Christmas Carols

Our Library isn't the "quiet as a mouse" variety, but we do try to maintain a fairly even noise level, occasionally reminding people to tone it down a bit so others can study. I got a bit nervous when a fairly large group of students burst excitedly through the front doors and congregated in the lobby, chatting nervously and milling about.

Sometimes classes come to our lab for library instruction, so I thought perhaps that's what this was about, though I checked the schedule and nothing was listed. I was just about to ask if I could help them when they took their places on the steps to the second floor and broke into song.

Gasp! Music in the library! Christmas carols! After the initial shock wore off, I was informed by the faculty person that this was the freshman seminar class. How delightful! And short! After only one carol, they sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas as they filed out the front doors amid applause and kudos. Yeah for them. And thanks. It made my day.

And reminded me of another time when I was sung to at Christmas. I was maybe 8 or 9 and I had my appendix removed. This was back in the barbaric days of ether and stitches. Oh, did my stomach hurt! I walked all bent over like a little old woman when they finally let me out of bed. Being in the hospital was no fun and I missed my own snug bed and my sisters and brothers scrapping about. Worst of all, it was at Christmas time and I was missing all the fun.

One evening I heard Christmas carols being sung. The music floated closer and closer to my room. Suddenly familiar faces were at my door - our church group had come to sing to me! People I knew had taken time to make a trip to the hospital and come to my room to sing the familiar songs just for me. Wow! I cried like a baby. It was the only part about having my appendix removed that I remember fondly.