Show 0 DONKEYS e. e He HeYN r L YN CONNE L L Y YIt A It TO sleep steep Dickie Tomor Tomar Tomorrow GO row Is It Christmas and youre you're going to have a busy day lie He wondered If hed he'd be well enough to appreciate his bis busy day and stifled a sob with a heavy beavy sigh ligh for tor he be knew he would be unable to ride the tricycle Santa Claus Glaus had promised him Ills His legs were stiff and painful and they felt feIt as though he would never be able to walk on them again Ills His mother brushed soft sott tenants of hair from his feverish brow and bent down to kiss him tenderly G Goodnight 0 0 d n i g h t Dickie I cleasant dreams lie He watched her leave t tn J room closing the door softly behind her He lay quietly for tor some time then turned to look curiously at the huge tr tree e a across across' the room In deference to his illness his bed had been moved Into the living room so that thai he could see the decorations and await Santa Claus' Claus arrival The scene of the Nativity had been beautifully reconstructed by his father tather and Its tiny plaster models models models mod mod- els now caught the boys boy's attention I A strange sight met his eyes The donkey that had been sprawled on the ground was now standing and stretching himself The lambs were In their same positions but their eyes were glittering with life Its Christmas Eve Dickie and you should be happy There was a trace of reproach in the voice Dickie was bewildered by this I time How How how he stuttered feebly and halted How do we talk Why that's simpie simple sim sIm- pie Dickie All animals talk on h I Ilie i iti ti e e r He lie watched her leave the room closing the door foor softly behind her Christmas Eve Didn't you know That night everything comes to life What seems to be the tha matter I dont don't know Im I'm all burning up inside and I cant can't move my legs without hurting them He saw two of the animals exchange exchange exchange ex ex- change a knowing glance You mean s' s Something has to be done for him the don donkey key Interrupted swiftly You mean you can cure me With a glance at the tiny crib the donkey said Im sure you will be cured Dickie All AU animals were silent for a moment then the donkey continued Now go to sleep Dickie and when morning comes you will feel teel better You mean I Til ll be able to get up and ride my wy tricycle and play with my other other toys Dickie asked ex ex- But there was no answer When he be awoke both mommy and daddy were sitting at his bedside bedside bed bed- side and his mothers mother's pretty face was flushed with happiness Mommy I Daddy I he cried I Ican Ican Ican can move my legs I Mother threw the covers back and the three watched with fascination as his Ws legs moved slowly up and down Mother began to cry She hugged him dm tightly and then threw herself into daddys daddy's arms Dickie was happy too But Dut he stopped topped moving his legs long enough to tell his mother gravely Dr Bentons Benton's medicine didn't help me mommy Oh Dickie dear of course it did It cured you and soon you'll be running around again He started to protest but before words could come his eyes fell feU on the he N Nativity a t I vi t I scene where his friends the d don donkey o n k key e y and find three lambs ambs reclined Leaning over he stroked the plaster tacks Lacks of the mOdels and made a momentous decision These animals were his Ws friends and nd they had made him well again but iut maybe they wanted him to keep it t a secret Next Christmas Eve when they talked again he could ask sk their thelt permission to tell every bOdy about their kindness Until then he mus must not do anything that might sadden udden them With a final pat at be he turned happily to his bis par Merry Christmas mommy Merry lerry Christmas daddy M My n its it's goIng to be a busy da day |