Why We Light Candles

At least I'm on the campus. Larry, come on out in the kitchen. Happy wife's the dishes. Well, Susie, how about lining some of the candles? Mr. Cartwright? Yes, dear. Why do we always like candles on the Christmas tree?

Well, Susie Gell, there's an old legend about that. Would you like to hear it? Oh, yes, I would. Well, once upon a time, in the high mountains of Asia, there lived a woodcutter named Carl.

And every day he chopped firewood for the villagers. And every year he brought them Christmas trees. Well, on the day before Christmas, he was sharpening his axe by his cottage. When a voice said, tell me, sir, if I take the path through the forest, will it lead me to Syria?

Carl looked up and he saw a tall young boy. And he answered, yes, but don't go this season. It's a long way. And storms are wild in these mountains. But the boy said, thank you, sir.

And he was off before Carl could stop him. Well, that afternoon, a terrible blizzard swept over the village. And when the blizzard was over, the night was so dark that Carl felt afraid. And he said to himself, I'll go to my neighbor's house. We can cheer each other.

So he lighted a torch, and he was just starting out when a sound made him stop. What was it? Was it a timber wolf? Then he heard that sound again. That's no wolf, he said. Someone is crying for help.

And without even thinking, he plunged into the snow toward the forest. Suddenly he fell, and his torch went out, leaving him blind in the dark. Then he saw a miraculous thing. It was a fir tree, but on the end of each branch, flicked a flame brighter than any star, and Carl struggled toward it through the snow.