As we finish up the first week of December, the sudden appearance of Christmas trees is pleasantly common. Some folks put theirs up over Thanksgiving weekend – or even before. Others wait till closer to the big day.

Mom loved everything about Christmas, but waited until the night before for the tree. Although Dad usually picked out their live Christmas trees over the years – and placed the lights, she was in charge of the decorating of each season’s beauty.

Here’s a sweet story (with a punny title) Mom wrote in 1948, as a freshman in college:

‘Pining’

I watched the Little One scamper into the forest and thought, how sweet, how good, how lovely to be young. The winter wind jostled me; his blunt fingers nipped color into my worn and weathered cheeks. I bowed my head and hunched my shoulders to thwart his boisterous blasts. Yet I shivered.

My hands dug deep into my pockets. I could wait. At last the pine cave yawned and a very weary Little One came struggling out.

“I couldn’t find one, Grandpa. Gee whiz! They’re all too big. Do you suppose we could trim one down? Please!”

“I don’t know, boy, I don’t know. The way they stand now they’re all too mighty for a little feller and an old man to tote …” My brow pleated in thought.

“O Grandpa, I’m as strong as an ox. I can carry it as easy as pie. Oh, please, please … Take out your ax.”

His simple sincerity pleaded with me. My blade was dull. But it was time. The Little One laughed and there were angels dancing in his eyes. I knew his worth. I crunched onward.

“All right, lad, you name ‘er!”

The Little One sparkled. My heart warmed. The Star of Promise smiled across the snow.

~ Joan Cassidy December 17, 1948

It must have felt as if Christmas came early, when “Pining” appeared in Mom’s college newspaper.

Here are a few other Christmas trees from our childhood years:

My brother Harry is famous for not liking to “smile for the birdie.” Apparently this affliction did not set in until sometime after his first Christmas.

This looks like a stand-off at the Not O.K. Corral. Mom’s trying to catch a few winks and youngest child Billy wants to demonstrate his drumming technique on the new set.

Merry Christmas to all!

“Pining” © 1948 Joan Cassidy. All rights reserved.

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