The Forgotten Carols: A Christmas Story and Songs by McLean Michael

Author:McLean, Michael [McLean, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: 2011-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

Mary Let Me Hold Her Baby

It started snowing that afternoon, and Constance found herself drawn to the overstuffed chair by the window so she could watch. Although she had a great deal on her mind, the falling snow gave her an excuse to think about nothing for a while. It was a soft and gentle snow, the kind that brings quiet. As she sank into the deep, goose-down cushions of her chair, she gazed out the window and watched the ground become a thick, white carpet. The butler bumbled into the room and lit a fire in the fireplace, but she barely noticed. The world became soft and peaceful and safe and warm, and she hoped nothing would disturb her for a while.

Through the lace curtain of falling snow, she saw some children starting to build a snowman. Among them was an older woman who looked as if she was having as much fun as the children were. Constance was amazed that a woman that old could be so childlike, so carefree, so . . . so much fun. Constance wondered if the woman was the children’s grandmother.

“What a wonderful surprise. It’s Sarah!” Had John not spoken, Constance would not have noticed that he had entered the room. He tapped on the window and tried to get the attention of the woman playing in the snow with the children.

“Oh, Connie Lou, you have to meet her,” he said enthusiastically. Then he opened the window and called, “Sarah! Sarah! Come in out of the cold.”

The old woman was helping the children place the head on the snowman. “In a minute, John, in a minute.”

“You’re going to adore this woman, Connie Lou,” Uncle John said confidently. “Everybody does. She’s one of my favorite forgotten carols.”

“She’s what? ” Constance said as she sat up on the edge of her chair. Uncle John’s carol did some of the explaining:

She had a way with children,

And she molded them like clay.

She found the greatness in them,

And she nurtured it each day.

Though she never had been married

Or had children of her own,

She could help the toughest child be good.

And so she would not be misunderstood,

She told her story every chance she could.

Uncle John greeted Sarah at the door with a warm embrace, and he walked her to the fire.

“Connie Lou, this is my dear friend Sarah. Sarah, this is my new friend Connie Lou Chamberlain.”

Constance stood and went over to shake hands. “My name is Constance. I’m really not a Connie,” she said out of habit. “How long have you and John been friends?”

“Forever,” Sarah answered, and then she smiled at John. “Well, not exactly forever. It just seems that long. What’s it really been, John? About nineteen hundred years?”

Constance shrieked inside, Oh, no! She’s crazy too! But after a few seconds, she managed to calm herself down so she could ask a few more questions.

“What brings you to this part of . . . of . . . the planet?” Constance didn’t know what else to say.

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