Subj: Christmas At The Old House
Date: 11/17/99 9:04:35 AM Central Standard Time
From: Donna Eubanks
Nov. 17, 1999
by: Donna E.
part 7 of 9 CHRISTMAS AT THE OLD HOUSE
Barnabas and Julia prepared to go upstairs for the night. Suddenly, they heards a voice...a little girls voice....."twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse, the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Mother and Father, would soon be there..."
It was little Sarah! "Sarah!!" Barnabas called our to her. "How nice to see you again!" What brings you hear to see me at this late hour?" He asked the little girl.
"I just wanted to see you again, big brother." She replied. "Mother and Father are coming soon, very soon!" She announced.
"That is wonderful, Sarah! I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that." He said lovingly. "I suppose you want me to sing to you tonight?" He asked her.
"Oh, no Barnabas, not any more. I'm too big to be sung to now!" She suddenly stood very straight to show Barnabas how shw had grown.
"Oh yes, so I see." He said with admiration.
"Barnabas, the little girl said, I brought someone to see you. He wants to wish you a happy Christmas."
Oh? He asked. "Who Sarah? Who is with you?"
Suddenly, out of the shadows, steps the figure of a man. The man is ....Ben Stokes.
Barnabas stares at the man in disbelief. "Ben, is it really you?"
"Why yes, Mr. Barnabas, it's me alright!" He said with a grin. "I wanted to wish ya Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!" He said with a smile.
"Thank you, Ben." Said Barnabas. He started walking towards Ben and Sarah, "I want to shake your hand, Ben." Barnabas said proudly.
"No, big brother! You must not touch wach other! Remember what Angelique said, if you touch him, Ben will be lost to you forever!"
Suddenly, Barnabas' face saddened a bit as he took a step into the night shadows.
"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Barnabas, I didn't mean ta cause you no trouble." Ben apologized.
Barnabas managed a little smile as he stepped out of the shadows once again. Barnabas said, "No Ben, you could never cause me any trouble. You've always been my loyal and faithful servant, and most of all, a very dear friend."
"I always tried to be, Mr. Barnabas, it ain't been easy sometimes, but I try to be." Ben said.
"I know, said Barnabas, he was ashamed now. "I am dearly sorry for that, Ben." Barnabas apologized to his old friend.
"It-it ain't your fault, I know it ain't, Mr. Barnabas. It's that awful witches' fault, Angelique! She's the one to blame!" He said sternly.
"Please, Ben, do not mention about that." barnabas said sadly.
"I'm sorry, I don't wanna make ya sad, I-I just wanna wish ya Merry Christmas, and such, that's all." Ben said, with true emotion.
"That's quite alright, Ben. You are indeed my friend, and I bid you a Merry Christmas too, Ben." Said Barnabas.
Sarah announced to them all, "It is time to go now, we must return now." She said.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Barnabas!" Ben said.
"Merry Christmas, Ben Stokes!"
Barnabas replied. 'Goodbye, big brother!" Sarah called to him.
"Goodbye, little Sarah!" Barnabas replied.
Barnabas and Julia had a wonderful sleep that night. Julia dreamed they heard singing, by a hundred Christmas angels. They were singing joyfully! Julia knew one of the little angels, it was little Sarah Collins!
The next morning, while having coffee at breakfast, Julia asked Barnabas, "Do you think you will see your parents, after all?"
Barnabas looked at her with raised eyebrows and said, "Why yes, I do." Why, look at who has been to see me already, Sarah, and my friend, Ben Stokes." I feel certain that I will see them!" "I just know that I will !" He said with assurance.
'And I know it, too!" Agreed Julia. "I can feel it in my bones." She added.
Suddenly, they heard singing, coming from outside. "We three kings, of orient are, bearing gifts, we traverse afar, field an fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.......ohhhhhhhhh....."
'Who can that be, Barnabas?" Julia asked.
They went to the door, and opened it to see, the three wise men, Roger Collins, Willie Loomis, and Quentin Collins. Barnabas an Julia's faces instantly brightened to see them! "Why come in, wise men, do come in!" Barnabas invited the three.
"My, what lovely voices you three have!" Julia said. 'I didn't know any of you could sing!" She saidwith a chuckle.
"Quentin, what a wonderful surprise to see you!" Barnabas
exclaimed. "When did you return from
Virginia?" He asked.
"Only last night, I expected to be there for the holidays, but, here I am. You people are stuck with me now." Quentin said with a smile.
"Oh no, Quentin, not at all, said Julia, not at all !"
"You know, said Quentin, of all the places I could be for Christmas, this is the place I really wanted to be!" He boasted.
"Of course you would, Quentin, but of course!" Barnabas agreed.
Willie remarked, "Quentin has somethin he wants to say ta everybody, don't "cha, Quentin?" He said.
"Yes, my dear friends, there is." "I, Quentin Collins, being of sound mind and body, have decided to return to Collinsport for good!" I already have a new job and I shall be living at Collinwood!" Quentin announced.
'Why, that's wonderful!" Julia said.
"Why, what a marvelous idea, Quentin! I wondered when you would come to your senses, and return home." Said Roger.
to be continued....