Thank you, Les,
and group, many thanks.
Season's greetings, of course,
to the voices of Christmas.
We've come now to a
moment very near
and very dear to the hearts of all of us.
Some time ago we asked
for letters
from children under 12
telling us in their own words
just what Christmas meant to them.
Of all the letters,
and many of them were
Truly excellent, we selected
one from a young lady
who lives at the Desi Scott home
in Pine Ridge, Kentucky,
which I think tells very sincerely,
very simply,
the true meaning of Christmas
to her.
As Christmas belongs to the children,
so does this moment belong
to Dolores Short,
who symbolizes all the children
the world over
on this holy night.
I'd like you to hear Dolores Short
of Pine Ridge, Kentucky.
I'd like you to listen to her
read her own heartwarming letter.
Dear Bing Crosby,
I'm a girl of eleven years.
I've lived in a children's home
since I was a baby,
and I just love it. Christmas has
always meant a lot to us.
Friends send us such nice gifts.
What does Christmas mean to me?
Days of excitement. Secrets.
Making gifts.
Hiding gifts.
Making cookies.
Practicing with the choir.
Going to the woods for holly mistletoe
and Christmas trees.
Decorating the tree in the house,
listening to the Christmas story,
and then telling it
over to the little ones.
Singing carols on Christmas Eve,
then hanging up stockings,
then the big day!
Nearly a hundred of us gathered
in the dining room
to open up the beautiful
packages
and under the tree.
But what does Christmas really
mean to me?
It means the birthday of a tiny
baby
who came to Earth to bring joy,
peace, and salvation to men.
Even though there wasn't room for him in Bethlehem,
and he had to sleep in a manger,
there's room for him today
in children's hearts.
Your friend, Dolores Short.
Well, that was a fine letter,
Dolores,
and beautifully read, too.
Certainly, we must all be grateful to Dolores Short,
don't you think,
for giving us a whole lot
to think about this Christmas season?