GDG- The Month Before Christmas

[Alan D. Brunelle]

I just *had* to share some joy - with apologies to all around:

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*The Month Before Christmas*

'Twas the month before Christmas, when all through the house,
every creature[1] was stirring - all kept by the spouse.

When what to my wondering eyes should be seen,
but Shultz & Wieck's new book[2] for which I was keen.

With a story so compelling, and not full of crock,
I knew in a moment, it must be about about Hancock.

And then, in a twinkling, I got the next week,
Eric and Petruzzi's tome[3], for which I did seek.

As I drew in my hand, and was reading the guide tour,
my wife did exclaim, "Good God, can there be more?"

Down the chimney, (actually, up the steps outside),
came a tube[4], and big box, with more gems inside.

The box held peanuts, from top until bottom,
but I reached right inside, and the books, well, I got 'em.

The first ones[5] were grey, with flags a criss-cross,
on the binder was noted they were straight from the boss.

And the pages of the book were as white as the snow,
and filled with fine letters, from those in the know.

Numbered eye, eye-eye, and eye-eye and eye,
Bachelder's post-man must have carried them with a very heavy sigh.

The next[6] had a cover that was red like some roses,
with more tails of interest, the reader supposes.

Written by Tucker, I admit I did see,
an account of Gettysburg, Longstreet, and Lee.

I spoke not a word, but went straight to my task,
and took out the next three[7], with smile I could not mask.

3,534 pages - in black cloth, official records, volume 27,
by now you can assume, I felt I was in heaven.

My wife giving a nod, wagged a finger at Dad,
said it kept me busy, for which she was glad.

And also that she didn't really care about the cost,
but spoiled the fun by saying "in the end, the South still lost."

But I sprang to the couch, carried the stash with great care,
for a moment or two, I could only blankly stare.

And she heard me exclaim, nose in pages, face now unseen,
That is all for now, but next month comes the Magazine[8].

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What a great month of getting books! I've finished (for the first pass) 
the first two books. Both are really good - I was literally just 
finishing up the driving tour in "Plenty of Blame to Go Around" when my 
wife brought up the packages that were delivered earlier in the day. 
(BTW: I did take a little literary leeway - it was actually a couple of 
weeks between "Battle between the farm lanes" and the Stuart book.)

Well, they should keep me busy for quite some time... :-)

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[1] 5 children, 4 cats, a dog, a miniature horse (27"), and two fish 
tanks - the small one (cat TV) and a large 100 gallon one with 3 koi 
(cat HDTV).

[2] "The Battle Between the Farmlanes" by David Shultz & David Wieck
http://ironcladpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=17

[3] "Plenty of Blame to Go Around" by Eric J. Wittenberg and J. David 
Petruzzi
http://savasbeatie.com/StuartRide.html

[4] The Bachelder maps - accompanying the book of his letters.

[5] "Bachelder Papers" by David & Audrey Ladd (Editors)
http://www.morningsidebooks.com/cgi/bookshop/shelf.cgi?cat=1&book=85E&userid=21792963

[6] "Lee and Longstreet at Gettysburg" by Glenn Tucker
http://www.morningsidebooks.com/cgi/bookshop/shelf.cgi?cat=1&book=1869A&userid=21792963

[7] Gettysburg Vol 27 Official Records (3 part set)
http://www.morningsidebooks.com/cgi/bookshop/shelf.cgi?book=773AA&userid=21792963

[8] Gettysburg Magazine, #36...