Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat Christmas Contest – Leeuna Foster

December 22, 2006

Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat Christmas Contest – Leeuna Foster

December 22, 2006

The Gifts of the Giver

Leeuna Foster

The cruel bitter winds of December whipped around the small drafty cottage, as the old couple sat down to their meager supper of bread and milk.

The old woman sighed, and looked across the table at her husband. "It is the week before Christmas, and we have nothing to give to our friends this year."

"That is true, Wife," said the old man, "but I'm sure our friends will understand, for they are as poor as we."

"But they are such dear friends, and I wanted to give them something special this year. I planned to knit warm mittens for the children, and scarves for the parents.  I only have enough yarn for three mittens!  Tell me, Husband, what good are three mittens when there are two pairs of little hands?"  She sighed once more and her eyes were very empty.

"Tis a sad thing indeed!"  The old man patted her hand. "Perhaps next year we will have something to give."

Suddenly, they both were startled by a loud knock upon the door of the cottage. "Now who could be out on a night such as this," wondered the old man, as he took the candle from the table and hurried toward the door.

He opened the door, and the tiny flame illuminated the faces of two weary travelers. "Upon my word!" the old man exclaimed, "You must be half frozen.  Do come in and warm yourselves by our fire.  I'm afraid we haven't much to offer in the way of food, except for a bit of bread and milk, but you're welcome to share what we have."

After they had eaten their supper and rested by the fire, the travelers thanked the old couple for their kindness, and went on their way.

"We must retire to our bed now," the old man said.  "The fire burns low, the candle is growing dim and the woodbox is nigh empty."

"We shall rest well this night Husband," remarked the old woman. "Just knowing that those poor travelers have been fed and rested, warms the soul."

The old man bent down and blew out the candle.  But instead of the darkness they expected, the room was filled with a strange light.

Suddenly, out of the strange light, shadows began to take shape.  The shadows loomed large in the tiny room until they completely encircled the old couple's bed.

The old woman clutched at her husband's arm in fear.

"Who are you?" cried the old man.

"Do not fear us," came the words from out of the shadows. "We mean you no harm." 

"But, how did you get into our house," asked the old man.

"When you opened your door for the weary travelers, we came inside also," answered the voice.  "Please allow us to introduce ourselves."

The first shadow stepped forward.  "I am the Spirit of Friendship."  He touched the tiny stub of the candle, and the room became alight with a glow as bright as that from a thousand candles.  "My light will remain with you always.  All those who pass by will see it and it will light their way."

The second shadow stepped forward, and when she spoke her voice was like the tinkling of sleigh bells.  "I am the Spirit of Kindness."  She lifted the empty milk pitcher from the table, and immediately, it became filled to the rim with cool, fresh milk.  "The more of this milk you pour out to others, the more the pitcher will be refilled."

The third shadow moved toward the table also. She passed a hand across the table, and there appeared four loaves of freshly baked bread.  "I am Generosity," she said.  "When you share my bread with those who need it, the loaves will always multiply."

"I am the Spirit of Love," said the fourth shadow.  He moved toward the fire place and held forth his hand.  The tiny flame flickered and grew.  The cottage became so warm that the old couple no longer felt the chill of the wind, as it whipped through the cracks in the walls.  "The flame which I light will never burn out," said the spirit. "As the years pass by, my flame will only grow brighter and warmer."

"Finally, the fifth and last shadow moved forward, and in a soft lilting voice she explained, "I am called Hope."  She picked up the old woman's knitting basket and peered inside. Immediately, the basket began to over flow with a rainbow of colored yarn.  "You may now knit as much as you like," she said. "for, once begun, my thread is never ending."

The old couple stared at one another in amazement, as the spirits disappeared.
"What a glorious Christmas this will be, Husband," cried the old woman. "I can knit mittens and sweaters and scarves! Why, I can make gifts for everyone..."

"And we will be able to feed all the weary travelers who pass our way, and invite them to rest by our fire."  The old man exclaimed. "How glorious indeed."

The old couple fell asleep, counting their blessings, safe and warm in their humble little cottage, alight with the glow of friendship and warmed by the flame of love.

Leeuna Foster

newbizacct@yahoo.com

What's new with me?. Partners and I 
have launched a new service and
shopping directory.. take a look.
We are the marketplace to the world.

Leeuna Foster

The cruel bitter winds of December whipped around the small drafty cottage, as the old couple sat down to their meager supper of bread and milk.

The old woman sighed, and looked across the table at her husband. "It is the week before Christmas, and we have nothing to give to our friends this year."

"That is true, Wife," said the old man, "but I'm sure our friends will understand, for they are as poor as we."

"But they are such dear friends, and I wanted to give them something special this year. I planned to knit warm mittens for the children, and scarves for the parents.  I only have enough yarn for three mittens!  Tell me, Husband, what good are three mittens when there are two pairs of little hands?"  She sighed once more and her eyes were very empty.

"Tis a sad thing indeed!"  The old man patted her hand. "Perhaps next year we will have something to give."

Suddenly, they both were startled by a loud knock upon the door of the cottage. "Now who could be out on a night such as this," wondered the old man, as he took the candle from the table and hurried toward the door.

He opened the door, and the tiny flame illuminated the faces of two weary travelers. "Upon my word!" the old man exclaimed, "You must be half frozen.  Do come in and warm yourselves by our fire.  I'm afraid we haven't much to offer in the way of food, except for a bit of bread and milk, but you're welcome to share what we have."

After they had eaten their supper and rested by the fire, the travelers thanked the old couple for their kindness, and went on their way.

"We must retire to our bed now," the old man said.  "The fire burns low, the candle is growing dim and the woodbox is nigh empty."

"We shall rest well this night Husband," remarked the old woman. "Just knowing that those poor travelers have been fed and rested, warms the soul."

The old man bent down and blew out the candle.  But instead of the darkness they expected, the room was filled with a strange light.

Suddenly, out of the strange light, shadows began to take shape.  The shadows loomed large in the tiny room until they completely encircled the old couple's bed.

The old woman clutched at her husband's arm in fear.

"Who are you?" cried the old man.

"Do not fear us," came the words from out of the shadows. "We mean you no harm." 

"But, how did you get into our house," asked the old man.

"When you opened your door for the weary travelers, we came inside also," answered the voice.  "Please allow us to introduce ourselves."

The first shadow stepped forward.  "I am the Spirit of Friendship."  He touched the tiny stub of the candle, and the room became alight with a glow as bright as that from a thousand candles.  "My light will remain with you always.  All those who pass by will see it and it will light their way."

The second shadow stepped forward, and when she spoke her voice was like the tinkling of sleigh bells.  "I am the Spirit of Kindness."  She lifted the empty milk pitcher from the table, and immediately, it became filled to the rim with cool, fresh milk.  "The more of this milk you pour out to others, the more the pitcher will be refilled."

The third shadow moved toward the table also. She passed a hand across the table, and there appeared four loaves of freshly baked bread.  "I am Generosity," she said.  "When you share my bread with those who need it, the loaves will always multiply."

"I am the Spirit of Love," said the fourth shadow.  He moved toward the fire place and held forth his hand.  The tiny flame flickered and grew.  The cottage became so warm that the old couple no longer felt the chill of the wind, as it whipped through the cracks in the walls.  "The flame which I light will never burn out," said the spirit. "As the years pass by, my flame will only grow brighter and warmer."

"Finally, the fifth and last shadow moved forward, and in a soft lilting voice she explained, "I am called Hope."  She picked up the old woman's knitting basket and peered inside. Immediately, the basket began to over flow with a rainbow of colored yarn.  "You may now knit as much as you like," she said. "for, once begun, my thread is never ending."

The old couple stared at one another in amazement, as the spirits disappeared.
"What a glorious Christmas this will be, Husband," cried the old woman. "I can knit mittens and sweaters and scarves! Why, I can make gifts for everyone..."

"And we will be able to feed all the weary travelers who pass our way, and invite them to rest by our fire."  The old man exclaimed. "How glorious indeed."

The old couple fell asleep, counting their blessings, safe and warm in their humble little cottage, alight with the glow of friendship and warmed by the flame of love.

Leeuna Foster

newbizacct@yahoo.com

What's new with me?. Partners and I 
have launched a new service and
shopping directory.. take a look.
We are the marketplace to the world.