Milena went into the kitchen to help her mother with dinner. Papa would be coming home soon, and he was always hungry after working in the mine all day.
When papa finally did arrive, he was covered with grime, but Milena gave him a hug anyway.
During supper, papa announced that he didn't have to work on Christmas, and they could spend the whole day together. He also hinted at a special surprise and Milena could hardly wait.
In the morning, Milena awoke bright and early and to her surprise mama and papa were also awake.
Papa instructed Milena to put on her warmest clothes because they were taking a trip to the mountains and see some real snow.
Milena was so excited that she kept mixing up her mittens but finally matched the blue ones her mother had given her last Christmas.
Papa had rigged a canvas covering over their wagon to protect them from the rain and two powerful quarter horses were going to take them on the long trip to the mountains.
The roads were very muddy from all of the rain, but the big horses were able get through it easily.
As their wagon left the town of Enumclaw and headed east, the buildings became fewer and eventually all Melena could see were thick woods and tall peaks on the horizon.
As the wagon made progress the air became cooler, and the first snowflakes appeared. Around mid-afternoon, papa stopped at a clearing and they built a snowman with a carrot nose and pieces of coal for eyes.
Later on, they joined a nearby logging camp for its Christmas celebration and had a supper of venison and beans.
Milena was having so much fun that she dreaded going back to rainy Enumclaw, but papa had to go back to work the next day, and he needed his rest.
Even into her old age, Milena would think of the trip to the mountains as the best Christmas she ever had.
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