A Shiloh Christmas: Chapter 14 [December 25th, 1899]
My goodness, it's after five already, Daddy. So it is, Betsy. We'd better get you boys back home before it gets dark. Thank you very much for this day, Judge. I'm sure the boys won't ever forget it. And neither will we. It was a pleasure having them all here. Goodbye and Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you. Goodbye, Miss Betsy. Merry Christmas. Goodbye, boys. Merry Christmas to you, too. Goodbye, Virginian, Trampas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you,too, boys. See you later. Goodbye, Randy. Merry Christmas. So long, Sam. Merry Christmas to you. Goodbye, Judge. Merry Christmas! Goodbye, boys. The same to you. What a wonderful day it was. I know what you mean, Betsy. But now someone has to clean up this mess. I'll help you with it, Betsy. Thanks, Cookie. I'll help, too. Thanks, Randy. And after we're done I've got some popcorn balls made up. That sounds good. So did you enjoy your first Christmas here with us, Randy? It was wonderful, Betsy. I had a good time. I'm glad, Randy. I wanted to make it wonderful for you from the start. I put that apple stack cake recipe in with all my other ones so it does'nt get lost. I'll make it again next Christmas. There, we're all done, Betsy said sometime later. I'll get the popcorn balls. Anyone want one of these? I'll take one, Betsy. Me, too. Do you want one, Randy? Sure, Betsy. So, Randy, what would you back home at this time on Christmas Day? Well, we'd visit with family down the road and me and my cousins would go serenadin. What's that, Randy? Well, we'd go to the neighbors and serenade em with Christmas songs. And if we surprised em they had to give us a treat. That's really funny, Randy. They sure thought it was, Betsy. I remember doing something similar when I was young, Randy. People thought my serenades were funny as well. Would you sing one for us, Daddy? Alright, everyone. There was one everyone thought was funny when we sang it. It's called Santa Got Lost in Texas. That was really funny, Daddy, Betsy said laughing. It sure was funny, Judge. I'm glad you thought so, Randy. I remember my grandma would put up mistletoe on her front door and when we came for Christmas dinner not a one of us boys could git by her without gettin smooched. At this everyone else in the room laughed. That must've been funny, Randy. It sure was, Betsy. My brothers thought it was embarrassin, though. What about you? I did'nt mind it so much. Even when I got bigger. I guess that was because your were your mama's boy, right, Randy? Yep, it sure was, Betsy. My mother always hung up mistletoe on Christmas Day, too. It was her way of teasing my father and me. That's funny, Virginian. She definitely thought it was, Betsy. She played that joke on us every Christmas. My mother always played that joke on me and my brothers and dad, too. That must have been funny, Trampas. It sure was, Judge. Do you remember the time I hung mistletoe up in the bunkhouse, Trampas? I sure do, Betsy. We never laughed so hard in our lives than we did that day. That must've been funny, Trampas. It sure was, Randy. If you'd been here with us then you would've laughed till you could'nt laugh anymore. I'm sure I would've. Sounds like you were a real jokester then, Betsy. I sure was, Randy. I remember when Steve brought me some perfume once I asked him if he wanted to smell it and then I rubbed it in his hair. I bet he thought it was funny. He did after a while. My, it's been more than an hour already! You're right, Betsy, it has. Those popcorn balls were good, Betsy. Thankyou, I enjoyed making them. You'd better be getting ready for bed, boys. We've got a long day tomorrow. Goodnight, Judge. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you as well, Virginian. Night, Betsy. Merry Christmas. Goodnight, Randy. Merry Christmas to you, too. Goodnight, Trampas. Merry Christmas. Same here, Betsy. Goodnight, boys. Thank you for sharing Christmas with us once again. Goodnight, Judge. Merry Christmas to you both, they said. [ THE END]