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 of the stressful day behind you and drift off to sleep.

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Tonight I will be reading The Poor Counts Christmas

by Frank R. Stockton.

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

Very many years ago there lived a noble count, who was one of the kindest and best-hearted men in the world.

Every day in the year he gave to the poor and helped the friendless, but it was at the

Merry Christmas time that his goodness shone brightest.

He had even vowed a vowed that, as far as he was able to make them, so,

every child he knew should be happy Christmas Day. Early every Christmas morning, each boy and

girl in the neighbourhood, who was old enough, and not too old, came to the castle of the Count

Cormo, and there the Count and Countess

welcomed them all, rich or poor, and through the whole day there were games and festive merry-making

and good things to eat, and fun of every kind. And besides all this, there was a grand

Christmas tree with a present on it for each of the eager, happy youngsters who stood around it.

But although the good count had a castle and rich lands, he gave away so much money that he became poorer and poorer,

so that at last he and his wife often found it hard to get the clothes and food

they absolutely needed. But this made no difference with the Christmas festivities. The Count was

...