A TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY

by Carol Cluff
It was the first big storm of the winter season in Phoenix, Arizona - December 7th to be exact. It was raining and there were icy 70 MPH gusts of wind that night. The family had just finished watching a movie on television and it was time for the children to go to bed when they heard someone talking at the side of their house. the father got up to look out the window but couldn't see anyone. He said"I'm almost afraid to open the door" as he peeked out slowly.

As he looked to the side of the house there was a homeless man in a wheelchair freezing from the cold. He had a meager blanket around him but that wasn't enough to keep him warm.

When he saw the father he kept repeating over and over that he was sorry for the problem. He was just trying to get out of the cold. The father said to him"come up on the porch where it is a little warmer," and then asked the mother if she had another blanket for him to use.

The old man, who said his name was Patrick, had been drinking and didn't quite know where he was. Something tells me it wasn't an accident that he chose this house to come to.

Even though the father gave him the blanket, which he again thanked him repeatedly for, it still didn't set well with him that he was left out in the terrible cold. With tears in his eyes the father said, "I can't let him stay out in this cold all night." He decided to bring him in and let him sleep in the living room. Father said he will sleep in there with him to make sure he was watched over. So, the father brought him in and asked if he could get him something to eat. Patrick said he would love some soup. When the father explained that he will be sleeping inside the house Patrick began to cry and thank him again repeatedly. Patrick asked the father if he believed there is a God. Father replied, "there is definitely a God". Patrick said, "when I go to heaven I want you to be beside me."

Patrick ate his soup and rolled off on the floor with his blanket and slept the night. The next morning father took him to the rest home where he said he lived.

Are you asking who the father was in this story?
It was none other than JIM CLUFF!

WHEN YE DO IT UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN,

YE DO IT UNTO ME.

{Feeling that this is an example of the legacy our mother left, I reprint this with Carol's permission. Jim called me the other night to let me know he had hugged a homeless person, and it could now be checked off a facebook list we had done. I cried with him as he told me this story... It was the very night it happened, and what he said to me was so very true - "It is what our mother would have done!" What a great example you are, Jim, I'm glad you take after our mother with her CHARITY - the pure love of CHRIST!}

FAMILY PARTY COMING UP!

DON'T FORGET!

Primary

Mom has been bugging me all week to get this story down so here goes even though I feel like I am the only one using this web sight.

I remember living in Mesa and going to primary during the week with my good friend Andy Shumway. We used to sit by each other and I remember talking when we should have been singing. Mom was the primary choroister or in the primary presidency and filled in leading the singing I'm not sure which. Needless to say when I got home I was instructed how I should act in primary. I didn't learn the lesson I guess because when we lived in St George I was in the same situation with Kenneth Blazard but this time Mom stopped what she was doing and brought it to the attention of the whole primary that Kenneth and I were not singing. I was so embarrassed I made up my mind that would never happen to me again and it didn't.

Mom was always involved in primary when she had young kids. She served as the Primary President in the second ward in St. George But she was always involved in music too. She volunteered to teach my class when I was a Blazer. I guess my class was a handful and they were having a hard time finding a teacher. Mom always said she would rather teach boys than girls in primary something about them being noisy but easier for her to handle. While mom was the primary president in St. George we got a new bishop and I remember having a ward party to thank the outgoing bishopric. Mom wrote a song for the occasion it was sung to the tune of
( Lul a bye baby) I can only remember the second verse. How about it Beth and Ray?

Now our contribution to 2nd ward fame,
two boys and a girl can you do the same.
We wish you good luck and need it you must,
So build a new chapel and make the seems bust.

chours
Zion, zion, zion is growing.
Zion, zion, zion is growing.

We did build a new chapel but it was funny because the old bishopric was young and the new bishopric had already raised their families.

Mom always had us singing for something and it always seemed like we had to learn a new song for the occasion. I remember her writing down the words to a song from a record we had so we could learn them for a Jones family party. Beth and I tried to remember the words to Will a pus Wal a pus but we weren't very successful.

Now Will a pus Wal a pus was the name of the boy I'll tell about.
He gets in lots of trouble of that there is no dought.
His mother often told him now Will a pus don't you see,
if you mind what mother and daddy say from trouble you'll be free.

Of course you and I know she was right! All mothers and daddy's
know more about things than we do.

Will a pus had been told many times not to play in the car.

He climbed in the seat turned the big steering wheel,
played he was driving an automobile.
Pushed buttons and switches to see how they feel,
alason he loosened the brake.
Now the car started rolling right down the steep grade.
Will a pus knew some mistake he had made.
He cried and he yelled cause he was so afraid ( I'd be afraid too wouldn't you!)
It kept rolling down the hill faster and faster,
The brakes and the steering wheel he could not master,
bound to wind up in some sort of disaster,
and he did yes sir graces me right away.

It went something like:

The car went over the curb bump bang and right through a white picket fence.
Crash, and slammed into Mr. McGregor's chicken coop. Chickens were flying all over the place.
And Mr. McGregor came out of his house and he was as mad as a wet Hen!

The Wallapus heard the excitement and came running when they recognized the car.
They opened the door and there was Will a pus curled up on the seat he wasn't hurt
but boy was he scared.

His mother often told him now Will a pus don't you see if you mind what mother and daddy's
say from trouble you'll be free.

Anyway maybe you can get the just of it. I remember mom dressing Ray up and putting cocoa powder on his face so he could sing my grandpa Jones's favorite song at a family reunion.

O see that water mellon a smiling on the vine.
O that water mellon how I wish was mine.
the white folks they am foolish they need a lick of sense
or they'ed never leave it there up on the vine.

O the ham bone am sweet the bacon am good and the oposom fat am very very fine.
But give to me yes give me o how I wish you would that water mellon smiling on the vine.

Thanks Mom for all the time you spent with us teaching us about life both from example and through fun songs.

Picture Pedigree

Maybe you can see these pictures well enough to benifit posting them?

A Seventy

This last few weeks as I have had some personal struggles with trying to lead a group of old High Priests. I was talking to my son Dylan about the priesthood and how my dad held the office of Seventy when he ordained me an Elder. Dylan got this wide eyed look and asked, Grandpa Jones was in the Quorum of Seventy? I had to back up and think about how that worked.

Back in the day the Seventies were organized on a Stake level and were responsible for missionary work. In fact we had one seventy left in our stake until this last year. He is a good friend from my work and he asked me to ordain him a High Priest. Which I had the privilege to do back in January of this year. But that is another story.

I remember Dad was one of the 7 presidents of Seventy in the Logandale Stake. He was the president of the Seventies Quorum in Mesquite 1st ward. I remember him complaining about how hard it was to motivate the old men to do missionary work. It reminded me of my own concerns. Dad was ordained a Seventy by Joesph Fielding Smith which made his priesthood line of authority very short. He spent most of his time trying to teach the gospel and holding baptisms. I remember him making visits to prospective members and It seemed like we always had someone at our house for Sunday dinner. Of course back then we ate Breakfast, Dinner and Supper. We didn't know what lunch was. We had our big meal around noon and in the evening we usually had bread and milk before we went to bed. Of course Mom and Lena and Beth didn't drink milk so they had to settle for a bread and Jelly or peanut butter sandwich.

Whistle instructions

Dustin, Maybe this will help. Ray could probably give you a few more pointers. See the comments to your post.


Dad had a tradition of making whistles. He was also quite accomplished at whittling.We use to have a wooden chain that he cut out of a survey stake. We also had a stake he had carved balls in it. He told me he use to whittle to pass the time when he was riding to and from the job when he was a lineman. Having worked for a power company I Know what he was talking about now.

I remember that Grandma and Grandpa came with us to the cabin one time when we still lived in West Valley. We went to a fishing pond and they watched as my brothers and I took turns catching fish out of the pond. While we were at the cabin, I remember that Grandpa made a whistle out of a willow stick. I would like to know how he made it. I have always been intrigued by how he did that.

Beloved Songs, & Poems

Sally called me the other day and asked if I had a copy of the poem Vacation Time that Gramma Jones recited. I thought it might be nice to publish it and two other favorites here for any who don't know them.

This is one song that I loved to hear Mom sing. It made me cry (still does) and yet I would beg her to sing it again. I never got tired of hearing her sing it. {I still ask Beth to sing it for me!}

THE LITTLE FRISKIES
Way over in the meadow
In an old hollow tree
Lived old mother Frisky
and her little friskies three.
The mother stayed home
and kept the house neat
While Mr. Frisk hunted
them nice nuts to eat.

One very fine morning
Mr. Frisk did not come.
Mrs. Frisk said "dear children
I must bring him home.
Some very bad people
Are traveling about.
Lie still in your nest,
and don’t you stir out."

She put on her bonnet
and started to run.
A very bad man
Came along with a gun.
He lifted his gun -
it was loaded with lead -
and shot Mrs. Frisky
the squirrel quite dead.

He then took her home
and cut off her tail
and hung up her skin
on the wall on a nail.
And when the skin was
quite dry and quite tough -
He made little Bessie,
his daughter, a muff.

The poor little friskies
they cried and they cried.
But no one came near them
and so they all died.
In the cold stormy weather
when the north wind doth whirl -
Bess keeps her hands warm
in the skin of the squirrel.

Mom loved to read and tell stories and poems. This is one that I have fond memories of and I think that it's one she listened to when she was little.

LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE

Little Orphan Annie’s come to our house to stay -
To wash the cups & saucers up,
And brush the crumbs away,
And shoo the chickens off the porch,
And dust the hearth, and sweep,
And make the fire, and bake the bread,
And earn her board and keep.
And all us other chillun
When the supper things is done
We sit around the kitchen fire
An’ has the mostest fun
A listenin’ to the witches tales
‘At Annie tells about!
An’ the goblins ul get you
If ya don’t watch out!

Once there was a little boy
Who wouldn’t say his prayers.
When he went to bed at night
A waaay up stairs -
His mammy heered him holler
An’ his daddy heered him bawl.
But, when they turned the covers down,
He wasn’t there at all!
They seeked him in the rafter room
and cubby hole and press.
They seeked him in the chimney flue
and everywhere, I guess.
But all they ever found
Was just his pants and round-about.
An’ the goblins ul get you
If ya don’t watch out!

And once there was a little girl
Who would always laugh and grin,
And make fun of everyone,
and all her blood and kin.
And once when there was company,
And old folks was there
She mocked ‘em and shocked ‘em
And she said she "didn’t care!"
And just as she kicked up her heels
And turned to run and hide,
There were two big black things
A standin’ by her side.
They snatched her through the ceilin’
Fore she knowed what she’s about!
An’ the goblins ul get you
If ya don’t watch out!

An’ Little Orphan Annie says -
‘At when the blaze is blue
And the lamp wick sputters
And the wind goes ooo-ooo-ooo
And you hear the crickets quit
And the moon is gray
And the lightnin’ bugs and dew
Is all quenched away -
You better mind your parents
And your teachers kind and dear,
And cherish them that loves ya,
And dry the orphan’s tear.
And Help the poor and needy
‘At clusters all about —
Or the goblins ul get you
If ya don’t watch out!

...and one that I especially loved to hear and love to tell is...

VACATION TIME

Vacation time at last is here,
The jolliest time of all the year.
Away with books, pencils and pens
Now is the time to visit our friends.
We always to the country go,
Me and my youngest brother Joe.
We jump the fences, climb the trees,
And run through the meadows chasing bees.
Eat peaches, apples, plums and grapes,
And get in lots of awful scrapes.

But then it’s vacation time you know,
I don’t think folks ought to mind things so.

One day last summer Joe and me
Went down to the meadow the bull to see.
We couldn’t get a very good look at him,
So we let down the bars and walked right in.
You should have seen his shining eyes.
Joe said, "He’s taking in our size!"
And he frightened us so, Oh! Good stars!
We clean forgot to put up the bars.
And that mean old bull, just as sure as you’re born,
walked right through those bars into Grandpa’s corn.
Joe and me didn’t know what to do
As ear after ear we saw him chew.
Grandpa made an awful fuss
And he allowed it happened all through us!

But then it’s vacation time you know,
I don’t think folks ought to mind things so.

I’ll tell you my Gramma sure knows how to bake.
You never tasted such pies and cake
One day we were hungry and wanted a bite
And Gramma was nowhere in sight.
The things were on a high up shelf.
So we got a chair - and had to tip toe.
And that clumsy fellow my brother Joe -
I just gave him the least little bit of a tilt
And he sat right down in a pan of milk!
Gramma had an awful time getting his clothes clean.
And she allowed he spoiled every bit of her cream!

But then it’s vacation time you know,
I don’t think folks ought to mind things so.

Old dog rover’s a nice old chap,
But he likes to take his afternoon nap.
Joe and me spied him asleep one day
And we vowed we’d make him get up and play.
So we slipped in the milkhouse and got a tin pail
And tied it fast to old Rover’s tail.
And then we skeered him and he run like sin
And bittered and battered and spoiled the tin!
Grandpa came out and all the rest,
And said, "You boys must be possessed!
And if you don’t leave the animals and things alone,
We’ll pack your clothes and send you home!"

But then it’s vacation time you know,
I don’t think folks ought to mind things so!

I have these three pieces in Mom's handwriting - If you don't and want a copy let me know!

JUST LOOK WHAT THEY STARTED! ~ REUNION '09

Long ago and...

WiSh YOU were here!

What a FAMILY! Sure did miss all of you who were unable to be here this year. Just being together, catching up on each other, and sharing memories of times past... who could ask for anything more!?

Next one is in the year 2011. We all have plenty of time to plan on being there!

LOVE & HUGS to ALL!

"Button, button..."

We were together last weekend and were standing around talking when Hannah (Collins's four year old daughter) found a penny. My dad (Ray) showed her how to play "Button, button, who's got the button". We talked about how Grandma Jones used to play that game with us. Because of her arthritis her fingers didn't close together very well, but she would cross her pinky fingers together and play anyway. It was fun to see a little tradition like that being passed down--my Grandma Jones taught that game to us and now Hannah's Grandpa Jones taught that game to her.