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Ok, this is more than a lttle late I know. So sorry about that. ^^;
Anyway, I wanted to do a Christmas picture but never got the time to do it. So instead I wrote a short Christmas story, so I could at least say I did something for the Holidays.
I hope you like it, Enjoy!!!
******************************************************************
It was a cold and still night. It was surmising that only a few hours prior a heavy snow storm blew through these Rocky Mountains. Every tree and all the ground was covered in a thick layer of shimmering snow. The sky was crystal clear and the snow sparkled from the shinning stars above. The whole landscape was illuminated by the full moon that night, casting a blue hue. It the still quietness the rhythmic sounds of an Iron Horse echoed in the distance. The amber beam of its headlight lighting the narrow iron road ahead. Affixed to the locomotive’s pilot was a large plow, its edges occasionally clipped a small drift and the white powder flew into the air.
The locomotive was the flagship of its slim gauge engine fleet. Colored in a brilliant golden yellow, her boiler, stack, and domes painted black with brass trim. The side of her cab was the number 26 and below the cab window was the name Comanche. Plumes of white steam flew up from her stack and she thundered in the quiet night. Her local freight in tow, wheels clicking and clacking. Flanges squealed while rounding curves. The locomotive’s pilot, a White Bangle Tiger, pulled his watch from his overall pocket. Flipping open the face the time piece read 11:54 am. The White tiger then slipped the watch back into his pocket and looked to the iron trail ahead of him. It was nearly Christmas morning, for many people they were able to stay home with their families for the holidays. Not so when you work for the Railroad, no matter what the road always stays open and the trains always run. At least on this slim gauge Colorado line. Too many towns and villages depend on this Railroad for its their lifeline. The mighty iron horses bringing much needed supplies for their survival, many of these towns were far from self sufficient.
The mighty Comanche took a gentle sweeping curve heading east. The Tiger yawned as he eased the throttle down a bit. The grade wasn’t steep and the train in tow far from the usual heavy hauls. As the locomotive’s amber light pierced forward the light of a lantern could be seen ahead. The Tiger carefully closed the throttle and gently applied the brakes. Slowly the train came to an easy halt, the engine’s plow sweeping away a small drift. The tiger slid open the cab window and felt the -20 degree air flow in. But the tiger leaned out and saw the man holding a polished brass lantern. He was a chubby short little man who was ornately dressed. His coat was a rich dark green with dark red highlights and white fluffy trim around the edges. His slacks too were colored the same and he wore heavy black boots on his feet. His hair was snow white but was bald atop his head and had a great white beard coming down to his chest.
“Can I help you stranger?” the Tiger asked the man. The man smiled ear to ear and his cheeks were rosy red.
“I would be mighty grateful if you did!” the man replied as he walked up to the cab. During that snow storm I’ve seemed to have lost my bearings. I’m trying to fin the town of Silver Bell, could you care to point me in the right direction?”
The tiger shook his head. “Well I hate to tell you but your best chance at getting there is by rail. But that last storm has made both the road pass and the railroad’s right of way impassable!” The man chuckled and his belly shook.
“Pay no mind to that, I know a way to get there.” the short man replied. The tiger just smiled and obliged the small man. Then the Tiger pulled out a map and showed it to the man, who in turn pulled out a pair of brass framed bifocals.
“Well if you really want to get there you’ll need to follow this road and take the North West trail here.” said the feline pointing to the map. “It’s a good ways away from here but you should get there some time later tomorrow.”
“Oh I’ll get there soon enough!” laughed the man who now seemed to have a glow about him. “Thank you very much, you’ve been immensely helpful!” he chuckled.
“Well the last thing I want to hear or see is someone stuck out here in the middle of no where. Especial tonight of all nights.” the tiger smiled.
“You always were a kind hearted fellow, it’s a shame there aren’t more people like you.” the man replied back. The tiger raised an eyebrow in response.
“Pardon me sir?” asked the tiger.
“Oh nothing, and thank you again!” the man smiled as he began to walk off.
“Your welcome!” the tiger replied. The man took a few more steps and then paused. He turned around and headed back to the locomotive.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” the small man shouted as he returned. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small box, he handed it to the tiger who accepted it. “Some how while I was in Gunpowder that little package slipped by me. Could you be so kind as to get it to the right place for me?” the man asked.
“Sure thing! Not a problem at all.” said the tiger. The man smiled and again turned to walk away.
“And be sure that its not opened before morning!” The man shouted as he walked into the night.
“Uh, alright! Merry Christmas!” the tiger shouted back.
“And to you a good night!” replied the man. Soon after he vanished into the night. The tiger came back into the cab and slid the window closed. In curiosity he looked at the package and found it’s mailing label.
“To Mr. A.J. Davis,
Gunpowder Falls, Colorado.”
Then the Tiger’s fireman came over to him. “Ah, what ya’ got there?” the aged fireman asked.
“It’s a package, for me.” the Tiger said puzzled. He looked at it one last time before slipping the small box into his coat pocket. Again he pulled out his watch and read the time, 11:59 pm. He then released the brakes and gently opened the throttle. Steam hissed from the pistons and the train groaned as it rolled forward. Smoke huffed from the stack as the train built momentum. Then the tiger’s ears picked up a sound, an odd sound, a sound not made by his train. He slid open the window again and listened carefully. The sounds of his steaming locomotive made it difficult to make out anything. Faintly he thought her heard a whip crack in the distance then followed by the sound of jingle bells. It was too hard to say with the engine’s exhaust erupting out of the stack. One more time he looked at his watch, the hands had just moved and it was now 12:00 am Christmas Day. The white tiger was about to return to the warmth of his cab when suddenly, heading North West, he saw a shooting start bolt across the starry sky. After pausing for a moment he again slipped the watch back into his pocket, closed the cab window, and drove his train deeper into the cold still night, his final stop was his home of Gunpowder Falls.
The train made good time and arrived at Gunpowder 3 minutes early. He left the cars on a siding where another locomotive would continue the journey. The tiger put the Comanche in the roundhouse and dowse her fire. It was at least 1:00 am when he finally walked into his cabin, his beloved wife sleeping in their bed and his daughter dreaming happily in her cradle. He set the package under their Christmas Tree and soon went to bed, longing for the embrace of his darling wife. The morning came soon and the day was bright and clear, not a single cloud in the sky. The White Tiger’s daughter was having her first Christmas and she was aglow with excitement! Their small family sat on the wooden floor as they unwrapped their gifts.
“Honey, where did this come from?” his wife asked as she reached for the package, still wrapped in brown paper.
“That? While on my run last night I stopped to give this funny little man directions. Before he left he gave that to me.” The tiger replied as he took the small package and looked at it.
“Well, aren’t going to open it?” his wife asked. The tiger paused for a moment more, then taking his hand he carefully untied the string holding the brown paper wrapping over the small box. Then he carefully removed the paper and set it aside. The small box was also wrapped in glossy green paper and a red bow. He turned to his wife and then back to the box. Again he unwrapped the gift with care to find that it was a small cardstock watch box. It had no name or label, now manufacturing logo. It was just simple and plain. He lifted the top of the box off and wasn’t sure what to think!
Inside was a brilliant gold watch and chain, the face cover had the most gorgeous and detailed engraving of his locomotive on it surrounded by more ornate engravings that rivaled even the best used on both the Winchester and Smith & Wesson show pieces! Engraved on the back was the initials of his Railroad, the G.F.R.R. and when he opened the watch it had his full name engraved on the inside of the face cover! Even the watch face itself was custom made and also had the letters G.F.R.R. on it. The watch had been made with such craftsmanship that it easily could have cost $300! No one he knew could afford that even if they all put their money together! His wife then turned around and handed him a green envelope that was left for him.
“Oh, I found this earlier before you got up. I wasn’t here when you got home though.” The tiger took the envelope and opened it up. Inside he found a card which he opened and it read;
“Dear Mr. Davis,
Thank you so very much for you help last night. It wouldn’t have been at all possible to finish my run without your aid. I hope the watch is more than enough reward for you and may you, your wife, and your daughter are having the most splendid holiday!
May you have a Very Merry Christmas!
Mr. C”
The End.
******************************************************************
COMMENT IF YOU FAV!!!
Anyway, I wanted to do a Christmas picture but never got the time to do it. So instead I wrote a short Christmas story, so I could at least say I did something for the Holidays.
I hope you like it, Enjoy!!!
******************************************************************
It was a cold and still night. It was surmising that only a few hours prior a heavy snow storm blew through these Rocky Mountains. Every tree and all the ground was covered in a thick layer of shimmering snow. The sky was crystal clear and the snow sparkled from the shinning stars above. The whole landscape was illuminated by the full moon that night, casting a blue hue. It the still quietness the rhythmic sounds of an Iron Horse echoed in the distance. The amber beam of its headlight lighting the narrow iron road ahead. Affixed to the locomotive’s pilot was a large plow, its edges occasionally clipped a small drift and the white powder flew into the air.
The locomotive was the flagship of its slim gauge engine fleet. Colored in a brilliant golden yellow, her boiler, stack, and domes painted black with brass trim. The side of her cab was the number 26 and below the cab window was the name Comanche. Plumes of white steam flew up from her stack and she thundered in the quiet night. Her local freight in tow, wheels clicking and clacking. Flanges squealed while rounding curves. The locomotive’s pilot, a White Bangle Tiger, pulled his watch from his overall pocket. Flipping open the face the time piece read 11:54 am. The White tiger then slipped the watch back into his pocket and looked to the iron trail ahead of him. It was nearly Christmas morning, for many people they were able to stay home with their families for the holidays. Not so when you work for the Railroad, no matter what the road always stays open and the trains always run. At least on this slim gauge Colorado line. Too many towns and villages depend on this Railroad for its their lifeline. The mighty iron horses bringing much needed supplies for their survival, many of these towns were far from self sufficient.
The mighty Comanche took a gentle sweeping curve heading east. The Tiger yawned as he eased the throttle down a bit. The grade wasn’t steep and the train in tow far from the usual heavy hauls. As the locomotive’s amber light pierced forward the light of a lantern could be seen ahead. The Tiger carefully closed the throttle and gently applied the brakes. Slowly the train came to an easy halt, the engine’s plow sweeping away a small drift. The tiger slid open the cab window and felt the -20 degree air flow in. But the tiger leaned out and saw the man holding a polished brass lantern. He was a chubby short little man who was ornately dressed. His coat was a rich dark green with dark red highlights and white fluffy trim around the edges. His slacks too were colored the same and he wore heavy black boots on his feet. His hair was snow white but was bald atop his head and had a great white beard coming down to his chest.
“Can I help you stranger?” the Tiger asked the man. The man smiled ear to ear and his cheeks were rosy red.
“I would be mighty grateful if you did!” the man replied as he walked up to the cab. During that snow storm I’ve seemed to have lost my bearings. I’m trying to fin the town of Silver Bell, could you care to point me in the right direction?”
The tiger shook his head. “Well I hate to tell you but your best chance at getting there is by rail. But that last storm has made both the road pass and the railroad’s right of way impassable!” The man chuckled and his belly shook.
“Pay no mind to that, I know a way to get there.” the short man replied. The tiger just smiled and obliged the small man. Then the Tiger pulled out a map and showed it to the man, who in turn pulled out a pair of brass framed bifocals.
“Well if you really want to get there you’ll need to follow this road and take the North West trail here.” said the feline pointing to the map. “It’s a good ways away from here but you should get there some time later tomorrow.”
“Oh I’ll get there soon enough!” laughed the man who now seemed to have a glow about him. “Thank you very much, you’ve been immensely helpful!” he chuckled.
“Well the last thing I want to hear or see is someone stuck out here in the middle of no where. Especial tonight of all nights.” the tiger smiled.
“You always were a kind hearted fellow, it’s a shame there aren’t more people like you.” the man replied back. The tiger raised an eyebrow in response.
“Pardon me sir?” asked the tiger.
“Oh nothing, and thank you again!” the man smiled as he began to walk off.
“Your welcome!” the tiger replied. The man took a few more steps and then paused. He turned around and headed back to the locomotive.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” the small man shouted as he returned. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small box, he handed it to the tiger who accepted it. “Some how while I was in Gunpowder that little package slipped by me. Could you be so kind as to get it to the right place for me?” the man asked.
“Sure thing! Not a problem at all.” said the tiger. The man smiled and again turned to walk away.
“And be sure that its not opened before morning!” The man shouted as he walked into the night.
“Uh, alright! Merry Christmas!” the tiger shouted back.
“And to you a good night!” replied the man. Soon after he vanished into the night. The tiger came back into the cab and slid the window closed. In curiosity he looked at the package and found it’s mailing label.
“To Mr. A.J. Davis,
Gunpowder Falls, Colorado.”
Then the Tiger’s fireman came over to him. “Ah, what ya’ got there?” the aged fireman asked.
“It’s a package, for me.” the Tiger said puzzled. He looked at it one last time before slipping the small box into his coat pocket. Again he pulled out his watch and read the time, 11:59 pm. He then released the brakes and gently opened the throttle. Steam hissed from the pistons and the train groaned as it rolled forward. Smoke huffed from the stack as the train built momentum. Then the tiger’s ears picked up a sound, an odd sound, a sound not made by his train. He slid open the window again and listened carefully. The sounds of his steaming locomotive made it difficult to make out anything. Faintly he thought her heard a whip crack in the distance then followed by the sound of jingle bells. It was too hard to say with the engine’s exhaust erupting out of the stack. One more time he looked at his watch, the hands had just moved and it was now 12:00 am Christmas Day. The white tiger was about to return to the warmth of his cab when suddenly, heading North West, he saw a shooting start bolt across the starry sky. After pausing for a moment he again slipped the watch back into his pocket, closed the cab window, and drove his train deeper into the cold still night, his final stop was his home of Gunpowder Falls.
The train made good time and arrived at Gunpowder 3 minutes early. He left the cars on a siding where another locomotive would continue the journey. The tiger put the Comanche in the roundhouse and dowse her fire. It was at least 1:00 am when he finally walked into his cabin, his beloved wife sleeping in their bed and his daughter dreaming happily in her cradle. He set the package under their Christmas Tree and soon went to bed, longing for the embrace of his darling wife. The morning came soon and the day was bright and clear, not a single cloud in the sky. The White Tiger’s daughter was having her first Christmas and she was aglow with excitement! Their small family sat on the wooden floor as they unwrapped their gifts.
“Honey, where did this come from?” his wife asked as she reached for the package, still wrapped in brown paper.
“That? While on my run last night I stopped to give this funny little man directions. Before he left he gave that to me.” The tiger replied as he took the small package and looked at it.
“Well, aren’t going to open it?” his wife asked. The tiger paused for a moment more, then taking his hand he carefully untied the string holding the brown paper wrapping over the small box. Then he carefully removed the paper and set it aside. The small box was also wrapped in glossy green paper and a red bow. He turned to his wife and then back to the box. Again he unwrapped the gift with care to find that it was a small cardstock watch box. It had no name or label, now manufacturing logo. It was just simple and plain. He lifted the top of the box off and wasn’t sure what to think!
Inside was a brilliant gold watch and chain, the face cover had the most gorgeous and detailed engraving of his locomotive on it surrounded by more ornate engravings that rivaled even the best used on both the Winchester and Smith & Wesson show pieces! Engraved on the back was the initials of his Railroad, the G.F.R.R. and when he opened the watch it had his full name engraved on the inside of the face cover! Even the watch face itself was custom made and also had the letters G.F.R.R. on it. The watch had been made with such craftsmanship that it easily could have cost $300! No one he knew could afford that even if they all put their money together! His wife then turned around and handed him a green envelope that was left for him.
“Oh, I found this earlier before you got up. I wasn’t here when you got home though.” The tiger took the envelope and opened it up. Inside he found a card which he opened and it read;
“Dear Mr. Davis,
Thank you so very much for you help last night. It wouldn’t have been at all possible to finish my run without your aid. I hope the watch is more than enough reward for you and may you, your wife, and your daughter are having the most splendid holiday!
May you have a Very Merry Christmas!
Mr. C”
The End.
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COMMENT IF YOU FAV!!!
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