Livin On A Hope and A Prayer: A Christmas Babe

I've written before about my Grandma's Birthday on Christmas Day, but I've never shared the story she wrote about her own birth, Decmeber 25, 1904.

In 1978, at the age of 74 , she wrote a book titled Growing Up In The Sandhills. It's a collection of stories about her childhood, growing up in the remote sandhills of Long Pine, Nebraska and incuded in this legacy of her youth is the story of her birth, as told to her by her Father.

She was the most humble and loving woman I have ever known.

Following is her story, in her own words, taken from her book.

Happy 115th Birth Day Grandma.

Love You Mighty and Forever.

A Christmas Babe

My parents were Amos and Mary Powell, who lived about eight miles southeast of Long Pine, Nebraska, near the Rock County Line.

All parents remember, very vividly, all about the day their child was born. They remember, where they were, exactly what they were doing, the kind of weather and everything about that "Special Day." And so it was, for my Dad, when I was born, but he told about "my Special Day," more often, I think because it was also a "Special Time of Year."

You see, it was Christmas Eve in 1904 when my Mother told my Dad that she thought the time had come for their baby to be born. In these days, you did not go to a hospital or even to the doctor's office, but instead, the doctor came to you. So Dad would have to ride horseback to Long Pine to bring the doctor back to our ranch home, as we had no telephone, in those days.

Dad had a bay horse named Blitz. He was used mostly for working with the cattle and could cut one critter from a herd all by himself. Dad saddled him and left him eating oats while he went to get heavier clothing for himself, for the ride to town.

Dad mounted his horse and as the fences were drifted over with snow, he made short cuts across the meadows and pastures with the snow crunching and crackling as Blitz's hooves hit the snow and ice. It was a clear night with the moon shining brightly and the stars seemed to be dancing in the sky, so with a clear vision, Dad said, "They flew against the cold north wind."

Blitz ran as fast as he could until they reached Standpipe Hill, just a little ways south of Long Pine. There, he suddenly stopped, took one big breath, making huge billows of steam appear from each nosril. He stood a few moments, as if to catch an extra breath to take them the remainder of the trip. As they descended on down the hill, the little town of Long Pine seemed to beckon to them, with its lighted lanterns and lamps. When they approached the town a bit closer, they could see that God had decorated the trees on both sides of the street, with glimmering icicles and sprinkled them with sparkly frost.

Dad arrived at the livery stable first, where he left Blitz, to be rubbed down and fed, as he was wet with sweat and would need care or he would catch cold. Dad asked the stable man to have a team and buggy ready to take the doctor with him back to the ranch, and walked on to the doctor's house.

He admired the large white house as he approached it. An elderly lady answered Dad's knock on the door, and stated that she was the doctor's Mother and that he had taken his girl friend to the Christmas program at the Congregational Church. Dad ran the next few blocks to the church.

He quietly entered the church and pushed the hall door open, just enough to peek in, and saw a huge and beautiful Christmas tree standing in the corner - it almost reached the ceiling! It had been cut in the Long Pine Canyon, no doubt. It was beautiful with lighted candles aglow and its sturdy branches supported many gifts of toys and dolls for the children.

A small bashful-like boy was reciting his piece, and as the crowd applauded his efforts, Dad pushed the door open and let himself inside. He asked a lady seated in the back row, next to the aisle, if she knew where the Doctor was seated. She evidently did, as she hastened down toward the front of the church and summoned the Doctor to follow her, back to the rear of the church. He told my Father he would meet him at the livery stable, but first, he must walk his girl friend home and would stop by his house for some heavier clothing.

Dad returned to the stable, where the hay smelled like sage. Some of the horses were munching hay, but Blitz was still thankful to rest. In a short time, the Doctor arrived, dressed in a fur cap, long coat and overshoes. They got into the buggy and went to the ranch.

I was born a few minutes after midnight and after attending to my Mother and me, the doctor and my Dad made the trip back to Long Pine, where Dad would return the team and buggy and ride Blitz back again.

This was Dads "Special Christmas," but he had other "Special days" he remembered too. The day in 1901 when my older brother Everett was born, then later in 1906 when my sister, Elva Myrtle arrived. We always called her "Dolly," rather then her given name, maybe because she was small and dainty. Our family was compelted on a "special day" in 1911 with the birth of Orval, the youngest member of the Powell family.