wisconsin
B
Bear Tracker Offline
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Bear Tracker  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,740
Wisconsin
I love that story, reading Christmas day to the family, thank you.

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401364
12/17/18 12:51 PM
12/17/18 12:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,717
Nebraska, Dawson County
chas3457 Offline
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chas3457  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,717
Nebraska, Dawson County
Thank you, Sir. Truly, a classic that everyone should take to heart.




Charlie


Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm.

NRA Life Member ~ GOA Member ~ NFOA Member ~ UNMLA Member
Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401375
12/17/18 01:16 PM
12/17/18 01:16 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
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EdP Offline
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EdP  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
It's a wonderful story, true or not, but I hope it's true. Merry Christmas to all.

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401389
12/17/18 01:36 PM
12/17/18 01:36 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 5,516
South Carolina
T
Tom cat Offline
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 5,516
South Carolina
I look forward to this every year. Thanks.


Sugarcreektrapping@gmail.com
Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401444
12/17/18 03:14 PM
12/17/18 03:14 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 49
Oklahoma
OkieChoctaw Offline
trapper
OkieChoctaw  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 49
Oklahoma
Thank you for posting. I enjoyed it more this year than I did last.


Jeremiah 29:11
Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401489
12/17/18 04:31 PM
12/17/18 04:31 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,520
Champaign County, Ohio.
K
KeithC Offline
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,520
Champaign County, Ohio.
Thank you. I look forward to reading this every year

Keith

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401549
12/17/18 06:25 PM
12/17/18 06:25 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,020
ohio
J
jctunnelrat Offline
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,020
ohio
Thanks BulletBox, have never read that before. Heart warming to see or hear about any compassion.

Happy Holidays to all. May all of you and your families and friends have a safe and Merry Christmas. God Bless!


jim
Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401553
12/17/18 06:34 PM
12/17/18 06:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 157
moravia newyork
bowslinger Offline
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bowslinger  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 157
moravia newyork
I know few kids do good read that story . maybe they learn something merry Christmas

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401604
12/17/18 07:52 PM
12/17/18 07:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,269
West Central Illinois
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il.trapper Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,269
West Central Illinois
Thank You Bulletbox..........I have been waiting for this for awhile now.

I hope Christmas finds you happy and well !!!!!!

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401901
12/18/18 12:59 AM
12/18/18 12:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,895
Oakland, MS
Drifter Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,895
Oakland, MS
Just as good the 10th time as the first time.


Some individuals use statistics as a drunk man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than for illumination.

Andrew Lang (1844-1912) Scottish poet, novelist and literary critic









Life member NTA , and GA Trappers assoc .
Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6401965
12/18/18 07:14 AM
12/18/18 07:14 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,733
Northern Illinois
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MChewk Offline
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Posts: 9,733
Northern Illinois
Thanks Bullet ...great read! Sitting wiping my eyes...again.

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6402197
12/18/18 01:40 PM
12/18/18 01:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 391
tn
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lestan101 Offline
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tn
ttt

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6404158
12/20/18 04:11 PM
12/20/18 04:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 42
Indiana
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frog4334 Offline
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 42
Indiana
Thanks again Bullet! Merry Christmas to all

Re: A Christmas Story [Re: bulletbox] #6404429
12/20/18 08:52 PM
12/20/18 08:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,872
Adirondacks, NY
Fisher Man Offline
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Fisher Man  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Adirondacks, NY
A great story. Thank you.

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