The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-12-20


T-%\ by on it's daily
81 ~ trip. breaking tho
way through the
crust during the night. and leaving
behind a highway of drifting ice. On
tho bank beyond they could see the
houses and the church. but could not
go there
we may even forget when Christ
mas comes" said Ben unless we
notch a stick like Robinson Crusoe."
81 shall not forget" said Della.
Nor l." said Mamie Scudder.
The Bigbees lived on an island.
There was one house besides their
own, where Mrs. Scudder and Mamie
lived Mamie never crossed the wa
ter i'm cold weather, but the Bigbee
children rowed across every week to
Sunday school, until December
brought ice and snow
People living on small island must
take boats instead of carriages when
they so TO church or post Office or
market. Sut the Bigbee children did
not think that a hardship.
I'VE went clear water all winter"
said Della.
"I hope you will have It." said the
teacher. at least till Christmas. We
are goirE to have carols and a Christ
mas tree"
This was great news to the Bigbees,
who had ~over seen Christmas tree.
They talked about It. and told Mamie
Scudder. They knew there would be
candles on the tree. and shining
things among tho boughs.
Rut the first Sunday in December
n blindi0- srowstorm kept them at
home. The next Sunday and the next
there was ice tossing in the river so
that no little rowboat could venture
abroad
One moro Sunday, and then Mon
day world be Christmas. All the
happy children across the river would
20 to church and there would be the
tree full Of gifts.
IT'S a cold day and growing cold
er," said MI Bigbee on Saturday
The family kent close round the
Gre. None OF them spoke of Christ
mas. There had been no secret prep
arations. no shopping trips Money
was scarce IN the Bigbee family
When Ben and Della went TO their
beds at night, Paul, who followed
soon after. came back into the ldtch-
en- with a serious face
Mother" he said, they have hung
up thor stockings"
Mrs. Bigbee set her lips tight Then
| she put her arm round Paul, and
| kissed him
Never mind" he said. I'VE can
! pop corn and crack nuts"
Mrs. Blgbee stayed up late that
| night BY IL o'clock she had made
cookies shaped in various ways
birds. dogs balls, boys, horses. ele-
| plants, camels, hearts, sheep and
rabbits-and not one too big to slip
easily into a child's stocking
She PIT - into each Of her chill
dren's stockings, hanging Paul's up
also. She glanced toward Mrs Scud-
der's. but the lights were out
"Merry Christmas, Merry Christ
mas" shouted the children the next
morning The house rang with laugh
! ter and mirth There was great ex-
element over the stockings. Even
! Paul was Interested and amused.
Dear little mother" he said, softly
Mamie came with her stoclllngful
and the children played menagerie
Noah's Ark and farmyard for hours
The steamboat made no trip that
! day. A few skaters were seen. II
/ guess the boat sldps Christmas the
same as Sundays" said Paul.
After dark he went to the window
81 hear the bells" he said "And the
/ church windows shine" silence fell
/ on the group.
of we knew the carols we would
cling them ourselves" said Mrs. Big
! bee
From time to time the children
went to the window It was starlight
"See the lights in the road" ex-
claimed Della THE folks are going
/ home with lanterns"
They're coming down the bank"
said Ben
a little line of lights moved steadily
I along They were certainly on the
| frozen river. They were coming
| toward the island
| 'Whv father. father!" shouted Paul.
"The river must be frozen hard all
/ over. and that's why the boat didn't
go,"
at happened so once six years ago"
/ said Mr. Bigbee
Mrs scudder ran over from her
house They're singing!" she cried
'Iisteni"
The SWEEP Christmas carols sound.
/ ed clearer and clearer. as boys and
/ girls came mp the bank up to the
very house
Come i'm Come I'M" said Mr.. Big.
bee. throwing the door open
It was as n church tree. festival
Christmas and everything had come
/ to the Bigbees and Scudders
eve cut off a bough full OF candles
/ 10 be your tree" said the boys They
set it up IN a corner and lighted the
/ candles anew
I'VE brought your presents" said
the girls giving each a book and box
OF candy
- was late when. with merry fare
wells. the visitors took their lanterns
| and DEPARTED, singing carols. while
/ the happy children watched the line
f of lights rccrossing the river. and
/ listened 'n harr'ncs until the voices
I died away I'm The distance
. VTnu a @.aam