![\"34247886vg.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/up.picr.de\/34247886vg.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cPa, what\u2019s this? Coal?\u201d Hoss was peeking into a canvas bag that he had uncovered while going through crates in the store room looking for Christmas decorations. The husky boy chortled. \u201cYa always tol\u2019 us ya\u2019d put coal in our stockin\u2019s iffn we wasn\u2019t good, but I didn\u2019t really think ya had some?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Ben paused from his rummaging. \u201cOh that.\u201d His father chuckled and shook a finger at his middle son. \u201cNot that I haven\u2019t been tempted on a few occasions, mind you. No, that coal has a story all it\u2019s own, right, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n The dark-haired young man strolled over to look into the bag he had not seen in a long time. \u201cYeah, but I don\u2019t remember it all that well. I was only three, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey! I\u2019m fer-eee!\u201d Little Joe forced the pinky finger of his left hand down with fingers from his right to get the desired number.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right, little buddy.\u201d Adam ruffled his youngest brother\u2019s hair. \u201cCan you believe I was once small like you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned and shook his head. His brothers had always seemed big to him. \u201cLet me see! Let me see!\u201d Joe grabbed at the bag Hoss was holding.<\/p>\n \u201cJust look or you\u2019ll be a mess.\u201d Ben warned. \u201cYou show up inside with your hands all black and we\u2019ll both hear about it from your mother!\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe jerked his hands back from the bag, but had his nose practically in it to get a good view.<\/p>\n Ben picked up the crate in front of him. \u201cI\u2019ve got most of the decorations here. Adam, can you get this one?\u201d He pointed to another crate nearby. \u201cHoss, you\u2019d better leave the coal out here, but come open up this trunk.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss set the bag aside and did as his father instructed. Once the lid of the trunk was lifted, the boy could see a well-worn and yellowed quilt lying to one side.<\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cYou can bring that quilt inside and I\u2019ll tell you about the coal.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss scrunched up his face and peered up at his father. \u201cYou really want me ta bring in this old, raggedy thing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, that was mine! Don\u2019t make fun!\u201d Adam teased.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Adam.\u201d Hoss looked at his brother with chagrin.<\/p>\n Ben smiled knowingly at his oldest son. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Hoss. I think your brother is just giving you a hard time. Oh, I know it\u2019s definitely seen better days, but the quilt and the coal are tied together. You know, I\u2019m not sure your mother has heard this part of our trip west. Come on. Let\u2019s get these things inside.\u201d<\/p>\n Minutes later, the family was sitting together in the living room. Marie sorted through decorations as Ben began to relate that time of his and Adam\u2019s lives. Memories from almost thirteen years prior came flooding back.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam and I had set out on our journey west. You\u2019re right, son\u201d, Ben glanced at his oldest, \u201cyou were three by the time we got to Reading, Pennsylvania. The coal business was beginning to boom. Big cities like Philadelphia and New York were experiencing tremendous growth and coal was a much needed commodity.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben paused to sip the coffee that Marie had prepared. Little Joe sat contentedly beside his mother munching a cookie while the older boys remained focused on their father.<\/p>\n \u201cI had saved some money before we left, but also knew I\u2019d have to work along the way. When we stopped to pick up supplies in Reading, I heard some men say that the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company was looking for men to captain the barges on the Schuylkill River. I told the man doing the hiring about my experience on the Wanderer, and he immediately offered me a job.\u201d Ben stopped to look at Adam and sighed heavily. \u201cIt meant leaving you for a week at a time and only seeing you briefly on Sundays. It was one of the hardest things I\u2019ve ever done, but Dutch\u2019s wife was willing to care for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cI do remember Mr. and Mrs. Jaager and the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not surprised. She was like a mother to you for several months. Took care of you like one of her own children.\u201d Ben gave his son a tentative smile. \u201cDon\u2019t know what I would have done without the Jaagers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDutch?\u201d Hoss queried.<\/p>\n \u201cDutch Jaager was one of the hands on my boat.\u201d Ben added. \u201dPeople who come from Holland are often called Dutch; so it was an easy nickname for Mr. Jaager.\u201d<\/p>\n Impatient because he wasn\u2019t hearing the part of the story he wanted, Little Joe piped up. \u201cBag of coal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting to that, son. It was dirty, hard work for the hands on the coal barges and at Christmas time I managed to negotiate to get the holiday off. Granted I had my own interests in the forefront of my mind because I was determined to spend Christmas day with Adam. My men were a tough lot who were just trying to take care of their families and hoping that someday they\u2019d have a better life. I told my supervisor to take the men\u2019s pay out of my earnings when at first he refused to give them the holiday. In the end, though, he paid us all, even for Christmas day. The Jaagers didn\u2019t have much; so I got a ham and a few small toys for their children and a book for you.\u201d Ben cocked his head toward Adam. \u201cIt was a meager Christmas as far as gifts were concerned, but one full of warm friendship and good cheer.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking befuddled, Hoss asked, \u201cPa, I still don\u2019t get it \u2018bout the coal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yes, the coal. Well, I worked with those men for some months and then in the spring, it was time for us to move on. My last day, the men handed me that bag of coal to remember them by, one piece for each man. We all had a good laugh. They didn\u2019t have money for a gift, nor would I have wanted one. I was just thankful for their good service, and then dear Mrs. Jaager had made that little quilt for Adam.\u201c Ben pointed to the pile of patchwork sitting on the coffee table. \u201cShe wanted him to be snug and warm on our travels. Wonderful people, the Jaagers. Needless to say, that quilt got lots of use over the next years.\u201d Ben stared off into the distance musing as the memories played in his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI loved hearing this. What a wonderful reminder to remember the good people who come into our lives.\u201d Marie smiled at her husband \u201cLike our neighbors, the Connellys, don\u2019t you think mon cher?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, indeed.\u201d Ben turned back toward the older boys. \u201cWhich is why your mother and I have decided that tomorrow before we go cut our tree, we will take a basket of food to the Connellys. They are good neighbors and we have plenty to share.\u201d<\/p>\n At the mention of getting the Christmas tree, Little Joe jumped off the settee and began clapping and shouting. \u201cGet the twee! Pwesents!\u201d His excitement drew laughter and smiles and an explanation that he must wait only a few more days for St. Nicholas to come.<\/p>\n Hoss grew thoughtful after the commotion of Joe\u2019s outburst died down. He knew that the Connellys had two boys, one a year or so older than Joe and one younger. Everything he had seen of the family bore out what his father had said about them. They were good people who worked hard, but had little to spare. After hearing his father\u2019s story, it became clear to Hoss what he must do for the Connelly boys.<\/p>\n Later, Ben noticed that his middle son had been unusually quiet during dinner and decided to check on him at bedtime. He found the boy\u2019s bedroom door ajar and his son on his knees by his bed. Hoss\u2019 head was bowed. Clutched together in the large boy\u2019s prayerful hands were two small toy horses that he had received as Christmas gifts when he was much younger.<\/p>\n \u201cLord, I know them Con-ley boys probly won\u2019t get much fer Christmas; so iffen ya think itta\u2019d be ok, I\u2019ll give these to \u2018em. Please help Pa not ta be mad at me. I know he gave \u2018em to me back when we didn\u2019t have so much neither. Like Pa said, we got plenty now. You done blessed us real good and I thank ya. Please help us all ta have a real good Christmas. Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n The boy\u2019s heartfelt prayer warmed Ben\u2019s heart. A knock at the door caused Hoss to draw the horses tightly against his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss? May I come in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood with his hand on the doorknob. \u201cYou ok? You seemed kind of quiet at supper. Sometimes the excitement of the holiday can get one a bit out of sorts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine — I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou guess?\u201d Ben moved to sit on the bed beside his boy.<\/p>\n Hoss got up and sat down with one leg bent on his bed, however, he was unable to meet his father\u2019s eyes. \u201cPa, do ya s\u2019pose it would be all right iffen I gave these to Jimmy and Johnny Connelly?\u201d The boy hesitated. \u201cUh — I mean- these horses are real special an\u2019 all, but I don\u2019t play with \u2018em much anymore and maybe they might like \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben reached out and gently lifted his boy\u2019s chin. \u201cI think that would be a wonderful idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 blue eyes grew bright and he grinned. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, really, because it comes from right here.\u201d Ben tapped his big son on the chest.<\/p>\n The boy\u2019s head dropped again, this time embarrassed by his father\u2019s praise. Hoss then held out the toys to his father. \u201cDo ya think Mama could put a ribbon on \u2018em or somethin\u2019 and put them in the basket for the Connellys?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe would be pleased to do that for you.\u201d Ben reached around and pulled his son close, something he realized that he had done all too little of late.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHappy to do it, son.\u201d Ben rose and looked down with pride on his boy. \u201cTomorrow will be a busy day getting ready for Christmas. Sweet dreams, son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNight, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Midmorning the following day, the Cartwrights headed out to cut their Christmas tree by way of the Connelly place. Little Joe sat between his mother and father in the buckboard. Adam was atop Beauty and Hoss on his pony, Copper. When they arrived, Ben got down from the buckboard to deliver the basket to the door of the Connelly\u2019s neat, but humble home.<\/p>\n \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d Ben called out when Dan Connelly opened the door.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright — uh — good to see you — Merry Christmas.\u201d Connelly nodded toward Marie and the boys.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were in the area, on the way to cut our Christmas tree and just wanted to drop this off for your family.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben held out the basket as Mrs. Connelly appeared in the doorway wiping her hands on her apron. Two boys peeked out from behind their mother\u2019s skirt. Not wanting to wound Dan Connelly\u2019s pride, Ben tried to downplay that they had gone out of their way on Christmas Eve. Marie waved from the buckboard and offered her holiday greetings. Mrs. Connelly waved back and then lifted the cloth that covered the basket spotting the toys among the baked goods. Hoss couldn\u2019t see the woman\u2019s glistening eyes, but heard her sincere words of gratitude. The warm feeling he had in his middle told him that he had done the right thing. What he didn\u2019t know was that his father had taken the time to clean and wipe down the wooden horses with an oil rag which hid most of the wear and that Marie had tied each with bright red bow.<\/p>\n Though their gifts were given with the best of intentions, Ben could sense the awkwardness of the moment. \u201cWell, we\u2019d better be on our way. The boys are anxious to get the tree. Have a Merry Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n There were lots of waves and Christmas wishes given by both families as the Cartwrights took their leave.<\/p>\n A while later, they reached a large stand of pines. Little Joe was given the task of selecting the tree. Adam hoisted him onto his shoulders while Hoss carried the saw. Ben and Marie watched as their sons tramped around in patches of snow. Adam told Joe that the tree should not be much taller than his raised arms. Once the \u2018perfect\u2019 tree was found, Little Joe was brought down and Adam sawed off the young Ponderosa pine. The three boys worked together to drag it back to where their parents were waiting, singing a carol as they trudged along. Ben helped them lift their burden onto the buckboard. A light snow began to fall before they made it back to the house putting them all in the mood for their Christmas preparations.<\/p>\n Christmas morning, the large pine gleamed with lighted candles and filled the living room with a wonderful fragrance. There was happy chaos as the Cartwright family opened their gifts. Marie had insisted that all the men in her life got new shirts and ties. Her smile beamed out over the room as she fingered the emerald necklace from her husband that now hung around her neck. The older boys also got new boots for their rapidly growing feet. Adam received a pair of polished saddlebags and Little Joe got a top and a book.<\/p>\n Ben took special notice of Hoss as he opened the new bridle for his pony. The boy sat running his hand over the smooth leather until he realized that his father was watching him. There was more than just the physical connection when the gazes of father and son aligned. There had been a change in Hoss brought about in part by a dusty bag of coal and an old quilt. Ben knew his son had experienced the true meaning of Christmas, giving something precious for the joy and well-being of another. Though Hoss was still a child in years, it pleased Ben to know that another of his sons had taken an important step toward the transition into manhood. That was one of the greatest Christmas blessings he could have received.<\/p>\n Click here for the 2018 Advent Calendar – Day 8 – The House Jack Built<\/span><\/a> by Sibylle<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n