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A Christmas Story

Posted By: bulletbox

A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 02:10 PM

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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...
Posted By: VaBeagler

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 02:16 PM

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.
Posted By: snowy

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 02:18 PM

Thanks again.
Posted By: Dewey NY

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 02:39 PM

Great story.. Thanks for Posting..
Posted By: slydogx

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 02:53 PM

Thanks yet again, great story
Posted By: cpizzicharlie

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 03:53 PM

Thank you Sir, look for your posting each year.
Posted By: Bear Tracker

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 04:14 PM

I love that story, reading Christmas day to the family, thank you.
Posted By: chas3457

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 04:51 PM

Thank you, Sir. Truly, a classic that everyone should take to heart.




Charlie
Posted By: EdP

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 05:16 PM

It's a wonderful story, true or not, but I hope it's true. Merry Christmas to all.
Posted By: Tom cat

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 05:36 PM

I look forward to this every year. Thanks.
Posted By: OkieChoctaw

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 07:14 PM

Thank you for posting. I enjoyed it more this year than I did last.
Posted By: KeithC

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 08:31 PM

Thank you. I look forward to reading this every year

Keith
Posted By: jctunnelrat

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 10:25 PM

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!
Posted By: bowslinger

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 10:34 PM

I know few kids do good read that story . maybe they learn something merry Christmas
Posted By: il.trapper

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/18 11:52 PM

Thank You Bulletbox..........I have been waiting for this for awhile now.

I hope Christmas finds you happy and well !!!!!!
Posted By: Drifter

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/18/18 04:59 AM

Just as good the 10th time as the first time.
Posted By: MChewk

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/18/18 11:14 AM

Thanks Bullet ...great read! Sitting wiping my eyes...again.
Posted By: lestan101

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/18/18 05:40 PM

ttt
Posted By: frog4334

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/20/18 08:11 PM

Thanks again Bullet! Merry Christmas to all
Posted By: Fisher Man

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/21/18 12:52 AM

A great story. Thank you.
Posted By: Chancey

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/21/18 01:08 AM

Always good. Thank you. Merry Christmas!
Posted By: cpizzicharlie

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/21/18 02:39 PM

ttt
Posted By: spotter

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/22/18 12:25 AM

My favorite Christmas Story. Thank you so much for posting every year. And to you and yours a Merry Christmas!
Posted By: Donnie H

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/22/18 12:50 AM

Thanks for post'in...
Posted By: bulletbox

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/22/18 02:24 PM

To the top for Christmas
Posted By: VaBeagler

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/25/18 03:07 PM

TTT
Posted By: Paul Dobbins

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/14/19 02:47 PM

Brought this back from last year. Thanks Bulletbox for posting this. It has become a Trapperman.com tradition.
Posted By: Rcates

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/14/19 06:09 PM

Thanks for posting. I will share this with my family. Merry Christmas
Posted By: VaBeagler

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/14/19 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Paul Dobbins
Brought this back from last year. Thanks Bulletbox for posting this. It has become a Trapperman.com tradition.

Thank you!
Posted By: Andrew Eastwood

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/15/19 02:16 AM

No matter how many times I read this story it brings a tear to the eye and a lump in the throat. Thank you for bringing it back.
Posted By: Allan Minear

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/15/19 04:13 AM

This is a wonderful story and if it doesn't get you a little choked up your just not human ha ha thank you for posting it again I for one will read it a few times just because.

Merry Christmas to one and all !
Allan
Posted By: VaBeagler

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/15/19 05:12 AM

Originally Posted by Paul Dobbins
Brought this back from last year. Thanks Bulletbox for posting this. It has become a Trapperman.com tradition.

It amazes me how a story that someone post that you have never met can affect your life. Time flies the older you get. Hard to believe I've been a member here for 11 years. Met a few lifelong friends thru the site for which I will forever be grateful. Thanks Mr Dobbins!
Posted By: MChewk

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/15/19 12:37 PM

Thanks great read for this time of the year.
Posted By: 2ndjoborfun

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/15/19 01:15 PM

Uplifting indeed! Thanks for sharing.
Posted By: fultonbig9

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/15/19 03:49 PM

I have never seen this till just now, I am going to read this to my children. Thank you ,that was beautiful and exactly how we’re supposed to do.
Hope everyone on here has a blessed day.
Joey
Posted By: MrsFord

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/16/19 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by fultonbig9
I have never seen this till just now, I am going to read this to my children. Thank you ,that was beautiful and exactly how we’re supposed to do.
Hope everyone on here has a blessed day.
Joey

Same smile
Posted By: RdFx

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/16/19 04:18 PM

Thanks BB
Posted By: Trapper7

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/17/19 07:03 PM

Thank you for posting this wonderful story. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Posted By: trappinia

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/18/19 01:09 AM

Thanks been waiting for it .
Posted By: Catch22

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/21/19 02:18 PM

Thanks Bullet, such a great story!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/23/19 11:53 PM

Thank you bulletbox. I'll read this to my grandkiddos.
I just forwarded it to family.

Merry Christmas brother!

Posted By: Tom cat

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/24/19 12:03 PM

Thanks bullet box. I look forward to this every year.
Posted By: Nittany Lion

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/24/19 11:24 PM

Thank you Bulletbox, an awesome story, I copied and pasted it and sent it to my 3 daughters.
Posted By: slydogx

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/25/19 01:40 AM

LOL I just posted a thread below asking why this wasn't posted this year...so glad to see it here.
(But I feel kinda dumb)
Posted By: NebrCatMan

Re: A Christmas Story - 12/25/19 02:10 AM

Just read this story again...… just wouldn't be Christmas Eve if I didn't read it !! Thanks !
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