Christmas Eve 1881

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 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 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 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 told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on...and got my cap, coat and mittens. He 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 said, “I think we'll put on the high sideboards. Here, help me.”

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armful 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?” He questioned, “Have you been by the Widow Jensen's lately?” (She lived about two miles down the road from us. 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...he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armful of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses could pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smokehouse 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. He returned carrying a sack of flour over his right 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 neighbours 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?” Pa replied, “Lucas Miles, Ma'am and my son, Matt. Could we come in 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 hesitatingly 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, that would last. I watched her carefully as 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 had a big lump in my throat...and as much 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. At Christmas, I had given 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 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 for many others. The list seemed endless.

Tears were runing 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. We'll be by 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 sisers had all married and moved away.

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 short distance, Pa turned to me and said, “Matt, I want you to know something. Your Ma and me have been tucking away a little money 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!

(Author unknown)

The foregoing sent to me by an American reader on December 26, 2015.

Merle Baird-Kerr...written December 4, 2016.

To comment: mbairdkerr @cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com