Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
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Stone Soup

by Brian Wiseman

My Great Grandfather was a navvy, he helped to dig the canal system throughout the country. One year he was trying to get home for Christmas as was about ten miles from home on Christmas Eve. It was about noon and he was hungry. He was walking down a lonely road when he saw a farmhouse down a lane.

He stopped and took two stones from the wall .He knocked  on the door and asked the farmer’s wife if she could let him have some boiling water as he wanted to make Stone Soup. Stone Soup she said in a surprised tone. Yes come in and soon the pot was boiling and he dropped in  what he said were special stones. Very Tasty.

Of course he said it tastes better with a few vegetables and the kindly woman fetched some and put them in the water. The Fanner came in and said that smells good and stone soup was explained to him. Of course said my Great Grandfather ,it tastes better with an old meat bone in it. The Fanner said get that Ham bone and put that in  so she did. When it was ready, the farmer said my! that really does smell good. Grandfather said there is enough for three we will share it. They ate it with a large chunk of newly baked bread and had a merry meal he told them about the country he had travelled through and the canals.

When they had finished, he put the two special stones in his pocket. He thanked   them for the soup. The farmer thanked him for sharing it and off he went. The wife watched him march cheerfully down the lane and stop at the end. She smiled as she watched him replace the stones. She had watched him take them out when he came. After all they had plenty of food, it was nearly Christmas and Christmas was a time for sharing.

Brian Wiseman

Brian’s Christmas contribution last year was a fabulous carol based on the one where the page has to keep up with the King’s footsteps. Thanks again Brian for reminding us what it’s all about in this familiar story with a nice twist—Ed

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