A special gift on Christmas Eve
It is Christmas Eve and Nicholas, a young chimney sweep, has one last chimney to clean. Shivering in his ragged coat, he climbs inside the narrow, sooty chimney, working his way to the top. From the roof, he sees the glow of fireplaces in the houses below and inhales the smell of warm mincemeat. "Someday," he thinks, "Christmas Eve will be joyful for me, the way it's meant to be." After the chimney is cleaned, the owner of the house gives the boy a surprise. "Thank you for your kindness," says Nicholas. "Pass it on," says the man. When Nicholas grows up, he does precisely that. (Ages 6+) 32 pp. HC
