Summary:\u00a0 A vignette of Christmas on the trail
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (985 words)<\/p>\n
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Bonanza <\/p>\n A Prairie Christmas <\/p>\n The Wagon Master circled the ten wagons as the December sun hovered on the western horizon of the cold winter-swept prairie.\u00a0 The train would stay here for a time to allow the people to enjoy Christmas.\u00a0 For all those heading into their dreams in the west, this would be the most unique yuletide holiday they would ever experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben, with young Adam\u2019s help, had positioned his wagon and was caring for the horses.\u00a0 Inger was busy setting up their camp for the reprieve from following the sun from dawn to dusk.\u00a0 She was thinking of ways to make the first Christmas special for her new husband and stepson. \u00a0She would begin\u00a0julafton<\/em>\u00a0(Christmas Eve) with\u00a0julbord<\/em>\u00a0(dinner) followed by the giving of small gifts (she would save other gifts for the American celebration on Christmas morning).\u00a0 The advent wreath would be on the table.\u00a0 She would serve\u00a0fica\u00a0<\/em>(coffee),\u00a0glogg<\/em>\u00a0(spiced wine), gingerbread cookies and\u00a0lussekatter<\/u><\/em>\u00a0(saffron buns). Childhood memories of traditional Swedish Christmases danced with the new traditions she was learning with Ben and Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt will be a different Christmas this year; not having a tree and decorations,\u201d said Ben as he unloaded furnishings from the wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you have Christmas trees in Sweden?\u201d asked Adam as he sat out chairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Inger replied, \u201cYes.\u00a0 The\u00a0julgran\u00a0<\/em>is the centerpiece of the home.\u00a0 It is decorated with ornaments that reflect the history and traditions of the family. Some are very elaborate.\u00a0 Some are simple. Each year, new things are added to the tree.\u00a0 They are always very beautiful and very special.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking at the vast expanse of prairie, there was not a single tree to be seen \u2013 just miles and miles of golden prairie grass and the ubiquitous tumbleweeds that bounced along in the evening breeze.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After dinner, lanterns lit up the circle of canvass.\u00a0 The wagon master held a small Christmas Eve service, relating the Christmas story and offering prayers of thanksgiving for the safe travel so far.\u00a0 They all sang carols before going back to their own camps.\u00a0 \u00a0By the cozy fire, Ben settled into a chair, lighting his worn and battered pipe.\u00a0 He muttered as he labored to enjoy a decent draw from the thing.\u00a0 Adam curled up with a book of Christmas poetry.\u00a0 Inger settled into her rocker and began knitting.\u00a0 She loved to knit, enjoying the way the yarn curled about the needles, turning straight thread into a lovely garment.\u00a0 As her needles clicked softly she again thought about more traditional Christmases of the past.\u00a0 Her vision trailed to the tumbleweeds that had lodged underneath the wagon.\u00a0 A strange idea began to tease in her mind.\u00a0 \u201cWell, why not,\u201d she thought.\u00a0 \u201cThis is a time of adventure and new things.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She moved to Adam whispering her thoughts in his ears.\u00a0 He smiled at her words.\u00a0 They began to pull the big, round weeds from under the wagon.\u00a0 Ben was curious and soon joined in the endeavor.\u00a0 Other people around the camp were also curious and, soon, the whole camp was busy.\u00a0 Tumbleweeds were put together, their numerous prickly branches interlocking to form a unique tower. The women dug into their sewing and needlework bags to find bits and pieces of this and that to make baubles to ornament the tree.\u00a0 Buttons, ribbon, brightly colored yarn woven into garlands of vivid hues and tied into lovely bows.\u00a0 When it was finished, the diamonds of the stars of the Christmas Eve sky created a sparkling testament to the resilience of a courageous people who honored their Creator\u2019s birth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Christmas morning dawned bright and glorious.\u00a0 Children, as children everywhere do, rushed to the \u201ctree\u201d to find the treasures Santa had left for them.\u00a0 He did not disappoint them.\u00a0 Mounds of gifts wrapped in a variety of coverings lay waiting for their eager discovery.\u00a0 Amazingly, not a child was forgotten.\u00a0 Every man and woman received gifts as well.\u00a0 The wagon master was not forgotten.\u00a0 Santa blessed the wise and good man with several tokens that bespoke the appreciation of those who dreams and lives were in his hands.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then there was the feast.\u00a0 The women worked miracles with what they had in their supplies: cakes, cookies, pies and pastries were spread on the several tables that were put end to end.\u00a0 The men had been out hunting and brought in birds and rabbits and deer.\u00a0 Delicious aromas drifted out over the prairie, along with the mingled laughter of all the people in the train.\u00a0 The celebration lasted into the night.\u00a0 More hymns and carols were sung.\u00a0 To end it all they joined and raised their voices in a haunting version of \u201cSilent Night.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the Cartwright camp, a satisfied silence and thankful joy covered the little family.\u00a0 Ben sat in his chair, a beautiful, new hand-carved meerschaum pipe in his hand.\u00a0 Sweet aroma and tobacco smoke curled from the bowl up into the heavens in a benediction of thankfulness.\u00a0 How had his remarkable Inger procured such a beautiful thing?\u00a0 As he watched the smoke wafting upward, he thought of his past and how it had brought him to this moment in the middle of a vast expanse of unknown land.\u00a0 How remarkable his life was \u2013 and was going to be, he was sure.\u00a0 He looked at the strange tumbleweed creation in the center of the camp and thought how it truly typified the spirit of the diverse people who were united for a time on a great voyage of discovery.\u00a0 Yes, there had been sorrow and tears, but there had been challenge and newness.\u00a0 There were surprises and blessings \u2013 and who knew what else was to come?\u00a0 He smiled, drew deeply on the burning pip, and thought, indeed, this was a very Merry Christmas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n From the cover of the album, Christmas on the Ponderosa<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n~ *~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
\n* Day 2 *<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>(Pipes Are Smoked and Yarn Is Spun)<\/strong><\/p>\n