Posted on Saturday, 22 December 2007

Marilyn Thompson hurriedly dressed eager to get downstairs. She could smell the cinnamon rolls her mother had made for Christmas Eve evening. Even though her family could afford to hire someone to cook for them, her mother always made the meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and it was always one to look forward to. Marilyn could almost taste the fresh baked cookies and the turkey and all the other fixings they were to have on Christmas Day.

Finally getting her recalcitrant shoe on, Marilyn flew down the stairs to the small dining area off the even smaller kitchen. What she saw made her mouth water. French toast and syrup, butter, baked apples with a little cinnamon, tea and milk were laid out on the table where her elder brother and younger sister were already seated. Her mother came out of the kitchen smiling carrying a small bowl of powdered sugar.

“Good morning, Marilyn. Come and take your seat. Your father should be here in just a moment.”

“Oh, I wish Papa would hurry, I am so hungry.” Marilyn rolled her eyes at her brother’s whining while taking her seat.

“Well, then what were you doing sitting at the table for the past ten minutes. You could have been doing something else such as helping your father.” Little three-year-old Alicia giggled and Marilyn snickered while their brother blushed and looked a little ashamed.

Just then their father walked in smiling. “Well, today looks like a wonderful day. It is snowing but not as it did earlier. . .”

Before he could even finish speaking, a chorus of ‘It’s snowing!’ filled the room and all three children dashed for the windows. Shaking his head laughing, he simply reached down and hoisted little Alicia up and carried her the rest of the way over to the window to look out too. The whole family looked out enjoying the big fat flakes falling just on the other side of the pane. Mother and Father shared a happy look at the brilliant smiles lighting the children’s faces.

Soon, however, the children were ushered back to the table before the food could cool too much. Once seated, everyone bowed their heads as Mr. Thompson gave thanks to God. After this sincere prayer, all enjoyed a delightful meal and conversation.

For the rest of the day, everyone prepared for that evenings events and activities, especially the caroling, as well as for the next day. Marilyn and Alicia helped their mother while James, their brother, helped their father. Finally at five o’clock, everything was in place for all the evening’s activities and everyone went upstairs to change for Christmas Eve service. By the time six o’clock arrived, the Thompsons were hurrying down the street toward the Church and quickly joined the all ready large crowd gathering at the front entrance. Everyone looked forward to Christmas Eve service in Lambton1 .

Marilyn smiled and waved to her friend Catherine Bertram, the minister’s daughter. Catherine waved back before following her mother in. Soon, Marilyn found herself seated with her family. Waiting for the service to begin, she marveled at the beauty of the Church itself with the numerous candles lit down the isles and at the front around the altar. She turned and glanced back at the beautiful tree she had passed on entering and looked all around at the spruce and pine decorations as well as the holly berries and pine cones decorating the walls and pews.

Finally, Reverend Bertram entered and made his way to the pulpit. While everything went so beautifully and nicely, especially the hymns, Marilyn particularly remembered the sermon. She always wanted to hear of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, of how He was born to a Virgin, how the angels spoke to the shepherds in the fields, how the wise men followed the star to where the baby Jesus lay in a manger 2. Yet, what she loved to hear the most was the reason Jesus Christ was born in that stable for her and everyone, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 3

By the end of the service, a peace had settled on the parishioners and everyone left smiling and sending their best Christmas wishes to those around them.

Soon everyone went home. However, Marilyn and her family remained talking to the Bertrams.

“We look forward to hearing you soon and by the time you arrive we would be pleased to have you join us for some hot cider before you head home.” Reverend Bertram said to Marilyn’s father.

“We will be pleased to join you when we get there. Please tell your mother we look forward to seeing her and will have one song especially for her.”

“That would please her greatly. You know she always loves to hear carolers singing Silent Night as well as at service, but since her illness, she has not had the opportunity to come and listen and there have been no carolers at all this season.”

“Then we will be sure to sing it for her.”

After the two men shook hands, the families parted ways.

Mr. Thompson turned to his family, “Well, where shall we start?”

“Oh, could we start on the main street please?” cried all three children. Little Alicia even hopped up and down in eagerness and turned her big eyes up to her father. Both parents laughed and smiled.

“Alright, let’s go and sing.”

With that, they were off singing every carol they could think of knowing that by the end of the night, many songs would be sung more than once. First came Hark the Herald Angels Sing, followed by, The First Noel and O Come, All Ye Faithful and O Little Town of Bethlehem and Away in a Manger. Just after they began singing, O Holy Night, a fine-looking carriage came pulling slowly through the main street. It stopped not far away from the carolers. Marilyn glanced over and noticed three faces peering out. Seeing a little boy of about five watching them and smiling, she smiled back and waved a little. The little boy immediately blushed and looked down, but she caught him glancing back at them obviously caught up in the caroling.

As the last note disappeared into the night air, a gentleman leaned out the window of the carriage, “A Very Merry Christmas to you all. It is a wonderful way to come home and hear such wonderful singing.”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.”

The gentleman smiled and nodded before leaning back and closing the window. The carriage started moving again, heading out of Lambton and toward Pemberley while the carolers headed over another street to continue singing.

During their visit with their neighbours and at Reverend Bertram’s home and while enjoying her mother’s hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls after returning home, Marilyn could not forget the smiling face of the little boy in the carriage although she would forget the family’s name in time. For some reason, she knew she would never forget that night and when she had her own family, she would retell the story every year on Christmas Eve even when visiting her newly married niece at Pemberley 4 .

The End