Read Abram's Daughters 04 The Prodigal for Free Online Page A

thought. l;(ir hoys with squeaky voices.
    Soon the teacher started another carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and everyone joined in heartily. Lydiann lurned quickly and spied Mamma Leah with Dat, both of I hem singing and smiling.
    What a wonderful-gut time of year, she thought. Looking over a few rows, she noticed Abe twiddling his fingers but
    47
    *' n48
    e u> e r L y
    lu t
    singing, nonetheless. She couldn't remember ever hearing her little brother's voice in song at Preaching service, Abe always sat on the side with the menfolk, next to Dat.
    She squirmed in her seat a bit, thinking ahead to what was to come. Would Carl remember his lines? Will I?
    When the final note was sung, the teacher nodded to her and Carl, and to all the angels, shepherds, and wise men. Quickly the angelic host lined up behind Joseph and Mary, and the teacher brought out a wooden manger containing a small sack of potatoes wrapped in a blanket.
    "Christ is born!" announced one of the shepherds.
    "He is the King of kings," said a wise man.
    Carl took a deep breath. "Let us all rejoice with the angels this day."
    "Come see the place where the Christ child lay," added Lydiann, feeling a flutter of excitement as she reached down and lifted the holy bundle into her arms. She was thankful their teacher had wrapped the potatoes very tightly. This way, she could hold the "baby" on her lap.
    They went on to recite their rhymed verses, and Lydiann was pleased because she and Carl remembered every single word.
    When the play was over, each student gave a gift of fruit or a candy cane to every other student, and to the teacher. But getting a big hug from Dat and a kiss on the cheek from Mamma Leah was the best gift of all. Both Lydiann and Abe climbed happily into the second seat of Dat's sleigh and called to their friends, "Merry Christmas!"
    "Same to you!" their friends called back. ,...' , .:49k e J r o dicj ai
    When they returned home, it was time for Lydiann to     % blanket, sitting on the rocking chair near the wood stove, JO nIic wasn't feeling well enough to help. If Lydiann wasn't
    IViInIuken, it looked to her like her eldest sister had been cry-
    She went and offered Sadie a big round orange. "En hal-
    'ii /ii'r Cirischtdaag! a merry Christmas to you."
    Sadie looked up and smiled, accepting the gift. "Denki,"
    Jk,' said softly.
    And with that, Lydiann knew for sure and for certain
    Sad it'wasn't only suffering from the sniffles.
    49 50
    <2--t-
    ^ l^-0-ti
    *>-- "*-
    A
    l\ midnight gale had come up and temperatures plummeted. Upon awakening to the dawn of Christmas, Leah was surprised at the thick layer of frost on the window as she lifted the green shade. Unable to peer out, she stared at the pretty pattern Jack Frost had painted. Once the sun rose over the eastern hills and its rays reached the house, the crust of ice would melt quickly. Then she would be able to see from this upstairs lookout what snowy new shapes the overnight drifting had created in the barnyard and beyond.
    For now, though, she was eager to dress and hurry downstairs to make a special breakfast, one that would include baked oatmeal and raisins, baked eggs, and chocolate waffles with a homemade syrup of brown sugar and melted butter.
    She lightly touched Sadie's sleeping form. "Merry Christmas to you, sister," she said softly, waiting for Sadie to rouse a bit. When she did, Leah asked if she felt well enough to help with milking, offering to take her place if she was still under the weather. But Sadie shooed her out of the room, saying she was just fine. Leah was surprised that Sadie was so adamant
    51
    Ifttl determined to go out in the cold, especially when she'd (bit I no ill ro attend the school play yesterday. i!i Milking her way down the long stairs, she recalled Dat's (ittinrk about Abe and the drawing of names for today's gift iHC-hnntfi'. She couldn't help but notice how gleeful her boy BMtl hceii the past few