I have four that come to mind:
In Little House in the Big Woods when the aunts, uncles, and cousins all come to visit. I always liked the image of young Laura breathing on the glass in the cabin to make frost and how she admired the patterns it made, playing in the snow, and how she received Charlotte for a present.
The second is Little House On The Prairie. I think most people would say that is one of their favorite Christmas chapters. How can one not love how Mr. Edwards went to Independence and met Santa? And how happy they were to receive cookies, a penny, a tin cup and a stick of peppermint? In this day and age of $200 video game systems, Ipods and cell phones that do everything but make your bed, the simplicity strikes a chord with me.
The third is On The Banks of Plum Creek where Laura sees a Christmas tree for the first time at church. The description of the tree, and the awe it created in her is marvelous. I also love the fact that she gets a fur cape and muff that she can rub in Nellie Oleson’s face! Take THAT, town girl!!!
The fourth, and the one that had the greatest impact on me, is in The Long Winter when they survive the blizzards and the trains finally get through in May and they receive the long awaited Christmas barrel, sparking the idea of having a Christmas celebration. They finally had plenty of supplies and were able to see and spend time with their dear friends, the Boasts. The winter had kept people pretty much to themselves because of fear of the blizzards popping up at a moment’s notice. So not only was their hunger for food satisfied, their hunger for being able to spend time with people outside their family was satisfied as well. I love how Pa said it in seven words- “Lord,we thank thee for thy bounty.” Simple, yet powerful.
Donna Shaw at littlecottageinthecountry.blogspot.com