Remember last Christmas Eve 

When we sat next to our first tree 

Ornaments reflected light 

Of a candle in the night 



And I gave you a music box 

Back then that seemed like so much 

We watched it go round and round 

As the melodies unwound 



But all these things are now long gone 

And not to be wished upon again 



But the musical box continues to turn 

The candle in the window continues to burn 

But I know they're just memories 

Like Christmas past and you and me 



Remember that old fireplace 

That held the room in warm embrace 

And as we watched for Christmas ghosts 

The fire held the shadows close 



But now upon that Christmas scene 

The candle wax of melted dreams 

And ornaments of shattered glass 

Now belonging to the past 



But all these things are now long gone 

And not to be wished upon again 



But the musical box continues to turn 

The candle in the window continues to burn 

But I know they're just memories 

Like Christmas past and you and me 



BEHIND THAT SINGLE LETTER 

WAS A WEATHERED PHOTOGRAPH 

OF THAT MAN IN THE ARTICLE 

BUT FROM SOMEWHERE IN HIS PAST 



AND STANDING THERE BESIDE HIM 

IN A SETTING SUMMER SUN 

WAS THE LADY WHO USED TO OWN THIS HOUSE 

ONLY HERE SHE WAS QUITE YOUNG 



SHE HAD MOVED TO A SMALLER PLACE 

THAT WAS ONLY RIGHT NEXT DOOR 

AND THEN THE CHILD NOTICED SOMETHING ELSE 

THAT SHE HAD MISSED BEFORE 



THIS LETTER HAD NO STAMP IT SEEMED 

AND WAS SURELY NEVER SENT 

AND AS SHE SAT UPON THE FLOOR 

THAT CHILD SHE WONDERED WHAT IT MEANT 



THEN THE ANGEL WHISPERED TO HER 

A MOST IMPORTANT FACT 

THAT FOR COMPASSION TO BE REAL 

IT REQUIRES ONE TO ACT 



THEN ONCE AGAIN THAT CHILD CAME UP 

WITH A CHILD'S IDEA 

BUT SHE KNEW SHE MUST ACT FAST 

FOR TIME, IT WAS GROWING DEAR 



SO TAKING THAT ARTICLE BACK DOWNSTAIRS 

SHE FOUND THE KITCHEN PHONE 

AND CALLED UP INFORMATION 

TO FIND THE NUMBER OF HIS HOME 



AND WHEN HE PICKED UP THE RECEIVER 

SHE QUICKLY TOLD HIM QUITE ENOUGH 

TO KNOW WHO WAS WAITING ON THIS NIGHT FOR HIM 

AND THEN THE CHILD, SHE JUST HUNG UP 



THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE WAS AWAKE 

SHE TOOK A QUICK LOOK DOWN THE HALL 

THEN SHE FOUND HER NEIGHBOR'S NUMBER 

AND REPEATED THAT SAME CALL