A rural Christmas ...

New Christmas Shoes
Clayton Anderson Bell


It is odd how one’s mind wanders back to little things that meant so very much when one was young.
For instance, ordering from the Eaton’s catalogue.
It was early December and at school the teacher was making plans for the annual Christmas Concert to be held in the town hall. A play was to be put on by our class and I was chosen to play a part. I was to be a business person who sat at a table and discussed the buying of Christmas presents during war time in Canada.
That was all well and good except for one thing. I did not have a pair of shoes that a business man would wear. Both Grandpa and Grandma Anderson said, "Now, we must look in the Eaton’s catalogue and send for a pair of dress shoes".
I can still see the page with all the pictures of new shoes.
At this stage in my life it was runners, rubber boots, work boots, felt socks and just plain barefooted. What a time we all had to pick out the right pair!
It was done. The next day I took the letter to the mail box on the highway. Well, if you think mail can be slow today, nothing could compare to the length of time it took for that letter to go into Winnipeg, order filled and the parcel returned.
Christmas drew near and no parcel. Grandma said it was because so many people were sending in orders at this time of year that it would take a bit longer for our parcel to arrive. Finally it arrived.
What a pair of shoes! They were shiny black and had hard leather soles. I tried them on and they fit perfectly. Even though they were a bit too big I was not going to say a word, other than they felt "just right".
The night of the concert it was cold and crisp outside as Grandpa hooked up the team of horses. We all headed for town, me wearing my felt socks and rubbers and clutching my new shoes under my arm.
When our play started I walked out onto the stage in my new shoes. At every step I could hear the soles click against the stage floor. Looking down the shoes were spotless and shone like two polished lights. I just knew that everyone in the hall must be aware of my new Christmas shoes.
The concert was over, Santa arrived, and home we went with sleigh bells ringing, and my new Christmas shoes held tightly under my arm.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!



Boyhood

An Ode to the Emerald Isle

THE GREEN OF THE SHAMROCK
Clayton Anderson Bell


Lupines bloom in the valleys of Shannon,
Roses of red carpet vales of Tralee,
Memories of Ireland hold me forever,
The green of the Shamrock beckons to me.


Come, the wee ones are patiently waiting,
Waves washing gently on Galway’s lea,
I hear the flutes and drummers a’ playing,
The green of the Shamrock beckons to me.


Great hills of Wicklow, songs from Killarney,
Cross o’er the mountains, cross o’er the sea,
Then hold to the heart of Ireland forever,
The green of the Shamrock beckons to me.


Peat crops and shanties now in the offing,
Emerald fields colored clearly to see,
Once more I return to my Ireland forever,
The green of the Shamrock beckons to me.