The Valley Of The Christmas Trees

Writing Samples

1. "Children! Gather around please."

It was the night before Christmas.  Father's voice was strong and energetic as he called us to the parlor.

"Come now!  I have a most profound matter to discuss," continued Father.  "I will need your assistance.  now, come.  Yes, even you Maethius.  And Mother, you too.  I need you all."

That gathering in our parlor occurred ninety-two years ago tonight.  I remember it as clearly today as if it ...

2. "Well now, hello little tree, if that's what you are." boomed the voice of a very large tree that stuck his branches right in the middle of my face.  I jumped back in surprise.

"Now, now! Mr. Hochbaum," responded our tree.  "Everything is quite proper here.  Nothing to cause you to be alarmed.  We are on our way to the start point for the parade."

"I see," replied Mr. Hochbaum.  "But your little companion here doesn't look much like a tree to me.  He appears to be a camouflaged person.  People are not allowed, you know the rules as well as ....

3. "'What are you doing this time?' groaned Miss Pleasant sleepily as she scrunched down under her blanket.

"There is a small ghost outside the kitchen window," I answered.  "I am tying the storm shutters closed.  It shouldn't be a problem.  Nothing to worry about."

"'Oh, ok, tend to it quickly.  Then jump back in bed,' she said, and went back to sleep.

"Then I put some cookie dough on a baking tin, but since the oven was too cold, I slipped it into the fire place to bake.  The cookies baked just right.  Since Santa is a big fellow I decided I would make him an extra big cookie.  I put all the rest of the cookie dough on the baking tin after the first cookies were done, and slipped the tin back into the fire place."

"'Are you still awake, what are you doing this time?' asked my sleepyhead governess again.

"I'm milking a goat that got into the kitchen," I said.  "I still didn't  want to say I was making cookies.  Think how complicated that all would have gotten."

"I can just imagine," I said.

"'Oh, ok' said Miss Pleasant, 'but be quick about it.  Then back to bed with you,' and back to sleep she went."