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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='min-width: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Larry Perry [mailto:larryperry@performancepress.ccsend.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Larry Perry<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, December 10, 2021 8:11 AM<br><b>To:</b> mmoore11@kent.edu<br><b>Subject:</b> EXT: Paw, me and the rifle<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt:.75pt'><span style='font-size:1.0pt'><img id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://r20.rs6.net/on.jsp?ca=70a6c7ff-8515-4429-afe2-1dc05524585c&a=1103316066373&c=6f49fc70-74b9-11eb-9d75-fa163e24df6a&ch=6f4b0606-74b9-11eb-9d75-fa163e24df6a"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;word-wrap: break-word'><div><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;background:white;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=610 style='width:457.5pt;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:11.25pt 3.75pt 11.25pt 3.75pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;word-wrap: break-word'><tr><td valign=top style='background:#869198;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;background:#869198;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='background:#E6E6E6;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Letter from Larry</span></i><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#717A80'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#EB4C39;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;word-wrap: break-word'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:white'>Friday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:white'>December 10, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;word-wrap: break-word'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>G<i>ood Friday Morning Everyone:</i></span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>Christmas is just 14 days away. The day we celebrate the birth </span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>of our savior, Jesus Christ. Sometimes we get caught up in the</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>commercialism of Christmas and forget the real meaning. Today's</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>story is one that I have shared before but is so moving that I wanted</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>to share with you again today.</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:19.5pt;color:#A20000'>PA, ME and the RIFLE</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>squandered their means and then never had enough for the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>not from receiving.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Bible.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>wallowing in self-pity.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Something was up, but I didn't know what.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>unless we were going to haul a big load.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'> "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>the high sideboards on.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>and came out with an armload of wood---the wood I'd spent all </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? "Yeah," I said, "Why? I rode </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>wood, Matt."</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>put them in the sled and wait.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'> "What's in the little sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>without a little candy."</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>and candy?</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern. We came </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Matt. Could we come in for a bit?"</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp. "We brought you </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>the shoes in it.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>children---sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>something, but it wouldn't come out.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>were tears in my eyes too.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>"God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>The children and I have been praying that he would send one </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'>of his angels to spare us."</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>still had mine.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I don't have to say, 'May the Lord bless you,' I know for certain </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>that He will."</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>and I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'>way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet </span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>children. I hope you understand."</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>face and the radiant smiles of her three children.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>For the rest of my life, Whenever I saw any of the Jensen's, or </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#403F42'>me the best Christmas of my life.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#EB4C39'>MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS.</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='color:black'>NOTE</span></i></b><i><span style='color:black'>: To our Jewish friends around the world, </span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>Hanukkah began last week and we want to wish </span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>each of you a</span></i><i><span style='color:#403F42'> Happy Hanukkah to you and yours</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'>this year! Shalom.</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#BF3F2F'>With all my heart, I love you,</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#BF3F2F'>GOD</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>****</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#BF3F2F'>May God richly BLESS YOU and YOURS.</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#BF3F2F'>Larry</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;word-wrap: break-word'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'>NOTE: This letter is sent to anyone interested in receiving these inspirational notes. There is no charge and you are encouraged to forward these to anyone you think would benefit from reading them. If you would like to receive them direct, just send an email to me at<b> larryperry@att.ne</b>t and request to be added.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:.75pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 22.5pt 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