Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
                      to everyone on my fans list, readers
                      near and far, friends, family. Love to
                      you this holiday season.
                      Children's blessings of the season
                      in a poem titled " The Lantern"

                                                ~ / ~
                    
                                       "The Lantern"

     Josie held the Lantern, he being bigger, lantern soft light glowing
     shown on the snow covered path
     Twelve of us, frolicking, snowball wizzed by his head as Josie held
     The Lantern, path packed down as we go
     Into the stone barn at Antebellum Southern Ridge
     weather vanes on cupolas, horses pewter, winds brisk
     swirls, round and round, pewter horses twirl

    Henry, there in the stone barn as we awe ! vast oak beams window panes
    thick glass, twelve squares wavy
    Lying in the stahl of fresh hay tiny lambs were born early Christmas Day
    Henry, softly smiled yes, our children these in kind, were snuggled in the
    hay near the manger of "Jesus"

   Josie, holding The Lantern for all to peer round the manger of hay,
   new born lambs born early Christmas Day..Josie, lantern held higher,
   led everyone, close now, warmth "Away In A Manger"

  Leaving the barn, Josie, blew out The Lanterns's candle, dawn sways,
  to dawn across the valley, everyone hurridly,, cheerfully gathering
  snow to roll a huge, huge snowman, snowball battle, join in
  top hat for the snowman complete "Frosty the Snowman"

  Henry hitching the horses, sleigh ride delight, oh! what a joyful sight
  sunlit valley, onto the entrance, white birch, heavy snow, red cardinals,
  brown bunny, chipmunk scampering tiny tracks upon the snow
  
  Breakfast is readied, Miss Sarah at her best fruit cakes, baked blueberry
  french toast, blueberry syrup, dripping butter on cinnamon rolls, hot cocoa,
  decorated cut out cookies the children helped Miss Sarah to bake

 Josie, sat The Lantern by the column, all the children came in, snow clothes
 at the side door, quickly they changed, and came bounding down the back
 stairs to the vast kitchen's table for Christmas Prayer and Miss Sarah's special
 breakfast Christmas morning

 As the day unfolds the Christmas tree, prisms of crystal, tensil from Germany
 candles lit, soft golden flickering light, hand painted Christmas cards,
 made by everyone, a dill pickle over there for luck, look here. a tiny     grey mouse Miss Sarah made from Henry's grey wool sock  
 
 Names of the packages rung out, smiles, a blush, shouts of glee, giggles,
 to the precious gifts inside..a wink.. the  twelve children smiled..Kris Kringle
 James H. Beckett read the Christmas Story from the Bible, all listening
 hearts to baby Jesus

 Onto the sideporch once more, boots, hats, mittens, scarves dry by the hearth,
 early morning dawn's sway, Josie retrieved The Lantern from beside the
 column.  Children twelve in toe, Josie handed James The Lantern, lit now for
 the path of soft glow on the snow covered path to see the lambs .. "Jesus"  born in a manger Christmas morn..in swadling clothes.. the children
 whispered.. Josie beside James listening to the soft baa !

                                      
                                                                     "The Lantern"
                                                                       Mary Ann Biddinger
                                                                       (c)December10,2010