As the chapter opens, Laura and Mary have been peering anxiously out the window for days. It's December and there has been no snow in Indian Territory. No snow of course, means no Santa. On top of that, all the rain has caused the creek to rise, and so their one Christmas guest, Mr. Edwards, won't be able to make it either. Pa brings in the Christmas turkey, but even the thought of such a fat turkey for Christmas dinner isn't enough to cheer up the little girls. Ma does let them hang up stockings, and Laura thinks her mother mentions something about white sugar as she drifts off to sleep.
The next morning, Laura is startled awake as Mr. Edwards comes in with a big bundle. He tells the girls he met Santa Claus in Independence, and Santa has asked him to fetch the gifts for the girls. After he tells the tale, the girls are allowed to look in their stockings. They both receive a tin cup, peppermint candy, cakes made with white sugar (and white flour), and a new penny.
"There never had been such a Christmas," Wilder writes.
After the girls thank Mr. Edwards ("and they meant it with all their hearts"), Pa silently shakes Mr. Edwards' hand . And shakes it again. And Laura observes how all of the adults seem to be on the verge of tears.
Yes, they are.
2 comments:
We all are. Isn't it interesting how important it is to us that children have something special at Christmas, especially? I just read another take on that from The Zen of Motherhood.
Of course, a good writer really helps those tears flow. I so enjoy your posts. Have a Merry Holiday- hope you've got beautiful snow with the inevitable cold.
Yes, they are. Far and wide.
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