Foreword:
ChristmaswasamagicaltimeforthepeopleofthesmalltownofMillfield.Everyyear,thestreetswerelitupwithtwinklinglightsandcolorfuldecorations,andtheairwasfilledwiththesweetaromaoffreshlybakedcookiesandcakes.Peoplefromallwalksoflifecametogethertocelebratethejoyousoccasion,sharinggifts,laughter,andlove.
Astheholidayseasonapproached,everyoneinMillfieldwaseagerlypreparingforChristmas.ThechildrenwerebusymakingwishestoSantaClaus,whiletheadultswerebusydecoratingtheirhomesandbuyinggiftsfortheirlovedones.
However,therewasonepersoninMillfieldwhohadnoonetosharetheholidaywith.HisnamewasTom,andhewasanoldmanwholivedaloneinasmallcottageontheoutskirtsoftown.Tomhadnofamilyorfriends,andhespentmostofhisdayssittingbythefire,reminiscingabouthispast.
ButlittledidTomknowthathislifewasabouttochangeforever,thankstoagroupofkind-heartedpeoplewhobelievedinthemagicofChristmas.
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ItwasacoldandsnowynightonChristmasEvewhenagroupofcarolersknockedonTom'sdoor.Tom,whohadbeendozingoffbythefire,wokeupstartledandwenttoanswerthedoor.Whenheopenedit,hewasgreetedbyagroupofsmilingfaceswhowereholdingcandlesandsingingChristmascarols.
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Tomfeltawarmfeelinginhisheartashelistenedtotheirbeautifulvoices.Ithadbeenalongtimesincehehadheardsuchjoyfulsounds.Hethankedthemfortheirvisitandinvitedtheminsideforsomehotcocoaandcookies.
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Thecarolersacceptedhisinvitationandsataroundthefire,sippingonthewarmcocoaandmunchingonthecookies.Tomtoldthemstoriesofhisyouth,andtheysharedstoriesoftheirownChristmastraditions.
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Asthenightworeon,thecarolersbidTomgoodbyeandlefthimwithagift.Itwasasmallboxwrappedinshinyredpaperwithabiggreenbowontop.Tomopenedthebox,andhiseyeswidenedinsurprise.Inside,therewasabeautifulhandmadescarf,apairofwarmgloves,andahandwrittennotethatread,"MerryChristmas,Tom.Wehopethisgiftkeepsyouwarmthiswinter."
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Tomfelttearswellingupinhiseyesasherealizedthathehadfinallyfoundpeoplewhocaredabouthim.Heputonthescarfandglovesandhuggedthemtightly,promisingtokeepthemsafeforever.
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Thenextmorning,Tomwokeupfeelinghappierthanhehadfeltinyears.Heputonhisnewscarfandglovesanddecidedtotakeawalkaroundtowntoenjoythefestiveatmosphere.
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Ashewalkeddownthestreet,hesawpeoplerushingaround,carryingbagsfilledwithgiftsandgroceries.Hesawchildrenmakingsnowmenandthrowingsnowballsateachother.HesawfamiliesgatheredaroundtheChristmastree,singingcarolsandopeningpresents.
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Tomfeltapangoflonelinessashewatchedthemfromafar.Hewishedhehadsomeonetosharethejoyousoccasionwith.Butjustthen,heheardavoicecallingouthisname.
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Heturnedaroundandsawayounggirlrunningtowardshim.ShewascarryingabasketfilledwithfreshlybakedcookiesandsmiledbrightlyatTom.
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"Hi,I'mLily,"shesaid."MymomandImadethesecookiesforyou.WeheardthatyouwereallaloneonChristmas,andwewantedtomakesureyouhadsomethingsweettoeat."
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Tomwastouchedbyherkindnessandthankedherforthecookies.Theysatdownonanearbybenchandchattedforawhile.LilytoldhimaboutherChristmaswishtogetapuppyandaskedTomabouthisfavoriteChristmasmemory.
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Tomsmiledasherecalledthetimewhenhewasayoungboyandhadreceivedatoytrainsetfromhisparents.Hecouldstillremembertheexcitementhehadfeltonthatday,andhowhehadspenthoursplayingwiththetrain.
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Lilylistenedintentlytohisstoryandthensaid,"MaybeyoucanmakenewChristmasmemorieswithus.MymomandIwouldlovetohaveyouoverfordinnertonight.Wehaveabigfeastplanned,andwewouldbehonoredifyoujoinedus."
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Tomfelthisheartfillwithgratitudeattheinvitation.Hehadneverbeeninvitedtoanyone'shomefordinnerbefore,andhefelthonoredtobepartofLily'sfamily.
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Heacceptedtheinvitationandspenttherestofthedaywalkingaroundtown,enjoyingthefestiveatmosphere,andsmilingateveryonehemet.
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Asthesunbegantoset,TommadehiswaytoLily'shouse.Hewasgreetedbythewarmsmellsofroastedturkey,mashedpotatoes,andpumpkinpie.Lily'smother,Emily,welcomedhimwithopenarmsandhuggedhimtightly.
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Theyallsatdowntoenjoythefeast,andTomfeltasenseofbelongingthathehadneverfeltbefore.Theytalkedandlaughed,sharedstoriesandmemories,andhadagreattime.
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Afterdinner,theygatheredaroundtheChristmastree,andLilyhandedTomasmallpresentwrappedingreenpaper."Thisisforyou,"shesaid,beamingwithjoy.
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Tomopenedthepresenttofindasmallwoodentrainset.Hegaspedinamazementasheheldthetraininhishands.Itwasidenticaltotheonehehadreceivedasachild,anditbroughtbackmemoriesofhisyouth.
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TomhuggedLilytightlyandthankedherforthegift.HefeltgratefulfortheloveandkindnessthathadbeenbestoweduponhimbyLilyandherfamily.
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Asthenightworeon,Tombidhisnewfriendsgoodbyeandmadehiswaybacktohiscottage.Hefeltasenseofcontentmentandhappinessthathehadneverfeltbefore.
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Ashelaydowninhisbed,heknewthatthisChristmaswouldbeonethathewouldneverforget.Ithadbeenamagicaltimefilledwithgenerosity,kindness,andlove.AndheknewthathehadfoundanewfamilyinLilyandhermother,whohadopenedtheirheartsandhometohimonthisspecialoccasion.
