Good evening. Welcome to the Just Sleep podcast. I'm Tasia, your host.

Every week, I will read you an old story to help you relax, put the stressful day behind you, and drift off to sleep.

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A Christmas Dream and How It Came True by Louisa May Alcott.

So lie down, close your eyes, and let me read you a story.

I'm so tired of Christmas. I wish there'd never be another one, exclaimed a discontented looking little girl, as she sat idly watching her mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be given why effie what a dreadful thing to say you're as bad as old scrooge and i'm afraid something will happen to you as it did to him if you don't care for dear christmas answered mamma almost dropping the silver horn she was filling with

delicious candies. Who was screwed? What happened to him? asked Effie, with a glimmer of interest

in her listless face. As she picked out the sourest lemon drop she could find, for nothing sweet

suited her just then.

He was one of Dickens' best people, and you can read the charming story someday.

He hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how dear and beautiful it was,

and made him a better man.

I shall read it, for I like dreams, and have a few many curious ones myself.

But they don't keep me from being tired of Christmas, said Effie, poking discontentedly,

among the sweeties for something worth eating.

Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?

asked Mama anxiously. Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the same,

and there isn't any more surprise about it. I always find heaps of goodies in my stocking,

don't like some of them, and soon get tired of those I do like. We always have a great dinner and I eat too much and feel ill next day.

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