by Risner, Fay
Christmas eve, the family seated themselves around the fireplace after supper. A peacefulness settled over everyone that comes with having a full stomach while they basked in the warmth of the fire. It grew close to the younger children’s bedtime, and their heads nodded and jerk. Still they hated to call it a night before any of the older children.
“Jacob! Come in here now!” Nannie shouted from her bed.
Jacob jumped up, knocking his chair over which brought the heads of the nodding children upright. Moving so quickly, Jacob made it to the bedroom door before he heard the clatter of the falling chair behind him. “Nannie, what’s the matter?”
“It is Christmas eve? Right?” Nannie had a rosy blush in her cheeks, and her voice held an excited tone.
“Yep, it sure is,” Jacob agreed bewildered by the look of excitement on her face.
The children slipped over as far as the bedroom door and stood quietly peeking in to listen, afraid to let their presence be known until they knew that Nannie was all right.
“Jacob, get the younguns in here. I want to talk to them.”
Jacob turned around to call his offspring and bumped into them, standing right behind him.
“Listen to me, everybody. It’s Christmas tomorrow. The tree’s up and decorated. Cass and Bess have a big meal planned fer tomorrow’s dinner, but I’m affeered everyone is fixen to wear a long face. Jest this once let’s start Christmas early and open the presents now. What do ya say?”
“Kin we, Pap?” Cried Dillard.
“I reckon we kin if that’s what yer mama wants,” Pap said. “Go get the presents and bring em in here by Mama’s bed.”
“Lord have mercy! Nope,” shouted Nannie. “Hold it right there, younguns.” The children froze near the door and turned to look at their mother. “Ya don’t need to do any such a thing. I want to sit with all of ya around the tree like we always do,” declared Nannie.
“Are ya sure yer up to that, Nannie?” Jacob was worried because he wasn’t sure what was going on with his wife at the moment.
“I’m sure,” Nannie answered with gusto. “It’s about time I got out of this bed. It’s getten right lonesome in here by myself.”
That was all the children needed to hear. By the time Jacob had helped Nannie into a chair, the children were all seated on the floor in a group by the tree, fidgeting and giggling with anticipation.
“Sid, ya can be Santa this year,” said Jacob.
“Are ya sure, Pap? Ya usually hand out the presents,” questioned Sid.
“I’m sure. I jest want to sit here by yer mama this time and watch ya younguns. Go on now,” Jacob said, nodding at the presents.
Sid picked up a gift off the pile and read aloud what was printed in large letters on the brown paper. “To Pap from Bess.”
“Well, well, what kin this be?” Jacob shook the gift near his ear, and squeezed the paper wrapping, knowing that the children were squirming. All those expectant young faces wanted him to hurry up and open his present so they could get theirs.
Jacob slipped the twine string off the wrapping and laughed as his now mended, brown, woolen scarf fell out in his lap. “I wondered where this scarf went to. I was a right worried about what I was goen to do to keep warm this winter, Bess. Thankee. Ya did a good job fixen it. This here scarf looks like new,” Jacob praised as he unfolded the scarf and stretched it out for everyone to see. “I’ll be more careful taken it off that nail from now on.”
“Is it jest me, or is that there scarf a sight longer than it was afore?” Teased Lue.
“Don’t start, Lue,” Nannie cautioned. “This is Christmas.”
“Of course, Mama,” said Lue, with a good natured grin on his face.
“Say ain’t this here where we started last Christmas with Bess’s scarf fer Pap?” Asked Veder.
“Sure is, and that scarf is a good reminder of what we have to be thankful fer this Christmas,” Nannie stated, looking lovingly at her brood as the firelight flickered across their faces. “That scarf heped to save Pap’s life last winter soens we’re all together this Christmas. We need to be happy with the blessings we have right now which is each other. Right?”
The children smiled at their mother, nodding their heads in agreement. In the face of each of her offsprings, she saw the relief they felt that Nannie seemed to be feeling better. They had missed having her up and about with them.
“Kin we finish openen the presents now, Mama? I’m getten sleepy,” Dillard complained.
“Of course ya kin,” Nannie agreed with a nod at Sid.
The next morning, Bess peeked in the bedroom to see if Nannie had finished her breakfast so Cass could wash her dishes. Her mother was dozing.
Nannie still looked weak. Bess supposed she was worn out from being up for quite a while the night before. Nannie’s cheeks were paler than last night when she was filled with the excitement of Christmas, but somehow, a peaceful look was on her face and about her. Nannie looked as though she had come to terms with the recent loss of her baby.
Carefully, Bess reached over to pick up the plate off the bed beside Nannie, trying not to wake her. Nannie had informed the familyshe intended to be at the table for the Christmas meal that day so Bess wanted her to rest as long as she could.
Beside the empty, egg smeared plate lay the family bible open to the record page. Bess looked down the list of her siblings names and saw at the bottom of the list Nannie had added the latest and what would be the last baby’s name -- Richard Jacob. She fought back the tears filling her eyes when she read what Nannie had scrolled below the list. “All my children are more precious than all the gold.”
About The Author
I wrote this historical and mostly fictional account of my grandmother's family in Virginia, because I thought it was interesting how life was lived in the late 1800's. My grandmother shared with me the procedures used in this book that kept her family working all the time. From the oldest to the youngest, the eleven children had jobs to do. I'm so glad I asked. Everyone should know about their ancestors and what their lives were like.
I do write other types of stories and a list of them next. Changing genres gives me flexibility as a writer. All my books are designed to offer some humor along with the serious moments. I write in 12 font to make my books reader friendly, and all my stories are suitable for any age group.
My husband and I live on an acreage with chickens, rabbits and cats. We enjoy raising a large garden and flowers. For fun, we go fishing in the summer and read a lot of books in the winter.
If you have time to write a review for any of my books, please do that so other readers will know you liked the book.
Fay Risner Books
Nurse Hal Among The Amish Series
A Promise Is A Promise Doubting Thomas
The Rainbow’s End Hal’s Worldly Temptations
As Her Name Is So Is Redbird Emma’s Gossamer Dreams
The Courting Buggy
Amazing Gracie Historical Mystery Series
Neighbor Watchers Poor Defenseless Addie
Specious Nephew Will O Wisp
The Country Seat Killer The Chance Of A Sparrow
Moser Mansion Ghosts Locked Rock, Iowa Hatchet Murders
Westerns
Stringbean Hooper Westerns Tread Lightly Sibby
The Dark Wind Howls Over Mary The Blue Bonnet-novella
Small Feet’s Many Moon Journey A Coffin To Lie On
Ella Mayfield's Pawpaw Militia-Civil War
Christmas books
Christmas Traditions - An Amish Love Story
Christmas With Hover Hill
Leona’s Christmas Bucket List
Fiction
Listen To Me Honey – novella Robot Grandma - novella
Children Books
Spooks In Claiborne Mansion My Children Are More Precious Than Gold
Mr. Quacker the odd duck
Nonfiction about Alzheimer’s disease
Open A Window - Caregiver Handbook
Hello Alzheimer’s Goodbye Dad-author’s true story
Cookbook
Midwest Favorite Lamb Recipes
