IIn Memoriam

      In a little white cotage there lived a little girl of 10. This little girl was  called Lisa.    Lisa was the most beautiful girl there ever was, with long, shiny, blonde hair and big blue eyes. She lived alone except for her dear friend Richard who was her next door neighbor. He had red hair and the most beautiful and soft blue eyes.    Richard went and stayed with Lisa sometimes. He had an old grandmother and a little sister of 3.    Richard's little sister was blind and poor Richard was crippled so he was always sad and never happy. Lisa had no friends or family to take care of her.    One day, when it was close to Christmas time, Lisa asked Richard over to her house to decorate the house for Christmas day.    "Lisa, it's not Christmas yet," said Richard.    "I know it's not," answered Lisa.    "Lisa, do you know what?" said Richard.    "What?" said Lisa to Richard.    "I wish that I could have a real Christmas, with Santa Claus," said Richard.    "I do wish so too," answered Lisa.    "Let's put up the Christmas tree and wait for Santa Claus to come," said Lisa.    And soon Lisa and Richard were putting up the Christmas tree with all its decorations and with a big bright angel on the highest branch.    "It's beautiful," said Lisa and Richard together.    "Richard, quick, give me the manger so that I can put it under the tree," said Lisa.    "Lisa, come here quickly and look out of the window towards the bright blue star way up in the sky," said Richard.    "It's a wishing star," said Lisa.    "Make a wish and it will be granted," said Lisa.    "I wish that my sister can see and that my grandmother can be well again," said Richard.    Just then the bright star in the sky turned into the shape of a human being. He had a long white beard and was dressed in red. But he was not fat like Santa Claus and his eyes looked very sad instead of being happy.    He was floating on a cloud and came down on the ground. All around him were strange lights that had wings. They looked like angels.    He spoke to one of them and said, "Knock on the door and I will enter the house."    So the angel knocked on the door.    "Lisa, there is someone at the door and he is dressed in white," said Richard.    "Who can it be?" wondered Lisa.    "I don't know," answered Richard.    "Let's ask who it is," said Lisa.    Richard opened the door and saw the angel at the door and the angel told him not to be afraid.    "I have come from heaven and I have brought someone with me," said the angel.    "What is your name, angel?" asked Richard.    And the angel told Richard who he was and why he had come to earth.    "Lisa, there is an angel at the door and he has come from heaven," said Richard.    Lisa came to the door and saw the angel who had been talking to Richard.    "The angel's name is Gabriel," said Richard. While the angel was talking to the children the stranger entered the house.    "It's Santa Claus!" said Richard.    "No, it is Jesus," said Lisa. Then she asked the stranger, "Jesus, is it really you or am I dreaming?" said Lisa.    "It is I," said Jesus to the children.    He was much more beautiful than in the pictures that we see him in.    "Peace be with you, Lord," said the children running towards him. "Jesus, how we love thee," said the children.    "Come, Gabriel, we will now go back to heaven for my mother is waiting for me," said Jesus.    And so the two children with the Lord Jesus and the angel Gabriel went to heaven and landed on the clouds.    "We will wait here for my mother to come and greet you children," said Jesus.    Suddenly, the doors of heaven opened and outside came a beautiful lady. She was dressed in white and she had a blue mantle on her shoulders and on her waist there was a blue sash. The lady's feet were bare and on her toes were two bright red roses.    The lady came towards the children and bent down to kiss them.    "It's the Virgin Mary," said Richard.    "You are welcome, children, in my kingdom," said the Virgin Mary.    "Mother, these are the children who have prayed for you to help them," said the Lord Jesus.    "Please, Virgin Mary can you perform a miracle for my poor little blind sister?" said Richard.    The Virgin Mary bent down on the cloud to where Richard was kneeling and kissed him.    While the Virgin Mary kissed Richard, there suddenly appeared three drops of bright red on Richard's hands.    "Richard, your hands are covered with blood," said Lisa.    "Do not worry, little one, for the red drops on the child's face are the pain of my Immaculate heart," said the virgin Mary.    Lisa then knelt down on the cloud and the Virgin Mary bent down to where she was kneeling and kissed her.    She gave Lisa a small rosary and on it were written these words: "Do not break the Immaculate Heart of Mary."    And to Richard the Virgin Mary gave a small heart.    "When you go home, my child, you will find that your sister can see," said Jesus.    "And you, my daughter, you will find the love and friendship that you waited for all these years," said Jesus.    "Thank you, Lord Jesus and Virgin Mary," said the children.    And so the children said good-bye and they were taken back home.    "It is the most wonderful Christmas that we ever had in our lives," said the children.    When they came home, Richard's little sister could see and his grandmother was no longer ill. And Lisa had all the love and friendship there was in the world.