Christmas Stories From Family Memories

When I was still in Elementary school maybe about 8 years old, daddy was working down South. { Never mind, Wallace]. One Christmas Eve, it was cold and crisp and the moon was shining. Mama ask me to go with her somewhere. We were living on the Meadors ' place. I was so excited because it was the night that Santa came and mama had to go somewhere and she ask me to go with her. I ask her where we were going and she didn't say much but I was just excited that she ask me. Everyone wondered where we were going but no one knew. As we walked down the road in the cold . only the moon lite up the way so we had to stay in the ruts. All of a sudden , Mama said I need to tell you something. " My ears perked up. I was the oldest and I was going to get a secret. Mama said "THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUS" I ask her to repeat it because I didn't hear her right. She repeated it and told me that since I was the oldest, she needed me to help her with the other kids stuff because she could not carry it alone. We went to Mr Stephen's little log cabin and a cotton sack full of stuff was hidden there. As we continued our walk, my world fell apart. I went through a lot of emotional feelings. All of a sudden, I envied my siblings because they still believed in Santa Claus. We took the bag home and left it outside until the others fell asleep. I helped mama fill each sack with an orange, an apple, some raisins, nuts and fire crackers. I doubt I slept that night . The next morning, I watched the sheer happiness on everyone's face as they opened their sack and brought out goodies. My sack didn't mean a thing to me because, I knew there was NO SANTA CLAUS. Submitted by Jean


I recall Santa came to our house when we were still awake and he wanted us to sit on his lap. He did not have on gloves and I recognized Sam Williams' hands, and the way he talked.

One Christmas Eve, James and I were told that Santa would not come if we were still awake so we filled the fireplace with wood such that when we went outside we could see the flame above the top of the chimney. We looked at each other and smiled and thought, “If he comes down that chimney tonight he is going to wake us.” We woke the next morning and had the same thing that Jean described, fire crackers, apples, oranges, candy and raisins. We had numerous fruit trees within 50 yards of the house so I am not sure why this was a treat but we were excited.

As for Jean going shopping with mamma while Daddy worked in Southern Louisiana, no comments! I am a living witness that miracles do happen! Submitted by Wallace