The next morning as they all sat around the breakfast table, “Luke,” said Malinda, “I believe we must get started back to South Carolina if we’re going to get there before Christmas. Let’s head back Monday morning – if that’s all right with you? There is nothing more we can find here.”
“Matthew,” said Luke, “why don’t you and Kim come with us and celebrate Christmas with the rest of the family?”
“Luke, there is nothing more I would like, but these artificial legs, Mark and I make for the wounded soldiers, are more important at the moment. Without Mark’s artificial legs, these fellows will be invalids the rest of their lives. Mark can give them at least the resemblance of a normal live. I hope you understand Mother?”
“Oh, Matt, hush son...what you two are doing is of greater importance. There will be more Christmases to come, but the soldiers, to whom you fit legs, are only going to get one chance for you to help them. Christmas is just one day; your artificial legs will help them the rest of their lives.”
“I know Mother, but we cannot keep furnishing everyone with fabricated legs, we do not have money enough to buy supplies to make them. If it weren’t for donations, we could not even make the ones we are able to produce. Mark’s family and mine are barely surviving; every penny, we get, goes to the soldiers. Mother, we just need money and a lot of it!”
“I’m sorry son, you know if I had any money I would give it to you gladly, but I just do not have any, I wish I did.”