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Young World
Christmas at the farm
NIMI KURIAN
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It was the festive season and the animals wanted to know what was special about it.
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On hearing the story, the animals realised they would always be an important part of the season.
The animals knew that something was afoot. Mr. Farmer seemed a tad chipper and Mrs. Farmer was smiling a bit too much. They wondered what could be the reason. “Let’s ask Simba,” said Sheep. “He lives in the house, so he would have heard something.”
“Yes let’s, yes let’s, yes let’s,” cackled the chickens.
Simba said, “It’s the biggest celebration of all. It’s Christmas!” The farm animals had no clue what Christmas was and so Simba had to tell them the story: A long time ago in Bethlehem a child was born. This was no ordinary child but the Christ child. But he had to be born in a manger because his parents Mary and Joseph could not find room in an inn. Anyway so he was born in a manger. In the meantime there were shepherds keeping watch over their sheep at night and suddenly an angel appeared to them and told them about the birth. So they rushed off. Also at that time there were wise men travelling from the East to find the Christ child. They were following a star that would lead them to the child. At the end of the story, there was not a dry eye around.
“Looks like we played a rather important role in the whole thing,” said Sheep.
“How so, how so, how so?” cackled the chickens.
“Well, Christ was born in the manger, so there were cows and goats there. It was the shepherds watching sheep who saw the angel; the wise men would have travelled on camels or horses…”
“So what will Mr. and Mrs. Farmer do for us this Christmas? Have they planned something special for us?” asked Sophie, the cow.
“Hmmm…” began Simba, rather hesitantly. “Actually, they are planning something special. But it’s for themselves, not for us! They were talking of a large party — with chicken, ham, beef, mutton…I am sorry, but this is the menu they were talking about.”
The day that had begun with so much hope and joy had rapidly turned to one of darkness and gloom. One by one, they walked away. Simba was unhappy too. He had come out to play with happy animals and now he was the cause of their sadness. He had to do something for his friends.
Suddenly, he was struck with an idea. “Come out all of you. Come out. Oh! Please, please come out. I have a plan.”
He sounded so persuasive that slowly, reluctantly they came out. Simba gathered them around him and whispered his plan. “See, the story of Christmas is centred around us,” he began.
“Around us, you mean,” said Sheep, caustically. “I didn’t see any dogs there. And strangely, it is we who are in danger.”
Simba’s idea
“Ok, ok. Just listen to me, please?” pleaded Simba. “We will create a Christmas tableau. We will all go to the cow shed and arrange ourselves around the hay. I am sure the Farmers will be touched.”
“Oh yes, we will arrange ourselves around some hay and the Farmers can come and get us easily enough!” screeched the chickens.
“And where do we get a Christ child?” asked Sophie.
“Listen guys, it’s just a tableau. You have nothing to lose…”
“Yes… nothing to lose, except our lives…” muttered Sheep. “But we will give it a try.”
So just before Mr. Farmer came on his rounds in the evening, the animals arranged themselves around the hay. Though they looked a pretty picture, there was an atmosphere of sadness around the shed.
Mr. Farmer was rather surprised at what he saw, he rushed out. A minute later, he came in with Mrs. Farmer in tow. Simba danced about barking and wagging his tail.
“Isn’t this marvellous,” said Mrs. Farmer. “It’s almost like the first Christmas!” There were tears in her eyes and her voice quivered with emotion.
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