Tis the season and all
that.
I can get a bit Grinchy this time of year, but I’m not totally immune to a heart-warming tale.
This year’s pick: Little House on the Prairie, is part of a beloved book series (see my past post on the joys of a favourite book series).
I’ve not read every
book in the series of nine, but I’ve read at least half of them. They are not Christmas-themed
books per se, but many have a chapter or two specifically devoted to the
season.
The “Little House” books are based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s childhood and adolescence in the American Midwest between 1870 and 1894. As books often do, this series introduces the reader to a world and lifestyle that was hard to conceive of when I was young, and is probably all the more foreign today.
In Little House on the Prairie (book three in the series), the Ingalls family of five pack up their belongings and move away from their home and extended family in the woods of Wisconsin. In search of wide-open spaces and free land, they travel west to “Indian country.” Along the journey by covered wagon, they encounter fast-flowing rivers, wild animals, bad weather, and other adversities. They camp every night, cooking over a fire, gazing up at the stars.
Eventually they find a place to settle, and it’s fascinating to read in detail the many steps that went into building a new home and barn. This is essentially done by one man, with occasional bartered help from a neighbour--not an architect, contractor, or tradesperson in sight. Then there's everything that needs to be done to keep a household/farm running day to day: feeding the animals, cooking, doing laundry (by hand), sewing and mending, obtaining food by various means, and eventually farming. And let’s not forget, all without the benefit of indoor plumbing!
Overlaying this already hard life are the physical threats from wildlife, such as wolves, as well as other settlers, and conflict with the Indians, on whose land they are settling. From where I stand today, the portrayal of the Indigenous people in this book is pretty shocking (although I don’t remember it having the same impact when I was younger); one settler’s favourite adage is “the only good Indian is a dead Indian.” That said, it’s a good reminder of the historic injustices that are still reverberating today.
Given the ongoing challenges in just getting through the day, it’s no wonder Christmas is anticipated and celebrated as heartily as it is in this book and series. As Christmas nears in Little House on the Prairie, the older children are concerned that the lack of snow and rising creek will prevent a visit from Santa Claus, as well as from their favourite neighbour Mr. Edwards. Although they have a big fat turkey set for the next day, they hang their stockings on Christmas Eve with little hope of gifts in the morning.
In Christmas miracle style though, Mr. Edwards crosses paths with Santa and agrees to pass along Santa’s presents to the Ingalls girls. The two older girls: Mary and Laura each receive a tin cup (they used to have to share one), a candy cane, a little heart-shaped cake topped with white sugar, and a bright new penny. As a bonus, Mr. Edwards produces nine sweet potatoes for all to enjoy with the turkey.
In some substantial ways, little has changed since Mary and Laura’s day. Christmas is still an exciting time for many children: a vacation from the everyday, comforting traditions, festive food, music, gifts, and a focus on family, friends, and good will.
I think this particular story has stayed with me through the years because of its simplicity. By modern standards, Mary and Laura receive a few stocking stuffers, but to them it is a bounty. They are also deeply grateful for what they receive, particularly as they were almost resigned to getting nothing.
Granted, some could argue the true meaning of Christmas is absent in this story: there is no mention of Christianity or the birth of Christ. But I've always been compelled by its hope, and a doing-the-best-we-can spirit we can all use from time to time. It makes my Grinchy heart grow a few sizes at least.
