I have been thinking for the past couple of days about my favorite Little House Christmas story. Of course I love to read about the time Mr. Edwards bought Mary and Laura their tin cups and candy sticks. And about the time Pa was stuck in the snowstorm and had to eat the Christmas candy. But I have to say my favorite would be the Christmas scene depicted in These Happy Golden Years.
Laura and Almanzo have become engaged. And he has left DeSmet to go back to New York for several weeks. In the chapter, “The Night Before Christmas,” we get to see Laura as a young woman in love. She is newly engaged and is lonely for Almanzo. I think we have all had that feeling before. The feeling of being surrounded by wonderful good things, but deep down you know things aren’t just right. The one you love is missing and nothing is complete without his presence. Laura hasn’t had a letter from Almanzo in three weeks and she is worried. Worried he could be spending time with other young women or worse, that he was regretting giving her an engagement ring. She is wishing to hear from him and suddenly he is at the door! She is speechless and eventually is able to greet him with a kiss.
The family had originally planned to go to the Christmas Eve church service in town. Snowy weather prevented them, but it didn’t stop the Ingalls from having their own celebration. I like how no one panicked, no one worried about things not going as planned. They simply started doing things to make a Christmas at home special. They made popcorn balls and bags of candy.
They sang songs together. Even though Laura was lonely for Almanzo, she was surrounded by loving family, and realized what a blessing it was to be in a warm and cozy home.
The family all stays up until midnight to wish each other a Merry Christmas and go to bed happy, knowing Christmas Day would be filled with surprises.
By MamaHen at Long Days, Short Years