Page 8 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Christmas Giver 2023

Santa’s Gift to Tom

by Dolores W. Deredin

Olde Tom, a great storyteller, lived in the Deep South of have my glasses, can you tell me where to find Chatham,
Mississippi. He sat on his veranda in the light of a lantern Newcastle, Loggieville, Nelson, Douglastown, Nordin and
every evening smoking a pipe with a spittoon beside him. Chatham Head?”
Children loved to gather around him in I explained to Santa that all the
the light of his lantern to listen to his places he named were gathered
stories. together and made into one big city
It was in the month of December called Miramichi and were no longer
and children were getting excited on the map. “Ho! Ho! Ho!” said
about Christmas. Olde Tom spoke up Santa, “No wonder I was having a
and said to them, “Have I got a story hard time finding them. You know
to tell you guys! Boys, you know, I Tom I remember when visiting those
always liked snow, so I bought myself little towns always thinking that they
a cottage out in the woods. had beautiful decorations and a great
“What I liked about the cottage Christmas Spirit!”
and the wintertime there was the When Santa Claus was calling
quietness, the beautiful white snow out the names of the towns, Tear
and all the animals I could see coming Drop thought the names had a
around my cottage every once and musical sound and started dancing
awhile. At night, I would light my inside Santa’s pocket. He fell through
lantern and go out and look at the a hole in the lining and landed on
snow. The light from my lantern would Santa’s glasses.
make the snow just look like “I found your glasses Santa,”
diamonds. It was beautiful to see. said Tear Drop.
“One Christmas Eve night while I “Ho! Ho! Ho!” said Santa. “Now
was sitting in the cottage, all of a sudden, I could hear a noise we can get on our way - after all it is Christmas Eve.”
outside. There were many bright lights! It kind of startled me. Santa Claus asked me just before he left, “Tom, I would
A knock came to my door. Would you believe it boys...that like to give you a very special gift for helping me. I see that
knock came from Santa Claus himself,” said Tom. you like to walk with your lantern. I am going to turn it into
Santa Claus said, “Hello, sorry to bother you, but on this a magical lantern. From this night forward, you will never
trip, I have lost my glasses. I have two friends looking for run out of oil and your lantern will only go out when you fall
them. One of them is looking in my sleigh.” Just then, in asleep and start snoring.”
came a little elf, one of Santa’s helpers. Santa introduced him “Santa Claus got on his sleigh and up into the sky he
to me and said, “This is my little helper, Sweet Pea. Sweet flew. Tear Drop and Sweet Pea were waving good-bye to
Pea is just a nickname - because he is always eating candy. me,” said Tom.
His real name is Georgie.” All the children sitting around Tom listening to him in
Santa also introduced me to his other helper. “Now this the light of his lantern were not too sure whether to believe
little mouse in my pocket is called Tear Drop. He lost his his story or not. Tom got tired from telling his story to the
mother and father many years ago. One Christmas Eve, I children. He fell asleep and began to snore. Slowly, gently,
found him sleeping in a manger. He was crying, so I called the light from Tom’s lantern dimmed until the children were
him Tear Drop. He helps me too. When I go from house to left in darkness listening to Tom snoring!
house on Christmas Eve, I have my treats of a glass of milk There was a twinkle in the eyes of those children and a
and cookies. Tear Drop has the job of eating up the crumbs. big smile grew on all their faces. They went home quite
Santa doesn’t want to leave a mess behind you know.” excited, all hoping they too would get a special gift from
“Now Tom,” asked Santa, “Would you happen to have a Santa, just like Olde Tom’s magical lantern.
map of New Brunswick?”
I answered, “Sure Santa, I have a map, let me look for it.” Reprinted with permission from her recently published book: My
Once I had my map Santa asked, “Tom, since I don’t Memories by Dolores Winifred Deredin. Copyright 2023 Miramichi

8 www.GiverMiramichi.com Christmas 2023