HuntingNut
HuntingNut
   Login or Register
HomeCommunity ForumsPhoto AlbumsRegister
     
 

User Info

Welcome Anonymous


Membership:
Latest: RichardZ
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 13126

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 361
BOT: 0
Total: 361
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Forums
02: Forums
03: Forums
04: Your Account
05: Forums
06: Forums
07: Forums
08: Your Account
09: Photo Albums
10: Forums
11: Forums
12: Forums
13: Forums
14: Forums
15: Your Account
16: Your Account
17: Your Account
18: Forums
19: Your Account
20: Forums
21: Forums
22: Forums
23: Forums
24: Forums
25: Forums
26: Forums
27: Forums
28: Photo Albums
29: Forums
30: Forums
31: Forums
32: Forums
33: Home
34: Forums
35: Home
36: Forums
37: Your Account
38: Home
39: Home
40: Forums
41: Forums
42: Forums
43: Your Account
44: News
45: Forums
46: Forums
47: Forums
48: Forums
49: Home
50: Home
51: Forums
52: Home
53: Forums
54: Forums
55: Home
56: Your Account
57: Forums
58: Forums
59: Forums
60: Home
61: Forums
62: Forums
63: Forums
64: Home
65: Home
66: Forums
67: Forums
68: Forums
69: Forums
70: Forums
71: Home
72: Forums
73: Photo Albums
74: Photo Albums
75: Forums
76: Forums
77: Forums
78: Home
79: Photo Albums
80: Forums
81: Forums
82: Forums
83: Home
84: Your Account
85: Photo Albums
86: Forums
87: Forums
88: Forums
89: Your Account
90: Home
91: Forums
92: Home
93: Forums
94: Forums
95: Forums
96: Forums
97: Forums
98: Home
99: Your Account
100: Forums
101: Forums
102: Home
103: Forums
104: Forums
105: Home
106: Forums
107: Forums
108: Forums
109: Forums
110: Your Account
111: Forums
112: Your Account
113: Photo Albums
114: Home
115: Forums
116: Your Account
117: Forums
118: Forums
119: Forums
120: Forums
121: Forums
122: Home
123: Your Account
124: Home
125: Forums
126: Home
127: Photo Albums
128: Home
129: Your Account
130: Home
131: Forums
132: Forums
133: Forums
134: Home
135: Your Account
136: Your Account
137: Forums
138: Forums
139: Forums
140: Forums
141: Forums
142: Forums
143: Home
144: Forums
145: Forums
146: Photo Albums
147: Home
148: Forums
149: Forums
150: Forums
151: Forums
152: Forums
153: Forums
154: Forums
155: Forums
156: Forums
157: Home
158: Photo Albums
159: Forums
160: Photo Albums
161: Forums
162: Forums
163: Home
164: Forums
165: Forums
166: Forums
167: Home
168: Photo Albums
169: Photo Albums
170: Home
171: Forums
172: Forums
173: Your Account
174: Photo Albums
175: Photo Albums
176: Home
177: Forums
178: Photo Albums
179: Forums
180: Forums
181: Home
182: Forums
183: Home
184: Home
185: Home
186: Forums
187: Forums
188: Home
189: Your Account
190: Forums
191: Home
192: Home
193: Forums
194: Home
195: Forums
196: Forums
197: Forums
198: Forums
199: Forums
200: Forums
201: Forums
202: Forums
203: Forums
204: Forums
205: Forums
206: Forums
207: Forums
208: Home
209: Home
210: Forums
211: Forums
212: Forums
213: Forums
214: Forums
215: Forums
216: Forums
217: Forums
218: Forums
219: Your Account
220: Forums
221: Forums
222: Forums
223: Your Account
224: Forums
225: Forums
226: Forums
227: Home
228: Forums
229: Forums
230: Forums
231: Forums
232: Forums
233: Forums
234: Forums
235: Forums
236: Forums
237: Home
238: Home
239: Forums
240: Forums
241: Forums
242: Forums
243: Forums
244: Your Account
245: Forums
246: Your Account
247: Forums
248: Photo Albums
249: Home
250: Forums
251: Forums
252: Home
253: Forums
254: Forums
255: Forums
256: Your Account
257: Forums
258: Forums
259: Forums
260: Your Account
261: Forums
262: Forums
263: Your Account
264: Forums
265: Photo Albums
266: Home
267: Forums
268: Forums
269: Home
270: Home
271: Photo Albums
272: Forums
273: Forums
274: Forums
275: Photo Albums
276: Photo Albums
277: Forums
278: Forums
279: Photo Albums
280: Forums
281: Forums
282: Forums
283: Photo Albums
284: Forums
285: Forums
286: Forums
287: Forums
288: Your Account
289: Home
290: Home
291: Home
292: Forums
293: Forums
294: Home
295: Forums
296: Home
297: Forums
298: Forums
299: Forums
300: Forums
301: Your Account
302: Forums
303: Forums
304: Your Account
305: Photo Albums
306: Forums
307: Photo Albums
308: Forums
309: Forums
310: Forums
311: Forums
312: Forums
313: Forums
314: Forums
315: Forums
316: Forums
317: Forums
318: Forums
319: Forums
320: Forums
321: Forums
322: Forums
323: Forums
324: Forums
325: Forums
326: Home
327: Home
328: Forums
329: Forums
330: Forums
331: Forums
332: Forums
333: Photo Albums
334: Home
335: Forums
336: Forums
337: Home
338: Your Account
339: Forums
340: Home
341: Forums
342: Photo Albums
343: Home
344: Forums
345: Home
346: Forums
347: Forums
348: Forums
349: Forums
350: Forums
351: Forums
352: Your Account
353: Forums
354: Home
355: Forums
356: Forums
357: Forums
358: Forums
359: Forums
360: Home
361: Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
 

Coppermine Stats
Photo Albums
 Albums: 308
 Pictures: 2451
  · Views: 820725
  · Votes: 1316
  · Comments: 86
 

My Christmas Rifle (a Christmas story)
Discussion that doesnt fit other Topics
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic   Reply to topic   Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index » General

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
coyotehunter_1
Member
Member


Joined: Jan 25, 2005
Posts: 319
Location: Tennessee (USA)

PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:35 am    Post subject: My Christmas Rifle (a Christmas story) Reply with quote

My Christmas Rifle
By: Rian B. Anderson


Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or for those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted so badly that year for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. So after supper was over, I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace, waiting for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible; instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, but, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this.
But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up, put my boots back on, and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what. Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short or quick or little job, I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me, and I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed.
"I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on. After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain and all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" "You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? "Yeah," I said, "why?" "I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said. He then turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading and went to the smokehouse where he took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunnysacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy. We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us, it shouldn't have been our concern. We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house, unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, and took the meat and flour and shoes around to the front door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?" Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
We brought you a few things, Ma'am, Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and, as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes, too. In my mind, I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people. I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy, and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us." In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it, I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord, the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes. Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their pa, and I was glad that I still had mine. At the door, Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, "May the Lord bless you." I know for certain that He will." Out on the sled, I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday, a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunnysacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand." I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

_________________
www.easterncoyotes.com/
I'm just an 'ol country boy who enjoys calling coyotes... nothing more, nothing less.


Last edited by coyotehunter_1 on Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:33 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
Dimitri
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Nov 25, 2005
Posts: 5944

PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:48 am    Post subject: Re: The Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

Nice story, always is good to read it every year. Smile

Dimitri

_________________
A thousand hills, but no birds in flight, ten thousand paths, with no people's tracks. A lonely boat, a straw-hatted old man, fishing alone in the cold river snow.
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
squirrelbait
Member
Member


Joined: Sep 23, 2005
Posts: 220
Location: Nottingham, NH

PostPosted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 8:46 pm    Post subject: Re: The Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

Coyote, if only He could work on all our hearts.
Especially here in America it seems as a society we just can't seem to be satisfied with what we have. We are so blessed. Most people have no idea just how lucky we are in this great country. thanks for putting this up. I needed the reminder, don't know about anyone else.
thanks Smile
Back to top
View user's profile
kbis
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Apr 05, 2005
Posts: 312
Location: East, Texas

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:19 am    Post subject: Re: The Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

I would have responded sooner, but had to get the tears out of my eyes. Great storry.
Back to top
View user's profile
Vince
Site Admin
Site Admin


Joined: May 25, 2005
Posts: 15704
Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA

PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:27 am    Post subject: Re: The Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

squirrelbait wrote:
Coyote, if only He could work on all our hearts.
Especially here in America it seems as a society we just can't seem to be satisfied with what we have. We are so blessed. Most people have no idea just how lucky we are in this great country. thanks for putting this up. I needed the reminder, don't know about anyone else.
thanks Smile

Squirrel old mate....you have said it all. That is a very humbling story...one that all of us can learn from.

Thanks Coyote....you done good.

Cheers, Vince

_________________
Cheers, Vince Cheers

Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done)
Back to top
View user's profile AIM Address MSN Messenger Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
kentucky hareraiser
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Oct 27, 2006
Posts: 325
Location: kentucky

PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:38 am    Post subject: Re: The Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

nice ,i'd say true story.one that touches the heart.now day's people are not so eager to give,and help the really needy.a soft heart will mend and patch up ,a lot of not so fortunate people today.AGAIN,nice story
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
tracker
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 1175
Location: Manitoba, Canada

PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:29 pm    Post subject: Re: The Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

Great story coyote. I have to agree with squirrel as well, seems to me (maybe I'm just old enough) that there used to be a lot mor folk who saw the world the way that fella's Pa did.

_________________
"If God hadn't meant for man to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat!"
Back to top
View user's profile
1895ss
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Jul 21, 2005
Posts: 2612
Location: Not Here...!!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:48 pm    Post subject: Re: The Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

A very good story. Yep squirrelbait you're right, we don't know how good we have it these days.

_________________
A cruel truth is much more desirable than a really nice lie.
'Tis far better to walk alone than to follow a crowd or an a**hole going the wrong way.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
coyotehunter_1
Member
Member


Joined: Jan 25, 2005
Posts: 319
Location: Tennessee (USA)

PostPosted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:49 pm    Post subject: Re: The Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

Merry Christmas everyone Very Happy


Last edited by coyotehunter_1 on Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
george20042007
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Jan 27, 2006
Posts: 568
Location: Arizona

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:41 am    Post subject: Re: My Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

Great story! Over the years I gave to various organizations that helped the needy, or, so they claimed. After awhile, I saw what they did and stopped giving to them. Since, I've helped many in need, no third parties involved. I encourage anyone to look around you to see if there is someone in need that you could help, and do it. That's the Christian way and who knows, you may gain something from it.
Keep it coming...
Back to top
View user's profile AIM Address
sniper
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Aug 18, 2005
Posts: 735
Location: Utah

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:28 pm    Post subject: Re: My Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

Great story!
Back to top
View user's profile
coyotehunter_1
Member
Member


Joined: Jan 25, 2005
Posts: 319
Location: Tennessee (USA)

PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:25 pm    Post subject: Re: My Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

Note the previous post replies are a year old ...

"The Christmas Rifle", as Dimitri so kindly mentioned last year, has become a traditional Christmas post here.

I hope everyone enjoys it.

Merry Christmas,
Chet

_________________
www.easterncoyotes.com/
I'm just an 'ol country boy who enjoys calling coyotes... nothing more, nothing less.
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
KYGunner
Member
Member


Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 99
Location: Elizabethtown, KY

PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:32 pm    Post subject: Re: My Christmas Rifle Reply with quote

Well then, for this year....Right on. Great story. There is nothing as good as giving. May you all have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

_________________
KYGunner
"You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence"
-Abe Lincoln
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
kbis
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Apr 05, 2005
Posts: 312
Location: East, Texas

PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:59 pm    Post subject: Re: My Christmas Rifle (a Christmas story) Reply with quote

Its another year and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Ken
Back to top
View user's profile
codybrown
Super Member
Super Member


Joined: Feb 10, 2007
Posts: 379
Location: Michigan

PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:06 pm    Post subject: Re: My Christmas Rifle (a Christmas story) Reply with quote

Extremely good story, defiantly one of the better reads on the net.

_________________
I make mistakes like the next man. In fact, rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly larger.
Back to top
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic   Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index » General
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 7 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Valid CSS! Valid HTML 4.01!
Click to check if this page is realy HTML 4.01 compliant for speed :)

All logos and trademarks in this site are property of HuntingNut.com.
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest © 2011 by HuntingNut.com
Interactive software released under GNU GPL, Code Credits, Privacy Policy

.: Upgraded to DragonFly 9.2 by *Dizfunkshunal* :.