Christmas Legend for Little Ones

Voici un conte qui a fait le tour de bien des familles depuis des générations. Il est tout simple mais fait encore la joie des petits la veille de Christmas.

Once upon a time, there was a poor mother with three little boys. It was Christmas Eve when her children asked her if they would have a decorated tree this year. Sadly, the mother replied that she would have loved to get them one, but they were too poor to afford it.

Since the children were very resourceful, they decided to go into the forest to find a small fir tree themselves. Unfortunately, the area was covered with lichen and stunted trees...no fir tree in sight. They were returning to the house when they spotted a sheep that had caught its leg in a hollow stump. After much effort, the children managed to free the animal. Just then, a shepherd arrived, delighted to see that the children had found his lost sheep.

-Tell me, my children, what are you doing in this great forest?

-We're looking for a small tree for Christmas, sir, but we haven't found one.

-Well, since you rescued my sheep, I will help you.

The shepherd, who knew the forest by heart, soon discovered the most beautiful little fir tree and gave it to the children. Filled with joy, the children returned home to show their mother what they had received.
Le soir, avant de se mettre au lit, ils placèrent le petit sapin près de la cheminée et s’endormirent en pensant au Santa Claus. À leur réveil, quelle fut leur surprise de constater que le sapin était tout décoré et entouré de cadeaux merveilleux!

-Oh, here are some skates for me! cried the eldest. How happy I am!

-And I have a hockey stick! added the younger brother, jumping for joy.

-As for me, said the smallest, I received a small helicopter and then a beautiful storybook. Yay!

The mother was wondering who could have given all these beautiful gifts to her children when there was a knock at the door. The woman opened it and suddenly found herself in front of Santa Claus himself with his white beard and his broad smile. He said to her: "It was I, Madam, who brought these gifts to your little ones because they are charitable with animals. I learned this from my good friend the shepherd of the forest." Then he took out of his large bag a large box filled with food and sweets so that the little family would lack nothing throughout the winter.

Thank you Santa!

MERRY CHRISTMAS dear little ones!