awww very sweet story. Tis my first COTH christmas so twas new to me but very sweet story.
Can use all of the christmas type stories i can get since its really not feeling like christmas down here in Australia. What can i say i love my snow 
P.
[QUOTE=jetsmom;2891266]
So I went to the barn at midnight and was appalled at the behavior of these supposedly âwell-behavedâ horses. The nasty pony had just finished toilet-papering the stall of the old QH retiree, the 3 greenies were playing âpin the tailâ on the barn dog, 2 of the lesson horses had started a bonfire and were burning the lesson kidâs helmets, the Trak had shaved the Freisanâs mane into a Mohawk while he slept and the 4 OTTBâs were all doing âspeedâ.
âSweetly kneeling and prayingâ MY A$$!!![/QUOTE]
HAHAHAHA!! THIS is what my barn would be doing on Christmas eve:lol::eek:
Thank you for posting this-- it was a much needed lift during a holiday time thatâs shaping up to be somewhat sad and worrisome this year. Although, Jetsmomâs story was nearly as good <grin>âŠ
Iâm so gonna peek on Dumplinâ this Christmas eve!
I wonder if the Ducks will do it too?
Thank you. I love this story; itâs a sweet Christmas present every year. I get goosebumps and a lump in my throat every time I read it.
I wish I could see something like this⊠when I walk in the barn on Christmas Eve, they just turn to me with a look on their face that says âWHAT?!â
Thanks to Mod2 for the Xmas Bump
Now if I can just stay up until midnight this yearâŠ
Me too⊠every time I read it.
I have to say, thatâs exactly what my horse would do if I drove out to the barn on X-Mas Eve⊠Iâd get that âWHAT?!â look and then the, âSo whereâs my treat?â look next. :sigh: :lol: But thatâs okay⊠I, too, have only seen him lie down once in the 3 years Iâve owned him.
I love Anneâs story, and I love Thomasâs poem.
I found the poem hereâ
http://paisleyandplaid.wordpress.com/2007/11/24/hardys-the-oxen-an-agnostics-christmas-poem/
âand if you highlight the text of the poem, you can see snow falling!
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And he is in the manger now.
Very lovely and timely - just what we need to speed us into the Christmas spirit. Thanks.
You know there are going to be a million COTHerâs wandering to their barns Christmas Eve at midnight this year⊠:winkgrin:
My grandpa used to tell us this story that midnight on Christmas Eve, for 1 minute, animals could talk. And every year, I still see if I can get a word outâŠ
I will never get tired of this story. Thanks for posting
Did anyone check their barn last night?
I peeked in at around midnight on the horses. Alas, nobody was kneeling that I saw⊠but it was very dark, so I could have missed something! I didnât hear any talking either, much to my dismay.
I agree that is one of the best xmas stories ever! Thanks for posting it again.
In case the link gets lost, here is the Thomas Hardy poem:
The Oxen
Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock,
âNow they are all on their kneesâ,
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
âCome; see the oxen kneel
âIn the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to knowâ,
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.
So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 'til next year!
Moving out of the reference section for 2009âŠ
Thanks, Mod for bumping this up for Christmas '09
I read 2 pages before I realized it was archived!
A sweet story.
I may try for my own little miracle this year. :yes:
I read this every year and it still gives me chills. Happy holidays everyone!
Love this story! Reading it is a Christmas tradition now. Thanks Mods for bumping it back up for this Christmas season.
Merry Christmas!
One of my favorite holiday traditions is reading this story again. I will read it many times, before Christmas is over. Thank you, Moderator 1, for pinning it up again this year.
