O, Holy Night (standard:drama, 1113 words)
Author: Maureen Stirsman	Added: Oct 26 2004	Views/Reads: 3683/2411	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Taken from my Christmas book of short stories, "Once Upon a Night in December" that will be available in November.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

opened the case. She didn't know a lot about musical instruments but 
the rich smell of the wood and the rosin was alluring. She picked up 
the bow. It needed restrung. It was a fine looking violin as far as she 
could tell, and it was half price from yesterday. “I was holding that 
for an elderly gentlemen, but he didn't come back. Are you interested?” 
the woman in the green smock said. “Brother Giles said it was a good 
instrument. He used to play a little. He tightened the strings 
yesterday and played a tune. It sounded nice. But I guess it depends on 
the person,” she said laughing. 

When Bella stepped onto the bus she was carrying a black violin case. 

Everyone was happy with their gifts on Christmas morning. Each of the
children had presents for the others and their parents, paid for with 
baby-sitting and paper route money. Bella held the violin back to the 
last. “I don't know how good it is, Gif. Try it,” she said. 

Gifford Holland tucked the black chin rest under his chin, stretched his
arm, smiled at his family and picked up the bow. ‘O Holy Night' sounded 
like a sweet angel voice. 

“I think he really liked it, don't you?” Bella asked her husband when
the children had gone to their rooms. 

“Oh yes. It was a great idea. Hopefully next year the crop will be
better and we won't have to scrounge for gifts. But the violin was a 
good find, you got it at a good price.” 

Then Gifford came back downstairs. “Mom and Dad, the violin is just
exactly what I wanted. It looks like a nice instrument. I will show it 
to Mr. Swartz. But I want you to take this.” He held out a small wooden 
box that had his initials wood burned into the lid. “It's twenty-four 
dollars. I have been saving to buy a violin.” 

Bella put her arms around their son and said, “No, Gif, this is a
present. Keep your money.” 

“We love you. Now, go to bed,” his father added. 

Gif carried the box back upstairs and put it on the closet shelf next to
the black violin case. He went to bed with a song in his heart and the 
violin on a shelf in his closet. It was a holy night! 

Bella and Eric turned the lamp off and sat by the light of the Christmas
tree. “It was a good Christmas after all. Let's just sit for a minute 
and enjoy the glow. Who knows what next year will bring.” Christmas 
1940 was to be the last good year, but tonight was a holy night. 


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