Here's hoping that the only COAL you receive in your stocking is for your tender.
A very Merry Christmas from this 'older' guy and his 'chief engineer' to all of you.
Two years ago my brother, mother and I were sitting along the tracks just south of us, watching the railroad crew double track the main. While we were waiting for a train, I got out of the car and proceeded to walk the area. At one time there must have been some coal something or other in the area, as I could pick pices of coal off the ground. I took a couple back to the car and proceeded to tell my mother if she wasn't good, she would get coal in her stocking that year. I then proceeded to show it to her. She got a big kick out of it.
My mother was the daughter of a railroader. At the house she grew up in, they not only heated by coal, but my grandfather had an automatic coal auger going to the stove. My mom said the house was always warm, and you had chains to regulate the airflow. The downside to the coal was the ash.
After sifting out any unburnt coal the ash was great for the icy driveway. My Uncle also used it in the vegitable garden.
alank: Roger B.: You know, I am glad you replied.
After I posted my message, I re-read it and was really giving it some second thoughts. You see, while I was attempting to recall the ancient proverb that suggested that people who were "not so good" during the year would only receive "coal" instead of "gifts" in their stockings, I had forgotten an experience from my younger days.
When I was a lad, I spent time with a family near Watertown, New York. At the time, that particular rural area was in the midst of some very difficult economic conditions. The father was a hired hand on a local farm and the stay-at-home mother, cared for two very young children. The home was heated by a small wood buring stove in the living room and a coal burning furnace for the rest of the house.
The winter that I was there, was more harsh than normal and the furnace was almost constantly in use. While we had to wear heavier clothes, it was comfortable. The boys and myself hardly noticed anything out of the usual and spent much of our spare time playing with a set of trains running around home-made wooden accessories.
Long story-short. Years later, I found out that the father had bargained for the coal and traded his services to keep the house heated. To this day, I wish that there was coal in their stockings.
At this time of the year it is good to reflect upon our good fortunes and to think of others.
Thanks for reading. Merry Christmas.
We always have a piece of coal in our house for prosperity, as my wife's Maternal Grandfather was a Coalminer in Nanticoke, Penna. and believed in keeping a piece of coal in the house for prosperity. The Grandfather, Grandmother and other Family members used coal for heat, and to some degree cook with it. The coal ashes were used for gardening, land fill, drainage in certain areas on the property and on icy areas on the grounds, as well as for vehicle use on icy roads and other needs.Both coal and ashes were, also used as weight.
As a young child, growing up in the City of N.Y., I remember the buldings use of coal and ashes.My both sets of Grandparents using coal and ashes, as well as my father and both sets of uncles using same.
Coal is truly a 'Black Diamond.'
Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year,
Ralph
In 73 my family bought a farm that had a house unused for a decade or so. In the basement was a coal stove and a pile of coal about 6' tall. Someone came and hauled it away. I don't know if they paid us or we paid them. There was this large cast iron grate in the ceiling above the oven to let warm air up to the rest of the house.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
My cousins and I received coal and sticks in socks from our maternal grandparents, one Christmas back in the 70's. That lone event may have screwed me up...
Fife .... I don't see where you're screwed up buddy ... you seem to be a heck of a good father and a great person . Maybe it changed your chain of thought at the time and set you on the right track .... they must have known something ..... look what a fabulous person you turned out to be !!! It worked ......
Ole Timer - Ya know. I do like cooking on a grill, and sitting next to campfires...Thanks buddy. I can call my therapist back and cancel.
fifedog,
Your Grandparents loved you all and wanted all of you to be better, responsible, frugal people and to be able to survive in life.
I remember my mom telling me how she & her mother used to walk along the RR tracks in AR back in the '20s to pick up the coal that fell off the tenders. They used this to heat the home.
As is often the case, whether something is a blessing or a curse is in the mind of the receiver.
Merry Christmas & a happy and prosperous New Year to all.
Charlie
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