by Mary Wingfield Bell
Chapter Seven -
"How can I wait till spring, Grandma," sighed Delight. "It was
so much fun under the tree, swinging through the air like a
monkey. Birds must have a good time always. They fly very high. If
I was a bird I could fly up in the sky ever so high. I wish it was
spring."
"Honey, winter isn't so bad," said the old woman. "Think of
the nice things winter brings."
"Oh, Yes! the beautiful snow," returned the granddaughter,
"but I can't get outside to play in it."
"What else?" continued Grandma.
"Christmas!" Delight's eyes lit up. "That is a happy word. It
is the birthday of Jesus."
"We will celebrate the birthday of our Saviour very soon,"
remarked Grandma. "Maybe we would do something different this
year. "
"Bake a birthday cake for Jesus, Grandma," suggested Delight.
"Make it real pretty."
"That's a good idea," said Mrs. Capley. "How would you like a
birthday party for Jesus?"
"Oh, Grandma, could we?" asked the girl. "Who could we
invite?"
"Invite any of your friends, maybe your class at school or
Sunday school. "
"What about presents," said Delight.
"Certainly," declared Grandma. "That's the way to show love
for Him."
"Jesus doesn't need any presents," returned the girl.
"O.K., but He wants gifts for those who are needy," said
Grandma. "Whatever we do for the least of His children, we do for
Jesus."
"Our Sunday school teacher told us there were homes for
orphans and other children who had no place to live," said
Delight. "Do you think we could give to some of them."
"There is the Blessed Home for Children near Clintsville,"
answered Grandma. "I'm sure they could use some gifts."
"Since today is Saturday, I'll start on the invitations right
now," Delight said excitedly. She had never been to a birthday
party for Jesus or even heard of such a party. This party must be
very special. She hoped that everyone she invited would come.
Delight wrote on the invitations:
Birthday party - for Jesus.
Where - Capley home, Dogwood Hollow
When - December 20, 3 P.M.
Gifts - for Blessed Home for Children
Please come with or without a gift.
When she was on her ninth invitation, Abner and Maggie
appeared.
"Good!" said Delight. "You can help me."
"What are you doing?" asked Maggie.
"We are having a party for Jesus on December 20th," returned
the Capley girl. "Christmas is His birthday you know."
"For Jesus, the real Jesus!?" Abner wanted to be sure.
"Oh, yes!" assured Delight. "It's going to be the grandest
party anyone ever had around here."
Maggie drew bells and trees on the outside of the folded
papers and Abner helped write the invitations on the inside.
The three youngsters grew tired of working so hard and stopped
to rest a little while.
Grandma gave each one a glass of juice.
Soon they were writing again. There were so many invitations.
Finally Delight said, "That is enough."
"How many invitations did you make?" asked Mrs. Capley.
Delight counted thirty nine. "Tomorrow we can give them out in
Sunday school," she said. "What is left, I'll give out Monday at
school and Abner will help."
The girl invited 39 children, including Abner and Maggie, to
come to the party.
All the boys and girls in the Sunday school class seemed
pleased to receive the invitations.
Miss Rains allowed Abner to pass out the invitations in fifth
grade class at school. Then she said, "Get busy with your lesson
now."
"I'm having a real Christmas party," said Janine, after
sticking her tongue out at Delight. "We'll have a Santa Claus,
video games and everything." Janine was the new girl in class.
"Santa's not real," said Marcia. "Jesus is the real one."
"Christmas is Jesus birthday," joined Nella."
"You guys won't have fun with her," remarked Janine. "Hicks
live up there in the sticks."
"Shut up, girl!" Abner was boiling angry.
"I'm telling you, kids," warned Janine. "You better show up at
my house December 22nd."
The teacher came back to the room and the students turned to
their lesson.
"I'm not coming to your old party," said Janine to Delight
after school.
"I wish she would come," Delight whispered to Nella. "I wanted
everyone to come. We are working hard to get ready for the
party."
When the day arrived for the celebration, everything was
ready. Grandpa had built a little stable for the manger scene that
was set on a table of its own. Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus and
the animals were all there in bright colors. From the ceiling hung
almost invisible strings with angels attached at the ends. Five
little angels hovered in the air above the stable.
In the center of the large dining table, covered with a white
cloth, was a very large cake. The cake was decorated with red,
green and white frosting. On it were spelled out the words, HAPPY
BIRTHDAY, JESUS.
Thirty children came to the Capley house to celebrate. A few
youngsters were ill with the flu and had to stay home. Janine kept
her word, she did not come.
There were many gifts under the beautiful tree in the living
room. The boys and girls had much fun singing carols and playing
games.
One at a time the guests stood up and told what was in their
packages for Jesus. There were socks, gloves, apples, nuts,
raisins, crayons, candies and much more to be given to the Blessed
Home.
While Grandma was serving cake and ice cream, she asked, "Who
would like to go to Clintsville with Grandpa to deliver the gifts
for Jesus?"
"Me!" shouted most everyone.
"I'm afraid the car won't hold all of you," said the old
woman. "Each of you write your name on a piece of paper and we'll
draw names for four people to go."
Grandpa drew the names out of his hat, Brett was the first
name he pulled out. Nella, Abner and Marcia were drawn, also.
"That seems fair," said Delight to Maggie, "You and I can make
cookies while they are gone."
The next day Grandpa and four youngsters delivered the gifts
to the Blessed Home in Clintsville. They had fun singing carols.
Grandpa kept the children laughing with his funny jokes.
Christmas Day was spent quietly and joyfully. The ground was
covered with snow. All the ugliness the fire had left was gone for
that day. Inside the house were delicious smells. It was warm and
comfortable.
Delight was proud of the gifts she found under the tree,
including a blue sweater Grandma had knitted for her. Grandpa had
made a doll bed for his granddaughter's two small dolls. Aunt
Pleasure sent the girl a light green gown. Aunt Jolly sent a purse
with money in it.
Abner and Maggie came in for a few minutes to show Delight
their new wrist watches and look at the Capley girl's presents.
They went out into the snow again to ride their sleds on the
low hill near by. Then they made a snow house.
"Next Christmas," said Delight to her grandmother," I will
play in the snow."
"I do hope you can," answered Grandma.
On the first day of December the weather was cold and dreary.
Delight kept wishing for a warm day so she could go out to her
favorite place under the grapevine tree.
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