A Yuletide Collection of Stories, Poems, and Essays

Annotated for Modern Readers

Volume 1

She reached down into the little crib to lift out the Bambino,

and I could plainly see a look of astonishment rise to her face as she started back,

both hands held wide apart, as if having encountered something they were unprepared to touch.

A flame flared up within him now that must have come straight from the devil's forge.

Again the shadows played over the ceiling.

His teeth grated as he cocked his pistol,

and pointed it down the beam of light that shot into the heart of the apple tree, and waited.

Three Kings came riding from far away,

Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar;

Three Wise Men out of the East were they,

And they travelled by night and they slept by day,

For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.

CLASSIC TALES OF CHRISTMAS:

A Yuletide Collection of Stories, Poems, and Essays

Annotated for Modern Readers

Volume 1