On the afternoon of Christmas Day, she was sleeping fitfully when the bedroom door opened. A very tall, husky man wearing the uniform of his country, with boots, leather leggings and a wide brimmed hat, stood in the doorway. A broad smile crossed his face, and isolation or not, her brother took the sick young girl into his arms and hugged her heartily. He was back from Belgium. The family had not received a letter because their soldier son was on a troop ship headed home. Home to Hillsdale.

After the smiles and tears and hugs, out of his uniform pocket big brother Alvin took a small piece of fresh fruit. An apricot. A fresh apricot in the winter in Hillsdale was a miracle to be marveled at and admired. In 1918, cabbage and potatoes from the root cellar were the fresh foods of winter.

Only one apricot came home with the war-weary soldier, and it became Alice's Christmas gift. She was given one half of the precious fruit to eat, and the other half was placed under a glass by her bedside "to look at," she said.

And look at it she did, daily for several months until she was well. One spring afternoon she sat out in the front yard, under a pine tree, and ate the dried-up second half of the miracle apricot while the warm sunshine nourished her returning strength.

About the author

Guenavere Sandberg of New Harmony, Washington County, has been married to Woody Sandberg for 54 years. They have five children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Guenavere was reared in Circleville. She taught school for 10 years and has worked as publications director for the Utah Shakespearean Festival for 15 years.