A Mid-Winters Night Visit (standard:fairy tales, 2879 words)
Author: Melazar	Added: Nov 20 2001	Views/Reads: 3547/2469	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Outside, he spied a sleigh with bells as it made its way down the narrow road. A warm tankard rose to his lips as he savored the rich cinnamon and apple flavors. He looked in the glass as he rolled the liquid around in his mouth and slowly allowed the exp

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mid-winters tune just like ma. 

The man in the sleigh went to the next house and stopped there too. Must
be looking for someone. After he stopped he rummaged around just like 
the farmer was doing now. I wonder if he were humming too? Ropey Bell 
brushed my hand with her head, I'd stopped scratching. 

I heard the farmer giggle and tell her from the back of the cart he was
almost done. I was in no hurry and Ropey Bell just wanted more 
scratches. Me, I wanted to know who the man was that now entered the 
blacksmiths house carrying something, guess he found the right house 
afterall. A few minutes later the farmer finally found what he looking 
for, a small jug and something that smelled great, even in its little 
bag. He handed me both and smiled saying he had one more thing and 
passed me one of his milk bottles, said he could smell the cookies even 
from here. 

I told him to hold on, I'd be right back, and rushed inside. I
remembered as I entered the kitchen that I hadn't stopped to shake the 
snow off, thought I was in for it, but ma just smiled as she saw what 
was in my hand, said it was another treat. I loved treats! I stood 
there for a second looking at the cookies, wondering how I was to ask 
for some for the farmer and still leave enough for us, when ma reached 
for the small bag I had and emptied its contents, small brown sticks, 
odd looking, but they sure smelled great! She filled the bag with 
cookies, said there was always enough to go around amongst friends. 
Guess she could read my mind! Mothers are so funny sometimes. 

The farmers eyes lit up when he saw me carrying the little bag. I felt
something warm inside when I handed him those precious cookies. I 
didn't even care that meant I'd have fewer, his smile made up for it. I 
continued smiling as made his way down to the next house to deliver 
more milk, and maybe brown sticks that smelled so good. 

As I watched him go I noticed the man with the sleigh coming out of the
house he'd entered but a few minutes ago, minus his load. I could see 
him a bit clearer now. He was a big man, not really tall, but big all 
the same, and he seemed old, he had white hair and a beard too. I 
wondered if he could see the snow on his beard? 

He continued on and stopped at the next house and rummaged around like
before and then knocked on the door and went inside. I guess everyone 
knew him. I wondered what he took inside, but it was getting cold so I 
went back inside. This time I remembered to shake off the snow. I 
noticed ma looking out of the kitchen and smile as I remembered. I 
heard her squeal with delight about something or another, then hum a 
new tune. Mothers can be so funny sometimes. 

As quickly as I got my coat and the snow off of me I rushed for the
window again to watch the curious stranger. I wondered if he would stop 
here, and if so, would he bring us whatever it was he had? I didn't 
think he would though, I'd never seen him before. I watched as he made 
his way to the next and the next house, passing all the houses on this 
side of the street up. My heart sank as he went out of sight down the 
winding road. I guess I'd have to ask Joshua tomorrow. 

Ma came over as I slumped down dejectedly in the chair. I must have
moaned out loud or something. Ma didn't like moping as she called. I 
told her of the stranger and the sleigh, she just smiled and said "Oh." 
and switching tunes went back into the kitchen. She must know all the 
songs in the whole world! Mothers could be so funny sometimes. 

I began to dream up all sorts of things he could be bringing to those
houses. Maybe he was bringing food like the farmer, but then, he didn't 
look like a farmer. Then I thought maybe he was bringing news, some 
folks got news that way, but then it wasn't usually in little packages, 
just rolled up parchment. My mind went wild after that. Sometime during 
all this I feel asleep and I guess ma got me to my bed, cause I woke up 
there when I heard voices from the main room. 

I snuck to the curtain and slowly peeked through the middle opening. It
was him! The sleigh man! He had come! I tried to listen as they talked. 
Ma gave him some of the cookies and even some milk. My heart skipped a 
bit, he was very large, I was afraid he'd drink all the milk! Then I 
heard him laugh at something and those thoughts flew away. 

I looked all over for a package like he'd brought to the other houses,
but my view was blocked by the table we put the mid-winters candle on. 
I decided to sneak out and have a look around. 

I crouched down and crawled silently over to the candle table and got
under its cloth. I then picked up the edge and peeked under. I almost 
gave myself away when a squeak found its way to my lips, there by his 
feet was one of those packages! 

I then turned my attention to the big man trying to see if I could
figure out what it was from what he was. His hands were big yet seemed 
to be very nimble. I saw calluses, so I knew he worked with his hands. 
Then I noticed his red and green outfit had a few wood shaving on the 
cuffs. He was a carpenter of some sort! I wondered what a carpenter 
would bring us? 

I don't know how long I sat there thinking about it, but when I came
back to the present, I found myself staring straight into his eyes. 
They twinkled! Really, just like the stars! His smile appeared to go 
from ear to ear, though it was mostly hidden by the beard, I knew it 
was a big one. 

"Ho, ho, ho little man." he chuckled at me. "Come join us, I see you've
no need for sleep now." 

I saw ma's head peek around the corner at me. I thought she'd send me to
bed again, but she smiled just like him and said come on in. I bumped 
my head on the table and didn't even feel it as I made my way to the 
table where they sat. Ma passed me a cookie and a glass of milk, he 
didn't drink it all afterall! I took a big bite of sugar cookie and 
washed it down with an even bigger gulp of milk. 

The strange man laughed a jolly laugh as he said I had a beard now just
like him. I looked down and saw I had white cookie crumbs all over my 
chin and white lips from the milk. I laughed too. While we all laughed, 
my mind and I guess my eyes, drifted back to the package at his feet. 
Again, when I looked up it was into his deep blue/gray eyes and there 
was that twinkle again! 

He raised and lowered his eyebrows a few times at me while he smiled a
mischievous smile and reached for the package. I guess my mouth hung 
open as I watched, cause ma reached over, and placed her hand beneath 
my chin and pushed up closing it. They both laughed at my 
embarrassment, but I didn't care. I wanted to see in the package! 

There were actually two packages, they were tied together. He slowly
began to untie them, his big fingers were too slow! I got up and ran to 
my room for my small knife and handed it to him. He laughed that big 
laugh again and said thank you. I quickly sat back in my chair with my 
hands clasped in my lap, squeezing them together so I wouldn't reach 
forward in an attempt to hurry him up. I knew ma would say that was 
rude. 

He made quick duty of the string, I always kept the blade sharp, my
uncle said I had to keep it sharp when he gave it to me, it was my 
da's. He said it wasn't much good dull. 

When the two packages were free of each other he sat looking at them and
smiled. I wondered if one was for me? I didn't know him, but there were 
two of them, and two of us! My mind raced again as it had before I feel 
asleep! 

Finally he handed my ma the smaller of the two and then kept his eyes on
her. I was so curious I forgot that he hadn't handed me the other. I 
watched between her and him as she gingerly opened the package, I knew 
she'd keep the parchment it was wrapped in to use again sometime. 
Mothers could be so funny. 

When she had at last removed the wrapping, there in here hands was the
most beautiful carving I'd ever seen. Ma's eyes welled up when she 
looked at it, it was a rose bush in full bloom. I wondered how he got 
the colors out of the wood like that, it looked almost alive! As she 
stared at it I looked into his eyes again and saw them twinkle once 
more. As she moved her finger tips over the carving he turned his eyes 
to me, and pushed the other package in my direction. I was getting one 
too! 

I tried to open it slowly so ma could reuse the wrapping, but I had to
get inside! Had to see it now! As I tore through the wrapping I saw ma 
look my way and then laugh. I guess she didn't mind me tearing the 
parchment afterall. Mothers can be so funny sometimes. 

As I finally got all the parchment away from around its contents, I
heard ma suck in her breath. She set her gift down and knelt beside me. 
She ran her trembling fingers over the carving. Hers tears flowing down 
her face were only broken by the smile she now wore. It was the figure 
of a man. It too looked almost alive! 

I stared at it as ma put an arm around me and kissed my head. It did
look familiar, but I didn't know why, I knew I'd never seen this man 
before. I looked at ma to see if she'd tell me who it was. She looked 
into my eyes, and I swear hers twinkled just like the stranger's, "It's 
yer father!" 

It was my eyes turn to flood my face. I looked closer, ran my fingers
over the carving that now I knew looked so much like me, yet older. I'd 
never known him, my father, he died before I was born. But in my hand 
now was a carving so real it felt as if I held him. I pulled the 
carving to my chest and closed my eyes. 

As the tears fell down my cheeks and chest, I swore the carving moved as
some fell upon the wood! I opened my eyes immediately and looked 
between the carving and the stranger whose eyes now seemed aglow! My 
heart seemed almost to the bursting point, I was so happy. 

Somewhere along the way, the stranger said he had to go, he had many
stops left this night. I grabbed all the cookies I could and offered 
them to him. He took only one more, said I could have the rest as he 
started humming one of those merry little tunes ma loved so much and 
made for the door and out in a flash. 

That was the first of many times I saw the strange man who came but once
a year. He always stayed till his eyes got all the twinkle we could 
give him. I was sure he was made from the stuff of the stars above, for 
truly he seemed heaven sent. 

That first time though, will always stick in me mind the most, for I had
me da there too because of this funny man with the twinkling eyes! 


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