In the cold snowy town of Wonderland, nestled between snow-capped mountains and towering trees, lived the humble Hopkins family. They lived in a small rustic cottage, with no electricity in it. The Hopkins family consists of four members, Sam Hopkins, who is the head of the family, Ruby Hopkins, the wife of Sam, Rob and Samantha, the kids of Sam and Ruby.

Sam worked as a carpenter, he worked day and night to feed his family, while his wife Ruby stayed at home to take care of their children. Their kids Rob and Samantha were twins, both of them had blue eyes and curly brown hair. Rob and Samantha were both 10 years old and they shared a humble and kind nature. Even though their cottage lacked electricity and they had to study under the dim lit candles, they never complained about it to their parents and they were happy with whatever they had in their lives.

One night when Rob and Samantha were asleep, Sam came back home from work holding a small lamp and placed it on the table. At that moment Ruby was cooking vegetable stew for him. Sam went to the kitchen and told Ruby that he brought a small lamp for them, Upon hearing this Ruby’s face lit up and she smiled at him cause although the lamp was small it shined more brightly then the dim lit candles.

The next morning Sam hugged his family and headed back to work, Samantha and Rob saw the little lamp that was placed on the table and they both felt happy and said mum, now our house will also light up like the rest of the cottages in the town, upon hearing this Ruby wiped her tears quickly and said yes my dear Rob and Samantha our cottage will also shine brightly one day and it will be one of the brightest cottage in the town, then she hugged her kids and prepared breakfast for them.

As the day surrendered to night, at 6 p.m. a man with shabby clothes and shabby beard stood in front of their door, and at that moment Rob and Samantha was looking out through the window and they saw that the man was knocking at the door, so they immediately told their mother about the man, then their mother opened the door with a gentle smile saying “sir, how may I help you”, then the man said I just need some food and a shelter. The man asked her “Ma'am if you don’t mind can I stay here for a few weeks” Hearing those words Samantha and Rob came rushing and even before their mother could utter a single word they said yes, sir you can stay with us. Ruby was speechless and stood there for a moment and at that time she was thinking that how she allowed this man to stay when she didn’t even know who he was and they did not even have electricity and they only had little groceries left for the weekend, but then she pulled herself together and she said to the man, “Sir you can stay with us for a week.”

At 9 P.M. Sam arrived home and saw that a shabby man was drinking stew, he was not shocked, instead, he sat down and asked him his name but the man did not answer, so he addressed him as Mr., then the man told him that he needed shelter and food and he will only stay here for a week and after that he will leave. After hearing that Sam stood up and went to his wife and said do not worry darling, everything will be fine, he will only stay with us for a week and even though we are low on basic necessities we will help him out with whatever we have and then Ruby said yes I know that and thank you for being the best husband, then while the man was coming to the kitchen to wash his plate and bowl he overheard their conversation and gave them a big smile while Ruby and Sam stared at him and smiled back at him, then the man washed his utensils and went back to sleep without saying a single word.

The next morning the man opened a shabby bag which he brought along with him and while he was opening the bag Rob and Samantha came to him and asked, Mr. what is in your bag, he just said blankets and some stuff after that he smiled at them, then Rob and Samantha said Mr. if you ever feel cold we have a total of two blankets, we can give you one if you want, then the man nodded his head saying that it is okay, my blanket is warm enough but thank you for your concern, then he smiled at them again.

Samantha and Rob went to their mother and said Mom, that man speaks very few words but he always smiles at us and he is very kind, then she said to them that yesterday when she was discussing something with their dad in the kitchen, the man came in and smiled at them and went back to sleep without saying a single word. Then Samantha and Rob said Mom, when he smiled his face immediately lit up, I guess that he is happy to stay here with us, then Ruby said yes, I also think so, and I am glad that we can put a smile on his face.

The man suddenly stood up and came towards them and told them that he’d stay there only until the Christmas night and after that he’ll leave. On hearing this they were worried about him and questioned him like where will you go after that and where will you stay? But he did not answer them and he just went back and checked his shabby bag and sat silently beside the table.

Sam came back home from work, and Ruby immediately told him that the man would leave on Christmas night, hearing that Sam said, on Christmas night! why is he leaving during the night, cause he could stay with us until the morning and leave in the morning of he wanted to because the weather would be more snowy and cold outside but Ruby told him that the man uttered these words only and he left again.

Sam went to the man and said Mr., are you leaving on Christmas night then the man nodded his head. Then Sam said you could leave in the next morning but the man said I have some unfinished work to do, so I will have to leave at the exact night, then Sam wondered what work could that man have but then the man smiled at him again to which Sam responded by tapping his shoulder and told him to think about it again, and he told him that he could stay with them for more weeks if he wants to.

Days passed but the man’s behavior did not change at all, he uttered very few words, smiled at them and nodded his head only. The man silently observed the Hopkins family, the way they welcomed him and treated him made his heart warm, and the way they cared for him moved his soul. The Hopkins family made him feel that he was also a member of their family. He also noticed that even though their cottage was small and they only had a lamp to light up their cottage, he felt warm and joy by staying with them.

Finally, Christmas Eve’s enchantment unfolds, it was the day of love, light, joy, warmth and happiness. The Hopkins family planned to go to the nearest market to bring groceries for Christmas dinner. They also asked the man to join them but he insisted on staying back and he said that he’ll guard their cottage. The Hopkins family smiled and said Mr. you do not have to do that instead you can join us, but he insisted on staying back. Then the Hopkins family said ok then mister, we will see you later and then they gave him a warm smile and headed to the market.

As the Hopkins family were returning from the market, they saw that their cottage was shining brightly with Christmas lights and lanterns. Samantha and Rob ran to their house with joy and happiness and when they got closer to their cottage they saw that a big Christmas tree was decorated with lights and gifts, then they shed happy tears and shouted Mom and Dad look our house is also shining brightly then both Sam and Ruby looked at that their cottage that was filled with lights and lanterns and was overjoyed and they hugged each other with a warm smile on their face.

The Hopkins family entered their cottage and when they opened their door they saw that their whole room and kitchen was filled with lanterns and gifts. Rob then stared at the gifts and noticed a shabby bag and asked Mom and dad doesn’t this bag belonged to that Mr., but where was he, he questioned them. Then Samantha noticed a small letter on top of the Shabby bag. The letter said, “Dear Hopkins family I have left a Christmas gift for you, thank you for everything you have done for me, and now it is my time to return the love, and please do not forget to open the bag, “Have a Merry and Jolly Christmas” then he ended the letter by signing off as Mr. A.

Rob and Samantha said Mom and Dad, Mr. A told us to open his bag, then Sam and Ruby hesitated for a moment but then they finally decided to open the bag and to their surprise, they found that the man had left a huge amount of money. By seeing this the Hopkins family wept and said this man must be an angel. Then they realized that the man indeed signed off the letter as Mr. A and he never told them his name, he was truly an angel. Then they all cried and smiled after that and they said “This is the best Christmas gift we could ever have in our lives” The lights and lanterns will shine forever, and they said thank you Mr. A for the Christmas present.

Many years have passed, but the gift which Mr. A gave to them remained precious and memorable to them and the lanterns and lights that were gifted to them shined forever and each and every year they thanked God for all the blessings and they all knew by heart that light, hope, warmth and joy had entered into their lives.

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