This is a true story of long ago. My oldest brother was about thirteen years old when it took place. On Christmas he was selected to play Santa Claus for his younger siblings. I would venture to guess it was around 1923 or 1924. Through the years as Mama told the story to me, she would always laugh.
Mother said that winter the snow was so deep around their shanty it was almost up to the windows. Dad and Mama worked hard to survive and make ends meet, Mama made all their clothes and knit their socks. She had many homemade quilts on the beds for comfort. She went in the fall and got big flat rocks out of the creek to put in the edge of the fireplace and then wrapped the hot rocks in wool shawls and placed them at their feet for warmth on those cold winter nights.
Mama had all four children’s Christmas presents made and wrapped with all the goodies that a good cook could fix for her little ones to eat. She made Everett a Santa suit out of one of Dad’s old red union suits. She put cotton around his middle and gave him a big pillow to stuff in his suit. She also made him a red toboggan and a mask with a beard of cotton. She told me she was down right proud of his Santa suit even if she did make it herself.
Everett slipped out of the house when the younger ones weren’t looking. The young ones were busy eating, laughing, and stringing popcorn for the Christmas tree. Everett had his sack full of presents Mama had made for everyone. She signaled for Everett to come inside. He beat on the door and yelled out Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! Once Everett came inside, he began talking to each one of the children in a rough voice, asking them what he was supposed to bring them. He took Charlie the youngest on his knee and Charlie was clattering on about what he wanted and was having such a good time when all the sudden Charlie looked down and seen Santa’s shoes. He got down and told Santa Claus to get off his Ebert’s shoes. Charlie couldn’t talk plain and the other children looked in amazement as he said again, “You have my Ebert’s shoes on, now get them off Santa Claus!”
Everett passed out the presents to the rest of the children with Charlie still wanting him to get his Ebert’s shoes off. Everett opened the door to brave the cold and pull off the costume. When Everett came back in to open his presents. Charlie said,“Ebert, I see you got your shoes back from that rascal Santa Claus.” Everett told Charlie “Yes indeed Santa traded back my shoes in a hurry, when I was about to leave him without his shoes out there in the snow.”
Charlie and the other children didn’t realize Santa Claus was their big brother Everett and the whole family had a good and happy Christmas. Near the end of the night Charlie crawled in Everett’s lap and asked “What did that shoes snatcher Santa Claus leave for you Ebert?”
I believe this was one of Mama’s best Christmases. She truly loved to tell me the story of Ebert’s shoes as Christmas came around each year. Mama, Dad, and all my siblings are gone now. But what a wonderful happy Christmas they had on Town House that Christmas Eve night, just above the town of Marble, N.C.
—Mary Lou McKillip
I hope you enjoyed Mary Lou’s story of a Christmas from long long ago.
I haven’t heard from Mary Lou in a good long while. She and her second husband moved to Texas. I hope she is well.
Tipper
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
I loved this story. How sweet the big brother Everett was. Little Charlie was hilarious about his brother’s shoes. Poor Santa must have frozen toes after running into little Charlie. Their momma sounded a lot like my momma. Sewing, and doing all she could to give all my family a great and plentiful Christmas. The food was always amazing. A Merry and blessed Christmas to all this year. Miss Louzine I pray you’ll have a wonderful Christmas too. May it bring you much joy and great blessings. Miss Tipper you are so generous and very kind to your precious momma. God has a great reward waiting for you, and Paul, hopefully many, many years from now. Your Momma is so blessed to have raised such giving and caring children. Including your older brother, I’m sure. Love to the Presley and Wilson families. May your life be made rich, beautiful and prosperous this Christmas season, may God richly bless you all. South Mississippi, Jennifer
What a great story. We enjoyed Paul’s music so much Monday evening and hope that is an annual performance. Granny is in our prayers.
I love all the stories. My favorite story involved my family of ten. Yes, we were poor but as you have stated many times Tipper RICH in all the things money couldn’t buy. There were 7 kids and our Uncle Homer barely older than any of us that Santa visited on Christmas Eve. As long as I can remember daddy and momma separated our gift by putting our shoe on top of our gift. We all knew that was our gift. It was the only gift we got during the year. Oh how exciting it was to wake up and find our gift with the shoe on top. Our wobbly tree with a few glass ornaments on it and Bubble Lights was beautiful to us. It wouldn’t stand up straight even though momma always used an old churn with rocks in the bottom to support it. We would tie it to the two corners in the living room. The icicles momma paid .25 cents for was used over and over each year. The quilt cotton became snow. One of the kids found a bird nest that made its home in our tree. Oh how I wish I could go back to just one on those memories. Momma and daddy are gone. My brother is gone. The home place no longer looks like home. I hope all of you that still have your family’s cherish the gifts. We never thought they would go away. The most wonderful gift we all got was Jesus. I thank God for my wonderful family. God bless
This was such a sweet story. I love to make things for Christmas. This year I am crocheting beanies for my grandbabies. I also crocheted a scarf to match for the oldest girl. My daughter-in-law is making homemade gifts for her coworkers and some family this year. She made her coworkers bath bombs, homemade room spray,and Christmas jam. I am most excited about the Christmas jam. I loved the songs Paul sang. I haven’t gotten to listen to the entire program yet, but I plan to this evening. Have a great evening.
This is a Christmas story for the ones that play Santa told in my family about my great uncle one year he was playing Santa in the town of Honea Path, SC. This was back before Walmart and shopping malls. All of the stores at the time were located on one side or the other on Main Street. He would walk down one side, cross over and come back up the other side. On Saturday there would be a lot of people. He had asked one boy what he wanted for Christmas and went on and crossed over to the other side, when without realizing it, he met the same boy and asked him again what he wanted. He said the boy said the D cuss word and told him if he couldn’t remember any longer than that to write it down this time!
Such a heartwarming story ! Thank you so much for sharing it ! & what a wonderful prayer , Norman . Praying for all !
Christmas stories. They are special. I had previously mentioned that I had played a surfing Santa while working at Hawaii State Hospital. The first time I played Santa was at the Christmas party for the Mother of Twins Club in Concord NH. I said yes because we had young twin sons and I thought not would be special to play Santa for my twins and older boy. When the time came I walked in wearing the traditional Santa outfit and carrying a bag of gifts. I had fun having the young twins get to meet Santa and GRT a gift that had been bought by their parents. My excitement was rising ad my boys approached my chair. There was no problem with my older boy Chris sitting on my lap but when it was the twins turn they started crying because they were afraid of Santa. My feelings were hurt. But I continued to play Santa in both NH and when I moved to Hawaii I played Santa for the youth in the community around Kawaiaha’o Church in Honolulu. It’s been years since I’ve played Santa and I now focus on “the real reason
for the season.” The perfect gift of love.
Tipper you always share great stories!
I’ve dressed up and been Santa for church kids several times. Many times some kid would look to see which man was missing and conclude I was the one in the Santa suit. Once a kid came to me after and accused me of playing Santa. I asked why he would think that. He pointed out my shoes and my watch as evidence.
I think she should write a whole book! Tipper, I got a copy of my book out in the mail for you.
That’s a sweet story and a clever little boy.
Wishing everyone a beautiful day.
Love stories like this! Little brother trying to take care of his own. And hard working mama. I often ask God to bless the moms who go the extra mile because so often we/they are under appreciated by the families they serve. Lord help us all be grateful for how you bless us through the people in our lives.
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it. I enjoyed listening to Paul last night. Beautiful singing and playing and as always, praying for Granny.
NO … I have to turn this song off everytime it comes on the radio or I’m just a puddle of tears!!!!!!!
I don’t think this has anything to do with today’s feel good story. This is true and happened to me and my wife, when our daughter may have been about 2 years old we had all went to the small town of Honea Path, SC at this time of year and just happened to come across a Santa Claus in one of the stores. Our daughter, April, would not talk to him. In my stupidity, I told her on the way home Santa Claus would not bring her any presents because she wouldn’t tell him what she wanted. After getting in the house, she went to her room and I heard her crying. I will remember to my dying day those big tear drops coming out of her beautiful blue eyes and her saying I won’t get presents/toys, didn’t talk to Santa Claus. I told her I had talked to him for her. From that day until now I have never told and never will tell another child if they don’t talk to Santa Claus they won’t get any presents. This was over 40 years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday.
What a sweet and wholesome Christmas story.
what a wonderful story, thanks for telling it. You can feel the love in that family. Thank you for sharing it.
Ms. Tipper, this is the sweetest Christmas story. I wonder what the mama made for those children.
I enjoyed listening to Paul last night, it was great to hear such a variety of music. I too would like the Presley girls to join in. I love to hear Katie play the violin.
As always praying for Granny.
I remember reading that story and have shared it with others. Stories like that are a treasure. I hope she is ok because I always enjoyed her comments.
What a great story!
What a Mom, so determined her kids would have a good Christmas. Sounds just like my Mom. She was the one that had us boys out gathering greenery and whatever. We couldn’t do a “big Christmas” with money so we improvised. Guess it “took” in a degree because to this day I’m “apt to” (as old timers said) to bring in “pretties” from nature. This story also reminds me again that I was the one who told the whole house that Santa Claus was really Grandma! It was after that sometime that her stepson (who had the shape & size for it) took over. There are some here who can remember Art Link letter and “Kids Say the Darnest Things”. They did and still do.
Over 40 years ago when my daughter had just turned 3(just turned 45), my ex looked for and found a fabulous Santa suit. I’m not sure who was more excited about Santa’s visit. The adults or the babes. There was a jingling of bells at our front door and my daughter and her younger cousin opened the door at our encouragement. The look of awe on the girls’ faces was priceless!! Santa visited and gave each little girl a present while they took turns on his lap. At one point, our daughter started looking at and touching Santa’s hands. She looked with great concern at Santa’s face and back to his hands, but never said a word until Christmas day. Such a sweet memory.
Love the story. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
That kid was a sharp cookie!
Annie, that’s what i thought, ready to take on Santa Claus!
What a sweet, precious story Mary Lou shared from her childhood memories. Thank you!
God bless, God heal, God comfort, each and everyone, I pray in Jesus name,
Thank you for that! God bless you as well.
Simple joys. Believe and may you never be too old to look up in the sky and wonder.
What a lovely story. I have wonderful memories of being the fifth of seven. My parents gave up so much so we woukd have a nice Christmas. Love reading the blog and prayers for all the folks that post…and if course Granny.
That is such a cute funny story and a wonderful memory to have! Thank you for sharing it.
That’s the cutest and sweetest story! Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
That is a GREAT story!!!
When I read this story, I couldn’t help but smile. It reminded me of simpler times when families were closer and were more thankful for the things they had. Those were the days when people had time for each other and were not in such a hurry to get to nowhere. Today, I think, that we are in such a hurry that we have forgotten how to live and we go from one activity to another one so quickly that we really don’t enjoy much of anything. We just seem to be going through the motions of living. This Christmas season I am going to think more about the true meaning of the season and try to focus more on the simpler things in life instead of the hustle and bustle. Jesus is the reason for the season. Family and friends are the best gifts one can have. Material possessions are nice, but when we leave this earth, they stay behind. Tipper, thank you for the Paul’s songfest of Cristmas music last night. It was a true blessing to me. I considered it an early Christmas present, and I wish you and all your family a very merry Christmas. Tell Paul he did a fantastic job last night, and tell Granny that I hope she has a wonderful Christmas and that I continue to pray for her daily.
Oh my goodness! That little Charlie was one smart cookie! So was Everett! Mom really went all out to show her kids a good time.
What a great Christmas story!
Bible study, Mary Lou’s story along with a good cup of coffee on this cold morning starts the day off right.
Everyone have a great day. Sending prayers for your Mama.
That was a fun story..I can see Mama telling that story every Christmas! and by retelling she would be reliving the “good times”…
I remember reading this story before today, I thought it was funny. I worked with a man at Michelin that would play Santa Claus each year (his white beard was real) he could tell some funny stories about kids that would make you roll, some would also make you want to cry.
I was wrong for writing what I did yesterday. One thing me and others mentioned was of many family members that have died. My wife and daughter are buried near 14 others of her family. Elven of them have died in the last 20 years. Even before I married into her family, I knew everyone of them, I grew up in church and community with them. When I say her family, I mean, her 4 grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins on both sides of her parents. I received word last night of another one of her aunts being diagnosed yesterday with her health being terminal, she is 91 years old and her mind being sharp as a tack. I visited and talked with her a few days before Thanksgiving about the older times together and my wife. She fell a week ago and broke 3 bones in her leg. She has had many mini strokes since the surgery on her leg, a lot of them affecting her brain. Her son is my lifelong best friend and she has always been like another mother to me even as a young kid. It is things like this that bother me so much nowadays.
One quick story another one of my wife’s aunts tells about me when she was my Sunday School teacher is of me climbing out the low widows of my old unairconditioned church Sunday School class and playing in the church cemetery before my parents (hopefully Daddy) could come and get me when I was about 5 or 6 years old. My claim to fame!
That’s the cutest story! I can see it in my mind’s eye. I still have a childlike heart at Christmas. The joy and wonder of it all. I have red unions and would have liked to seen those made in a Santa suit.
We have a funeral of a dear friend today. He was born in Robbinsville NC. His son and my husband were best friends growing up. His laughter could fill a room. His stories of ramp hunting were so funny. He’d always say you better not eat those and go on a date and just laugh so big. He will be missed by all who knew him.
God bless y’all!
Debbie, I have only heard of ramps, never seen or eaten any. I like to say if an apple a day will keep the doctor away, an onion a day will keep everybody away.