Subj: Christmas At The Old House
Date: 11/14/99 8:34:31 AM Central Standard Time
From: Donna Eubanks
Nov. 14, 1999 CHRISTMAS AT THE OLD HOUSE
by: Donna E.
part 2 of?
"I think I better get goin now, before the storm gets any worse." Willie remarked.
"Yes, Willie, I agree, you should be going." Barnabas said.
They exchanged their good-byes, and Willie Lommis disappeared into the snowy night.
The next morning, Barnabas and Julia discovered they had received six inches of light, fluffy snow. Julia was pouring coffee for the two of them. The radio was playing, "Winter Wonderland".
"Yes, it certainly is." Julia agreed. "Good morning, Barnabas,doesn't it look beautiful outside?" She loved how it looked outside, after a snowfall.
"Sarah used to make "snow angels" in the snow, I remember." Barnabas said. "Father always insisted on choosing, and cutting the family Christmas tree himself." "He did not wish the servants to do it." "He would cut the tree right out there in the woods." He pointed to the back of the house. Barnabas continued to say, "There MUST be be some way I can see my family again...there MUST !" His face was so fierce with determination!
Julia rushed to his side. "My dear Barnabas, my sweet man, how I wish I could make that happen for you." She leaned to kiss him ever so tenderly on his masculine lips. Suddenly she had a feeling that maybe, just maybe his wish might come true.
That afternoon, Willie arrived with the Christmas tree, and a wreath for the front door. "Now it will look like Christmas around here!" Willie exclaimed.
"What a lovely tree you've picked out!" Julia exclaimed.
Barnabas added, "Yes, it is, I'm glad you did not get one too big." As you can see, we don't have too much room here in the Old House." They decorated the tree, Willie helped too.
"It looks just beautiful, Barnabas, very lovely!" Julia exclaimed with pride.
Barnabas stood from a distance, he was looking at the tree closely. "I've forgotten something." He reported. Barnabas left the room for a while. When he returned, he was carrying something in a large, green-velvet box.
"What is that, Barnabas?" Both Julia and Willie wished to know. "This is by far, the most beautiful and lovely of Christmas ornaments!" Barnabas announced. He opened the box to display a beautiful Christmas angel.
Julia gasped as she saw it. "Oh, Barnabas, it's so beautiful!" She proclaimed.
"It looks kinda old." Willie said.
'Yes, agreed Barnabas, it is very old indeed...very old!" He looked at the angel with love and pride.
"Where did you get it?" Julia asked.
Barnabas answered her, again with love and pride. '" It was made by my mother, she made this with her own two hands so very long ago."
Julia and Willie gasped at once. "Wow!" Willie exclaimed.
"You kept it all these years, Barnabas?" Julia exclaimed. She stood back, to survey the tree as Barnabas reached to the top of the tree, to place the Christmas angel atop the tree.
"Now the tree is completely decorated!" Barnabas announced.
They all took a moment, once the tree had been lit, to admire the beauty of the Old House Christmas tree. Willie had this remark to make, 'I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree." They all laughed at his remark. After a quick supper, they bid good-bye to Willie.
That evening, Barnabas sat in his favorite chair. Julia knew he was only pretending to read his book. She knew what he was thinking. He was thinking about them; his family, Naoimi, Sarah, and Joshua Collins. Suddenly Barnabas cried out, "OH MOTHER, I WANT TO SEE YOU!!!" Julia rushed to his side as the book fell to the floor. Barnabas began to weep.
Julia was heart-sick herself, to see Barnabas so lonely. "Oh my dear Barnabas." She tried to console him.
It was evening now, and the night was very dark. Suddenly,
they heard a melody; humming, if you will. It was a woman's voice. She was humming,
"What Child Is This?" The melody echoed throughout the house.. Barnabas bolted
from his
chair.
"Mother, is that you?" Julia looked around the room in wonder.
Still the melody continued. "What child is this..who laid to rest..on Mary's lap..is sleeeping....?"
"MOTHER!" Barnabas cried out, please let me see you!"
Suddenly, the humming stopped. "No, Barnabas, it is
NOT your dear mother...it is ME!!" The woman's voice was coming from the corner
of the room. At first they could not see anyone; then a light shown from the
corner, and they could see
who had been humming the Christmas carol. It was Angelique !
to be continued.....