{"id":11895,"date":"2000-12-15T10:42:08","date_gmt":"2000-12-15T15:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11895"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:04:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:04:39","slug":"pas-christmas-gift-by-helena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11895","title":{"rendered":"Pa’s Christmas Gift (by Helen A)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 It’s Christmas time on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 What are the boys planning to get Ben for Christmas?<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (5,785 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pa’s Christmas Gift<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cDeck the Halls with boughs of holly\u2026\u201d Ben Cartwright sang the lyrics under his breath as he finished tacking the last in a long line of fragrant fir garlands into place.<\/p>\n

He stood back and took a good look around the room.\u00a0 Everything seemed to be in place now, with the exception of going out and getting a Christmas tree to decorate.\u00a0 Festive red berried holly boughs swathed the fireplace mantle.\u00a0 Garlands circled the railing of the stairs and zigzagged along the dowels, set off by little red velvet bows.\u00a0 A huge wreath had temporarily replaced the horns over the fireplace and everywhere one looked, hints of holiday cheer seemed to grab the eye.\u00a0 It was a week to Christmas, but even now the wonderful scents of ginger and cinnamon, vanilla and orange filled the air as Hop Sing baked pan after pan of sweet holiday desserts to tempt and delight the young family of hungry boys and their father.\u00a0 The gifts were purchased and hidden away to wait until they could be snuck beneath the tree on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

Everywhere Ben went on the vast Ponderosa these days, he seemed to encounter ranch hands singing carols and playfully pitching handfuls of snow at each other. The urge to play with the fresh powder that had been falling off and on for the last week would suddenly overcome their adult senses and before they even knew it, they would be out frolicking like a pack of little boys at recess.\u00a0 When their boss would come into sight, the men would stop what they were doing and try to look busy, guilty smiles on their faces, but Ben would chuckle and pitch a snowball of his own at some unsuspecting fellow and the merriment would be restored.\u00a0 As long as the work got done, Ben had no complaints.<\/p>\n

Speaking of boys, he thought, I wonder if mine are ever planning on getting out of bed today?\u00a0 He had expected the sounds of hammering to produce at least one of them at the top of the stairs, but so far there had not been a single peep out of any of them.\u00a0 Ben smiled, not at all surprised when he recalled the massive snowball fight the three of them had engaged in the night before in the front yard, ending in a draw as their father had called them in for hot cocoa and cookies before sending them all to bed.\u00a0 Hoss was out of school for the week in celebration of the holidays and Ben had given Adam the week off as well, giving him time to formulate his own Christmas secrets and to be a boy for a while.\u00a0 Besides, if he were to be honest, it was much easier to keep Little Joe distracted from sneaking around searching for the hiding place that would yield an early peek at his gifts if Adam and Hoss were both there to keep an eye on him.\u00a0 The three brothers had grabbed onto their rare opportunity to spend lots of time together with all the enthusiasm Ben could have hoped for.\u00a0 Every time he saw them, they seemed to be running and laughing and playing games together and he was frankly delighted to see it, especially from Adam.\u00a0 At eighteen, Adam considered himself too old and mature for such things most of the time, but somehow Christmas always brought out the child in him and this year he seemed especially determined to have a good time.\u00a0 Ben supposed he wanted to make up for last year\u2019s dismal holiday when they had all still been too broken up over the recent loss of Marie to do much celebrating.\u00a0 And too, this would be Adam\u2019s last holiday at home for a long time.\u00a0 He would be leaving for college in the spring.<\/p>\n

Ben moved to the stair landing and called up, \u201cBoys, time to get up!\u00a0 Breakfast is almost ready and chores are waiting to be done!\u201d\u00a0 He waited.\u00a0 Nothing.\u00a0 Curious, he walked the rest of the way up and stopped at Adam\u2019s door.\u00a0 To his surprise it was open and empty, the bed rumpled.\u00a0 He crossed to Hoss\u2019 room and found exactly the same thing.\u00a0 Narrowing his eyes suspiciously, Ben moved to the third room, Little Joe\u2019s, where he heard muffled voices.\u00a0 The door was open just a crack and he pushed it further and stuck his head in.\u00a0 All three brothers were sprawled on Joe\u2019s bed, still dressed in nightshirts as they bent their heads together and whispered in animated tones.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Little Joe spotted his father and jumped up to stand on the bed.\u00a0 \u201cHi Pa!\u201d he called loudly.\u00a0 His brothers sat up, flashing suspiciously innocent smiles as they too faced their father and echoed their little brother\u2019s greeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you three whispering about?\u201d Ben demanded.<\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam both rushed to assure him that there was nothing going on that he needed to be concerned about, which of course made Ben even more suspicious.\u00a0 He kept his eyebrow up and his face stern; knowing somebody would crack before too long.\u00a0 Indeed, Hoss was already beginning to squirm uncomfortably, but then Little Joe crossed his arms firmly over his small chest and leveled an equally stern glare right back at their father as he boldly declared, \u201cAin\u2019t no fair askin\u2019, Pa. Christmas is comin\u2019 and if you ask too many questions, Santa will get mad at you and he won\u2019t bring you nothin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss grinned at each other and adopted their little brothers\u2019 pose as they looked at Ben and chorused, \u201cYeah!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben laughed, realizing that whatever was going on, it evidently concerned a Christmas present for him.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I wouldn\u2019t want to take the risk of upsetting Santa!\u00a0 You three better get a move on though.\u00a0 Breakfast is just about ready and you\u2019ll have to do your chores before we go out and look for our Christmas tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boys perked up and as one they scrambled off Little Joe\u2019s bed.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll be right there, Pa!\u201d Hoss said excitedly, inspired by thoughts of both the tree and breakfast.\u00a0 \u201cJust one little minute more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, then.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you downstairs,\u201d Ben told them, smiling to himself as he moved out and shut the door behind him.\u00a0 He really was blessed to have three such fine boys.
\n~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~<\/p>\n

Chores completed, the boys resumed their conspiratorial discussion. They had collectively pooled their allowances for several weeks to buy their father a gift that they were certain would be the finest he\u2019d ever received; a large framed portrait of all their mothers.\u00a0 Adam had managed to smuggle the daguerreotypes that each of them had of their mothers in to an exceptionally talented portrait artist who had recently moved into Virginia City.\u00a0 The price had been a little more than they had counted on, but they had not been willing to let go of the idea, and so had agreed to forgo buying store bought gifts for each other.\u00a0 They could make each other’s gifts, that way spending all they had on their father.<\/p>\n

Ben watched with mute fascination from across the room as his sons excitedly whispered, then Adam nodded and scrawled something on a piece of paper.\u00a0 Clearing his throat loudly, he sauntered over to them and asked, \u201cAnything interesting I should know about?”<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir,\u201d Adam replied, deftly slipping the note into his pocket before his father could see what was written on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Ben said, sounding a trifle deflated.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you want us to do somethin\u2019 for you, Pa?\u201d asked Hoss innocently.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I was going to ask you and Adam to take the buckboard into town and collect the last of the supplies that Hop Sing needs for this year\u2019s Christmas banquet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA bank what?\u201d Hoss asked and scrunched up his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cA feast.\u201d Adam supplied and watched as his younger brother\u2019s expression changed bewilderment to immense pleasure.\u00a0 \u201cWhen do you want us to leave?\u201d he added, realizing gleefully that he had just been given the perfect opportunity to pick up the gift and bring it home undetected.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I go too?\u201d interrupted Little Joe. \u201cPa, can I, huh? Can I please go with Adam an\u2019 Hoss?\u201d he begged, pulling on his father’s sleeve.<\/p>\n

Ben gathered his young son up into his arms and smiled. \u201cI was sort of hoping you might stay here and keep me company today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Joe,\u201d Hoss enthused, \u201cit\u2019ll be warmer at home.\u00a0 You don\u2019t wanna get a cold right\u00a0 \u2018fore Christmas do ya?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cS\u2019pose not.\u201d Joe relented, resting his head on Ben\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 He watched his older brothers prepare for the journey into Virginia City, and a hopeful look spread across his face. \u201cDon\u2019t s\u2019pose you could bring me back a candy cane, could ya?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam winked at Hoss and rubbed his chin. \u201cI dunno.\u00a0 I suppose I might consider it if you’re sure it won\u2019t ruin your appetite.\u00a0 What do you think, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you two had best be heading into town, or you won\u2019t be back before nightfall,\u201d he answered, giving his eldest a shallow nod of permission out of the sight of Little Joe.
\n~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen do you think Adam \u2018n Hoss will be back?\u201d Joe asked for the umpteenth time and stared out the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing your brothers,\u201d Ben said and pushed the door shut, \u201cthey will be back as soon as they can.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure that they don\u2019t want to miss out on Hop Sing\u2019s sugar cookies.\u201d He saw the glum expression that his youngest son wore and held out his hand to him. \u201cCome on, what say we have that game of checkers you\u2019ve been nagging me for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d You mean it?\u201d Joe\u2019s voice lightened at the prospect of playing his favorite game, even if he didn\u2019t quite understand all the rules.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll get the board out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled to himself as he watched Joe enthusiastically search for the game pieces. \u201cWhat do you say to a cup of hot chocolate?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you gonna make it, Pa?\u201d Joe asked, his tone a little worried.<\/p>\n

Stunned at the response Ben stopped in his tracks. \u201cWhy? Is there something wrong with the way I make hot chocolate?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe bit his top lip and tilted his head. \u201cNo, but it\u2019s not like how Hop Sing or Adam makes it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, and how does Adam make hot chocolate?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe puts in extra cream to make it fluffy and extra chocolate sprinkles on the top.\u00a0 Hot chocolate tastes better if it gots sprinkles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmmm, I see.\u201d Ben stifled a laugh at the solemn assertion, quietly pleased to realize that Adam had been spoiling his younger brother a bit.\u00a0 \u201cWell I guess if he and Hop Sing can make it that way, then I can too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean it? With extra chocolate?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith lots of extra chocolate,\u201d he promised, smiling as he watched his happy son turn his attention to readying the pieces for their game.<\/p>\n

It took far less time for Little Joe to set up the checkers than it did for Ben to make a pot of hot chocolate, and left to his own devices, it did not take long for Joe to find a new way to amuse himself.\u00a0 He had been waiting for an opportunity such as this to investigate all the possible ways in which Santa could make an entry into the house at night time without being seen or heard.\u00a0 He looked at the door and shook his head. That couldn’t be it.\u00a0 Pa always locked the door securely at night.\u00a0 He walked over to the windows and stared at them.\u00a0 That didn’t seem right either.\u00a0\u00a0 “He ain\u2019t gonna fit through there,\u201d the boy whispered.\u00a0 He started to go up the stairs, then the sight of the hearth prompted another idea.\u00a0 \u201cHey!\u201d he exclaimed and ran to look more closely.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, have you got the board ready?\u201d Ben asked and entered the main room carrying a tray laden with two cups and a plateful of cookies.<\/p>\n

He saw that the board had been set up, albeit missing a few pieces, which Ben eventually found under Joe\u2019s cushion.\u00a0 \u201cThe scallywag,\u201d he chortled. \u201cNo wonder he is getting good at beating his brothers; he starts out with more pieces.\u201d He searched the room for his curly headed son but could not find him anywhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAchoooooooooo,\u201d sneezed Joe as soot rained down upon him. He peered out from under the top of the fireplace, his face completely covered in soot. The only white parts left on his face were his teeth and the whites of his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d Ben exclaimed, hurrying over to pull his son out of the chimney before he could fall.\u00a0 \u201cHow on earth did you get up in there?\u201d Holding the small boy out at arms\u2019 length to prevent getting as covered in soot as he was, Ben set him down on the hearth with an order not to move as he went to grab a whisk broom and began dusting him off.\u00a0 Careful as he was, the black powder still managed to drift onto the floor and furniture.\u00a0 When he was finished, Joe was marginally more recognizable.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, don\u2019t,\u201d Little Joe protested, squirming as Ben pulled out a handkerchief and spit on it, trying to clean some of the soot off his face.<\/p>\n

It was obvious that stronger methods were going to be needed to get the boy clean again and Ben called out for Hop Sing.\u00a0 The small man came padding in, a questioning look upon his face, then he gasped in horror at seeing his nice clean floor all covered in black.\u00a0 \u201cWhat you do?\u00a0 Why all dirty?\u201d he demanded, pointing first to Joe, then to the floor, then back to Joe with a helpless wave of his hands.<\/p>\n

Ben sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI found Little Joe trying to climb up the chimney.\u00a0 Would you please get some hot water ready so I can give him a bath and get out some clean clothes for him, Hop Sing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa, I don\u2019t wanna take a bath!\u201d Joe whined.\u00a0 \u201cI took a bath already this week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, son, but I\u2019m afraid you have no choice,\u201d Ben said sternly.\u00a0 \u201cWhat were you doing anyway?\u00a0 How did you even get up there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI climbed up the logs, then used the cracks in \u2018tween the bricks to climb up the rest of the way,\u201d Joe told him matter-of-factly.\u00a0 \u201cI wanted to see how Santa gets in.\u00a0 You read that story to me about seein\u2019 Santa go up the chimney and I wanted to see.\u00a0 How does he fit up there, Pa?\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have much room and Adam says Santa Claus is bigger around than Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making a mental note to see that the chimney was cleaned and sealed of all cracks big enough to provide a handhold for small questing boys, Ben took a seat on the low coffee table. He studied the little face that was looking up at him; just sure that he had all the answers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater ready, Mr. Cartwright.\u00a0 I take boy upstairs now,\u201d Hop Sing announced, saving him from having to give an immediate answer. Ben was gratified that his cook had readied the water so quickly, but obviously he must have had some already on the boil for today was laundry day.\u00a0 Hop Sing shook his head at the mess and held out his hand to Little Joe.\u00a0 \u201cYou come now, wash up.\u00a0 Put dirty clothes in with rest.\u00a0 Chop chop!\u00a0 Hop Sing no have time to clean up after messy little boy all time!\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe took no notice of the cook\u2019s ire.\u00a0 He was still waiting for his answer and Ben decided to kill two birds with one stone.\u00a0 \u201cNever mind, Hop Sing.\u00a0 I\u2019ll give Joseph his bath.\u00a0 You just bring the water and take his dirty clothes downstairs.\u201d Hop Sing retreated to get the water, nodding and smiling as he watched Ben lift his son and carefully carry him up the stairs.<\/p>\n

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I\u2019m plenty clean now!\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe tried to push away his father\u2019s hand as it descended toward his face again with the soapy washrag.<\/p>\n

As he knelt next to the round washtub trying to keep a solid grip on the wet and soap-slippery child within it, Ben was growing exasperated.\u00a0 \u201cWill you please hold still?\u201d he demanded.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re almost done.\u00a0 I thought you told me you were going to be extra good this week because Santa is watching!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did, but he can\u2019t see me right now,\u201d Joe said complacently, smiling as Pa finally quit finding new places to scrub and lifted him out of the washtub to wrap him up in a large fluffy towel.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, really,\u201d Ben said, vigorously rubbing the towel against his son\u2019s body and hair.\u00a0 \u201cWhat makes you so sure of that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSanta has a magic mirror he watches all the kids through, but it don\u2019t work when you\u2019re in the bathtub or the outhouse,\u201d the boy told him.\u00a0 \u201cHoss told me so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mentally congratulating Hoss on his ingenuity, Ben reached for Little Joe\u2019s clean clothing and helped him get dressed again.\u00a0 \u201cI see,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Hoss is right I expect.\u00a0 Do you know what else Santa Claus uses magic for, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy\u2019s eyes widened with curiosity as he shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWhat, Pa?\u00a0 For the reindeers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they use magic to fly,\u201d Ben agreed, \u201cbut that\u2019s not what I was thinking of.\u00a0 When he checks his list over to make sure where all the good boys and girls live, Santa brings his reindeer and sleigh out to those children\u2019s houses, then he uses magic to get inside the house and fill the stockings without being seen.\u00a0 So, you see, Joseph, you don\u2019t need to check the chimney again to make sure he can fit because he can fit into any space.\u00a0 Windows or keyholes or chimneys, or whatever the house he\u2019s visiting happens to have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he\u2019s magic?\u201d Joe breathed in wonder.\u00a0 Ben nodded and pulled the boy up to sit in his lap as he pulled his boots back on for him.\u00a0 \u201cPa, how come Santa don\u2019t bring presents to grown-ups?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben thought about it for a few seconds.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure, son.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s because Santa Claus mostly brings candy and toys on Christmas and grown-ups would rather have other things, so we buy those things for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah!\u201d Joe cried, bouncing up and down in sudden excitement.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s why Adam and Hoss and I don\u2019t have to get each other presents.\u00a0 So we could get you\u2026\u201d He stopped short, clapping a hand over his mouth.<\/p>\n

Intrigued by what Little Joe had almost said, Ben asked, \u201cDid you boys get together to buy me something for Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe looked a little uncertain whether he should answer the question or not, but figured there was no harm in just that one little piece of information, so he nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t tell you what it is, though.\u00a0 You have to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben put on his best pout, the one expression guaranteed to make Little Joe burst into laughter.\u00a0 \u201cA whole week?\u201d he asked pathetically.\u00a0 \u201cI’m not sure I can wait that long.\u00a0 Can\u2019t I have just one little hint?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope,\u201d Little Joe said, hopping down off his father\u2019s lap and backing away, his face alight with the joy of keeping his wonderful secret from Pa.<\/p>\n

Ben waggled his eyebrows at the boy.\u00a0 \u201cSuppose I were to tickle it out of you?\u201d\u00a0 Joe shook his head and backed up a step.\u00a0 Ben reached a hand toward him and wiggled his fingers in the air.\u00a0 Little Joe giggled and clutched his tummy, laughing harder as his father inched closer to him.\u00a0 Ben took a sudden step forward and the boy shrieked in delight and took off, out the door, down the hall and stairs and straight into the kitchen yelling for Hop Sing to save him.<\/p>\n

When Ben came downstairs a minute or two later, carrying the washtub outside to empty its filthy contents, he found Little Joe sitting at the dining room table happily eating Christmas cookies with a fresh cup of cocoa. A second cup sat across the table from him, steam rising invitingly.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, Pa.\u00a0 Hop Sing made us a snack.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a grin, Ben went in to join him, wondering as he did so what sort of gift the boys were planning to give him.<\/p>\n

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
\n\u201cOh, Adam, Pa is just gonna bust when he sees this!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was holding up the framed drawing so they could both get another look at it, his face shining with delight.\u00a0 \u201cDid you know Mr. Winston was gonna do the picture like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was grinning from ear to ear.\u00a0 \u201cI asked him if it would be possible.\u00a0 That\u2019s why it cost so much.\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe he could do something this good though!\u00a0 It\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do you think we ought to hide it?\u00a0 You know of any place where Pa won\u2019t look, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to hide it under my bed.\u00a0 Pa would never go snooping through my things looking for Christmas presents and I\u2019m the only one he ever knocks before entering on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Little Joe?\u201d Hoss asked with a laugh.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s gonna want to see it too. How are you gonna keep him from spilling the beans to Pa before Christmas gets here?\u201d<\/p>\n

With a smile and a shrug, Adam popped one of the jellybeans his brother offered him into his mouth and tucked the picture carefully back into its protective leather wrapping.\u00a0 \u201cI expect I\u2019ll probably bribe him to keep his mouth shut.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss grinned back at him.\u00a0 That always seemed to be what they wound up doing when their baby brother was involved in a secret.\u00a0 He popped a handful of candy into his mouth and helped Adam secure the last of their supplies into the buckboard.\u00a0 Adam took the bag of sweets from him with a sigh and tucked it into his own coat pocket.\u00a0 \u201cHoss, you know Pa doesn\u2019t want you stuffing yourself with candy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss gave a mournful sigh as he watched the bag disappear into his brother\u2019s pocket.\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u00a0 He keeps saying it\u2019ll ruin my appetite, but it ain\u2019t never happened so far.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he\u2019s just hoping,\u201d Adam muttered wryly, climbing up into the driver\u2019s seat as Hoss scrambled up the other side.\u00a0 \u201cHey, did you remember to get that candy cane Little Joe asked for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight here.\u201d Hoss patted his own coat pocket.\u00a0 \u201cI got him a good one, all red and white striped, just like he likes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess that\u2019s everything then.\u201d\u00a0 Adam snapped the reins and the team started for home.\u00a0 He saw Hoss looking back at the package containing the present once again and couldn\u2019t help snatching another peek for himself.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s really going to love it, isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked almost bursting with happiness.\u00a0 \u201cSure is!\u00a0 I just can\u2019t wait until Christmas, Adam.\u00a0 This is gonna be the best one ever!\u201d
\n~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~<\/p>\n

The rest of the week passed by in a whirl of gaiety as the Cartwright family got ready for Christmas.\u00a0 The tree was selected and set up in the living room before the fireplace, where everyone who visited the house could easily admire it. Friends and neighbors came by for the big annual Christmas party where everyone helped decorate the tree and stayed late eating and laughing and exchanging favorite holiday memories. Then, two days before Christmas, a large unexpected snowfall provided plenty of opportunity for building forts and snowmen and taking sleigh rides.\u00a0 On Christmas Eve, the family came bustling into the house, rosy-cheeked and laughing from such a ride, the boys singing carols at the top of their lungs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing!\u201d Ben called out merrily.\u00a0 \u201cDo you have anything to eat for four starving men?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing came in, face wreathed in smiles as he helped the younger boys out of their hats, coats, mittens and mufflers.\u00a0 \u201cYes sir, Mr. Cartwright.\u00a0 Fix very good supper.\u00a0 Beef stew and buttered biscuits to warm up the inside.\u00a0 You come eat right away!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh goody, biscuits!\u201d chirped Little Joe.\u00a0 He made a run for the table and hopped up into his own special chair, which Adam had built with an adjustable seat which could be raised to accommodate the much shorter stature of his youngest brother.\u00a0 Joe reached eagerly for one of the fluffy white biscuits Hop Sing had just set in front of him, then stopped when he saw his father glaring at him, remembering that grace had not yet been said.\u00a0 \u201cCan I say grace, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

A little taken aback by the unusual request, Ben smiled and said, \u201cI\u2019m sure that would be very nice, Joseph. Go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The family folded their hands and bowed their heads, each one filled with curiosity to know what sort of blessing a six-year-old might deem appropriate.\u00a0 Little Joe squeezed his eyes shut and earnestly clasped his hands up to his chin.\u00a0 \u201cDear God, thanks for all the good stuff we have to eat.\u00a0 Pa says lots of poor families don\u2019t have nothing like we do for Christmas; no warm house or food or even presents.\u00a0 So I just wanted to say thanks and to ask you to tell your son Happy Birthday for me.\u00a0 I guess that\u2019s all, God.\u00a0 If I think of anything else I\u2019ll tell you later when I\u2019m going to bed.\u00a0 Amen.\u201d\u00a0 He opened his eyes and looked up at his father.\u00a0 \u201cWas that okay, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben, Hoss and Adam wore identically warm smiles as they each added an \u2018amen\u2019 to Joe\u2019s grace.\u00a0 \u201cThat was perfect, Little Joe,\u201d his father told him.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve never heard a better one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dinner was polished off rapidly, then the boys all gathered around the fireplace as their father took his customary place in the red leather chair and read to them.\u00a0 First he read the folded and creased newspaper clipping of Clement C. Moore\u2019s poem, \u201cA Visit From St. Nicholas\u201d, then the original Christmas story from the old worn family bible.\u00a0 As he closed the pages, Ben kissed each of his sons on the forehead, even Adam who for once did not shy away from the gesture, and sent them off to bed.\u00a0 \u201cSanta Claus will be here tonight,\u201d he reminded Little Joe,\u00a0 \u201cso I want all three of you to get right to bed so he doesn\u2019t catch you awake when he arrives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, Pa,\u201d the boys chorused as they raced up the stairs in a thundering herd of laughter, giving lie to the fact that they were so far apart in age.\u00a0 Ben waited a few minutes, then began to do a mental list of all the places he had hidden the gifts for each of his sons.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome in here, you two,\u201d whispered Adam as he and his brothers reached the hallway leading to their bedrooms.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get our gift wrapped up and downstairs tomorrow before Pa comes down.\u201d\u00a0 He pulled the beautiful framed picture out from its hiding place beneath his bed and they all admired the large drawing together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got some fancy colored paper we can wrap it in, Adam,\u201d Hoss volunteered.\u00a0 He disappeared into his own room for a minute then came back carrying a very peculiar looking piece of wrapping paper.<\/p>\n

Adam took it from him and grinned.\u00a0 \u201cAre these candy wrappers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYup,\u201d he said proudly.\u00a0 \u201cI saved up every last one of them fancy wrappers the bon bons come in, both from the ones I ate myself and from everybody at school, then I pasted them to a sheet of packing paper I got from the general store.\u00a0 You think it\u2019s big enough?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it ought to be just about perfect if we paste it together around the edges of the frame,\u201d Adam decided.\u00a0 \u201cThe back of the frame will show, but who cares about that anyway? We just want the picture to be covered until Pa has a chance to open it up.\u201d\u00a0 He carefully stretched the paper, signaling Hoss to grab the other end, then Adam reached over to his desk and pulled out a small pot of glue, which he used to seal the corners of the paper together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWish we had a ribbon or something to hold it on tight,\u201d Hoss worried.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m afraid that the paper will fall off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a ribbon!\u201d Little Joe announced excitedly.\u00a0 \u201cWait a minute, I\u2019ll show you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smoothed the paper into place.\u00a0 \u201cI think Pa will like it and I know he\u2019ll be surprised to get a present like this from us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe came racing back in and flung himself up onto Adam\u2019s bed, holding out a bright red ribbon, complete with a previously tied bow.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s from Mama\u2019s best hat,\u201d he said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cI kept it for her after it dropped off after church one day.\u00a0 She said she was gonna sew it back on, but she never did.\u201d<\/p>\n

All three boys wore very sad faces for a moment, and Hoss and Little Joe\u2019s lower lips both wobbled a bit, but they held strong and didn\u2019t allow the tears to fall.\u00a0 Adam reached over to stroke a hand over his baby brother\u2019s curly hair.\u00a0 \u201cI think this is just the touch we needed.\u201d\u00a0 Taking extra special care, he pulled the ribbon around the package and pinned the two loose ends together around the back.\u00a0 The package looked very festive with its fancy decorations and all three of them felt happier looking at it.\u00a0 Adam pulled out a small sheet of paper and carefully wrote an inscription on it, then signed all three of their names to it and pasted it to a corner of the paper.\u00a0 \u201cThere, now I just have to get it under the tree without Pa seeing it.\u201d
\n~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
\nChristmas morning dawned bright and beautiful and the three boys had no trouble awakening in time to get downstairs and stow their precious package beneath the tree before their father came down.\u00a0 When he did finally join them, he was greeted with a trio of bright smiling faces and a loud chorus of \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas, boys!\u201d\u00a0 He hugged them all and added.\u00a0 \u201cWell, what should we do first?\u00a0 Should we do the chores?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid \u2018em, Pa.\u201d Adam smiled, playing along with the annual joke.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, then maybe we should have our breakfast,\u201d Ben suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t Pa, Hop Sing says it won\u2019t be ready for a spell,\u201d Hoss added, grinning brightly.<\/p>\n

Ben pretended to ponder deeply.\u00a0 \u201cWell, then I can\u2019t think of a single thing we should be doing right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe tugged impatiently on the sleeve of his father\u2019s bathrobe.\u00a0 \u201cI know!\u00a0 I know!\u201d<\/p>\n

Swinging the boy up into his arms, Ben smiled and said, \u201cWhat should we do, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe presents, Pa!\u00a0 We have to see what Santa Claus left us!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, that\u2019s a marvelous idea,\u201d Ben agreed, as though he had just now remembered them.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, boys.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see what\u2019s under the tree!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYippee!\u201d squealed Joe.<\/p>\n

Crows of delight and exclamations of thanks permeated the living room, melding with the sounds of shredding and crinkling as the boys tore through the paper in anticipation of what lay beneath.\u00a0 Adam had held Ben\u2019s gift back, making sure it was out of sight behind him until the rest had been unwrapped.\u00a0 Ben had opened a few small trinkets left for him by Roy Coffee, Paul Martin and a couple of other close friends, but Christmas morning was for the children as far as he was concerned and he was not at all disturbed by the disproportionate size of his gift pile compared with his sons\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady?\u201d Adam asked, when the last gift had been opened. Hoss lay down his new pocketknife and Joe surrendered his bucket of wooden soldiers regretfully, but then began bouncing up and down eagerly as he remembered what would come next.\u00a0 Adam stood up and passed the large package into his surprised father\u2019s hands.\u00a0 \u201cMerry Christmas, Pa.\u00a0 From all three of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Touched that they had remembered him, Ben accepted the package.\u00a0 He had forgotten about the hinting he had intercepted in his own preparations for the holiday.\u00a0 He fingered the bright red ribbon with a melancholy smile, recognizing it for what it was, then touched Little Joe\u2019s rosy cheek with his fingertips.\u00a0 He checked the card, and smiled to see Adam\u2019s fine penmanship and the words he had printed inside.\u00a0 \u2018To the best father in the whole world.\u00a0 We love you. Adam, Hoss and Little Joe.\u2019\u00a0 \u201cThank you, boys.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s brow crinkled in confusion as he looked at the peculiar wrapping paper on his present, but then he realized what it was and grinned, patting Hoss on the shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t you gonna open it up?\u201d Hoss asked, concerned that it was taking so long for his father to get to the surprise inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, of course.\u201d\u00a0 Ben carefully removed the paper and gasped as he beheld what lay beneath.\u00a0 The artist had drawn each of his late wives inside of a separate cloud-like frame above and slightly behind the image of each of their sons.\u00a0 He had captured the boys in a captivatingly life-like manner, sitting together and smiling, Adam and Hoss flanking Little Joe.\u00a0 \u201cThis is\u2026oh, boys.\u00a0 This is extraordinary!\u00a0 How?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe took the pictures of our mothers in to Mr. Winston in town, Pa,\u201d Adam explained.\u00a0 \u201cJoe had asked me if I could have him paint a picture of the three of us and Hoss thought a picture of Ma, Inger and Marie would be better.\u00a0 So, I asked Mr. Winston if he could sort of do both.\u00a0 We pooled all the money we\u2019ve earned over the last few months and, well, here it is.\u00a0 Do you like it, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears sprang to his eyes and fell unashamedly as Ben smiled and looked back and forth from the portrait to his three children.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the most wonderful present anyone could have ever given me.\u00a0 Thank you, boys.\u201d\u00a0 He lay down the picture carefully on the coffee table and hugged his sons tightly.\u00a0 He loved the gift, true enough, but it was the knowledge that they had given of themselves, of their time, money, creativity, and most of all, their love, to make this present happen that meant the most to him.\u00a0 \u201cI love you all and I know your mothers are as proud of you right this moment as I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love you too, Pa,\u201d the boys told him.<\/p>\n

It was the beginning of a very happy Christmas day.<\/p>\n

The End.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:<\/strong> Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright, Marie Cartwright<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 It’s Christmas time on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 What are the boys planning to get Ben for Christmas?<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (5,785 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":5835,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1009,23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brothers","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-1009-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/85"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}