{"id":6179,"date":"1999-12-15T20:26:18","date_gmt":"1999-12-16T01:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6179"},"modified":"2026-02-17T21:30:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T02:30:45","slug":"the-star-of-the-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6179","title":{"rendered":"The Star of the Show (by Wrangler)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 The town’s Christmas pageant brings down the curtain in epic proportions.\u00a0 Will there be Peace on Earth?\u00a0 With Little Joe Cartwright nothing ever goes quite as expected.<\/p>\n

Rating: K WC 4300<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Star of the Show\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright descended the staircase<\/strong> and cast an amused smile towards the dining room. Sitting there were his two eldest sons and they seemed to be very amused themselves. Laughter filled the room as Ben made his way to the head of the table and sat down for breakfast.<\/p>\n

\u201cMorning boys,\u201d Ben addressed Adam and Hoss. \u201cWhat\u2019s got you two in such a jovial mood? Finally getting into the Christmas spirit?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss grinned and handed the coffee pot to his father, \u201cIt\u2019s Little Joe, Pa\u2014just wait until you see him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, he\u2019s in the kitchen with Hop Sing. If you listen closely you will hear him fussing,\u201d Adam laughed.<\/p>\n

Ben looked towards the entrance way to the kitchen and then he heard the loud protests of his youngest son.<\/p>\n

\u201cOuch! Hop Sing you just stuck me with another pin\u2014I ain\u2019t doing this! Take this get-up off me right now!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hold still, Little Joe\u2014you not get stuck!\u201d Hop Sing yelled at the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOuch\u2014dad burn it\u2014you done it to me again! What are you trying to do, get blood all over my costume?\u201d Joe continued fussing at the cook.<\/p>\n

\u201cHit you with fry pan if you yell one more at me! Now take in breath\u2014have to tie rope now to see if fits!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did I let myself get talked into this mess?\u201d Joe argued and sucked in his breath so Hop Sing could finish his alterations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2014that work. You done\u2014take off and Hop Sing get all ready for you!\u201d Hop Sing announced, exhausted from battling the seventeen year old.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait!\u201d Ben called into the kitchen and turned and winked towards Adam and Hoss. \u201cCome on in here, Joseph\u2014before you take it off! We want to see your costume!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cForget it!\u201d Joe shouted from the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make us come in there!\u201d Adam yelled across the table.<\/p>\n

Joe slowly made it out of the kitchen, a frown creasing his face knowing what was coming next. He knew he looked quite ridiculous and would now have to watch the glee on his family\u2019s face as they watched his misery. He stopped at the head of the table and looked over at his father. Joe was dressed in a linen material from head to foot. There was a bright braided cord of gold around his waist and he held in his hand a shepherd\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on\u2014get it out of your system\u2014laugh at me!\u201d Joe insisted as he shot a look at each of his brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look very nice\u2014a real shepherd, Joseph,\u201d Ben replied and had to bite at his bottom lip to keep from bursting out with laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2014Little Bo Peep\u2014have you lost something\u2014like\u2014um sheep?\u201d Hoss called across the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch it, Hoss\u2014the kid has a staff\u2014he might use it on your head!\u201d Adam warned and then chuckled at the expression on Joe\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave I been humiliated enough yet, Pa?\u201d Joe asked as he clenched his hand-carved staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2014you can go ahead and get out of your costume. Thanks for being a good sport,\u201d Ben replied and patted Joe\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

Joe turned, rather indignantly and marched into the kitchen where he hastily pulled off his get-up and handed it to the cook. He then moved back to the dining table and took a seat next to Hoss. Pouring a cup of coffee, Ben handed it over to his son and Joe nodded his gratitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2014dress rehearsal\u2019s today, huh?\u201d Ben asked Joe, hoping to improve on the boy\u2019s mood.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2014dad gone it\u2014I didn\u2019t want to do any of this! Becky got me into this, then she goes off with Jim Brady and starts flirting with him! I should just bow out while I still can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2014you can\u2019t do that, Joseph. You know Reverend Fletcher has a lot vested in this play and the profits are all going to the new children\u2019s home. Just go do your part and then be a bit wiser next time,\u201d Ben insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWiser? You playing a wise man next year?\u201d Adam asked, still trying to get the better of his little brother. He had to admit that Joe going up on the stage at the Piper Opera House tickled him. Of all the people in Virginia City who had natural talent, his little brother had been chosen to play the lead shepherd. What made it even more amusing was that the boy had an acute case of stage fright.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne more joke from you, Adam, and I am gonna deck you\u2014I mean it!\u201d Joe warned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy so touchy, Joe? You know how much you like performing!\u201d Adam teased on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate it! I always have. You all remember what happened when I was nine?\u201d Joe asked and shot a look around the table. Ben, Hoss, and Adam all rolled their eyes at the same time. They knew what was coming.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot the third grade play story again!\u201d Hoss sighed and stared at his father for a reprieve.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was up there on that stage\u2014just ready to belt out that stupid song\u2014\u201d Joe started his story, ignoring the expression of protest on his family members’ faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere we go again\u2014this is what, the millionth time now?\u201d Adam fussed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen\u2014it happened\u2014I stepped just a little too close to the end of the stage\u2014and BAM! I fell flat on my face\u2014right on Abigail Jones\u2019 big feet. I thought I was gonna die of embarrassment. It was then that I swore I would never ever in life do that again!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben patiently waited for Joe\u2019s rendition of his most embarrassing moment in life to finish before he cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2014Joseph\u2014just like I told you\u2014what was it\u2014eight years ago? You have to get back up on that stage and conquer your fear. It\u2019s taken you awhile\u2014but I am sure you can do it just fine. Besides\u2014you only have one line!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2014one stupid line\u2014and for that I have to wear that idiotic costume! I ought to smack Jim with my staff for stealing Becky from me\u2014in fact\u2014I ought to smack her too!\u201d Joe fumed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d Hoss shot in and then started laughing again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, little shepherd boy\u2014it\u2019s about time for you to get on your camel and head out for rehearsal isn\u2019t it?\u201d Adam asked, hoping for some peace for a change.<\/p>\n

Joe leapt from his chair and started over towards Adam, having had enough teasing for one morning. Ben\u2019s hand was a little quicker, though. He grabbed the rowdy shepherd and pulled him back.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough\u2014Joseph! Now Adam\u2019s right\u2014you get your costume and head on into town. You made a commitment and you are going to go through with it. Now head on out,\u201d Ben said sternly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I fall off that damn stage\u2014\u201d Joe muttered and felt his father\u2019s hand jerking him back towards the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe WHAT stage?\u201d Ben asked raising his eyebrows for effect.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm\u2014the\u2014ah\u2014well\u2014gotta go, Pa\u2014don\u2019t want to keep them all waiting!\u201d Joe smiled and broke his father\u2019s grip and headed into the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2014at least we will have some peace to finish our meal,\u201d Adam stated and reached for more coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeace on Earth good will towards men,\u201d Hoss laughed. \u201cSee? I could\u2019ve done Joe\u2019s line!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw\u2014we wouldn\u2019t have enough linen for your costume!\u201d Adam grinned and felt the kick of Hoss\u2019 boot under the table.<\/p>\n

Hearing the back door to the kitchen slam, Ben turned towards his sons and said, \u201cThat sounded like one angry shepherd to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss laughed at their brother\u2019s plight and the thought of him having to wear his costume in front of the whole town come Saturday night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Assembled in the front row of Piper\u2019s Opera House<\/strong> was the entire cast of Reverend Fletcher\u2019s Christmas Play. There were twenty-five young men and women of the congregation present and all decked out in their appropriate costumes. Joe\u2019s latest love interest, Becky Harmon sat next to Jim Brady and seemed to be whispering in his ear and ignoring the reverend\u2019s instructions to be quiet. Joe didn\u2019t miss the fact that the girl who had coerced him into being in the play was flaunting her affection for Jim Brady. But, Joe did have to laugh when he stared at Jim\u2019s costume. He was dressed in a gaudy arrangement of purple, gold, and blue velvets. Joe, though he wasn\u2019t thrilled about looking like a shepherd, was happy that he had avoided the choice of head wise man. As far as he was concerned, Jim looked like a sissy boy and it amused Joe immensely.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow\u2014we are fortunate that Miss Abigail Jones has agreed to help us with our final run through of this play. I want you all to give her a big round of applause,\u201d Reverend Fletcher announced as Joe\u2019s former teacher appeared on the stage.<\/p>\n

Joe shrunk down in his chair and covered his face with his hands. He wondered if life could get any worse than it was at that moment. Before him stood the teacher on whose feet he had fallen onto in the third grade. Joe prayed that she wouldn\u2019t remember.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you\u2014I am so pleased to be able to help this worthy cause,\u201d Miss Abigail bowed to the applause the cast gave her. It was then she spied Joe Cartwright. \u201cWhy \u2014Little Joe Cartwright! Is that you?\u201d she called down to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2014I am a shepherd,\u201d Joe remarked sarcastically.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so happy to see you trying to make up for that awful performance you had so many years ago!\u201d Abigail continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomebody kill me,\u201d Joe whispered to one of the other shepherds to his left.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right\u2014let\u2019s all get up here on the stage and run our lines, shall we?\u201d Reverend Fletcher said to the group.<\/p>\n

Joe made a quick move over to Becky as the others were stepping up on the stage. He grabbed her arm and whispered to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2014what\u2019s the deal anyhow? You wanted me to do this play with you\u2014and now you are all over Jim!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2014Joe\u2014you know I like both of you\u2014don\u2019t make a scene out here,\u201d Becky replied and flashed her eyelashes at the young man coyly.<\/p>\n

Jim stepped back and grabbed Becky\u2019s arm and turned towards Joe and said, \u201cShe\u2019s my girl\u2014now go tend to your sheep, Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not very wise for a wise man!\u201d Joe fumed as he stepped towards Jim.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough! You boys better go to neutral corners\u2014we have a play to put on!\u201d Reverend Fletcher stepped in to break up the heated battle between the two.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2014let\u2019s go, Becky!\u201d Jim said and pulled Becky up on stage with him.<\/p>\n

Reverend Fletcher could see the look on Joe Cartwright\u2019s face, and knew what had been going on between all three of the young people. He felt for Joe, but he had to insist on no shenanigans.<\/p>\n

“Come on, Little Joe\u2014let\u2019s go get all the shepherds lined up and get this going, shall we?\u201d the Reverend asked and walked with the boy up the steps.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rehearsal went well in spite of the ill will between a few of the cast members.<\/strong> Under Miss Abigail\u2019s direction they soon had a smooth transition between scenes and everyone knew their lines. When both she and the reverend were content that the play would be a success the following night, they dismissed the actors with instructions on when to arrive for the show. Joe rode home feeling quite despondent. It seemed as though he had not only lost his current girl friend but also a good chunk of his dignity by parading around all day in a shepherd\u2019s robe. He thought on different scenarios that night as he bedded down his horse. Surely he could come up with an illness or injury, which might get him out of public humiliation! Heading inside the ranch house Joe was hoping that his brothers had decided to give him a break and not tease him about the play.<\/p>\n

Joe set his costume bag on the credenza and turned and looked towards the living room. There, in the corner by the fireplace and stairs was a huge tree.<\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d Ben sang out to welcome his youngest home.<\/p>\n

A quick smile graced the young man\u2019s face as he witnessed the look of happiness his father wore. He was standing there next to the hearth with boxes of decorations. Joe figured that Pa was trying to cheer him up and it was starting to work.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2014when did you get the tree?\u201d Joe asked as he moved in closer to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam and Hoss got it this afternoon\u2014had to carve an extra foot off the base just to get it in here. You like?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure\u2014looks good\u2014better than last year. I thought we were gonna put it up day after tomorrow?\u201d Joe asked suspiciously.<\/p>\n

Ben clapped Joe on the back and chuckled, \u201cI thought my shepherd needed a little Christmas spirit before show time. How \u2018bout you and I start putting the decorations on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2014on one condition,\u201d Joe nodded and reached for the first ornament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo shepherd reference for the rest of the night!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDeal,\u201d Ben agreed and grabbed some ribbons to secure to the tree branches. He worked for a few minutes and then asked, \u201cSo? You all ready for tomorrow? Everything go okay at rehearsal?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe grinned and handed his father the star that they usually put on the top bough. Ben took it and climbed the stairs and placed it on the very top of the tree.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook yonder\u2014there is the star\u2014the star we will follow this night! From this time forward there will be peace on earth good will towards men,\u201d Joe chimed out and then bowed at the waist.<\/p>\n

Ben came down the stairs applauding Joe\u2019s rendition of his part.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2014thought you only had one line\u2014that sounded like two to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDad gum that Miss Abigail\u2014she\u2019s helping with the play and she added onto my line,\u201d Joe explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh oh\u2014she didn\u2019t mention anything about your little incident in third grade did she?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes she did\u2014and to all the cast members too! You sure I can\u2019t come down with something like typhoid tonight, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2014sorry\u2014but if you get to feeling puny tomorrow night\u2014just remember that Doc Martin will be in the audience!\u201d Ben grinned and patted Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2014you started without us!\u201d Adam shouted as he and Hoss entered the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve only done a little\u2014come on, Boys, grab some of these decorations and we\u2019ll have it done before dinner!\u201d Ben called across the room.<\/p>\n

The four Cartwrights worked diligently on decorating the tree and then the mantle. By the time that Hop Sing called for them to come to the dinner table the house was adorned with all the Christmas array and spirits were high. It was beginning to feel like Christmas on the Ponderosa at last.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Accompanied by his family,<\/strong> Joe made it to the play the next night right on time. They could all tell that the boy was nervous and he had been very quiet in the surrey as they headed on into Virginia City. Adam and Hoss decided to lift Joe\u2019s spirits and not harangue him over his costume as he slung his wardrobe over his shoulder and walked forlornly to the dressing area. The huge auditorium was filled to capacity with people who had come to enjoy the Christmas play and to help out the children\u2019s home with their ticket donations. Ben took a seat on the front row with Adam and Hoss sitting on either side of him. They made idle chitchat with some of their neighbors and waited patiently for the play to begin. Ben peered down the front row and saw that Miss Abigail Jones was seated in the center. He closed his eyes and could still see his little boy head- diving off the stage and onto the woman\u2019s feet eight years earlier. Ben said a silent prayer that Joe would remain on top of the stage this time.<\/p>\n

Back stage things weren\u2019t going quite as well as the Reverend wanted. Joe\u2019s friends weren\u2019t too happy with the fact that Becky had been spooning with Jim Brady. And, Jim\u2019s friends were egging him into a fracas with Joe. Reverend Fletcher did his best to move the different factions of shepherds and wise men to opposing sides in order to prevent a fight. He also had scolded them and reminded them yet again about the whole meaning of Christmas. Thinking that he had at last gotten through to the hardheaded young men, the reverend walked out on stage to address his audience.<\/p>\n

And so it began with several beautiful solos and instrumentals all echoing the joyous Christmas season. On one end of the stage out in the wings stood the three wise men, and on the opposite side stood Joe and the other shepherds. Throwing scathing looks at each other, the young men waited for the signal to take their marks on the stage. Becky was center stage, dressed as a beautiful angel. She was stunning, with her long blonde hair falling softly onto her shoulders and the glow of a halo on her head. Joe couldn\u2019t take his eyes off the young woman, unfortunately neither could Jim Brady. When Joe was given the nod to move forward onto the stage he noticed that Becky had winked over at him. He smiled broadly as he and his fellow shepherds moved closer to her. Jim had caught the wink too and it made him angry, so angry that he decided to do something about it.<\/p>\n

Joe stared out at the audience and could feel his heart in his throat. He could see his father and brothers sitting in the front row smiling up at him. But, he also could see Abigail Jones sitting a few seats down from the Cartwrights and it made him cringe. Catching his breath, Joe looked over for the reverend\u2019s nod. As soon as he saw it he stepped closer to the edge of the stage and said his lines.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook yonder\u2014there is the star\u2014the star we will follow this night! From this time forward there will be peace on earth good will towards men!\u201d Joe sang out his part and then started to step backwards to line back up with the other shepherds.<\/p>\n

Thank goodness.<\/em> \u00a0Ben thought to himself, so glad that Joe was still standing.<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t see the move that Jim had made along with the other two wise men. Just as he stepped back the wise men stepped forward and bumped into Joe. Losing his balance Joe fell forward, plummeting off the stage and down to the audience below. As irony would have it, Joe looked up from the floor and could see Miss Abigail looking at him sternly. For the second time in his life, he had landed on her feet.<\/p>\n

The audience howled with laughter and that was all that Joe needed to fuel his anger at Jim. He jumped to his feet and climbed back on the stage with his staff in his hands. It was then that the melee began. Joe was beyond listening to the reverend\u2019s pleas, nor his father\u2019s deep baritone voice shouting to him from the audience. He lit into Jim Brady, knocking him to the stage floor, breaking his staff in two as it hit the wise man. The remaining wise men started to attack all the shepherds and soon the rest of the cast had run off for dear life. The cr\u00e8che was reduced to rubble as were all the other props before Sheriff Coffee charged the stage and corralled the shepherds and the wise men and ushered them to his jail. Ben and his other two sons sat in their seats speechless. Reverend Fletcher pushed the choir onto the stage, and they tried their best to sing Silent Night above the laughter that still permeated the Opera House.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben had made his apologies to the reverend numerous times that night.<\/strong> As he left the opera house along with Hoss and Adam, Ben tugged his hat over his eyes to try and disguise his face. He knew that everyone would remember whose son had fallen off the stage, and whose son had beaten up a trio of wise men. Knowing that Joe had been taken to the jail, Ben calmly climbed up into the family surrey and waited for his other two sons to step in.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa? Ain\u2019t we gonna go get Little Joe?\u201d Hoss asked when he noticed his father had turned the team towards the ranch and not the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2014we are not! Joseph and his fellow shepherds deserve a night in jail. Perhaps it will allow me to have peace on earth for one night!\u201d Ben fumed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2014you know it was that Brady fellow who knocked Joe down, Pa,\u201d Hoss was quick to jump to his baby brother\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2014well it was Joe who broke his staff over the guy\u2019s head too! Not to mention what he did to the nativity scene! It\u2019s a good thing that they used a doll to play the baby Jesus!\u201d Adam added.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I want to hear all the way home is silence\u2014just silence!\u201d Ben called out to his sons totally frustrated by the night\u2019s events.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilent night\u2014holy night\u2014\u201d Adam started singing and Hoss laughed at his choice of tunes as they rode home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The next morning Ben relented and drove the buckboard into Virginia City<\/strong> and bailed out his errant son. There was a long silence between them both all the way home. Joe hadn\u2019t gotten much sleep in his cell as the shepherds had decided to hurl insults at the wise men harbored in the adjoining cell all night. Still wearing his shepherd\u2019s costume, Joe walked into the ranch house followed by his father. He tried valiantly to make a quick escape to his room but soon felt the tug of his father\u2019s hand on his left arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so fast there, Young Man,\u201d Ben said sternly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t get any sleep last night\u2014can we get into this later?\u201d Joe asked meekly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben answered and then removed the latest edition of the Territorial Enterprise newspaper from under his arm. \u201cAdam\u2014Hoss\u2014come here a minute\u2014I want you all to hear this!\u201d Ben called into the dining room where his eldest sons were still eating breakfast. They both stood and moved into the living room next to their father and brother. \u201cThere\u2019s a very interesting article concerning your performance last night, Joseph. Let me read it to you,\u201d Ben began by first clearing his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe church\u2019s Christmas play was a smashing success last night, with the emphasis on the word \u201csmashing\u201d! On a night that tolled the angel\u2019s refrain of \u201cPeace on Earth good will towards men\u201d the stage of the Piper\u2019s Opera house was itself reduced to pieces. While almost all of Virginia City turned out to enjoy an evening of Christmas spirit, some \u201cspirited\u201d shepherds decided to corner the three wise men and a melee ensued. One wonders if perhaps the Reverend Fletcher should have opted for a more peaceful holiday fare\u2014like a prize fighting match. Such an event surely would have offered considerably less blood-shed than the rambunctious offering last night. A performance, which was expected to conclude with a reverent cantata of Silent Night, instead ended with broken chairs, broken props, and a few broken noses. In lieu of a standing ovation, for their brilliant showstopper, the wise men and shepherds were slapped into handcuffs and herded to the Virginia City jail. As the night fell softly over our peaceful town and folks meandered back to their decorated homes, a passel of shepherds and three battered wise men sat behind their locked jail cells. Instead of seeking the brilliant celestial orb, the wayward performers could only see the star that was pinned firmly on Sheriff Coffee\u2019s vest. By dawn almost all of the thespians had been let out on bail and were handed back their robes, staffs and saddled their camels to spread Christmas cheer elsewhere. But, in keeping with the spirit of the season, all the bail money has been donated along with last night\u2019s play proceeds to the Virginia City Children\u2019s Home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss had to stifle their laughter, after witnessing the expression on Pa\u2019s face. Joe stood there wincing over the scathing newspaper article.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Young Man? What do you have to say for yourself?\u201d Ben asked harshly.<\/p>\n

Joe, still wearing his battered but intact shepherd\u2019s clothing shot an arm out towards the tree in the corner of the room. His finger pointed to the top of the tree and he answered, \u201cLook yonder\u2014there is the star\u2014the star we will follow this night! From this time forward there will be peace on earth good will towards men!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed at his little brother\u2019s attempt to get off the hook with their father. \u201cWell\u2014that was the line that brought down the house and all!\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2014I guess Joe was the star of the show, Pa!\u201d Hoss winked towards his little brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that ALL you have to say, Joseph?\u201d Ben asked again, but this time was having great difficulty attempting to hold in his mirth.<\/p>\n

Joe gave his most eloquent bow and then looked into his father\u2019s eyes and said, \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas indeed!\u201d Ben fired back but then broke into a grin of his own and hugged his ragged shepherd.<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

Written many, many years ago by a much younger “Wrangler”<\/p>\n

(Before she had a story consultant approximately 2001)<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags: Family, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 The town’s Christmas pageant brings down the curtains in epic proportions.\u00a0 Will there be Peace on Earth?\u00a0<\/p>\n

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