In such a night Ebenezer Scrooge, crabbed and cantankerous old soul, was visited by three spirits who helped his heart joyously open to his fellow men.
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| Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present - an illustration from the original copy of A Christmas Carol, 1843. |
In such a night the four March sisters learned from their mother to carry their burdens bravely and cheerfully, so their father, when he returned, would be "fonder and prouder than ever" of his "little women."
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| A moment from the 1949 screen adaptation of Little Women. |
In such a night the impassioned poet Rodolfo, seeking inspiration, found a treasure ten times more valuable when he fell in love with the sweet seamstress Mimi, while his warm-hearted painter friend Marcello reunited with his fiery inamorata Musetta.
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| An old poster for Puccini's opera La Boheme. |
In such a night George Bailey, fraught with despair, encountered the angel Clarence, who showed him the sacredness of his life.
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| The final scene from It's A Wonderful Life. |
In such a night Bob Wallace, Phil Davis, and the Haynes sisters gave General Waverly the gift of lasting friendship and affection from his troops.
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| A promotional image for White Christmas. |
In such a night the troublesome Herdman siblings, their hearts softened by the Christmas story, shared the beauty of the Yuletide bond with the church members during their performance in the Christmas pageant; as Gladys Herdman proclaimed in the role of the angel: "Hey! Unto you a child is born!"
In such a night Mary, the ever-loving Virgin Mother, Our Mother, gave birth to the Christ Child, Emmanuel, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace.
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| A 1992 painting of the Virgin and Child - I don't know who painted it, but it's lovely. |
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
P.S. - Here's the film The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, from YouTube - it's a favorite of mine, and a real heart warmer!
