Page 16 - Highlights for Children (December 2017)
P. 16
The The cool
Christmas wax gave
Charles
Candles an idea.
By Patti Richards
Art by Victor Rivas
In the village where Charles
lived, high in the French Alps,
December usually brought
garlands scented with pine.
Each Sunday, villagers would
walk down decorated streets or
ride jingling sleighs to the old
stone church. There, for the four
weeks before Christmas, they
would light candles on the
Advent wreath and tell the
Christmas story. Charles loved would appear on his cake.
the glow of the Advent candles. After making a wish, he’d
But this year, World War II quickly blow out the candles,
changed everything. Charles’s clean them off, and carefully put
father and brother had reported them into the box for next year.
for duty. Families needed ration When his chores were done, candles and make new ones.”
coupons for things like butter Charles climbed the ladder and “People won’t have much wax
and sugar. Because candles opened his treasure box. He to spare,” said Maman.
were costly and hard to find, counted 10 candles. The cool wax “Maybe if we melted them
the church would not have with already melted edges gave down—” said Charles.
Advent candles this year. him an idea. Charles wrapped “It’s a wonderful idea,” said
Charles was thinking about the candles in his handkerchief Grand-père. “I’ll help you.”
all of this as he stepped slowly and put them carefully into his Charles and his grandfather
out of bed one morning. He put pocket. He hurried down the visited every house and shop
on his warmest clothes and ladder and ran to the house. in the village. Whipping winds
headed out to do his chores. and snow pushed against them
He opened the big barn door, “I know how we at every turn. “Madame?
and sunbeams streamed into Monsieur? Could you spare
the barn, making spider webs can have candles a few old candle scraps for
appear like secret messages. for Advent!” Advent?” said Charles, holding
Charles looked up to the loft out a basket.
where his treasure box hid. “Maman! Grand-père! I know When the last door had
The box held fishing line, a how we can have candles for closed, they headed home.
dried snakeskin, a whistle Advent!” he cried as he threw Charles’s mother looked
carved from wood, and his open the door. skeptically at the bits of wax.
birthday candles. Each year “How?” his mother asked. “I hope you’ll have enough.”
on his birthday, one new candle “I could collect people’s used Charles reached into his
16 DECEMBER 2017
