Once there was a boy named Gottlieb. His father had died when he was a baby. Although his mother sat doing needlework (缝纫), she found it difficult to 1 food and clothing for them.
Gottlieb was not old enough to2. He often sat at his mother's feet except school days and 3 the things he would do for his mother. Every time the mother 4 her boy, she was comforted. The 5 that she was working for him often gave force to her 6 fingers.
One night Gottlieb saw his mother was more than usually 7. She kept sighing (叹息), with tears falling down. The boy had been old enough to read the 8. He thought, “Christmas will be here soon. Mum is thinking of what a sad time it will be.”
What could Gottlieb give to9 his mother? He could only 10 and dream. However, as Gottlieb sat dreaming, a happy 11 came to him. Walking out of the 12 he took paper and a pen. He wrote a 13.
Soon Christmas came, and Gottlieb 14 very early. But others were up before him, for, to his surprise, he saw a 15. His mother looked surprised too. His 16 eyes soon saw other unusual objects, wood, food and beautiful clothes he had never even 17.
Then the stranger turned to Gottlieb with a smile, “The postman sent your letter to Father Christmas wrongly to me and I 18 to read it. The gifts you asked for are here, but they come from my hand.” 19, Gottlieb answered, “Thank you, sir. You're the 20 Father Christmas, for he put the thought into your heart.”
