Abandoned - Railway - part 2 - Holiday Hometown - Story 51

[Abandoned]

Chapter 23


  At the beginning of year 23 we again had a need for housing.  We had 56 families and only 47 homes.  We were pleased that a young couple moved into the house we built on the other side of the tracks.  We built another house by the sheep pastures with the same results.  A third house was built by the river.

  When Furmann, the general goods merchant, came to port again he had news to tell.  A town in the north named Aspenglow had a monastery with monks who were writing Holy Books.  They were filling sleighs with Books and candles for towns that had chapels.  They were putting the extra books in a warehouse.  If we built a chapel he was sure he could get us one of those books, he might even be able to get some candles.  They were gifts from the monks, there would be no charge.  We said we would be interested in such a book. Grandma has always wanted a chapel by the cemetery where her son was buried, maybe it was time we built one. 

  By early summer the tunnel to the south was complete.  The work train at the station was completed and its freight car was being loaded.  Our last map scroll was aboard that train.  We asked Furmann to bring more.  Cleon's older brother Hilarion's son was going with the work crew.  Grandpa was happy his great grandson, Raleighton, was a track layer but the boy's mother, Partha was not.  She thought he was too young and it was too close to Christmas to be away from home.  The freight car was loaded and the train was ready to go in autumn.  There were a lot of branches that had to be cleared from the tracks before the train could make its way south.

  By late autumn the chapel was completed.  It was a bit of a walk for Grandma from the boarding house but we made a day of it, sister-in-law Lawandace, her daughter Gustini, my daughter Anabell, and me.  We picked a sunny day and stopped at the park to sit a spell and have hot chocolate before walking the rest of the way to the cemetery and chapel.  It was a beautiful sight and we were happy that  night walking home as the snow was gently falling.   It was the kind of snow that sticks to everything and makes it look like a  wonderland.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 24

  In early spring of year 24, Furmann brought the Holy Book and a dozen candles from the monks in Aspenglow.  Inside the front cover was written a Christmas greeting with pages of a Christmas story noted.  Son Lamare built a special table to place the Book on in the chapel and Grandpa carved a pair of wooden candle holders to go alongside.  They were not busy making toys, there were still plenty of toys in the warehouse to fill the 2 empty sleighs that were returned.

  After our visit to the chapel, Grandma was certain the 2 families from Iron Ridge would be here for Christmas this year.  Grandma's woman's intuition was very strong, no one ever doubted her.  Christmas was only 10 days away and we had a lot to do before then.  Cleon and his 2 brothers began work on the 2nd floor of the old boarding house making it into 2 separate living quarters.  The stairs had been too much for Grandma and Grandpa, they shared the main floor with the large common room, kitchen, and dining room. 

  Son Sharald was concerned that with our train and the train from Iron Ridge that there might be a problem if any of the work trains also made it home for the holidays.  He directed more tracks to be laid around the freight station forming more turnarounds.  Of course the farmer living nearest the new tracks wasn't happy and neither were those visiting the train market. Sharald didn't know what all the fuss was about.  It wasn't as if we were some grand central station with trains coming and going all the time. But Sharald thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to have another work train ready to go so workers who returned could exchange trains like the elves did with Santa's sleighs.  Our engine and passenger car were moved to the freight station platforms and a log car and freight car were added.  We just all hoped that the work trains and the boys and their families from Iron Ridge would be home for Christmas.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 25


  With Christmas only 10 days away the children were getting excited and naughty.  They were not eating their vegetable because they were eating bits of sugar cane instead of feeding them to the reindeer.  Sleds and toy trains were found on the railway tracks where the children were not allowed to play.  Several snowmen were built on the tracks as well.  The children were reminded that Santa only brings toys to good little boys and girls and the naughty ones only  get a lump of coal in their stockings.

  Grandma thought the children needed a special holiday treat, not as a reward for being naughty, but as a distraction.  If they were good until spring there would be sugar plums to eat from the candy store that was being built by the spice house and nog nook.  The candy store was completed by early spring of year 25, sugar and plums were being made into delicious Christmas sugar plums.

  While the children enjoyed their toys and sugar plums, the adults dealt with several problems that popped up.  We were short of firewood, the wood cutter was not getting enough logs.  The logs were going to the market cart by the toy stores so a 2nd cart was built by the main stockpile and woodcutter.  The smith would also have logs close by.  We were in need of more houses.  Hometown had 66 families but only 50 homes.  When one of the houses was finished the family set up a tailor workplace in their yard.  The storage units seemed to always be overrun with textiles.  Most storage units were almost full so a new barn was built in the center of town.

  As usual, daughter Anabell was concerned with food production.  The Christmas baker needed plums for plum cakes and sugar plums were being made in the candy store.  She feared there would not be enough plums.  The nog nook did not seem to be producing enough eggnog even though there were plenty of eggs and milk in storage.  The problem needed looking into but we had a feeling that from now on our troubles would be out of sight and easily dealt with.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 26

 
  By early spring of year 26 land for another plum orchard was almost cleared on the other side of the railroad tracks.   We would not have to give up plum cakes to have sugar plums.  It was not difficult to reach the conclusion that the eggnog shortage was due to lack of spices.   A small house and a 2nd spice garden were built not far from the Yule Tap.  Spices would be needed for making mulled wine soon.  Eggnog production increased immediately. 

  Both our schools were filled to capacity.  Top priority was the construction of another school.  A new teacher was assigned and she immediately had 5 students, bringing the total number of students to 53.  There were still 51 young children in Hometown so there were likely to be more students soon.  Adding 130 adults to the number of students and young children, Hometown had a total population of 234 citizens.  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa they were all 100% happy and healthy.  Grandma asked often about our supply of fruits and vegetables, especially the apples.  And Grandpa still entertained us with stories and made sure there were enough toys for the children and that none needed repairs.

  Winter came early that year, the days were short and the nights were long and dark.  We lost some vegetables when an early snowstorm hit.  It brought a lot of branches down on the tracks that needed to be cleared, especially across the river.  Grandpa was concerned that the train coming from Iron Ridge would not be able to see if there was a danger on the tracks when they came out of the tunnel.  Oldest grandson, Hilaion, had a solution.  He built a tall lighthouse by the river with a bonfire in the tower that shone its light to the trestle bridge and beyond.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 27


  There were only 7 days left now until Christmas Eve.  I did not think there was much chance that our 2 dear friends and their families would arrive from Iron Ridge in time for Christmas this year.  I thought Grandpa and Grandma were going to be very disappointed, but they did not give up hope.  Grandpa was spending a lot of time at the chapel, was he praying?  He would not say.

  Grandma asked Anabell again about the milk supply.  Was there enough for a small dairy workplace to be set up so there would be butter for the carrots and Brussels Sprouts?  Grandma wanted Christmas dinner to be extra special this year.  And I must admit, I was looking forward to a Christmas just like the ones I use to know, with Cleon, his 2 brothers, and our 2 dear friends, all 6 of us here with Grandma and Grandpa like when we were young.

  Grandma got her dairy to make butter and 2 new fields were cleared by the northbound railway tracks because as Grandma always said, "you can't have enough carrots".  The great grandchildren will be saying "what, carrots again" a lot more times in the future.

  The boys, as Grandpa always called his 3 grandsons, thought it would be a good idea to build another small station on the north/south tracks.  Even with the turnarounds, it may be a problem if the 3 work trains also returned for Christmas.  A coal bin was built right next to the coal mine tracks with a storage unit and more Rooms next to that.  Future railway expansion was always on their minds.

  By autumn butter was being churned and 2 of Santa's sleighs were again loaded and ready to be picked up.

[kid1293]

"White Christmas" - like the ones I used to know... 

[Abandoned]

  You know more American Christmas songs than you thought you did    Nice 

[angainor88]

Grinch in Chapter 26 - plotting by the spice garden.

And "from now on our troubles would be out of sight" in Chapter 25, I think is from "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"?

[Abandoned]

  very good, both right and nice to know my little Christmas game is being played and enjoyed. 

[Abandoned]

Chapter 28


  As usual, the full sleighs were picked up and empty ones returned to be refilled.  The elves said that boys and girls all over the world are enjoying Grandpa's wooden toys as much as they enjoy the dolls and teddy bears and other toys that Santa brings.  Grandpa hoped the children coming from Iron Ridge would enjoy them too.  Mauriel and Herlyn had 3 children, their youngest was the same age as our oldest.  Kareeman and Thel also had 3 children, one son was the same age as our oldest and one was a year younger.  Their daughter was the oldest of all and probably married with children of her own by now.  Grandma was busy making mittens for all the children.

  Grandma wanted to be sure that every child in town got a big gingerbread man cookie this Christmas but she wanted the Christmas bakery to continue making plum cakes.  Anabell said there was no reason we could not have 2 Christmas bakeries, there were enough spices, and she herself would see to the baking of the gingerbread cookies. 

Anabell assured Grandma there would also be enough Brussels sprouts for Christmas dinner; a new field was being cleared over by the tracks where new houses were being built.  There was also another school being built, this one over by Grandma and Grandpa's old homestead.  There was still room in 2 of the other schools but with new children coming we wanted to be sure there was enough room for all.

  The smell of gingerbread that autumn did not go unnoticed.  Children gathered round the Christmas bakery after school and Anabell made smaller gingerbread thins to hand out to them.  Everyone said Ana's gingerbread cookies were the best.  Now with sleighs and trains and riverboat trade, who knew where in the world these gingerbread cookies might end up someday.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 29


  Grandma was certain the train from Iron Ridge would be arriving any day now.  She and Anabell spent a great deal of time going over the food supply and menus.  By spring of year 29 another animal shed was built; more children arriving meant more milk was needed.  There must be no cookie shortage so another spice house was built over by the apothecary.  One of the carrot fields was planted with potatoes instead, and laborers were sent out to insure we had enough onions, mushrooms, and roots for kettles of soups and stews.

  Oldest grandson, Hilarion, was concerned that some cheap shacks were being built across the tracks, they might not be warm enough for our winters.  Hilarion did an excellent job overseeing housing, production, and building projects.  He saw to it that more houses were built bringing the number to 70 houses.  Hometown's population had grown to 259, 147 adults, 57 students, and 55 young children.

  The summer seemed short that year and the autumn season was cold and rainy.  It was the perfect time to start making Grandma's favorite mulled wine.  It was very popular.  That winter, sitting in front of the fire with a mug of mulled wine and Ana's gingerbread cookies, Grandma again wanted to know about the food supply.  A gatherer would now see to it that there was a steady supply of wild foods, the vegetable supply was good, and there was plenty of butter.  There was no shortage of sugar plum candy, plum cakes, or gingerbread cookies.  There was plenty of hot chocolate, eggnog, apple cider, and of course Grandma's mulled wine.  Knowing that the boarding house's pantry was full to overflowing, Grandma could finally sit back and relax, she at last seemed satisfied that all was ready for the arrival of the train from Iron Ridge.  As if on cue,  a train whistles was heard in the distance.  Sound carries a long way on the cold clear winter air.

[kid1293]

Two Grinches! A fantastic day! 

I saw one of them at the herbalist. Is he ill? He looks green...

[Abandoned]

  ja, Grinch är sjuk av att äta för många Anna's ingefära tunnare. 

[kid1293]

 

[Abandoned]

Chapter 30


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwkuussUUHI



   In spring it was still cold so we bundled up tight and headed to the railway station to await the trains arrival.  It was a joyful reunion with hugs and kisses all around.  The 2 families traveled in the passenger car and had all their belongings in the freight car.  The men would unload the train later, we were in a hurry to get to the old boarding house where Grandma and Grandpa waited.  They had more new great-grandchildren to meet, more hugs and toys to pass out.  Mauriel and Herlyn brought their 3 children with them.  Kareeman and Thel's oldest daughter, as I suspected, was married with 2 children of her own, she did not make the move with her parents.  Her 2 younger brothers and baby sister did.  It had been a long time since there was a toddler in the old boarding house.

  After a quick inspection, both families agreed they would be more than happy to move to the 2nd floor of the boarding house even though more new houses were being built all the time.  The 6 of us would again all be living under the same roof with Grandma and Grandpa.  While it was still light out, we took the children outside to the park for a cup of hot chocolate.  As was to be expected, the men went to see the tracks and the trains.  Later we all met up and took a short walk to the cemetery where our parents were, next to the school we all attended.  Kareeman and Thel's youngest child would go there too, there was still room.