Merry Christmas, A holiday story by Jack

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Den034071
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Post by Den034071 » Mon. Dec. 24, 2018 10:10 am

This story takes place in Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, home of the LC&N Coal Company. The names have been changed to protect the family. Christmas week our Nun said "Kids as you start Christmas Vacation, try & help a family in need. Three of us kids travelled together, me Mike & Betty. Betty said, did you notice how Carol & her little brother from school have shabby uniforms. They look old & worn. They don't play with the kids at recess either. Mike said, I overheard my Dad say the father has Black Lung & they are on welfare & the dads only 42 years old. Betty suggested that we try to raise some money to help them for Christmas, but how? My Grandma said the Greek Church was caroling house to house to raise money. Do you think we could do something like that said Mike. We can only try said Betty. Well, the first night we went out caroling we raised $1.35, the next night we decided to sing on a corner & ask for donations, we raised $1.85. We were getting nowhere fast. Mike came up with a great idea, Friday was payday & he suggested we go caroling to all the bars in town. The coalminers were proud to hear what we were trying to do & gladly gave us donations. We had a total of $28,20 so we went to Pardinis & bought a Turkey & all the trimmings. We still had $5.60 left & went next door to Steve's hardware store where he had everything imaginable. In the window we saw some nice red ribbons & cast iron soldiers which we bought for the kids. We put the goodies on Mikes little sleigh & pulled it through the snow. The houses, built by LC&N had only two bedrooms & a kitchen & parlor on the bottom floor, all heated by a little pot bellied stove. The bathroom in those days were outside. betty knocked on the door & the Mom left us in. Mr. Jones was huddled under a shawl by the coal stove & coughing so much we didn't know how he could breathe, but he gave us a smile. When Mrs. Jones saw the bag of groceries she had tears in her eyes, we gave the ribbons & toy soldiers to the kids & they jumped for joy. Leaving the house Betty said, boys we done good & at that very moment a bright light shown down upon us. We looked to the #14 colliery & the miners had erected a 20 foot star on top of the breaker. You could see it for miles. What a great Christmas we had that year knowing we did something good for people so unfortunate. Merry Christmas to you all from a small coal town. by Jack


 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Mon. Dec. 24, 2018 10:24 am

A Merry Christmas to you Jack and thank you for that wonderful Christmas story!

-Don

 
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Hambden Bob
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Post by Hambden Bob » Mon. Dec. 24, 2018 10:33 am

Jesus,Jack!!
Just when I think that You've told Your Best Coal Country Christmas Story Ever,You blow Us right out of the water with a Heart Warmer such as this!! I can't Thank You enough! MERRY CHRISTMAS,MY FRIEND!!

 
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Post by Gian4 » Mon. Dec. 24, 2018 10:44 am

Great story. I'm not crying I just got some dust in my eyes.

Merry Christmas all.
Gian4

 
hank2
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Post by hank2 » Mon. Dec. 24, 2018 11:27 pm

Thank you for sharing that great story, Jack. You kids sure had your heads screwed on the right way.
Merry Christmas!

 
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Pauliewog
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Post by Pauliewog » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 12:15 am

Merry Christmas Jack! and thanks for the uplifting story.

Paulie

 
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VigIIPeaBurner
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Post by VigIIPeaBurner » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 7:33 am

What a wonderful story to read the Christmas morning as the sun light starts to warm this hilltop. Thank you Jack, thank you for this bit of personal history. God bless and Merry Christmas!


 
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CoalJockey
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Post by CoalJockey » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 7:46 am

I was hoping to hear such a story from you this morning Jack, and you did not disappoint. You were raised during a time that children were raised properly... nothing is impossible.

Merry Christmas and God bless!

 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 8:00 am

I always appreciate your heartwarming stories Jack.

 
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Post by joeq » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 10:52 am

Merry Christmas Jack, and to all our members.
merry christmas.jpg
.JPG | 322KB | merry christmas.jpg

 
scalabro
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Post by scalabro » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 11:13 am

Merry Christmas to all my Coal-Kin🎄🎁✝️

And thank you Jack for sharing with us 😇

 
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Post by Hoytman » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 1:08 pm

Very humbling story, Jack. Thanks again for the pm's. You'll never know how much that meant to me. Merry Christmas to you and to all my CoalPail friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

 
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Rich W.
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Post by Rich W. » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 1:26 pm

Jack...
Just read this to my better half who has enjoyed your other stories. Inspiring and entertaining. Thank you...
Rich W.

 
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Post by Freddy » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 5:38 pm

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Tue. Dec. 25, 2018 7:53 pm

Like everyone else has been saying, a wonderful story. Thank you!


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