Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat Christmas Contest – Mariane Holbrook

December 24, 2006

I am pleased to announce that Mariane Holbrook has joined our writer team.  Mariane becomes the 386th writer for Storytime Tapestry. Please email her and let her know what you think of her wonderful story.

LITTLE ALMA’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT

by Mariane Holbrook

It was Christmas Eve, 1907 and a little girl prayed again for a doll. She had never owned one.

Little Alma looked around her small, modest farm house. No decorated tree stood in the corner. No candles burned in the windows. No presents were piled on the table. But the house was clean and warm and little Alma was content and most of all, thankful.

Little Alma loved her home and she loved her little white frame country church.. Here she learned about Baby Jesus who was also poor, who didn’t even have a bed to sleep in, and who was born on a soft pile of hay in a barn. She listened to the story of His birth over and over with childhood wonder and awe.

That Christmas Eve, Little Alma was excited. The annual Christmas program at church brought out nearly every family in the tiny hillside village of Evergreen, Pennsylvania. Little Alma, with her mother and sisters, walked down the mile-long country road through deep snow that had been packed smooth by horse-drawn wagons and sleighs. It was a Norman Rockwell scene, early Americana, a clear cold, winter night that quickened the steps and invigorated the soul.

Finding a seat with her family in the country church, little Alma looked around. Sunday School students had decorated the tree which stood proudly next to the upright piano in the front of the Sanctuary. Candles on the tree cast an ethereal glow over the packed church. The country preacher read about the birth of Jesus, then invited everyone to sing carol after Christmas carol. A deacon gave each child a small handful of chocolate drops and hard candies wrapped in a paper napkin and tied with a red ribbon.

Under the tree, Christmas presents were piled high. It was the custom in the early 1900s for families to bring their gifts for other family members and friends to the church where they were opened in full view of the congregation. It didn’t escape little Alma’s notice that, as usual, her mother hadn’t brought any presents with her but little Alma didn’t expect any. Her father was away much of the time as a woodcutter and a collector of ginseng and came home infrequently. When he did return home, money was still in short supply as he tried to provide for his eight daughters.

Finally, the pastor walked over to the Christmas tree, picked up the first package and called out, “Here’s a present for Blanche from her mother and father.” Everyone applauded as little Blanche made her way to the front to accept the gaily-wrapped box. Inside was a hand-knit white sweater which every girl signed over.

The pastor held up package after package, calling out names of nearly everyone in the church. Little boys received hand-carved wooden trains or new sleds from their fathers; mothers received bottles of April in Paris perfume or Lady Esther face cream from their daughters.  Someone spun a bright red, metal spinning top around on the wooden floor to the delight of the audience. Little Alma laughed and applauded.

And she waited and waited.

Finally the pastor held up the last gift. Little Alma drew in her breath. This one had to be for her; the doll for which she had fervently prayed.

“Christine,” the pastor called out, “this gift is for you.” Christine rushed forward to open a long, narrow box and carefully removed a large porcelain doll with blonde curls, a pink satin dress and matching bonnet. Christine hugged the doll tightly, then rushed to thank her mother and daddy for the lavish gift, while the church exploded in applause.

Little Alma stood quietly as the last carol was sung and watched as each child struggled to carry an armful of gifts to their waiting wagons. Finally, she followed her family out the door to begin the long walk home in the freezing winter night.

Instantly, Little Alma walked head-on into a hitching post, hitting her forehead with such force that she fell backward onto the packed snow. Stunned, she picked herself up and staggered to join her family who had not seen her fall. A permanent egg-shaped lump immediately developed on her forehead, a large bone protrusion that remained disquietingly visible until she died at age 96. In adulthood, she laughingly called it her 1907 Christmas present and she wore it as a badge of honor.

That incident turned Little Alma into a "Giver."  All  her life she ministered to the poor. An accomplished seamstress, she made beautiful dresses for little girls and jackets for little boys, often the only present they would receive at Christmas. She shared so much of her life, her time and her resources helping the needy that she more often than not deprived herself.

With her loving demeanor, her vivacious spirit and her deep commitment to Christian principles, Little Alma became the poster child for the Scripture verse, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."  The door to her heart was never closed and hundreds found their way in.

Little Alma was my mother.

Mariane Holbrook

Mariane777@bellsouth.net.

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Mariane Holbrook is a retired teacher, an author of two books, a musician and artist.

She lives with her husband on coastal North Carolina.  She maintains a personal website

www.marianholbrook.com and welcomes your Emails at Mariane777@bellsouth.net.