A Quiet Knowing Christmas by Ruth Bell Graham

Author:Ruth Bell Graham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2013-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

—RUTH BELL GRAHAM

This is a story, not of a rapturous Christmastime, nor of a melodious Christmas chime, nor of a lyrical Christmas rhyme, but of a most romantic Christmas crime. “Have you moved the goose from the woodshed?” We were just sitting down to breakfast on Christmas Eve when our hostess entered the room, and, focusing an anxious scrutiny upon her husband’s face, propounded this most unexpected and most disconcerting question.

Amidst tumultuous excitement, the handsome and appetizing bird had, the previous evening, arrived in a crate from an upcountry farm. A letter received earlier in the week had apprised the family of its dispatch, and, from that hour, the three boys—Jack, Ron and Keith—had haunted the railway station like uneasy spirits. Immediately upon the arrival of a train, from whatever direction, they plied the harassed porters with eager enquiries concerning the feverishly expected goose. And when at last, to the infinite relief of the officials, the package duly appeared, the trio dashed off home at breakneck speed to report the sensational arrival. In a few moments, their father drove them back to the station in the car, and the goose was borne triumphantly home. The family having resolved, after a solemn conclave, to defer the execution until the morning, the traveler was released from its crate and imprisoned in the woodshed for the night.

This all happened during our stay at The Pines at Oterakani in New Zealand. As everybody in that romantic neighborhood knows, the Humes are most delightful people. Frederick Hume was the leading solicitor in the town; at the time of our visit, he was mayor of the municipality and has since represented the district in Parliament. He was, moreover, an elder of the Presbyterian Church and a natural leader in all the best movements among the people. Tall, dark, and handsome, with fine eyes, clean, athletic figure and strikingly molded face, he somehow impressed everybody with the feeling that he was in complete control of the situation, whatever that situation might happen to be. His very presence commanded confidence and respect, and his wife exquisitely matched his charm. The Pines, a massive and substantial building standing well back from the road and picturesquely surrounded by graceful lawns and flowering shrubs, is easily the most striking and beautiful home in that part of New Zealand. It is scarcely surprising, therefore, that the fortnight during which we luxuriated in its hospitality is treasured in our memories as one of the choicest and most notable of life’s experiences.

The three boys—the eldest eleven, the youngest seven—stared at each other in blank astonishment. For them the earth had suddenly ceased to revolve. The goose not in the woodshed! It was of no use proceeding with breakfast: appetites were in ruins. Like a jury in an important case, we adjourned to inspect the scene of the tragedy. Only two theories were admissible; the goose had somehow escaped of its own accord or it had been maliciously stolen. As, with the shed shut up,

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