The Christmas Tree
Mabeliene and her
mother Teresa were very poor. They lived in an old cottage which
just had a room, bath and a tiny kitchen. Their home 'Rumbling Stones'
was at the edge of the river near the small wood.
 Mabel's
father had deserted them when she was just 2 years of age and since
then Teresa had been her mother
as well as her father. Mabel was now 6 years old but could not go
to the village school because of the fees. Her mother had taught
her to read and write. Both mother and daughter used to make soft
toys and sold them at the local bazaar, but hardly made both ends
meet. Every year they had managed to celebrate Christmas somehow
or the other but this year there was no money to buy even a small
Christmas Tree. This was because
in the month of October Teresa had been taken ill and all the money
saved up for Christmas was spent in buying medicines and some fruits
for her.
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It was mid December
now and there was hardly enough saving to get them through
the New year. "Mabel dear, we will not be able to get
a Christmas Tree this year. I am so sorry" spoke Teresa
sadly. "I know mom, it doesn't matter. We will pray to
the Lord and he will help us celebrate this festive month
with whatever we have". Christmas
arrived and 'Rumbling Stones' looked gloomy without
a tree. Somehow Teresa had got together the things needed
to bake a small Christmas Cake and had made a dress for her
daughter with material a kind lady in the village had given
her because her daughter did not like its colour. The dress
in blue looked nice on Mabel. Teresa has decided to wear the
one good dress she had in green which she wore every year.
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They were sitting
quietly talking of years gone by - "when your dad was here,
we had a fabulous Christmas. I know he will come back to us and
we will see the good old days again". "I have no hope
mom. Dad's been gone for 4 years now." Just then there was
a loud knock on the door and when Mabel opened it, she saw a lovely
Xmas tree outside. "Mum, there's a lovely tree here!
Come and See". Teresa came to the door and was shocked see
her husband Fabian standing at one side. "How are you Terry
darling?" he said and came inside. His wife was struck dumb
with happiness. "Oh! Fabian, I missed you so! Why did you leave
us?" "I do not know how to apologize to you. I just did
not want to waste my time doing odd jobs and not making enough to
keep you in a lovely home. I got too fed up with life one day and
left. I had every intention of coming back darling".
Mabel hugged her father
"How do you like your new tree Mabel?" asked her father.
"It is perfect daddy. You know this year we had no money
to buy a Christmas tree of our own" "I can understand
darling but rest assured, you will not lack for anything in your
life again".
Fabian sat with his
wife and daughter drinking hot chocolate and telling them about
the 4 years he had spent without them. At first he went to the big
town nearby and did odd jobs. When he had collected enough, he went
overseas and there he found a kindly old man who offered him a job
as a manager of his ranch. Now the old man had dies and since he
had no family, he had left everything - his mansion, ranch, farm,
stable, jewellery and all this bank balance to Fabian whom he had
loved as his own. "I am going to take you dear wife to your
own big house where you will have people to do your biddings and
sweet Mabel will go to the best school there."
They had a wonderful
time and the Christmas Tree glittered and glimmered as if telling
both Mabel and Teresa that from now on there will only be brightness
and happiness in their lives.
Contributing Story Teller: Amita
enjoys writing stories and poems. She has strong editing and
translation skills. amita17149@hotmail.com
Want to get a short
story written for children? amita17149@hotmail.com
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