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by Marie Black, London, Ontario

Source: The Avonlea Traditions Chronicle, Issue No. 29, Autumn 1999.

It seems strange that LMM did not include any mention of Anne's first Christmas with Marilla and Matthew in Anne of Green Gables. LMM wrote about so many other firsts in Anne's life after coming to Green Gables, such as learning to say her prayers; finding a bosom friend in Diana Barry; attending the Sunday School picnic and the Debating Club concert; learning to cook and sew patchwork and being invited to tea at the manse by Mrs. Allen.

Anne's second Christmas at Green Gables is what LMM wrote about. Anne had been away from school, recuperating from the broken ankle which she sustained in her fall from a ridgepole, and shortly after Anne returned to school in October, Miss Stacy proposed the idea of the students of Avonlea school holding a Christmas concert as a fund-raiser to help pay for a flag for the schoolhouse. Anne was both excited and enthusiastic to be a major part of this concert, especially because she was to take part in no less than two dialogues, two recitations and a tableau with Diana and Ruby Gillis.

It was nearly mid-December when Matthew decided to give Anne a new dress for Christmas with sleeves made the new way. He had noticed that Anne was dressed differently than other girls her age. Anne had voiced her longing for puffed sleeves on her dresses but instead, Marilla had made them plain and sensible. Matthew hated to make a decision he knew Marilla would not approve of, but his desire to make Anne happy was greater. After deciding he would present Anne with a dress in the latest style, poor Matthew had an uncomfortable time at Lawson's Store in search of the dress. Being too shy to ask for what he really wanted, Matthew finally left the store with a garden rake and twenty pounds of brown sugar instead. It was Rachel Lynde who came to his rescue, and she made the dress for Matthew to give to Anne, complete with the much desired, fashionable puffed sleeves.

It's hard to say who really received the best Christmas gift at Green Gables that morning. Anne was thrilled with the dress Matthew gave her and those of us who have experienced the joy of receiving a very special and unexpected Christmas present can easily identify with what Anne was feeling.

But Anne was unaware of the special gift she'd given Matthew since the day she arrived. Before Anne Shirley had come to live at Green Gables, Matthew's life was missing the spark and the love that the little girl brought with her. Rachel Lynde once remarked that Matthew had been asleep for over sixty years.

Once Anne arrived however, he delighted in her talkative ways and was bursting with pride over her accomplishments. Matthew had the anticipation of giving a gift and seeing the joy it brought to one who had so far in life been accustomed to receiving so little.

What Anne gave to Matthew was a very special gift; a gift that began long before Christmas and would last far beyond.

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