Christmas Collection

Summary:  Christmas letters from each of the Cartwrights

Rated: K+ (2,285 words)

 

Christmas Letters

PALERMO, SICILY     December 25 1866

 

Pouring himself a glass of the deep red Sicilian wine from the bottle that stood before him on the table, Adam Cartwright looked down at the thick envelope that had arrived for him three days previously. When he had left London on this voyage around the Mediterranean he hadn’t expected to hear from his family until his return, so it had been a surprise when a sailor from a vessel newly arrived in Palermo had sought him out.

“This was delivered to the shipping line offices in London.” The man had told him. “And as they knew our ship was sailing the same route as yours, I was asked to bring it along.”

Reaching for the envelope now, Adam felt a pang of homesickness. This was his first Christmas away from the Ponderosa since his college days and he sorely missed his family. It had seemed somehow fitting that he save the letter until Christmas Day itself, a kind of gift from his father and brothers.

Taking his knife from his boot, Adam carefully slit open the envelope. Inside were three folded sheets of paper, each with his name written on it and two stiff pieces of card. Turning the pieces over, Adam found them to be photographs, recent likenesses of his family. The sight of the three familiar faces smiling up at him brought an answering smile to Adam’s face as he smoothed out the three sheets of paper, and began to read . . .

 

 

 

Ponderosa Ranch, Nevada

October 1 1866

My Dear Adam

I hope that this letter will reach you in time for Christmas. Our first Christmas apart since you returned from college and, needless to say, your brothers and I will be missing you.

Not knowing exactly where you will be at Christmas has made it impossible to send a gift, so we decided upon these photographs. I say we, but in fact it was Joseph’s idea. He suggested that it might be nice for you to have this reminder of us. He’d heard that there was a travelling photographer visiting Virginia City, to take some photographs for a San Francisco publication. Of course, as is so often the way with your youngest brother, a pretty girl was involved. The photographer had a very fetching younger sister. Joseph persuaded the pair to come out to the ranch to take what he called natural shots, not the posed studio kind, though I may tell you it is very hard to keep still for as long as the process takes. Joseph’s intentions came to nothing in the end, it turned out that the young lady had a fiancé at home.

All is well here at the Ponderosa and your brothers and I are in good health. Roy Coffee and Paul Martin ask to be remembered to you and send their best wishes.

I hope that you are enjoying life at sea and the experience of seeing other lands and peoples. There is nothing quite like visiting a country and finding out at first hand what it is like, much better than any book could ever be.

Well, son. I wish you all the very best for Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Think of us here at home and know that we will be thinking of you and raising a glass in your honour.

 

Your Loving Father

***********

Ponderosa

 

 October 1

Hey Brother,

What do you reckon on these photographs? Pretty good idea of mine don’t you think? Heard that a photographer was visiting Virginia City and thought that, as we couldn’t send you a gift this year, it might be nice to send a likeness of ourselves. Just to remind you of what we look like, as if you’d forgotten. 

Of course Pa and Hoss claim I only thought of it because I was sweet on the photographer’s kid sister. I did kind of like her I must admit, but I really did think the photographs would be a good idea.

Not that it was easy getting them done. The photographer wanted us to go and sit for him in this studio he’d set up in town, in that empty store just along from The Silver Dollar. I thought it would be nicer to have them taken out at the ranch, took some persuading before he’d even consider that. Then he set up all this equipment and got us to pose. Had to sit in the same position for what seemed like hours. I swear by the time he finished my rear end felt like it does when I’ve spent a couple of days in the saddle. Said he was using some new kind of process, Ambrotype he called it, means nothing to me but you might have heard of it. Turned out pretty well though.

Hope you’re enjoying seeing the world, and not suffering with seasickness. I don’t envy you the sailing, though I’d like to see Europe. You remember Pa took us on that ship in San Francisco when I was a kid and I went kind of green and brought up my lunch all over you? Guess you probably do, not the kind of thing you’d forget.

All is well here though Pa and Hoss sure miss you a lot, and, if I’m honest, so do I. Pa hopes these photographs reach you in time for Christmas. If they do, and wherever you are, think of us, because we’ll sure be thinking of you. And if you’re stuck for ideas on a Christmas gift to send home, I’ve heard those little foreign girls are sure pretty, just tell them you’ve a handsome younger brother who would love to meet them and then send them along. Seriously, Adam, hope you have a great Christmas and New Year.

 

Your brother

 

Joe

*************

                                                                        Ponderosa, October 1

 

Hey Adam,

 

Just for once looks like our kid brother came up with a pretty good idea.  Sure would be nice to see you at Christmas but at least you’ll get to see us in a way. Of course, Little Joe had other things on his mind when he came up with the notion of the photographs, as I guess Pa told you. She sure was a pretty little filly, he was on the way to falling in love with her but she didn’t want to know. I don’t guess it broke his heart for too long because he’s seeing Widow Squire’s daughter now, you’ll remember her, Susie Squires, couple of years older than Joe and a mite flighty, if the truth be told.Don’t reckon it’s going to turn into a serious romance, he ain’t even told Pa about her yet.

I’ve been looking after Sport for you, like you asked, and he’s in mighty fine condition. Guess he misses you some though, like we all do. Pa was downright miserable for a while after you left, and so was Joe, but they seem to have got used to it a little now.  Still seems real strange to sit down at breakfast of a morning and see your empty chair.

Hop Sing sends his best, says to be sure and eat well. I’ll lay odds whatever food you get to eat on Christmas Day this year it won’t be as good as Hop Sing’s Christmas lunch. Guess you probably miss his cooking, though some of them foreign foods might be all right. I heard they done eat snails in France and the legs off of frogs. You get to taste any of that stuff?

Anyhow, we all miss you here, and we’ll be thinking of you at Christmas. Not that we don’t think of you every day. Write soon, I’d kind of like to hear about all them countries you’re getting to visit.

 

Your loving brother

 

Hoss

*************

 

PONDEROSA RANCH, NEVADA    December 25 1866

 

Opening the door of the ranch house Joe and Hoss stamped their feet on the porch before entering, dislodging the snow that clung to their boots. Inside, the house was snug and warm, a fire blazing merrily on the stone hearth and, by the stairs; the large Christmas tree aglow with candlelight.

As his sons came in, Ben rose to his feet and greeted them with a smile. “Better get washed up, boys. Hop Sing has lunch ready.”

Needing no second telling Hoss and Joe headed upstairs, returning quickly and taking their places at the table where the little cook was already laying out a fine Christmas lunch. An enormous piece of beef, cooked to perfection, took pride of place and, after giving his thanks to the Lord, Ben lost no time in carving the meat.

Once the meal was done and Hoss had eaten a third helping of Hop Sing’s fruit pie, Ben reached into his pocket and produced a letter.

“I picked this up in the mail yesterday.” He said, as Hoss and Joe cast curious glances at the envelope he held. “It’s from London, from your brother.” He looked wistfully at the empty space at the end of the table where Adam’s chair still stood. “Somehow it seemed kind of fitting to wait until today to read it.”

“Be good to hear what he has to say.” Hoss said with an understanding nod. “Especially today.”

“How about we drink a toast to Adam after you read the letter?” Joe asked his father, reaching for the bottle of wine that had accompanied the meal and refilling their glasses. “Wish him a merry Christmas, wherever he is.”

“A good idea, Joseph.” Slitting open the envelope Ben drew forth a folded sheet of paper and a brightly coloured piece of card bearing the salutation ‘A Joyful Yuletide’. Handing the card to Hoss to look at, Ben unfolded the letter and began to read . . .

London, England. October 3 1866

 

Dear Pa, Hoss and Joe,

 

I am writing this while the ship is in dock in London. We set sail in a week for Marseilles in France, then to Naples and finally Sicily before returning to London. I will write again on my return. I’ve been enjoying life at sea so far and the voyage over was reasonably smooth, though we hit a few squalls in mid Atlantic. London is busy, full of life and colour. A lot of rain though, and grey clouds. I do miss the blue of the Nevada sky.

I have managed to see some of the sights, such as the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria’s London residence. The architecture is incredible, and I find the sheer age of many of the buildings quite breathtaking.

I’ve had time for some fun as well. Attended a couple of performances at the local theatres, and I even went to a variety show at a music hall; Joe would have enjoyed that, dancing girls and bawdy songs. Another thing Joe would have liked was my visit to Madame Tussaud’s waxworks Exhibition. It’s very odd to see the likenesses of people made in wax, they even have one of our own Benjamin Franklin and it’s very lifelike. Almost like meeting the man himself. They have what is known as a Separate Room where models of murderers and other miscreants are on show. I found it slightly gruesome but it’s a very popular attraction.

Enclosed you’ll find a Christmas card. These are becoming very popular here in England. They are sent at Christmas to convey good wishes to family and friends. I happened to come across a few in a small store in the east end of London, left over from last year no doubt.  Hope you like the one I chose for you. Sorry not to have sent any gifts but I hope to pick up some interesting souvenirs in France and Italy and will send them on when I return to London.

I should be in Sicily by Christmas but wherever I am, I will be thinking of home. Remember me when you’re all sitting down to Hop Sing’s festive lunch. Missing you all.

 

Your son and brother

Adam

********

 

Finishing the letter Ben picked up his glass of wine from the table and held it aloft. “To Adam.” He said softly.

“To Adam.” Hoss and Joe echoed, raising their own glasses and touching them to their father’s in a heartfelt toast to the absent member of the Cartwright family.

 

At exactly the same moment, though it was by now late evening in Sicily, Adam was making his own toast. The red wine sparkled in the light of the lamp, as he held it high, smiling at the photographs of his father and brothers. “The Cartwrights.” He proclaimed, his voice loud in the quiet room. “And to the day we all meet again.”

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

 

 

 

 

Notes

 

The first Christmas card was invented in England in 1843. Cards were in common use in the U.K by the 1860’s, when Adam bought his, but didn’t arrive in the U.S until the 1870’s.

The card at the beginning of this story was designed and printed in the 1860’s, but somehow it didn’t seem like one Adam would send so I cheated a little and chose the later card, circa 1885, for the one he sent home.

Madame Tussaud opened her first permanent exhibition in 1835, in Baker Street, London. Before that she and her son had spent 33 years travelling around the U.K with their collection of exhibits. The separate room Adam mentioned was later renamed the Chamber of Horrors.

Queen Victoria took up residence in Buckingham Palace in 1837, though the palace is older than that. For anyone interested in Victorian London there is an excellent website at http://www.victorianlondon.org