Journey into Christmas / Bess Streeter Aldrich -- Long distance / Jane Smiley -- Christmas that would not stop / Ron Robinson -- Winter break / Jon Hassler -- Living creche / Mary Swander -- Christmas of the phonograph records / Mari Sandoz -- Marie / Larry Woiwode -- One Christmas in the darkness of the plains / Ann Boaden -- December / Linda M. Hasselstrom -- Christmas letter, 1997 / Brian Bedard -- Christmas offering / O.E. Rolvaag -- Making bows / Ted Kooser -- Family / Constance Vogel -- Iowa Christmas / Paul Engle -- Shop / Joseph M. Ditta -- My first Christmas tree / Hamlin Garland -- What I took from Minnesota Christmases / Rosanne Nordstrom -- Stringing lights / Kenneth Robbins -- First profession / James Calvin Schaap -- Julebukking / Beth Dvergsten Stevens -- Burglar's Christmas / Willa Cather.