The Fireplace

Our family moved from the one room shack into a huge two story house that was set back about a mile   from the road. It was the nicest house I had ever seen. We heated the entire house with a wood stove that sat in the middle of the living room. We only used two rooms in that big old house, the living room, and kitchen.   In the living room were two iron beds, a television set, and a couple easy chairs. On one wall was a beautiful fireplace with a carved wooden mantel.  We never lit the fireplace, so I don’t know if it worked or not. On Christmas Eve that year my sisters and I found out what that old fireplace was really used for.

It was a cold snowy Christmas Eve day. We were so excited Santa was going to come tonight. We girls had put on a little operetta for Momma and Daddy with the songs we learned at school and church. Then my big sister read The Night before Christmas to us. The story gave us an idea.  The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. We had a fireplace. So we went through all Daddies’ socks until we found three that didn’t have holes in the toes. Daddy hammered nails in the mantel. We hung those socks on the nails. We were really excited by now.

When it got dark outside Momma said it was time to go to bed. We always went to bed early and everyone at the same time. We were giggling and trying hard to settle down and fall asleep. About that time we heard footsteps above our heads, then jingle bells. The room grew very quiet. We said Momma, Daddy did you hear that? They said be quiet don’t let Santa hear you. We never said another word.

The next thing we knew it was daylight. We looked over at the fireplace at our stockings.  We started shouting with excitement. That really was Santa we heard last night. Those old socks were filled to the brim with oranges, apples, candy and nuts. What a wonderful Christmas we had. I don’t remember if we got any other presents. It didn’t matter because we knew for a fact that Santa was real. Just look at all the stuff he brought us.