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MAGICAL CHRISTMAS EVE

In late November and through December, the sun rose later and set much earlier; nevertheless, the days seemed unbearably long. The school concert grew closer, a sure sign that Christmas was on its way. Christmas cards filled the mail box each day, and soon that huge carton from Aunt Laura, with the colorful American postage stamps, reached its destination. There was no waiting for Christmas Eve with that large package of goodies. The great season had arrived! Oh, what magic as we unwrapped each gift: Rudolph with a penlight battery that caused his red nose to glow as we pulled down on the little tab below his belly . . . the rainbow of