THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY By Tessa Harvey It was the end of term and the students were gathered for the final assembly. Christmas songs were sung and beautiful verses were read by some of the pupils about the prophecies of the coming of Jesus in the Book of Isaiah in the Bible. They were written hundreds of years before the actual birth of Jesus. Other pupils read about the new-born King from the stories of Matthew and Luke. Finally the principal spoke. "Jesus was truly human and truly divine, a part of God. He chose to come to earth to be the bridge separating us from the love of God, a Cross to cross the chasm. The bad things we do, the silly mean selfish things keep us from God. But Jesus died to save us. "A manger is really a food bowl. It is bigger than a small tray for bird seed, or a dog or cat bowl. It was big enough for cattle or donkeys - so it was able to hold Jesus as a tiny baby. Jesus loves each of us very...
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THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY By Tessa Harvey Veronica awoke, coughing and spluttering. Someone held a bowl for her and helped her wipe her face clean. She looked up and saw two matrons and shuddered. "There are two of you," she exclaimed, unwisely. "One is enough," Alissa answered somewhat edgily. The girl had seemed horrified. A nurse hurried in to help. She felt Veronica's head. "Good, much cooler," she remarked, cheerily, then whispered to the small girl, "you should thank this lady. Many hours she sits with you to come." Ronnie dutifully mumbled, "thanks." "You gave us a fright," stated matron. Veronica said nothing. "Go on, tell me no-one loves me. Everyone hates me!" matron commented, briskly. "Well today I heard some good news. Want me to tell you, Veronica?" That young lady bit back an unpleasant retort and tried to smile. "My son is coming home with hi...
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THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY By Tessa Harvey Falling helter skelter down the slope, Veronica had banged her head a couple of times. Her last conscious thought had been one of panic. "No-one will find me! I will die." The rescuers came into the woods from near Pearsons' farm. The gardener, Silas Thwaite was with them. Looping a cord around the cat's neck, Simon gently sat him on his feet. Without hesitation, the animal walked stiffly to the edge of a steep slope dotted with ash trees and ferns. Even in the last of the light, scuffed soil and broken plants indicated where the little girl had fallen. Torches were switched on and carefully, Silas and Simon edged towards the overhang of the slope. Young Nicola went with them to aid the girl, carrying the first aid pack. Since she had been nine, Nicola had wanted to be a nurse. Torches from above as well as their own lit the way through the tumbled rocks, trees, grasses and shr...
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THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY By Tessa Harvey Matron Alissa Smith had been calling Brutus for some time. He was never usually late for an evening meal of meat scraps from the canteen, quite often chicken. Slowly he emerged, limping from the darkness of some bushes, looking tired and dishevelled. Ignoring the food, the elderly cat headed for his water bowl and drank thirstily for several minutes, then gulped down some food. The whole school had been searching for Veronica under strict orders not to leave the grounds. The principal came and knocked on the matron's door. "One last check of the woods and we call the police," she said, wearily, "though what is tied around our cat's neck?" It was a very thin piece of sky-blue ribbon. Alissa lifted the animal. "He smells of hart's tongue fern." The cat was struggling to get down, then made for the door, crying and looking back. "I know wh...
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THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY By Tessa Harvey Veronica was kicking the gravel driveway. It was weeks since she had heard from her travelling parents. Gus had met some junior boys, not that much older than he was. Keen to impress, he had pretended not to be interested at all in Ronnie, and she had felt the loss of his presence. The other two girls seemed to have drifted away to be with others of a fairly similar age. It had not occurred to Veronica to question this. The fact that others had tried tactfully to tell her she was argumentative and bossy at times did not sit well with her. She became even more sullen and morose when her teachers chided her for work left undone or done badly and sloppily. This morning she had woken up far too early and stolen down to the kitchen to purloin some supplies. Only the very senior students were allowed to do this and even then it was under supervision. They liked to slit bananas l...
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THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY By Tessa Harvey Just then there was a strident clamour of an electric bell. It shattered the stillness. Aiden and Pamela bolted for the door. They struggled with the knob in their panic, enabling the principal to bar the way out. Jacob grabbed Melissa and headed under the biggest desk, leaving Veronica open-mouthed. It was only a bell! Augustus cradled his arm, looking uncertain. "Calm down," called Mrs. O'Leary. "It is only a practice fire drill. Someone forgot to warn this class. Now line up sensibly near the door. Augustus and Veronica first, please, then Aiden and Pamela." Reluctantly they moved into place. "Now Jacob and Melissa. We go down to the school yard in two's following me. There is a VERY small fire rigged and one of the Junior children will show us how to use one of the school fire extinguishers. Without looking back, the tall woman led the way firmly and the students...
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THE WORTH OF ONE - A C H R I S T M A S STORY By Tessa Harvey "Jesus was born at Christmas." said the principal, firmly ignoring the interruptions. "He is the most important person in all the history of the world." Aiden opened his mouth again, but the principal motioned for him to be silent, and he obeyed. "Jesus is God. He came to earth as a baby, grew up, was loved by many and died a cruel death so he could save us from all the bad things we have ever done. And." she added, raising her voice, looking in turn at each child, "every one of us is guilty of lying or stealing, being mean to others, thinking bad things. I know I am." The children were silent, waiting. Something caused them to listen. The sun shone through the windows and they could hear the faint roar of the ride-on lawn mower. Still they waited. "Jesus died and rose again from the dead. There is no grave for Jesus. He also came to show us the...