Christmas 2017
My dearest
Children,
Has it been
Another Year already? Your parents have no doubt shared how quickly Time Flies
as one gets older—imagine, then, the heady speed for one as Old as I am! And human
Children grow and change so fast: Master Brendan, as steadfast, woolly, and
bearded as a Bison; Master Gabriel, sharp and penetrating as a Hawk; Emma,
lovely and joyful as a Lark in spring (even in winter!); Master Trevor, as
shaggy and ravenous as a winter Wolf—and Miss Lily, as fickle as Reindeer calf,
now bucking with your herdmates, now gazing wide-eyed at the Auroras, now nestled
near your mother as the Wild World goes by. Ah, but it does my Heart good to
see your Family flourishing!
And you’ve added
a puppy to the mix! A brave thing, to be sure—puppies (and Airedales in
particular) are not for the Faint of Heart! But Eugenia and Hawthorne Mushardy
assure me that with patience, a firm hand, and lots of love your Bruno will
join the ranks of Boomer and Puck as the very Definition of a Good Dog—and I
know of no better judge of Canis
familiaris than they! Gee was a Deervermer before they married and worked
with Doc Vendy to keep our working packs healthy, while Haw mushed, hunted and
trapped alongside Spurius Longwind, the Woodsman and Teller of Tall Tales
you’ve no doubt heard about!
You asked no
questions of me this year, Miss Lily, which must mean your Siblings and Parents
are doing a fine job explaining All Things Christmas! Nonetheless, I will share
a bit more with you: On the Feast of St. Nicholas, you left a note and picture
for the Old Man, assuring him you had been Good this year and sharing a lovely
picture you drew. While we always love notes, letters, pictures and other
Handiwork from Your Kind, let me assure you that you needn’t worry: our Watcher
Corps has seen you from afar and Knows Well the content of your Character.
Indeed, your family—having achieved a certain age and stability—has recently
been assigned to one of our Watchers-In-Training. Currently a first-year, Iris
Stargazer, keeps tabs on you, Lily. Young Iris has a keen eye and a good heart,
but a wandering mind, which makes a generally Good Girl like yourself the
Perfect Charge until she finds her focus!
And now I must
go: My maternal great-grandfather, Papyrus Parchment, is not long for this
World, and with our work done tonight, the entire Clan will be gathered for his
Passing. It was old Pappy who began the Wrapping of Presents, and it was he
who founded our Paper Mill for the production of everything from list-rolls and
gift wrap to boxes and tags! He even began recycling paper well before your
pulpwrights Down Below, and for long decades now, has sent elfin Separators
south to glean and gather reusable wrap from trashcans and dumpsters Down There.
Oh, you may still tear into your presents, Young Ones—we even recycle the scraps
and tatters…but it’s not entirely true when they say, “We aren’t going to save
the paper.” Perhaps you aren’t, but We are!
Old Pappy—we will
miss him, but he was as faithful and true as they come; the divots in the
kneeler match those in his knees, as they say. He is bound for Heaven, I am
sure—if I leave this World and miss him still, it’s my own fault.
Have a very
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Yours Still and
Always,
Q
Quill
