A Shiloh Christmas: Chapter 11 [December 24th, 1899]
That was a very good lunch, Betsy. Thank you, Daddy. Do you know where the Virginian is? Well, before I started lunch he and Randy had come back with the Christmas tree. And where did he go after that? He said he was going after a turkey for tomorrow. Someone's knocking at the door so I'll go see who it is. Alright, Betsy. So you're back. Did you get a turkey? I got two of them, Betsy. That's good to hear. What did you do with them? Cookie's cleaning them now and he'll keep them in the icebox until tomorrow. Be sure and tell him to get all the feathers. I will, Betsy. And if he's too busy to fix lunch for you boys, I'll fix something and take it to you. Thanks, Betsy. I'll tell the boys. See you later. Bye. Who was it, Betsy? It was the Virginian. He was able to get two turkeys and Cookie's plucking them now. That's good to hear. I'm going to go into the kitchen and fix something for the boys just in case Cookie does'nt have time to fix them lunch. That sounds like a good idea, Betsy. I'm sure they'll appreciate that. And it was'nt long before Betsy was done and on her way to the bunkhouse. I've got your lunch, boys. Come and get it. This sure looks good, Betsy. Thanks, Trampas. Hi, Betsy. Hello, Randy. Thanks for bringin lunch. You're welcome. Betsy, do you think it'll snow on Christmas? I don't know, Trampas. I guess it could if it wanted to. That's just what Randy told me when I asked him. So do you think it'll snow, Randy? I don't know, Betsy. It could if it had a mind to. Well, even if it does'nt snow it'll still be Christmas. So who's ready to decorate the tree this evening? I sure am, Betsy. It looks just like one my pa brought home once. That was a good lunch, Betsy. Thanks for bringing it. It was my pleasure, Trampas. I'll see you boys later. Bye, Betsy. See you later, Randy. She sure is somethin, is'nt she? She sure is, Randy. And it was'nt long before the afternoon had flown by and it was dark. And time to decorate the Shiloh Christmas tree. Daddy, it's time to go decorate the tree now. I'm coming, Betsy. Evening, boys. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, Judge. Merry Christmas, Betsy. Merry Christmas to you, too, Randy. What would you like me to do? Well, you can help me put the beads around the tree and you boys can put the ornaments on afterwards. Alright, Betsy. There, the beads are on so lets get decorating, everybody. So what would did your family do on Christmas Eve, Trampas? Well, we'd all decorate the Christmas tree and we'd sing Christmas songs afterwards, Betsy. And since Ma always insisted, my pa would read the Christmas story from the family Bible. I remember one Christmas morning I found a little toy gun that pa had whittled in my stocking. What would your family do on Christmas Eve, Randy? Well, we'd all decorate the tree that my pa brought back and later Pa would read the Christmas story to us. And I remember hangin up my stocking before I went to bed. And I remember goin down to the barn at almost midnight to try to catch the animals talkin. Why would you do that, Randy? Well, Judge, where I come from there's this ol' legend about the animals kneelin down just like they did at the baby Jesus's manger. Ma told it to me when I was little. There's some folks that say it's bad luck to catch em talkin, but I don't believe that. That's an interesting old tale, Randy. I don't think I ever heard that one. Did you ever catch them talking, Randy? Nope, I never did, Betsy. That was a really interesting story. I always thought it was. What was Christmas like when you were young, Daddy? Well, my mother always made a nice meal and she'd bake cookies and pies, too. And we always had a tree. We'd all decorate it and we'd sing Christmas carols, too. I remember hanging up stockings on Christmas Eve, too. They always made Christmas special. What about you? Well, Judge, growing up in Virginia my mother always made a nice meal and we'd decorate the tree on Christmas Eve and we'd sing Christmas carols. And I remember my mother reading from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Well, that is a beautiful tree if I do say so myself. It sure is, Betsy. It looks just like the last one my pa and ma and me ever decorated together. Would you accompany us on your guitar while we sing Christmas carols, Randy? Sure, Betsy, I'd be glad to. Who's got a good one? We Wish You a Merry Christmas? Alright, thats a good one. And so an hour went by as they sang Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Away in a Manger, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Go Tell It on the Mountain, and others they all knew and loved. We had a good time, boys. Thank you for inviting us. You're welcome, Judge. Well, goodnight boys, and Merry Christmas to you all. Merry Christmas to you, Judge. Merry Christmas, Randy. Goodnight. Same here, Betsy. See ya in the mornin. Merry Christmas, Judge. Goodnight, Randy. And Merry Christmas to you. Merry Christmas, Trampas. Same here, Judge, Betsy. Goodnight, boys. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, Virginian. Same here, bossman. Night, you two. And after the boys and Betsy were asleep, Judge Garth and the Virginian put all the Christmas presents underneath the Shiloh Christmas tree.