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Show THE RED SLED By Jimmy Knight Eighth Grade Roosevelt Jr. H:gh School It was the last day of school before Christmas. It seemed like Christmas would never come. And now that it was finally drawing near, I felt myself wishing it wasn't yhere. It was snowing. I walked home from .school, and that made me wish all the more that I would get a red sled for Christmas. My friends, Dick and Jimmy were both getting sleds, but their fathers had a job, a good one, and I knew that they would get whatever- they asked for. My dad had been out of work so much because of his health, and that's why I knew I must not plan on a sled for Christmas. As 1 left Dick and Jimmy on the corner they said, "We will be over in the morning to take' you sleigh riding." Tears came to my eyes, but I didn't turn around so they could see them. When I arrived home mother was busy making popcorn to string on the Christmas tree'. She asked me to hurry and get some wood in for the fireplace, and then we would decorate the tree. She reminded me that this was the happiest time of the whole year. I ot a big log fire burning in the fireplace, and before long we were decorating the tree but I didn't feel much better. Mother and Dad were singing Christmas songs, and it wasn't long before I was singing with them. I had forgotten about the sled. When we had finished putting the last icicle on, we all agreed it was the most beautiful tree we had ever had. Before we went to bed, mother took my hand in hers' and asked if I would like to hear a story about the true spirit of Christmas. I put another log on the fire, and then mother told me the' story of the Christ Child, and why we celebrate Christmas. When she had finished she said in her sweet way, "I hope we will always remember why we celebrate Christmas and not think that it is just a time to receive a lot of presents. . She said, "Always remember that the' best Christmas present ever given the world was when Christ was born." I went to bed feeling happy because be-cause I had heard the story of the real Christmas spirit. |