Six inches of new snow had blanketed the land but inside the house was a floor of sand. Paw and Eb just finished the building, But just had enough lumber from ground to the ceiling. Still with straw matresses and what's left of their beds, The Westward Ho family lay down their tired heads. Pa used some rocks to build a small fire, Maw boiled a rabbit in a pot on the bier. Most all of the chinks had been filled with mud. And the floor laid with grasses pounded into the sod. Maw brought a candle from her old Boston home, This new one was strange, she was tempted to roam. Little Ammie and Joseph were yawning but hungry, They wondering if Santa could find this humble bungry. No Christmas tree had they this first Western venture, But hope never dies in the hearts of little children. The rabbit was eaten, the embers burned low. The babes on the prairie slept protected from snow. When they awoke in the morning, Ammie found a china doll. And Joseph found a small train, and both had a smile. Maw and paw had not forgotten their babes' Christmas cheer, Or so you would think, no Santa or reindeer. Now glowing, the fire stoked up by Paw, There was coffee and leftover cake while they saw, Out of the window, opened for a minute. The snow had human, sled and animal tracks in it. ~ © Dreamer (Twi1ite@sbcglobal.net) ~ November 22, 2003 If you use my graphics, please add my button to your page along with a link back. http://www.geocities/wcseptember2003/ If you enjoyed this page, check these out: Sledding A Christmas Carol Love Brings Feelings When Santa Was A Boy Snowballing And.......for many others, click the link for HOME. Home: Writers' Corner Index