Santa was bumfuzzled. Rudolf was off his feed.
What if he simply could not go when there was the need
To make the yearly flight to visit all the girls and boys,
Slip down the chimneys nice and tight, and give them all their toys?

He didn't want to disappoint the little ones, you see.
He'd have to don his thinking cap and come up with "Plan B!"
It was too slick for 'cycles, too stormy for a plane,
And it would take 'til next year if he had to take the train!

Santa's mind was whirling. He would feel like a fool
If he had to take his chances with the local Reindeer Pool.
He took Rudolf some rolled oats, some juicy apples sweet.
Rudolf looked, but tossed his head. He simply could not eat!

Santa sighed and waited, and listening, quite soon,
It seemed Rudolf was humming a sad and mournful tune.
With tiny hooves he stamped out a name upon the ground,
And Santa read it, "Rachel." And then he looked around.

There in a near by pasture, soft as a cooing dove,
There stood a lovely little doe. His Rudolf was in love!
Santa's thoughts went spinning. "I know just what I'll do!
I'll make a double harness that is designed for two!"

Santa didn't waste much time. With leather, he got busy,
His fingers flying fast enough to almost make him dizzy!
He showed the rig to Rudolf, and tried it on for size.
And then he summoned Rachel. That lit up Rudolf's eyes!

Straps were soon adjusted just right to make it fit,
And Rachel wore it proudly, like she was made for it!
Rachel took her training, and quickly learned to fly.
Rudolf's appetite returned, but he did not know why.

At last the sleigh was loaded.  Santa's flight on Christmas Eve
Was flawless, fun and perfect each place he stopped to leave
The toys for all the children. The landings, smooth and light,
Were only superseded by excitement of the night!

And Rudolf's nose shone brighter than it ever had before
Now that he felt that Rachel would love him evermore!
It was a Christmas to remember, as Santa in his way
Had made sure all the children had toys on Christmas Day!

Copyright 1995 Nona Kelley Carver

A little boy was sitting upon his grandpa's knee, 
And he began to question of how things used to be. 
"Grandpa, how was Christmas when you were just a boy? 
Did you wait for Santa?  Did you want a shiny toy?" 

The grandpa's eyes looked dreamy as he thought of long ago, 
And he began this story for the grandson he loved so: 
"We had a Cowboy Christmas, for we lived out near the range. 
It wasn't very fancy, but I would never change 

The memories that I treasure of how it was for me, 
And of the happy hours spent around the Christmas Tree. 
We had no television, no flashy shopping mall... 
But I had my mom and dad, and the cowboys.  That is all.

Dad let me ride behind him when he went to find a tree. 
We dragged it home across the snow; my dad, his horse, and me. 
The cowboys helped us set it up and decorate each branch 
With paper chains and popcorn strings; things common on the ranch.

And Mama baked some cookies.  They tasted, oh, so good! 
We warmed up by the heating stove as flames burned up the wood.
 My daddy took his Bible, and read to us that night, 
The story of the Christ Child, and the star that gave Him light. 

He read about the shepherds coming on a night so cold, 
And kings who rode on camels, bringing frankincense and gold.
 He told us of the angels whose songs filled up the sky,
 And how the mother held the child, and how he didn't cry. 

He talked about a stable and of a manger there. 
The cowboys listened quietly.  They really seemed to care.
 Then they went back to the bunkhouse, and Dad put me to bed
 With thoughts about the story still running through my head.

I woke on Christmas morning, a wondrous sight to see! 
There was the entire manger scene beneath the Christmas tree! 
For while I had been waiting, and trying to be good, 
The cowboys had been carving the figures out of wood.

Old Joe had built the stable and topped it with a star,
 And Bill had carved the camels and kings who came so far.
 Slim had fashioned Mary, with Joseph by her side, 
And Morgan made the shepherds, who had no place to hide.

 My dad had carved the Christ Child upon a manger bed,
 And Mama made the angels to hang above his head.
There were donkeys, cows and critters, and a little band of sheep.
 They had set the whole scene up while I was fast asleep!

We sang the Christmas Carols, and of the Christmas Star,
 As Slim picked out the melodies on his battered old guitar.
 Each cowboy had a story that he told for us that day, 
And Mama baked a turkey, inviting them to stay.

 Yes, that's how I remember a Christmas long ago; 
The story of the Christ Child and how He loves us so. 
Of a day of songs and stories, and of the feast we shared,
 And how the cowboys came for Christmas, to let us know they cared." 

Copyright 1998 Nona Kelley Carver