Good Morning, it's been quite a while since I last posted, but with Christmas fast approaching I thought some might enjoy a short Christmas story as told to me a while back by an old railroader on Mid Atlantic Railway System (MARS).
"The Perfect Gift"
The sun was just beginning to rise on Christmas morning, and Mama Jo was already hard at work in the kitchen. The three children huddled beside the old potbellied stove were playfully chatting and giggling in the dimly lit room. Times were hard, but on this day there was an excitement in Mama Jo's kitchen. The pungent aroma of fresh baked bread permeated the two story clapboard house, and there was a meaty fresh chicken ready to go in the oven. Best of all, Mama Jo was preparing mash potatoes and, as a special treat, her sweet potato pie.
The children's excitement along with the noise was growing when Little Becky exclaimed, "Mama Jo, it's cold and there is no more coal." "That's right, child. We need some coal for the stove. Willis, wrap the children and take them with you to gather some coal."
Willis, the oldest, prepared the children to go outside. Once out the door, they met two neighbor children on a mission of their own for the same purpose, to gather up some coal to warm their home.
In the dim morning light the children worked their way up a steep embankment pulling Little Becky who was sitting in an old wash tub that had been lashed to their sled. It was perfect for hauling back the coal they would collect. Up they trudged through the freshly fallen snow until they reached the top and the MARS single track mainline.
It was apparent that there had not been a train for a bit as the tops of the rusty rails were covered with a blanket of clean white snow. The kids made their way to a sharp curve in the track where coal frequently collected on the ground from passing coal drags. The children reached their destination and stopped to look at one another. Little Becky said, "Willis, what are we to do, there is no coal? Even with Grandma cooking, the house is so cold. Mama Jo will be so sad if we don't bring home some coal." Becky began to whimper softly.
Becky was only half right. There was coal on the ground, but because of the recent snow, it could not be seen. Willis began to kick at the snow, and the other children followed suit in hopes of finding some coal beneath the white powder. As they proceeded to churn up the snow in search of the coal, more snow began to fall. Willis looked to the sky and thought, "It is beautiful, but not now, please not now. We've just got to find some coal!"
The children were accustomed to the cold, but they had so been hoping for a warm Christmas and the cold would not be welcomed on this day. But after searching and not finding what they had been sent out to find, the children were very discouraged. They were about to head back to their homes with only the prospect of their growing colder as the day wore on.
Then, in the distance the children heard a familiar sound. It was the long mournful whistle of Ol' #827, on schedule making her way down the track pulling a short mixed freight. In the cab, as Pat peered up ahead, he saw the children beside the track and pulled the cord letting loose a piercing warning that his train was fast approaching. The children stepped back away from the track and down the slope. As Ol' #827 approached, her headlamp glowing, belching steam and smoke from her stack, Pat repeatedly tugged on the whistle chord which now seemed to the children like a sweet melody.
As the children watched the thundering locomotive rapidly approach, they saw a dark mass fly from the side of Ol' #827. Something was hurtling through the air and falling to the ground peppering the snow covered slope. As the locomotive grew closer, Willis and the children suddenly recognized it was what they had been desperately seeking, coal!
Pat, like a master, having eased off the locomotive's throttle glanced back at Lou as he now gently applied the brake, slowing the train. And standing between the cab and tender was Lou, was shoveling huge scoops of the precious black diamonds as fast as his muscular arms would allow.
Now before the children lay large chunks of black coal dotting the white covered slope. In their excitement the children began to jump up and down. As Ol' #827 came upon them, the children continued to wave with excitement and then stood as if in awe. Standing tall in the cab, Lou smiled, gave a strong wave and above the rumble of the locomotive's pounding drivers, bellowed a hearty "Merry Christmas to all!"
The short mixed freight passed, and the children looked at one another in amazement. Then without saying a word they went about quickly filling their buckets and the wash tub with the chunks of black treasure.
With a full load of coal and with smiles on their faces the children began making their way toward home. It was not long before Becky saw Mama Jo standing outside the back door anticipating their arrival. Becky, now with tears flowing down her soft cheeks, turned to and asked, "Willis, was that Santa?" Willis stopped in his tracks, looked at Becky, and said with a smile, "I think maybe it was." Becky beamed and responded, "I'm so happy! He gave us the perfect gift."
On behalf of MARS President Will B. Goodman, all the MARS crew, my wife Mary, and I, wish you all a safe, peaceful and Merry Christmas!
Bo
