" Hop Sing Saves Christmas For Little Joe "

By:  Lynne G.

 

The most important times of the year in a child's life are summer vacation, their birthday, and probably the most important time of the child's year is Christmas.  For that is when Santa brings the good boys and girls Christmas presents.

 

For one little boy who lived in the Nevada Territory, Little Joe Cartwright, those were his most favorite times of the year as well.

 

As Christmas was nearing, Little Joe was suddenly getting rather nervous, and he knew why too.  He hadn't been a very good little boy at times through out the year.

 

Several days ago, a few days after Thanksgiving, Little Joe and his two older brothers, Adam and Hoss were in the barn doing their chores.  Little Joe decided that he didn't want to do his chores, so he stood there with his tiny hands on his hips looking very smug indeed.

 

Adam had told the boy to please do his chores.  " I dun't wanna do em," the child kept repeating as he just stood there.  Adam was at a loss of what to do to get his little brother to do what he had been told to do.

 

Hoss walked up to Adam and whispered something into his ear which brought a big smile to Adam's face.  " Thank you Hoss," Adam whispered back to his younger, but bigger brother.

 

Adam turned and looked down at Little Joe, and said, " Tell you what little buddy, go ahead and not do what you are told to do and come Christmas time, you won't need to leave Santa any cookies and milk, because he won't be coming to the Ponderosa this Christmas !"

 

A shocked Little Joe looked up at Adam with his big green questioning eyes.  " Yes he will !  He always comes here !  He will come here !" the child shouted.

 

" Sorry little brother, but he won't be here this year because you have been a naughty boy.  You don't always do your chores or your homework.  You come home late from school sometimes, and you don't pay attention in school.  That makes Santa very upset with you and he has put your name at the top of his ' naughty boy ' list," Adam explained.

 

Little Joe stared at Adam not believing what his oldest brother had just told him.  " That ain't true Adam !" the boy replied.

 

" Oh yes it is, just ask Hoss, Pa or Hop Sing and they will tell you the same thing," Adam said trying to convince the young boy.

 

Little Joe quickly looked up at Hoss and he asked, " Hoss, that ain't true, is it?"  " Sorry Short Shanks, but it is very true.  Now if you want Santa to come here NEXT year, you have to start bein' good now, and be good all year," Hoss told the boy.

 

" But, but what if'n I start bein' good now, will he still come here this year?" the youngster anxiously asked.  " Nope !" Hoss declared.

 

With that said, Little Joe ran out of the barn in tears, as Adam and Hoss watched their emotional little brother run out of the barn.

 

" Golly Adam, I didn't think he would get so upset.  We need ta tell him the truth !" Hoss sadly said.  " No Hoss.  Hopefully he will start to do what he is told to do now.  We can talk to Pa and see what he thinks about this," Adam suggested.

 

As Ben was sitting in his chair smoking his pipe, and reading the paper, he was startled as his youngest son ran into the house, slamming the door and ran up the stairs crying.

 

" JOSEPH !" Ben called out, but the boy didn't stop.  " What in the world?" Ben thought to himself.

 

Ben decided to go out to the barn to find out what had just happened to make his baby boy run into the house in tears.

 

" Hi Pa.  What are you doing out here?" Adam ask as he had a feeling why Ben had come out to the barn.

 

" Did something happen with Little Joe just now?  He ran into the house crying and he ran up the stairs to his room.  I called out to him, but he kept running up the stairs," asked a concerned Ben.

 

" You could say that Pa," Hoss replied as he looked at Adam.  Ben looked at both of his sons and said, " Will one of you please tell me what is going on out here, and why my baby boy came running into the house crying ?"

 

Adam explained what had taken place in the barn that evening.  After Ben heard what he wanted to hear, he smiled at Adam and Hoss.

 

" That was a good idea you had Hoss, and I hope it works.  I know that boy doesn't plan to be naughty.  It just comes out of him at the wrong time.  Let's just see what happens before we let him off the hook," Ben suggested.

 

Little Joe was a perfect little boy lately.  He did all of his chores, school work and he didn't argue with his family or Hop Sing at all.  What his family didn't realize, was that the little boy was heartbroken.

 

One evening while the family was in the livingroom relaxing after dinner, Ben said, " I can't believe Christmas is only three weeks away.  It's just amazing at how fast this year has gone."

 

" Ain't that the truth.  Come on little brother, are ya ever gonna move that checker or just stare at it?" Hoss asked.

 

Little Joe looked up at Hoss with tears running down his face while his chin was quivering.  The boy suddenly jumped up and took off running up the stairs crying.

 

Hoss sat there with his mouth open as he watched his distraught little brother run up the stairs.  Both Ben and Adam were also watching the crying child as he ran up the stairs.

 

" What in the world was that all about?" Ben asked.  " I have no idea Pa.  All of a sudden he had tears running down his face and he took off running," Hoss replied with great concern for his baby brother.  " Sometimes I just don't understand that baby brother of mine," Adam declared.

 

Ben got up from his chair and he headed up the stairs to Little Joe's room to find out what had just happened with the little boy.

 

Ben knocked on the boy's door, but there was no response.  Ben opened the door and walked into the room.  What he saw was heartbreaking.

 

Little Joe was laying on his bed crying his heart out.  " Little Joe, what's the matter sweetheart ?" Ben asked.  The boy didn't say anything.

 

Ben sat down on the bed and he gathered up the crying child and he held him tightly as he gently began to rub the child's back.

 

" Shh.  Please son, please tell Papa what's wrong baby," Ben pleaded.  " I dun't feel so good Papa," the boy replied as he hiccupped.

 

It wasn't a lie what Little Joe told Ben.  He felt sick, knowing that Christmas was very near and that Santa wasn't coming to bring him any presents this year.

 

Ben had forgotten about what had taken place in the barn a few weeks back.  " Do you hurt somewhere Little Joe?" Ben asked

 

" Yes sir.  My tummy hurts," the boy answered as he hiccupped again while the tears still ran down his very sad looking face.

 

Ben continued to hold his crying son as he told the child that he would have Hop Sing get something that would help his stomach.

 

After Little Joe had drank the special tea that Hop Sing had made for him, he fell into a deep sleep.  Once Ben had his little son tucked snuggly in his bed, he went back down the stairs.

 

" Pa, is Little Joe alright?" both Adam and Hoss asked.  " Yes, he should be just fine.  He wasn't feeling very good, so Hop Sing made him some tea, and he is sleeping now," Ben told his sons.

 

" Im glad he's feeling better," both older boys said.  They had both also forgot about that evening in the barn.

 

Everytime Little Joe heard the word, ' Christmas ' he became very emotional and ended up in tears.

 

One day Adam and Hoss had taken Little Joe into Virginia City with them so they could buy some Christmas gifts for Ben and Hop Sing.  Little Joe put on a brave face to fool his brothers.  His heart was still breaking, but he didn't want anyone to know that.

 

Another day, Ben took Little Joe with him to town so they could buy gifts for Adam and Hoss.  Again, Little Joe put on a brave face and he tried to act as if everything was fine.

 

As Christmas Eve morning had arrived, it was very cold outside with several inches of fresh snow that had fallen during the night.  It looked like a winter wonderland outside, but inside the large log ranch house, it was warm and cozy.

 

The family was very busy getting the house all decorated with wonderful smelling pine garlands that they had made, and getting their large Christmas tree decorated so everything would be ready for their annual Christmas Eve party for all their friends that evening.

 

Little Joe was hurting inside, but he didn't let on that he was heartbroken.  He helped with the decorating as if everything was normal.

 

Wonderful smells from the kitchen filled the house with freshly baked goodies for the party as well as for the Cartwright family. 

 

Hop Sing had been busy baking up a storm for a few weeks now.  He loved to bake and he was very proud of his cooking and baking.  He was known as the best cook and baker in the entire Nevada Territory.

 

Little Joe wouldn't eat his dinner that night.  He told Ben that he had a headache and that he didn't feel good.  It was the truth, as he didn't feel good.  Again, no one knew that this precious little boy was heartbroken.

 

Ben told Little Joe that he could go to bed if he wanted too, but if he started to feel better, then he could come down to the party.  The boy loved parties, especially the Christmas Eve party with all the excitement in the air.

 

As the guests began to arrive for the party, they were all impressed at how beautiful everything looked all decorated up for Christmas.  It looked perfect.

 

The guests were all dressed up in their finest clothes as were the Cartwrights.  Everyone felt bad that Little Joe wasn't feeling well, especially on such a festive night.

 

Dr. Paul Martin had even gone up to Little Joe's room to check on the boy, but Little Joe faked like he was sleeping, but his wet face from his tears gave him away, so Paul decided to let the boy alone, even though he was concerned as to why Little Joe had been crying.  He couldn't feel any fever on the child's forehead for which he was thankful for, but he knew that something was upsetting this normally very happy child.

 

After Paul had come back down the stairs, he asked Ben to please come into the kitchen so they talk about Little Joe.

 

" Ben, for some reason, Little Joe seems to be very upset about something.  He has been crying as his little face is wet from his tears.  Do you have any idea why he is so upset?  How long has he been like this?" Paul asked.

 

" About a month now.  He keeps telling me that his stomach hurts and that he has a headache too.  He seems to be very distraught and he has been crying a lot too, come to think of it," Ben told Paul.  " Oh and when we mention Christmas, he cries," Ben added.

 

Hop Sing had heard Ben and Paul talking about Little Joe, and he knew why the little boy had been so distraught lately.

 

" Hop Sing know why little boy so upset.  Mr. Cartlight, remember late last month when Little Joe not do his barn chores and Mr. Adam tell him that Santa not coming to Ponderosa this year to give him any presents.  That why little boy so sad.  His heart breaking.  Little boy need to know that Santa will come and give him presents," Hop Sing explained.

 

Then it donned on Ben.  " Oh no.  I totally forgot about that Hop Sing.  My poor baby, no wonder he has been so distraught lately !" Ben sadly said.  Ben then filled Paul in what had happened in the barn that evening last month.

 

" Now that would explain why that little boy is so sad, " Paul said, as he felt badly for Little Joe.

 

" Thank you Hop Sing.  I never would have remembered that.  That little boy is always so excited about Christmas, and we have ruined it for him this year.  I need to tell Adam and Hoss," Ben said, as Hop Sing went to get Adam and Hoss.

 

When Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing walked into the kitchen, they saw Paul and Ben standing there.  " Pa, what's going on?" Adam asked.

 

" Boys, Hop Sing explained why your little brother has been so upset lately.  Remember back to last month and that evening in the barn when he wouldn't do his chores, and you told him that Santa wasn't coming here this year and going to leave him any presents?  Well, he believed that, and he is heartbroken, in thinking that Santa really isn't coming here tonight," Ben explained.

 

" Oh Pa, we completely forgot about that.  No wonder he is so heartbroken.  We had no idea that he took us so seriously.  If we would have known that, we never would have told him that," both Adam and Hoss said. 

 

" Boys, I'm just as much to blame as you, because I kept reminding him about that too," Ben admitted.  " Come to think of it, I noticed the change in him that next day.  He was so quiet and sad looking, but I just figured that he was being moody.  I feel awful about all of this," Adam softly said.

 

" Dadburnit, Short Shanks should be down here and enjoying the party instead of being up in his room crying.  Want me to go up and get him Pa?" Hoss asked as he had tears in his eyes.

 

" No son, let me go up to him.  You two, and Paul go back out to the party," Ben suggested.  He quickly went up to Little Joe's room by way of the back stairs.

 

Once Ben was in the child's room, he lit the lamp, sat down on the bed and he could hear the soft sobs coming from his little son.

 

Adam in the mean time, went over to Ben's desk, sat down, took out a sheet of paper and a pen, and he began to write a short letter to Little Joe from Santa.  He knew that his baby brother would be so excited to have a letter from Santa.

 

Back up stairs in Little Joe's room, Ben had tears in his eyes when he heard the soft sobs from his young son.

 

" Little Joe, sweetheart, please don't cry, baby," Ben softly said as he held the child in his loving arms.  " Why are you crying?  Please tell Papa, and it just might help you feel better son.  Please sweetheart, talk to me," Ben suggested as he continued to hold his crying son.

 

Little Joe took a deep breath and he began to talk.  " Oh Papa, Santa ain't gonna come here tonight, cuz I was a naughty boy this year.  I ain't gonna get no presents from him either," Little Joe tearful told Ben.  Ben was very relieved when Little Joe had finally told him what was wrong, and he was so thankful that Hop Sing knew what the problem was.

 

Ben closed his eyes to stop his own tears from running down his face as he kissed Little Joe's forehead.

 

" Sweetheart, I know that Santa IS coming here tonight, and he WILL bring you presents !" Ben told the crying child.

 

" But Papa, I was naughty and Santa dun't give naughty kids presents," Little Joe replied.  As Ben held the boy in his arms, he spoke again.

 

" Son, Santa came to Papa in a dream last night, and he wanted me to tell you that he was coming here and give you presents," Ben said hoping that his young son would believe him and be excited about Christmas again.

 

Little Joe looked up at Ben through his tears and he softly said, " Really, he's gonna come here?"  Ben smiled at the sudden excitement written all over the child's tear stained face.

 

" Yes, he is really coming here later tonight.  How about we get your face washed and get you dressed so you can come down to the party ?  Everyone misses you very much sweetheart," Ben suggested.  The boy nodded as he had a big grin on his face.

 

Several minutes later, Ben and Little Joe came walking down the stairs both with big smiles on their faces.  As soon as Little Joe saw everyone having fun at the party, excitement was written all over his face, as his eyes were brightly shinning.

 

When Adam and Hoss saw their little brother, they both hurried over to him and gave him big hugs.

 

" Hi ya Punkin, feelin' better?" Hoss asked as he hugged the boy.  " Uh huh !" the boy replied.  " You look so handsome little buddy and I am so very happy that you are feeling better and came down for the party.  Now the party will be even better with you here," Adam told his little brother as he too, gave the boy a big hug.

 

Everyone was happy to see Little Joe at the party and to know that he was feeling better.  After all, it wasn't fair that anyone should be ill at Christmas time, especially a child.

 

Little Joe was having a fun time at the party and he was playing with his friends.  His special giggle could be heard all through the house, which hadn't been heard for a month now.

 

Adam walked up to Ben and said, " Pa, I hope you don't mind, but I wrote, I mean Santa wrote a short letter to Little Joe, which we can give him later."

 

" What a wonderful idea son.  He will be so excited to have a letter from Santa !" Ben proudly told Adam.  " Thank you son." Ben added.  Adam smiled back at Ben.

 

After the party was over and all of their guests had returned to their homes, the Cartwrights began to clean up the dirty dishes and move the furniture back in place.  They decided to do all of the clean up now instead of waiting for morning.

 

" Hey Pa look what I found.  It looks like this envolope is for Little Joe," Adam excitedly said as he, Ben and Hoss looked at Little Joe who stood there with his mouth open as Adam handed him the mystery envolope.

 

With wide open eyes, Little Joe took the envolope in his hand that had his name written on it.  The boy looked up at his family with a questioning look on his face.

 

" Go ahead and open it up Punkin and see who it's from," Hoss suggested as he had a big grin on his face.  Little Joe again looked at the envolope, which he very carefully began to open, took out the letter and he unfolded it.  His eyes almost popped out of his head and he gasped.

 

" What does it say, and who is it from son?" Ben asked.

 

" It...it's from Santa !" the youngster excitedly replied as tears ran down his face.

 

" Golly, Santa wrote you a letter?  Santa doesn't usually do that very much.  You must be very special Short Shanks," Hoss replied as he had a big grin on his face.  " What did Santa say little buddy?" Adam asked as he was very moved by the look on Little Joe's face.  Adam knew that he would never forget that look on his baby brother's face as the boy held the letter from Santa.

 

" He says:

Dear Little Joe,

I heard that you thought that I wouldn't be coming to the Ponderosa this year and leave you any presents.  Don't worry, because I will be coming and I will leave you lots of presents.

I know you have been naughty at times, but you have also been a very good boy most of the time, and you deserve to get presents, because you are a good boy in my eyes, and Santa loves you very much !

 

Merry Christmas Little Joe !!

Love,

Santa.

 

After Little Joe had read his letter from Santa out loud, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.  Little Joe was speechless as tears of happiness and excitement ran down his angel like face.  Everyone was so moved by Santa's letter that words were hard to come out at that moment.

 

Finally Ben was able to talk, " Well Little Joe, see Santa is coming tonight, so I think that you had better hurry up and get ready for bed and get some sleep so Santa can come."

 

" Good night everyone !" the youngster squealed as he ran up the stairs with his letter from Santa. Ben turned around and told Adam, " That was a lovely letter you write son.  Thank you !"  " Pa, Santa wrote that letter," Adam sheepishly told Ben.

 

Early the next morning, Christmas Day, Little Joe jumped out of his cozy warm bed and he ran down the hall yelling, " MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !" over and over.

 

From downstairs his family smiled, and they quickly went upstairs to greet their little bundle of energy.

 

" MERRY CHRISTMAS LITTLE JOE," they all replied as Ben caught the very excited little boy as he tried to run past them, and he gave his young son a big old bear hug as he held him.

 

" Come on sweetheart, lets get you dressed so you don't get cold," Ben suggested.

 

As Ben and Little Joe came down the stairs, Little Joe suddenly stopped as soon as he saw all the gifts under the tree.

 

" Santa did come !  He really did come, didn't he Papa?" the boy squealed in total excitement, as he jumped up and down.  " Yes, he sure did come sweetheart," Ben replied.  They were all getting a big kick at the little boy, who was the love of their lives.

 

After all of the gifts had been opened, the floor was totally covered in brightly colored paper, ribbons and bows.

 

Everyone loved all their gifts, especially Little Joe.  " This is the best Christmas ever !" he told his family.  " You are correct about that son," Ben cheerfully agreed.

 

Little Joe's most favorite gift that Christmas was his letter from Santa, which he kept forever.

 

The End.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

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