"Many years ago, before there were any automobiles and before we had electricity or even gas lighting and when people …"

"For in those days, quite small boys were expected to behave like grown men."

"For years now, every Saturday at 4:00, the candlemaker had been making the journey from his shop to the church across…"

"The family was up early next morning, for a busy week lay ahead. The candlemaker had to deliver quanitites of Christm…"

"With his father away and his mother extra busy getting ready for Christmas, young Tom was in charge of the workshop, …"

"On that Christmas Eve long ago, the church was made beautiful by the loving work of loving hands, just as churches ar…"

"Each member of the family had his own sad thoughts that night."

"And so it was, many years ago, that the candlemaker's son learned the meaning of Christian stewardship, just as we mu…"

"Pauvre... pauvre... [hiccups] pussycat. (Poor... poor... [hiccups] pussycat.)"

"C'est la guerre. (Such is war.)"