It was forty years ago that I became determined to begin writing children’s literature. It had been a dream of mine since I was a sixth grader. But the question was how does one get started?
I was constantly on the look out for a possible site that would publish my work. In fact my hometown paper the Clinton Northern Star was kind enough to let me do several nature columns that I called “Through Nature’s Window”.
It was my dream to get a column and have it syndicated so that I could retire from teaching and write the columns from a little cabin in the woods. I might even change my name to Michael Henry David Thoreau Larson. It would be my pen name.
Then my big break came when a small farm newspaper began a publication called The Sodbuster. I asked the editor if he would be interested in having me write a nature column for the paper. Since the monthly paper was just starting up he agreed to take me on and I was paid a whopping $7 per column.
As the December column deadline was approaching I wanted to write something special with a Christmas message so the title of that December column became Nature’s Christmas Story.
I loved that December column and hoped somehow Walt Disney would get a chance to read it and recognize that it would make a fantastic Christmas film. If that happened my little writing cabin in the woods would have become a reality! 🙂 However Walt passed away and that dream was dashed.
So Walt never got to read the column but the next summer I reworked the column and turned it into a children’s book adorned with my own pen and ink illustrations.
It took twenty-five years and the addition of a more gifted illustrator but “Nature’s Christmas Story” became a book. To celebrate that accomplishment I thought it would be fun for you to read the original column as it appeared in The Sodbuster.
THE SODBUSTER NEWS PAPER – DECEMBER, 1982 NATURE’S CHRISTMAS STORY
It happened several thousand years ago and members of the animal kingdom tell and retell the story. Over the years the story has become known as Nature’s Christmas Story.
The cold, bleak tundra of northern Alaska is where our story begins.
A fierce northwest wind buffets the winter landscape producing a continual cloud of drifting snow. The wind chill is many degrees below freezing. All life struggles to survive the harsh elements of winter. Trees such as the arctic willow grow in a sprawling fashion only inches off the frozen ground.
Behind a rock outcrop a campfire burns brightly. Huddled in small groups around the blazing warmth are many of the tundra’s animal inhabitants.
They are excited and all seem to be talking at one time.
The shaggy musk ox speaks, “I have never seen a star so large and so bright!”
A small furry lemming screamed, “It is so bright it even lights up my deepest snow tunnel!”
“I wonder where the star has come from,” pondered the arctic hare?
“Haven’t you heard the news,” queried the arctic fox? “The star announces the birth of a baby born in Bethlehem. He is a king who will redeem and save the world.”
“Gee, what a wonderful thing to do,” commented the ptarmigan as she fluffed her feathers to keep out the arctic cold. “Wouldn’t it be nice to give the new born baby a gift?”
“Oh, yes,” replied the animals in unison!
“But it would have to be a very special gift for such a special baby,” commented the ermine.
“I will gladly share my reindeer moss with him,” said the musk ox.
“I have some stored berries that are very tasty,” exclaimed the lemming.
“No, no,” replied the ermine. “We must give something more special that that. Think of a gift that is befitting someone who will single-handedly save the world.”
The light of the campfire illuminated the busy groups of brainstorming animals. The discussions continued for sometime but no one could seen to come up with a suitable gift.
Finally the fox shouted, “We do not seem to be making any headway in selecting a special gift. I suggest that we discuss our problem with Mother Nature and perhaps she can help.
Now Mother Nature lived only a few miles from their campfire. Her ice castle rose majestically from the flat tundra terrain.
The musk ox broke a trail through the drifting snow and the other animals followed.
Mother Nature greeted them warmly. She thought it was a splendid idea to present a gift to the baby Jesus.
“I agree with Mr. Ermine,” she commented. “The gift should indeed be special”
“But we have discussed it at great length and no one can agree on what the gift should be,” replied the Ermine.
Mother Nature spoke, “The baby Jesus is giving himself to the world. Wouldn’t it be fitting for each of you to give yourself to baby Jesus?”
The group of animals were momentarily stunned. What an obvious and natural gift. Why hadn’t they thought of that?
“We will give ourselves to the Christ Child!” they cheered. Much dancing and back slapping followed as the animals celebrated the decision.
“Wait a minute,” cried the fox. “How will we present such a gift to the new born babe?”
Mother Nature said, “Choose several members from your group to bring the message of your gift to the Christ Child.
A vote was taken and the ermine, the fox, the arctic hare and the ptarmigan were chosen to bring the news of their gift to Bethlehem.
The four messengers left immediately for the distant Bethlehem and the remaining animals returned home. They retired to their beds for welcome rests after the excitement of the “gift-deciding” day.
As the animals slept Mother Nature put the finishing touches on their gifts. She wrapped each of the sleeping animals in a blanket of newly fallen snow.
The four messengers made the long journey to Bethlehem and delivered the gift message to the Christ Child.
To honor their special mission Mother Nature wrapped the four messengers in a special way too.
Each year as the Christ Child’s birthday approaches the ermine, the fox, the arctic hare and the ptarmigan shed their coats of browns and tans and become clothed in white to symbolize “giving of themselves”. For almost two thousand years the yearly change to white has reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas.
May your Christmas and New Year be a blessed and happy time!
Enjoy the outdoors.
THE END
So almost forty years ago that is how the column appeared in The Sodbuster. The newspaper is only a memory now but Nature’s Christmas Story lives on as a children’s book.
My pen and ink illustrations have been replaced by the beautiful artwork of Janine Ringdahl Schmidt.
Nature’s Christmas Story opened the door as seven more books followed and allowed me to achieve my dream of writing for children.
Merry Christmas and may the new year provide you the opportunity of achieving your dream too.
Until next time.
