Emma Field Book I - coming of age in the changing times of the mid-19th century

Chapter XXI - Christmas Frolic

Weeks had passed since Jane had taken sick. Her brothers said she was still alive, but offered little more information. Emma found herself being completely swept along with preparations for the concert.

A new girl, Mary Simpson, had moved to the farmhouse kitty-corner to Jane's. She and her sister, Amanda, had begun to attend school the week after Jane became ill. Mr. Brown had directed Mary to sit in Jane's spot on the end of the bench. Emma was happy to share the lesson book with her. She even invited Mary to join her and the Williams girls on the rocks at the edge of the schoolyard. Emma was surprised at how easy and comfortable it felt to welcome them into their fold.

The gap left by Jane in the Christmas Frolic had been filled in various ways. Anna Williams had started memorizing the words to "O Holy Night" the week Jane learned she had the smallpox. Emma was sewing costumes.

Now Emma stood as straight as an elm tree against the back wall of the classroom the night of the Christmas Frolic. The room seemed an ocean away from its daytime starkness. It was as full as a belly after Christmas dinner. The men smelled of cattle and sheep, the women of food and woodsmoke. Emma looked from one candle to the next around the room. Each seemed like a little bonfire against the shiny sconces.

Mr. Brown's cheeks and ears were scarlet as he turned to the audience. He looked as if he was going to burst. Emma felt a twinge of kindliness for the man. He cleared his throat and looked around the room.

"And now for the breathtaking song, 'O Holy Night,' sung by Miss Anna Williams."

Three rows ahead, Anna stood up nervously. Emma watched as John squeezed her hand and swung his legs to the side to let her pass. Mr. Brown tapped the tuning fork on the desk to give her a note.

O Holy Night,

The stars are brightly shining...

Emma shifted in her well greased boots. She knew they were shabby but tonight that didn't matter because, for the first time in her life, the rest of her glowed. She tugged on the edging of the filmy white sleeves about her wrists. She dropped her chin to inspect the lacy layers of the collar and the pelerine about her shoulders and breasts. The stitching of the collar was far too...irregular and bunched; suitable for Father's shirts but not for fine lace. And there were far too many seams in the pelerine – it had been tricky matching all of the scraps together. But none of that mattered tonight. "This must be what Jane feels...felt...like, all of the time," she thought with a pang.

O Night...

Anna took a deep breath.

Divine...

It sounded as if she had a scarf wrapped tightly around her throat; but Anna had reached the high note, the climax of the song.

O night when Christ was born.

The crowd began to clap before Anna had even finished. She looked proudly toward her family, her whole face shining.

Smoothing her cotton skirts, Emma straightened her back, and nodded at Mary Victoria on the far side of the schoolhouse. Mary Victoria bit her lip and took a breath. The two girls led the other children to the front, where they lined up and faced the audience.

Emma looked at her father, stiff and awkward, sitting beside Caleb Williams. She scanned the room for the face she knew wouldn't be there, wishing Mrs. Henderson could see her dress; she would know it was as big an achievement as Anna's singing. Emma brought her mind back to where it belonged and the girls began singing.

See amid the winter's snow,

Born for us on earth below;

See the tender Lamb appears,