The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree

Title: The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree

Author: Gloria Houston

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: In the valley of Pine Grove, it was getting toward Christmas time. The valley was peaceful, but around them, the Great War was happening. Papa told his daughter, Ruthie, that it was their turn to get a Christmas tree for Pine Grove Church, and he said they were going to get a balsam Christmas tree, because it grows up high near to heaven and it was a perfect tree. Ruthie and Papa rode on their horse; Old Piedy’s back looking for the perfect tree. Growing on the edge of a high cliff on Grandfather Mountain, they found it. Papa lifted Ruthie and had her tie a ribbon to the top of the tree. That summer, Papa was sent out to war, and all Ruthie would say was “Please send my papa home for Christmas and please have old St. Nicholas bring me a doll with a beautiful dress, the color of cream, all trimmed with ribbons and lace.” Ruthie and Mama didn’t have a lot of money. Papa sent home a letter saying he’d be home for Christmas, and each day, Ruthie would go home from school but Papa wouldn’t be there yet. Days passed. They went to the train station and saw other men from the village but Papa wasn’t with them. At school, Ruthie was chosen at the heavenly angel because they chose the Christmas tree. She ran home and told her Mama that she needed a new dress, but mama had no cloth to make a dress and she didn’t have money until Papa came home either. That night, someone came to their house because they needed the Christmas tree but Papa still wasn’t home from war and it was Christmas Eve. Ruthie and mama went up the mountain with Old Piedy and got the tree. They brought it to the church and raced home just as the sun was rising. Mama and Ruthie went home. Ruthie went to sleep and mama tried to lace her dress. Mama made Ruthie a dress and she was able to look like the heavenly angel with her classmates. Each child got a present at the church, except Ruthie, but then, she got a doll that was dressed in cream, just like she was. St. Nicholas told Ruthie he had another present for her. It was Papa! Since this time, every year there has been a tiny angel that stands on top of a perfect balsam Christmas tree. She wears a dress of softest silk, the color of cream, all trimmed with ribbons and lace. The sleeves are long and flowing and it looks as if she has wings. The angel has coal-black curls and a dimple in each cheek…just like Ruthie.

Characters: Ruthie, mama, papa, Old Piedy, St. Nicholas

Plot: Ruthie wanted her papa to come home from the war for Christmas and she also wanted a new dress to be the heavenly angel at Church on Christmas

Setting: outdoors, church, mountain to find a Christmas tree

Theme: Christmas

Opinion: I liked this story because of the storyline. I didn’t know if her papa was going to be home for Christmas, but it had a good ending that he was able to come home and spend the holiday with his family.