Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. [113], No. [029], Ed. 1 Sunday, December 19, 2010 Page: 8 of 15
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CM K
Sunday Focus
Sweetwater Reporter
Sunday, December 19, 2010 ■ Page B1
A Stockyards hristmas
BY MICHAEL
COLEMAN
Special to the
Reporter
Luke thought he was
just ordinary. He did
his daily work without
notice, kept himself
out of trouble and did
what he was told. That
was why he was totally
shocked when he was
told he was selected for
the yearly journey. Not
just an ordinary journey
but the Christmas Eve
trek to the Stockyards.
The Stockyards, to the
uninitiated, was the
answer he was doomed.
"W-W-Well I am head-
ing to the Stockyards. I
have a gift to deliver for
the festival," Luke said
as he felt his legs shake
in fear.
The cat gave him a
look of surprise. "You're
going to the Stockyards
festival? So am I!" the
cat exclaimed. "Let us go
together."
The cat noticed that
the rat was still frozen in
fear. "Don't worry little
fellow. This is Christmas
Eve and this day has spe-
cial meaning to all of us
animals. And by the way,
Luke glanced at
Woody and they both
new what they needed
to do. "Come with us!"
they said in unison. "We
are positive you will find
your gift on the way."
"Really? Thank you so
much." The dog's dispo-
sition changed imme-
diately and he happily
told them his name was
Buck.
It started to get cold
and darker as the sun
began to set. Then the
first snowflake fell. Then
another. And another.
As far as they had come,
they could not believe
their journey would end
because of the snow.
They all watched in sad-
ness as the snow began
to accumulate.
"I've got an idea!" Buck
exclaimed. "Why don't
the two of you jump on
my back and I will carry
you the rest of the way.
Just be careful with your
claws Woody."
So the two small-
er animals jumped on
Buck's back and he car-
ried them until they saw
the sign. It was not the
sign of a bright star that
had wandered by, they
would be in amazement
at the gathering before
them. Cows and pigs and
sheep and horses. They
came together on this
and every Christmas Eve
to celebrate and remem-
ber the great contribu-
tions of the animals in
protecting a baby that
was born many years
ago in a livestock barn
to a kindly man and a
heavenly mother.
Luke, Woody and
Buck waited in line for
their turn to present
ing. Luke tapped his big
friend's leg and said,
"Why are you worried?
You already presented
your gift. You carried
me and Woody when we
could not go any further
on our own. This is just
like the donkey that car-
ried the pregnant woman
to Bethlehem where that
special baby was born."
A smile appeared on
Buck's face as he real-
ized what he had done.
He looked at his two new
friends and realized that
gifts are not always what
they heard about from
a long time ago but the
lit up sign that read Fort
Worth Stockyards.
They looked on in awe
as they saw animals of
all types gathering. They
were led by a small herd
of Texas longhorns. They
followed along until they
saw their ultimate des-
tination, the Stockyards
Christmas Tree. This is
where they were to leave
their gifts.
The gifts were part
of the festival that the
animal world only knew
about. If any humans
their gifts. Luke opened
up his pack and placed
a few pieces of hay at
the base of the tree. This
hay symbolized the bed
of hay that this baby
would sleep on. Then
Woody came to the tree
and began to meow a
song that all the animals
joined in singing. They
all knew this was the
song that the animals
sang in that barn to help
the baby sleep in his bed
of hay.
Now Buck came to the
gift giving spot and real-
ized he still had noth-
you can see but how you
help each other. As the
night continued, more
animals came to cele-
brate the amazing events
of Christmas.
As for Buck and Luke
and Woody, they sat a
short distance from
the tree. They were all
tired form the trip so
the smaller two again
climbed on Buck's back
and they all proceeded
to fall asleep. It was a
good sleep because they
knew, for at least tonight,
there would be Peace On
Earth. Merry Christmas!
magical place in Fort
Worth where, for many
years, all the animals
gathered.
So on the morning of
Christmas Eve, Luke
filled his little pack and
headed for his destina-
tion. He knew this would
take a while with his lit-
tle legs. Why such little
legs? Because Luke was
an ordinary country rat.
On this day, he was
glad he was a just a small
little rat. The chilled wind
whipped above him. He
didn't travel much, really
never at all. However he
did realize that the dark
ominous clouds above
might bring some snow.
With the possibility of
snow on his mind, he
started to walk a little
faster. He knew that he
could handle the wind,
but the snow would make
his trip impossible.
As one hour led to
the next, Luke started
to get tired and hungry.
Looking around, he saw
a trash can that might
have some nourishment
for him. As he headed
towards the impending
meal, he stopped sud-
denly and began to shiv-
er. It was not the cold
that made him shiver
but right in front of
him stood a gray mon-
ster. By the looks of its
fur, whiskers and claws,
Luke realized it was the
dreaded cat he was told
about.
"What are you doing
way out here in the
city, Rat?" The cat
asked in a surprisingly
gentle voice. Luke was
afraid to answer, think-
ing this might be some
sort of trap. However,
he thought if he did not
my name is Mr. Woods,
but most every one calls
me Woody."
After realizing he didn't
have many options, Luke
agreed and the odd two-
some made their way
towards the Stockyards.
The further they trav-
eled, the more comfort-
able they became with
each other. They told
each other about their
lives, their favorite
things to eat and won-
dered what lie ahead of
them tonight.
They started to get
excited when a gust of
wind brought with it the
scent of large animals.
This was their sign that
they were getting closer
to the place they needed
to go. Even though they
were nearing their des-
tination, they both were
getting tired. Neither
had walked so far for
so long. All of a sudden
Woody stopped sudden-
ly and shielded his new
little friend. "Look over
there," he whispered,
"What is wrong with that
dog?"
A dog, Luke thought, I
never imagined I would
come across one of these
on my travels. However,
this creature looked
exceptionally sad. With
as tough of a voice as
he could muster, Luke
asked, "Why so sad,
dog?"
Startled by the visitors
he did not know were
there, the dog stood up
but kept his head down
in depression. "I was
chosen to go to the fes-
tival but I have no gift.
I will be shamed if I get
there with nothing," the
dog said as he was shak-
ing his head.
-
' fit
CM K
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. [113], No. [029], Ed. 1 Sunday, December 19, 2010, newspaper, December 19, 2010; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229346/m1/8/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.