Father's Special Christmas In 1952

The year is 1952
My father is the age of ten
See if you feel the difference
Between Christmas now ..and then

Scampering down the stairs
A clan of fifteen boys
Excited to see their presents
To see if they had gotten any toys

They all sit at the breakfast table
Eying their Christmas sock
A strict look from mother
Warns them not to talk

Breakfast is laid upon the table
Their hands folding in a prayer
Father says , God bless this family
And bring peace to people everywhere

Digging hungrily into breakfast
Careful not to waste a bite
No second servings for this family
Many mouths to feed , money tight

Onward to the Christmas tree
Fifteen socks all the same
Inside held an apple and orange
And a homemade checkers game

Underneath the pine Christmas tree
Fifteen presents wrapped lovingly in a box
Gifts made by mother's calloused hands
Warm mittens and a pair of knitted socks

Joy and happiness overtook them all
No longer would they have to share
Unselfishly giving to the younger ones
For now they each had a new pair

Not a Christmas like the present times
My father was thankful for what he got
Gifts made with love and heart
Not something expensive and bought

Singing joyous Christmas carols
Voices filled with cheer
One may sometimes get over joyed
And feel a tug upon his ear

Bundled up warm for a sled ride
New knitted socks on their toes
Family love huddled together
As the cold nips at a nose

The younger children's eyes grow heavy
The older carry them to bed to sleep
The days of hard times but good times
Family love ...true and deep

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My father came from a huge family of 15 boys ..
He tells me many stories of the good time , the hard times but mostly about the love of family ....

His famous quote :
We never went to sleep hungry ~ but often stayed up all night ...