Whenever
there was a mine layoff, it affected the entire town of Morhland, almost before
the men reached home, the news was out as to which men had received pink slips
in their pay envelope that day. What made this particular layoff more poignant
was the timing….just six weeks before Christmas.
Any town, during the depression years, came together to help families with special hardships, and Morhland was no exception. Although most Christmas budgets were tight anywhere in the country, this little mining community always had enough to provide their children with the basic needs with a little left over for a doll, or a dump truck for each child and, of course, each stocking had hardtack candy with an orange stuck in the toe. The orange was always the best part to this little community. The depression made all treats scarce, but because of the cost of fuel, fresh produce, was extremely rare and highly coveted for most families.
Now, because of the layoff, many friends and neighbors would not be able to afford paying rent, let alone Christmas gifts. The churches and schools began immediately to gather donations for these families. Church donations went to the necessities of life; food, housing, utilities, doctor bills, but there was little left over for the frivolous gifts which bring such joy to both children and parents on Christmas morning. Rose, the PTA president of Morhland Elementary School, had such a great love for the little children that she was determined that every child would have, not only a special toy just for them under their tree, but would have stockings filled with candy, peanuts and fruit.
Rose was busy, she and her committee members made lists of every child of every family affected by the layoff, she checked it twice, to be sure no one was left out. Then she began knocking on every door in Morhland. Soon the school gym looked like a department store. Coats, shoes, dresses, overalls, blankets and toys began to pile up. Rose, other mothers, and teachers, worked to separate the items in age groups, then into community districts and finally into family units.
Rose was so busy with making her lists and organizing that she didn’t hear the gossip. It first started with the first grade teacher, Edith, who told the ladies organizing boots that Maxine Fosset’s daughter Carolyn surely didn’t need new boots, as her parents must be getting a lot of help from distant family members. Every day, Carolyn brought half an orange in her lunch, and would occasionally eat the other half at afternoon recess. Edith clucked her tongue, “My husband and I both work and oranges are so expensive we could never afford even an orange slice a day for our children.”
Edith’s story, told in disgusted whispers, spread quickly through the community. Each time the story was repeated it was made even more suspicious. No one knew exactly where the Fossats were getting their money, but surely they didn’t need the donations from those in the community unable to afford even an orange to share with the entire family.
On Christmas Eve, Rose sat joyfully directing the food baskets and gifts to be delivered. Every box and basket was gone, everyone but the school janitor, Rose, and Edith were gone. But something was wrong! Rose still had one family left…the Fossats. What had gone wrong? How did they miss fixing a box for the Fossats? Edith gladly explained to Rose that the town had probably discovered that the Fossats were moochers. They didn’t really need the help; they had money to throw away. They were able to send an orange in Carolyn’s lunch every day. Surely they didn’t need to take money and gifts from poor families less fortunate than they.
Rose couldn’t let this happen. Wilford Fossat had lost his job right before Christmas. It didn’t matter now, what the explanation was for their exclusion, she had promised the community to take care of these families, and the Fossats were friends and neighbors. She would not be responsible for their children not having a proper Christmas.
Rose hurried from house to house, begging for old toys, candy, peanuts, any cans of food that could be spared. She quickly wrapped the gifts and hurried to the Fossat’s home. The lights were out. She knocked on the door, and it was quickly opened by Maxine. Eyes red and swollen, Maxine saw the box Rose was carrying, threw her arms around Rose and through her sobs Maxine poured out her soul to Rose. They had nothing to give their children, nothing for Christmas dinner, nothing… their last few pennies had gone to buying three oranges. Oranges were all the medicine they could afford for their diabetic daughter, Carolyn.
Any town, during the depression years, came together to help families with special hardships, and Morhland was no exception. Although most Christmas budgets were tight anywhere in the country, this little mining community always had enough to provide their children with the basic needs with a little left over for a doll, or a dump truck for each child and, of course, each stocking had hardtack candy with an orange stuck in the toe. The orange was always the best part to this little community. The depression made all treats scarce, but because of the cost of fuel, fresh produce, was extremely rare and highly coveted for most families.
Now, because of the layoff, many friends and neighbors would not be able to afford paying rent, let alone Christmas gifts. The churches and schools began immediately to gather donations for these families. Church donations went to the necessities of life; food, housing, utilities, doctor bills, but there was little left over for the frivolous gifts which bring such joy to both children and parents on Christmas morning. Rose, the PTA president of Morhland Elementary School, had such a great love for the little children that she was determined that every child would have, not only a special toy just for them under their tree, but would have stockings filled with candy, peanuts and fruit.
Rose was busy, she and her committee members made lists of every child of every family affected by the layoff, she checked it twice, to be sure no one was left out. Then she began knocking on every door in Morhland. Soon the school gym looked like a department store. Coats, shoes, dresses, overalls, blankets and toys began to pile up. Rose, other mothers, and teachers, worked to separate the items in age groups, then into community districts and finally into family units.
Rose was so busy with making her lists and organizing that she didn’t hear the gossip. It first started with the first grade teacher, Edith, who told the ladies organizing boots that Maxine Fosset’s daughter Carolyn surely didn’t need new boots, as her parents must be getting a lot of help from distant family members. Every day, Carolyn brought half an orange in her lunch, and would occasionally eat the other half at afternoon recess. Edith clucked her tongue, “My husband and I both work and oranges are so expensive we could never afford even an orange slice a day for our children.”
Edith’s story, told in disgusted whispers, spread quickly through the community. Each time the story was repeated it was made even more suspicious. No one knew exactly where the Fossats were getting their money, but surely they didn’t need the donations from those in the community unable to afford even an orange to share with the entire family.
On Christmas Eve, Rose sat joyfully directing the food baskets and gifts to be delivered. Every box and basket was gone, everyone but the school janitor, Rose, and Edith were gone. But something was wrong! Rose still had one family left…the Fossats. What had gone wrong? How did they miss fixing a box for the Fossats? Edith gladly explained to Rose that the town had probably discovered that the Fossats were moochers. They didn’t really need the help; they had money to throw away. They were able to send an orange in Carolyn’s lunch every day. Surely they didn’t need to take money and gifts from poor families less fortunate than they.
Rose couldn’t let this happen. Wilford Fossat had lost his job right before Christmas. It didn’t matter now, what the explanation was for their exclusion, she had promised the community to take care of these families, and the Fossats were friends and neighbors. She would not be responsible for their children not having a proper Christmas.
Rose hurried from house to house, begging for old toys, candy, peanuts, any cans of food that could be spared. She quickly wrapped the gifts and hurried to the Fossat’s home. The lights were out. She knocked on the door, and it was quickly opened by Maxine. Eyes red and swollen, Maxine saw the box Rose was carrying, threw her arms around Rose and through her sobs Maxine poured out her soul to Rose. They had nothing to give their children, nothing for Christmas dinner, nothing… their last few pennies had gone to buying three oranges. Oranges were all the medicine they could afford for their diabetic daughter, Carolyn.
No comments:
Post a Comment