[New] Prairie Wool

Helen Row Toews Columnist Oh, Christmas Tree!

I work in a small country school. Because of the children I’m with daily, it’s a great place to be at Christmas. Kids are filled with anticipation, innocent wonder, and the joy of the season.

The other day, while enjoying a moment of rest in the staff room, our school principal shared a humorous memory of Christmas trees gone wrong. Funny how it’s always the bad experiences we recall the best. Since it’s the time of year for such reminiscence, I thought I’d share one of mine with you. Hope it brings you a smile.

Snow swirled outside the frosty window panes of my childhood home, and dark clouds hung ominously in the sky. It was the year 1975. A winter storm had raged the night before, but our old cook stove blazed within, and we were toasty warm as our family met in the kitchen for breakfast. Today we were to drive into the nearby town and purchase a tree.

Brother Bill and I were excited.

“We aren’t going to get a Christmas tree this year,” Dad suddenly stated over his porridge bowl. He held up a hand to silence our protests. “Buying a tree is like throwing good money to the wind. I’ve got a better idea.”

With long faces, Bill and I stared at one another. What did he mean by ‘no tree’?

It was unthinkable!

After eating, we watched as Dad pulled on his heavy work clothes and bent to pick up an evil-looking hand-saw he’d left beside his boots. Wordlessly, he flung open the door and set off through the deep snow toward a line of firs near the barn.

Before long, he reappeared, dragging what looked like a tall tree behind him.