“We four Kelton boys were rich. It was not because we had money,
for we didn’t. Money was always a short commodity in the 1930s
and early 1940s. We were rich because we got to do for free what
many people would have been glad to pay good money for, to live
on a ranch with horses and cattle and cowboys.”
So begins Elmer Kelton’s story about what Christmas was like
on a ranch in far West Texas during the Great Depression. Actually,
he experienced Christmas on two ranches—the one where his
father was foreman, and the one his paternal grandfather operated.
His grandparents’ home lacked electricity, running water, and
indoor plumbing, but it was full of cousins, delicious food, and a
warm glow that reflected more than just the heat generated by the
pot-bellied stove in the living room.
This heart-warming little book includes accounts of Kelton’s last
Christmas at home before shipping out for war in Europe, his first
Christmas after the war, and a special Christmas in Austria more
than thirty-five years later. Families will want to read this book
together and then share their own experiences about the “good old
days,” however they are defined.
_________________________________________________________
ELMER KELTON of San Angelo has written more than forty novels,
including The Time It Never Rained and The Good Old Boys, which
was made into a TV movie starring Tommy Lee Jones. The Western
Writers of America in 1995 named him the greatest Western author
of all time, and he has received numerous lifetime achievement awards
and honorary doctorates. He also wrote My Kind of Heroes (State
House Press, 2004). H. C. ZACHRY is an Abilene artist, businessman,
and civic leader.
Number One: Texas Heritage Series
“Because there were always little ones who still had faith in Santa
Claus, we got up on Christmas morning to see what gifts had been
left during the night. The toys were modest by today’s standards
because a dollar in those Depression times looked as big as a
saddle blanket. But we were conditioned not to expect too much
and to take pleasure in whatever we received.”—from the book
What people are saying about this book
". . . with its reflective Western voice, [it] will become a classic."
—Victoria Advocate
"Elmer Kelton can write. . . . He writes with grace and style, and in
this book with great passion. . . . My [family] will receive copies of
the book for Christmas."—Paul H. Carlson, WTHA Year Book
"Highly recommended. . . . a beautiful gift for good family
reading."—Review of Texas Books
Look for a review of this book in the November 2003 issue of Texas
Illustrated Magazine.
"Reading these memoirs, one easily can see why the Western Writers
of America named Kelton their best writer, ever."—East Texas Historical
Journal
"The best new title from McWhiney."—Judy Alter, Dallas Morning News
"If you are looking for a Christmas gift for your favorite cowboy, you're
looking at it right now."—Texas Illustrated Magazine
"This slender volume captures holiday poignancy worth reading any
time of the year."—Southwest Book Views
"His little book is a wise one because it recognizes that the real
wealth is life."—Rena Peterson, Dallas Morning News
Other Books by Elmer Kelton
