Evaleen Stein

“ When the day before Christmas came, Olaf and Astrid went out with the village folk to the forest to gather the ground-pine and juniper berries which everybody liked to twine into pretty, green garlands to brighten their homes and make gay their windows against the time for lighting the Christmas candles. For you know that when, on the blessed Christmas-eve, the dear Christ-child comes down from heaven and softly treads the earth again, it pleases him to have those who love him set candles in their windows to cheer and guide him on his way. ”

“ Never in all their lives had they felt so glad. The fir tree, too, seemed filled with joy; for its soft whispering had changed to a flute-like, silvery singing, high and sweet and thrilling with gladness, and all its little icy cones were clapping together with a tinkling music.
Wonder-struck, the children crept out a little way from beneath its boughs, so they could look up at it; for the most marvelous things were happening. As the lovely white light poured over it, they saw that the snow on its topmost branches had turned into a glittering golden star ”

“ Once upon a time, in a small village in a far-away country, lived a little brother and sister, named Olaf and Astrid. Most of the village folk had comfortable cottages, with thatched roofs and cozy chimney corners; but the home of Olaf and Astrid was only a tumble-down hut by the edge of the road; for they were very poor. Their father was dead, and their mother, who was not strong, was obliged to toil all day long to keep them in bread ”