Summary: Christmas 1844 entries from Marie’s journal.
Written for day 11 of the 2021 Advent Calendar.
Rating: G
Word Count: 2300

Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 11 *

“Snow Angels”

Part 1

December 17, 1844

Tuesday

It is continuing to snow today.  Ben and Adam went out and got the tree.  It’s a beautiful pine tree standing beside the fireplace.  The older boys and I decorated it with ornaments, garlands and candles.  Among the ornaments are two that I ordered this year.  They’re both angels.

I put Little Joseph in a chair so that he could watch us.  He smiled the whole time.

December 21, 1844

Saturday

Presents have started showing up under the tree.  Most are from Ben and me.  A few are from Adam and from Hoss.  Way in the back against the wall are two long ones.  One has my name on it and the other has Adam’s.  They’re both from Ben.

Adam told me, “I think they’re new rifles.”

He’s probably right.  I can tell he’s very excited about it.  I know Adam is already 14 years old and almost a man.  His father has already been giving him various responsibilities around the ranch.  Still he is a boy.  I want him to know he can still have moments of fun.

Today I told the boys, “Let’s go play in the snow.”

Hoss was the first one to run out the door.  He’s only 8 years old and he’s already almost as tall as Adam.  Why do I have this funny feeling he’ll grow up to be taller than their father?

I had little Joseph in my arms.  He’s 2 years old and still a baby.  He’s a little too young for snowball fights and making snowmen.  Still he’s old enough to make snow angels.  I decided to teach him how.  I remember I enjoyed doing them when I was a child.  I’ve been letting him watch his brothers play in the snow.  Today I wanted him to finally start joining his brothers.

Adam and Hoss made a snowman.  Little Joe giggled as he watched them.

I asked, “Boys, can you show your little brother how to make snow angels?”

“Sure,” Adam said.

“Okay!” Hoss said.

They laid down in the snow and started flailing their arms and legs about.

I told little Joseph, “See? Your brothers are making snow angels.”

He giggled.

“Would you like to make one?”

He nodded.  “Yeah!”

I carefully laid him down in the snow as his brothers smiled and watched.  He flailed his arms and legs around and giggled.  Then I picked him back up in my arms.

I told him, “See the snow angels you and your brothers made?”

He just said, “Angels.”

I think he looks like a little angel.

December 23, 1844

Monday

I keep wondering about those long gifts for me and Adam.  We still think they may be new rifles for us.

Tonight I asked Ben, “Do you have a clue you would like to give about those long gifts for me and Adam?”

He stared at the gifts under the tree for a few minutes as if he was trying to figure out the right words to say.

Then he looked back at me and said, “Oh, you have your sights on those do you?”

He gave me a funny smile and walked away.  That’s my dear Ben.  Sometimes the man can be a little bit elusive.

Adam and I have been using rifles that were previously owned by others.  I have an old rifle of Ben’s that he used to use.  Adam’s rifle was given to him by a neighbor.

A rifle is very good to have here on the ranch.  One time I was here in the house when I heard the chickens making a lot of noise.  I grabbed my rifle and ran out to see a fox attacking one of the chickens.  I shot that fox dead.

Wait a minute!  Ben used the word “sights”!  Ah ha!  We are getting new rifles!

December 24, 1844

Christmas Eve

There are presents of various shapes and sizes under the tree.  I’ve caught the older boys many times eyeing them.  Little Joseph’s green eyes get big every time he stares at the tree and the gifts.  I think he’s awed by all of the bright colors.  It is a beautiful sight.

Late tonight Ben and I filled the boys stockings with candies and small toys.  I’m so excited to see them open their gifts in the morning.

Tonight Ben caught me again looking at those long presents under the tree.  He gave me a funny smile and walked on up the stairs.  Tomorrow we will find out what they are.

December 25, 1844

Christmas Day

Oh what a Christmas this has been!  I suppose I should start from the beginning.

Early this morning Adam and Hoss were both up and down the stairs before Hop Sing could put breakfast on the table.  When Ben and I came downstairs Hoss asked if they could open their presents now.  Ben told him they would have to wait until after breakfast just like we always do every year.

Hop Sing made a wonderful breakfast as always.  He cooked pancakes, sausages and scrambled eggs.  He let me in the kitchen to make lots of hot cocoa.  Of course, he helped me.

After breakfast we all opened our presents.  Ben and I got new winter coats and mittens for all of the boys.  Ben gave Adam more books to read, and I gave him a journal along with quill and ink.  Ben gave Hoss a little statue of a horse running, and I gave him a statue of an eagle about to take flight.  Adam made each of his brothers a wooden toy horse.  He and Hoss both gave me a bottle of perfume.  It has a sweet floral fragrance.  Ben gave me a jewelry box with several little compartments in it.  The lid is painted with dainty white flowers.  I gave him a pipe.

Ben and the boys were all delighted with their gifts.  It was so nice to see them all smiling and laughing.  What a wonderful feeling.

Of course we always include Hop Sing.  We know a couple of ranching families who don’t include the cook, but we do ours.  We gave him some new pots and pans along with a wool blanket.  Hop Sing was so appreciative and thanked us.  He gave each of us a blanket.

We include our ranch hands as well.  Every year Ben gives each of them a Christmas bonus.

Then there were those two long gifts from Ben to Adam and me.  Yes they were new rifles!  I noticed Adam looking so admiringly at his.  We went out by the corral and practiced shooting with our new rifles.  Ben set the cans on the fence for us.  We shot every can.

Afterwards Adam and I sat on the porch and cleaned our new rifles.  He helped with the pouring of the hot water.  It’s pretty easy cleaning a rifle.  Pour in hot water, clean with a rag, and oil it.

I told Adam about Marius being meticulous about cleaning the epee after every use.

He said, “Pa’s the same way about guns.”

I replied, “Yes he is.”

“He says that a gun is just a tool.”

“He’s right, you know.”

“I know.”

After we finished cleaning the rifles we took them inside and put them in the gun rack.

Then we had our big Christmas dinner.  Friends and neighbors came along with a couple of ranch hands who are staying over the winter here in the bunkhouse.  My goodness Hop Sing can sure make a feast.  He put together hams, potatoes, green beans, fruits, rolls, coffee, hot cocoa, candies and pies.  Our guests left full and with some food to take home with them.

Next I lost track of little Joseph.  We ran around inside the house looking for him and calling his name.  I started to become very frantic.  I looked outside to see him laying in the snow as he flailed his arms about, and I ran out to him.

“What are you doing?”  I asked.  “Are you all right?”

“Making angels,” he said.

“We were all looking for you.”

I scooped him up and quickly carried him back into the house to get warm.

Tonight before we all headed to bed, Ben opened the Bible and read to us the Christmas story.  It’s a family tradition that he does every year.”

When Ben got to the part where the angels told the shepherds about the birth of Jesus, little Joseph shouted, “Angels!”

Oh how I love Christmas.  It’s so beautiful with all of the love and giving, and the Christmas trees.

Merry Christmas!

Character: Marie

Activity: Maintaining a rifle

Link to Part 2 of  Snow Angels by Sierras

Link to Day 12 of the Bonanza Brand 2021 Advent Calendar:  In Absentia #5 – Homesick by Belle