title: Twelve Poems and A Story for Christmas
author:  Geoffrey Philp 
description: Geoffrey Philp is the author of the novel, Benjamin, My Son, a book of short stories, Uncle Obadiah and the Alien, and four collections of poetry, among them, Exodus and Other Poems, Florida Bound, hurricane center, and xango music. He lives in Miami, Florida.
zlib_text: ![The Man Who Loved Christmas and other stories](../Images/cover.png)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **The Man Who Loved Christmas**
  
  
  
  
  
  _and other short stories_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  by
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **Alice Valdal**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **Table of Contents**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Man Who Loved Christmas](../Text/section3.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Attic Treasures](../Text/section4.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Still Small Voice](../Text/section5.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Three Friendly Beasts](../Text/section6.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  [A Cup of Tea](../Text/section7.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  [A Christmas Tale](../Text/section8.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **The Man Who Loved Christmas**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Once upon a time in a land of frozen rivers and drifted snow there lived a man
  who loved Christmas. He was a practical man who worked very hard all year long
  tilling his fields and tending his animals. He hadn’t time for games or play
  or vacations. He worked from sun-up to sun-down and sometimes late into the
  night. There was always more work to do and the man was proud of his work.
  
  
  
  
  
  But every December a change came over the