Disclaimer: I’ve taken a few liberties here. The song O Holy Night started as a poem written by Placide Clappeau in 1847. Music was added by Adolphe C. Adam. So it is highly unlikely that the song would have been known by any of the Seven. But it’s my favorite Christmas carol and I really, really wanted to use it. Please forgive the inaccuracy.
Additional Disclaimer: Unfortunately I still don’t own them. But my thanks go out to the wonderful creators, writers and actors that developed these Magnificent characters.
Josiah stood at the pulpit, his deep voice speaking while his crystal blue eyes roved the group of people gathered in the church on this special night. And the night was indeed special. Exceptionally so.Not only was this the first Christmas that the seven men, acting as peacekeepers in the little town of Four Corners, were spending together, but they also had an extra reason to be thankful this night. The seven were still seven after nearly losing one of their numbers.
They had all spent days at the injured man’s bedside, talking to him even when they knew he would likely not hear. As he slowly recovered they spent the time talking some more, keeping the young man company, or simply sitting quietly while he slept. It was during one lonely conversation that Josiah had actually gotten the man to talk of his past. And in this conversation, the two men had bonded and Josiah had left with newfound respect and an idea.
"I would like to end this evening with a story," Josiah said as he moved around from behind the pulpit, setting his bible down on the podium as he did so, his eyes moving over his six fellow lawmen. "It’s the story of a memory. One of the few memories a young man has of his beloved mother, whom he lost at much too young an age. The memory is of a happier time, taking place in a church, and of his mother’s voice raised in song. The young man only remembers a few of the words, but what he does remember was the feeling his mother’s voice left in him. The feeling of being loved."
And with that Josiah’s deep baritone voice began to fill the church.
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.As Josiah sang, one by one four others joined him and soon the voices of Nathan, Buck, Ezra and JD were harmonizing along with the big man.
Josiah hazarded a glance into the audience, near the front pew, where Vin Tanner sat next to Chris Larabee, in Nathan’s wheeled chair, his hide coat pulled close around him and a blanket thrown over his lap, looking tired and worn out, but with a smile on his face. His eyes were looking into the past, to the time in a little church in Texas when his mother had sang this exact song on Christmas Eve.
The other men fell silent, allowing Josiah to finish the song on his own, his voice raising upward, soaring to the sky, as the former preacher returned a memory to a young man.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!The church remained silent as the song ended, everyone moved by the poignant song. Not wanting to single out Vin, Josiah let his eyes rove over the gathering once more, finally allowing his sight to stop at Vin. The young man still wore a smile, his eyes brighter than they had been. Silently, Vin nodded his thanks. Josiah nodded in acceptance as the parishioners stood and began to file out. A memory had been restored.
| O HOLY NIGHT
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! |