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 two short stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman.

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

Where the Christmas Tree grew.

It was afternoon recess at number four district school in Warner.

There was a heavy snowstorm, so everyone was in the warm school room, except a few adventurous

spirits who were tumbling about in the snowdrifts out in the yard, getting their clothes wet

and preparing themselves for chidings at home.

Their shrill cries and shouts of laughter floated into the schoolroom, but the small group

near the stove did not heed them at all.

There were five or six little girls and one boy.

The girls, with the exception of Jenny Brown, were trim and sweet in their winter dresses and neat school aprons. They perched

on the desks and the arms of the settee with careless grace like birds. Some of them had their arms

linked. The one boy lounged against the blackboard. His dark, straight-profiled face was all aglow as he talked.

His big brown eyes gazed soberly and impressively at Jenny, then gave a little dance in the direction

of the other girls.

Yes, it does, honest, said he. The other girls nudged one another softly, but Jenny Brown

...