The Adventures of Ollie-Dare - Chapter 8

By Rebecca D. Morris

   Once upon a time, deep within the Great Forest lived a wise bear, named Ollie-Dare. Now we all know that bears sleep during the winter, but this was a very special bear, for he was Ollie-Dare The Christmas Bear. Ollie-Dare had a magical candle, and on one night a year that candle would glow so bright that the whole forest would come to life.

   Ollie-Dare would awaken to the sound of joyfull music that the animals of the forest, who would gather together, would play on their magical instruments. Ollie-Dare would go out in his night shirt and cap, and gaze upon the forest, and each year the wonder of it would cause him to smile, and his eyes would twinkle with delight. The forest trees would be lit with lights of every color, and the animals would dance merrily under the trees. All creatures of the forest played in peace, and not one snarl or growl would be heard. Wolf played with squirrell, birds with cats, racoons, rabbits, deer, and fox all danced together in the wonders of the night. For on this night, all God's creatures, man and beast, sang the songs of a child born so long ago.

   On this magical night Ollie-Dare would travel throughout the forest and towns and tell a story. Never tiring he repeated the tale of so many Christmas eves long ago.

   "Once upon a time," he'd say, "In a town far, far away, a star appeared. Now, not just any star, but a very special star with a glorious light, that reached forever far. It led the way of wisemen and shepherds to see a birth. Not just any birth but a very special birth."

   And on he'd tell his story throughout the night.

   He would tell of angels within the night sky saying, "Be not afraid for we bring you good tidings of great joy. Unto you born this night is a savoir. You will find the child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, and his name shall be Jesus."

   "Wisemen and shepherds followed the star and find the child they did. Now as they reached Bethlehem, under the star was a stable and inside the stable were angels singing praise, and a babe lay among the oxen, sheep, goats, cows, and creatures of the forest. All were bowing in praise to the little child. And as the mother wrapped the small child in swaddling clothes, the voices of the angels would be heard singing, "Unto you is born the King of Kings, the Son of God, and His name is Jesus."

   Now as morning would grow within the sky, Ollie-Dare would make his way back deep within the forest. He would check under each lighted tree to make sure there were packages with bows for all the forest creatures. And once again he would stop and look at the beauty over the forest. With a smile and a long sigh Ollie-Dare and his magical candle would once again enter his cave for his long winter nap. But as he listened to the wind blowing in the trees somewhere in the night he would hear, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!