by Leo Tolstoy Title: Papa Panov’s Special ChristmasAuthor: by Leo TolstoyPublication: Cedar Fort, Inc. on September 8, 2011 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me..” It was Christmas Eve and although it was still afternoon, lights had begun to appear in the shops and houses of the little Russian village, for the short winter day was nearly over. Excited children scurried indoors and now only muffled sounds of chatter and laughter escaped from closed shutters. Old Papa Panov, the village shoemaker, stepped outside his shop to take one last look around. The sounds of happiness,…

by Hans Christian Andersen Title: The Little Match GirlAuthor: by Hans Christian AndersenPublication: 1845 Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening– the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that? They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that rolled by dreadfully fast. One slipper was…