Midday today, we begin a series of Stories of the Season notable people from throughout the community and some staff members of Minnesota Public Radio reading their favorite holiday tails in the next half hour will hear stories from Dave Moore of WCCO-TV. Minnesota Public Radio is Liz Hannon reads the Polar Express and adults and read his famous letter from the New York Sun asking the question. Is there a Santa Claus up first day of more weeds Robertson Davies essay from The New York Times book review and titled chestnuts by an open fire old books. We need to read we need rather have Christmas. There are many people happy people that usually appears whose thoughts are Christmas always turn to books.The notion of a Christmas tree with no books under does repugnant and unnatural to them. I had the good luck to be born into such a family and although my brothers and I were happy with such in substantial gifts. Does Gates toboggans in the like we would have been greatly disappointed at the Ben notebooks. My father expected the latest Woodhouse and some vast wad of litical Recollections life in letters of water each page when I was very young and the awesome 6 volumes of Lloyd George's War Memoirs much later. Those are the sorts of things that he and he alone and our family could read and my mother wanted and receive novels of idyllic Rural Life by Mary Webb or Sheila, Kay Smith.For me to stand by for years was the annual collected volume of the English boys magazine Chums through which I chewed Gridley consuming their historical cereal the boy who did wonders in the army of Wellington or the Navy of Nelson the Contemporary cereal the boy whose mother sacrifice to send them to a good school. These are all boarding schools and we emerge Victorious from Scandal but she's been accused of factor secret drinking and carry the school to victory in the great cricket match the comics cereal about disruptive group. Savoy conjurer's boy ventriloquism boy contortion or reduce their schools to chaos and their masters the nervous prostration by their sides putting Japes and Reese's these wondrous boys are not in the least like the boys. I knew in Canada that merely gave him the appeal of the Exotic.In between the pages of the cereals. I read the articles about careers Civil Servant Church organist veterinarian in about time to make a serviceable violin out of a cigar box and some picture where Before Christmas there was always a. Expectancy during which my parents urged me to read a Dickens Christmas Carol every year. I tried and every year Christmas day arrived to find that they got no further than the appearance of Marley's ghost. I was a slow reader moving my lips and hearing every word that I knew the story. It was inescapable at school. No Christmas Pastor. Several children being good going into a reenactment of the cratchits Christmas dinner for the entertainment of parents early in life. I developed a distaste for the I do not think I was an embittered child, but the crutches aggressive worthiness their bravely borne poverty their exultation of that wretched Goose disgusted mean dictionary just like Tiny Tim apart always played by a girl because girls had Superior powers of looking more abundant worthy at the same time and when he tripped God bless us everyone my mental Response was akin to sand Goldman's famous raise include me out. No doubt. This was not a proper state of mind for a child, but there were ways in which I was a tediously improper child. Literally life. I became devoted to the Carol don't ever hold it reconciled. The cratchits. The book is a magical creation Define every ruler taste and it'll actually since a black casting a spell that cannot be resisted. Of course. It's a book that permits us to have our cake and eat it too pestered and be labeled as we all are now it is by organized charity. We rejoice when Scrooge it sends the charity collectors away with a flea in their ear. We are not Stony hearted. We are not deaf to The Cry of the needy but when apparently even know where the society for the relief of the erupted Kelly Philippines since it's an expensive piece of three color printing demanding a hand out right now and no two ways about it. We have a fellow-feeling is Goods may even murmur on the other hand when we have set out the last envelope containing a check how we feel our souls be cleansed as was that of Scrooge on Christmas morning when he woke to find that the three spirits who had visited him. We're creatures of a Redemptive dream wheel of Scrooge and both his faces. It is a measure of Dickens genius that he could write a book of such unabashed sentimentality and yet make it there is a possible so much so indeed that it is scarcely exaggeration to say that. But there are times when genius is uncomfortable company, it nudges and overwhelms. So we may turn to other Christmas books for enjoyment. That is quieter. I am for instance astonish to meet many people do not know what the actor is wonderful day of the Rose in the ring. He wrote it at Christmas in 1854 in Rome to amuse a little American Girl friends who was recovering from malaria. He called it a Fireside pantomime for great and small children and indeed it is like an English Christmas pantomime, but it's good and evil fairies just lost princes. It's extraordinary transformation and it's enchanting likeness of heart, but it is a story of much deeper and why is your qualities than those? The original manuscript illustrated by Factory himself and his most Charming pen and watercolor style is in the Morgan library in New York and it is a little book of transporting Beauty Army production was made in 1947. And if you are very lucky and Noah really good book dealer. You may be able to get money. What did you want a realistic description of what Victorian Christmas is her like look at Chapters 21 to 23 and Anthony trollope's orley Farm or you will find three different groups celebrating the great day and not a gift direct Carol. I'm on man. Christmas is the best time to read ghost stories really good examples of the sort of writing are rare unless I guess that were will but there are Masters and Henry James must be high on any list. What is his Mastery of this otherworldly know something rooted in his father's swedenborgian ism. There's a collection of his ghost stories compiled by Leon and that is truly alarming. It does not make us scream. It makes us look on easily over a shoulder, which is a much subtler. The great and only Henry has a powerful rifle in the Montague Rhodes James who composes ghost stories in the best traditional mode because he wrote them to be read aloud to small groups of friends. My father-in-law had the great luck to hear one or two of these at Cambridge as an undergraduate and he said the effect far exceeded that of any ghost film. He's ever seen. A ghost story cannot survive a Crowder too much light m r James is not making ice cream either who doesn't need but in Old whistle and I'll come to you my lad. He has written the story that never fails to give me the shutter, which is the highest tribute Agosto in exact. I have tried my hand at ghost stories myself. They presented irresistible challenge, but my ghost Were Meant to amuse rather than to frighten try I have never understood why a ghost must be a miserable creature but is a funny ghost true ghost. Why not? To write a Christmas story without believing in Christmas without that is to say giving some Creedence to its religious origin and its Transcendence spirit is I think and a possibility and yet and yet what Splendid gifts the Imp of the perverse is brought to the foot of the Christmas tree who would wish to be without Robert benchley Christmas afternoon done in the manner is not the spirit of Dickens. That's the entire title of the Banksy piece and when she tells us dragging devising all we which gives rise to the Yarns Niles and thinly veiled insults that are too often heard at the family Christmas party. NSA problems Christmas playlist waiting for Sandy which stands Clifford or Dex on his head and gives him a hearty Shake would we be without it and a Jamaican Christmas Story in which a great-hearted Infidel of jewelry. Salesman gives a vast inclusive Christmas party for the bums of Baltimore the point of which is that they do not have to be grateful or filled with Christmas spirit or repent for their sins, but the bombs are slaves a tradition and ritual and in the mountains of turkey the dirty burlesque show in the Lemmings at the brink of the Abyss to do the accustomed thing to confess to sing hymns. the way of the high in minded into Dollars hired No, we would not wish to be with all these anti-christmas Delights. Ione favorite book for the season is no longer the Carol my children have children of their own. Anyway, I know that book by heart every year I return to Max beard balms Christmas garland, truly the most brilliant most hilarious book of parodies in our language as with the rose in the ring. I am continually meeting people who do not know it. It is assumed by many. Is that their invitations of notable Raiders must have an acid aftertaste by Sting and deride The Originals the great Paradise, however, and macksburg, surely first among their small number right from the affection and admiration that are not however, holy overwhelming they can see the clay in the foot of the idle, but they know that it does not go much above the ankle. Schlitterbahn rates better days of Henry James record-keeping HG Wells GK Chesterton Thomas Hardy goldsworthy Conrad George Bernard Shaw are 17 and all and everyone has a marvelous indication of its original but seeing slightly Orion observing a mirror with a horrible in it. My favorite is Fond Hearts asked you which parent he's a writer now virtually unknown but I'm Mighty selar in his day and Maurice Hewlett author of The Forest lovers and the foremost exponent of that be jammed in the days in style to start a collection of beer bomb called to Cherie. You do not need to know you lit to find it enchanting and Delirious Dave Moore WCCO TV reading the Robertson Davies essay chestnuts by an open fire old books. We need at Christmas today at midday. We're beginning the first of the three days featuring stories for the season is continuous tomorrow between 1 and 1:30 and then Wednesday beginning at 12 noon full 90 minutes stories for the Seas will continue now with Minnesota Public Radio is Liz Hannon reading the Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. It's a story encouraging us to truly believe in the magic of the season. On Christmas Eve many years ago. I lay quietly in my bed. I did not wrestle the sheets. I breathe slowly and silently I was listening for a sound a sound of friend had told me I'd never hear the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh. There is no Santa my friend had insisted, but I knew he was wrong late that night. I did hear sounds though, not of ringing Bells. From outside came the sound of hissing Steam and squeaky metal. I looked through my window and saw a train standing perfectly still in front of my house. It was wrapped in an apron of steam snowflake spell lightly around it a conductor stood at the open door. One of the cars. He took a large pocket watch from his best then looked up at my window. I put on my slippers and robe. I tiptoed downstairs and out the door. I ran up to him. Well, he said are you coming where I asked? Why did the North Pole of course was his answer? This is the Polar Express. I took his outstretched hand and he pulled me aboard the train was filled with other children all in their pajamas and nightgowns. We sang Christmas carols and 8 candies with nougat centers as white as snow. We drink hot. Cocoa is thick and Rich has melted chocolate bars outside the lights of towns and villages flickered in the distance as a Polar Express race northward. Soon there were no more lights to be seen we travel through cold Dark Forest Orlean wolves Road and white tailed rabbit head from are trained as it's funded through the quiet Wilderness. We climbed the mountain so high it seemed as if we would scrape the moon but the Polar Express never slow down faster and faster. We ran along rolling over Peaks and through valleys like a car on a roller coaster. The mountains turned into Hills the hills to a snow-covered plain. We cross the barren desert of ice the great polar ice cap lights appeared in the distance. They looked like the lights of a strange ocean liner sailing on a frozen sea there. So the conductor is the North Pole. The North Pole it was a huge City standing alone at the top of the world filled with factories where every Christmas toy was made at first. We saw no elves. They're gathering at the center of the city the conductor told us that is where Santa will give the first gift of Christmas who receives the first gift. We all asked the conductor answered. He will choose one of you look the elves search Ranger closer to the center of the North Pole. We slowed to a crawl so crowded with the streets with Santa's helpers when the Polar Express could go no farther. We stopped and the conductor lettuce outside. We press through the crowd to the edge of a large open circle in front of us stood Santa sleigh. The reindeer were excited. They prance and paste ring in the silver sleigh bells that was hung from their harnesses. It was a magical sound like nothing I've ever heard. Across the circle the elves moved apart and Santa Claus appeared the elves cheered wildly. He marched over to us and pointed to me said let's have this fellow here. He jumped into his slay the conductor handed me up. I sat on Santa's knee and he asked know what would you like for Christmas? I knew that I could have any gift I could imagine but the thing I wanted most for Christmas was not inside Santa's giant bag. What I wanted more than anything was one Silver Bell from Santa's sleigh. When I asked Santa smiled, then he gave me a hug and told him how to cut a bell from a reindeers harness the elf toasted up to Santa. He stood holding the Bell high above him and called out the first gift of Christmas. Clock Struck midnight as the Elsword their approval Santa handed the Bell to me and I put it in my bathrobe pocket the conductor help me down from the sleigh Santa shouted out. The reindeers named and cracked his whip his team charged forward and climbed into the air. Santa Circle once above us and disappeared in the cold dark polar sky as soon as we're back inside the Polar Express the other children ask to see the bell. I reached into my pocket. But the only thing I felt was a whole. I had lost the Silver Bell from Santa Claus's sleigh. Let's hurry outside and look for it. One of the children said But the train gave a sudden Lurch and started moving. We were on our way home. It broke my heart to lose the Bell. When the train reached my house, I sadly left the other children. I stood at my doorway and waved. Goodbye. The conductor said something from a moving train, but I couldn't hear him. I yelled out. He kept his hands around his mouth Christmas. The Polar Express let out a loud Blast from its whistle and sped away. On Christmas morning my little sister Sarah and I opened our presents when it looked as if everything had been unwrapped Syrah found one last small box behind the tree it had my name on it. Inside was the Silver Bell. There was note found this on the seat of my sleigh fix that hole in your pocket signed Mister C about It made the most beautiful sound my sister and I ever heard but my mother said, oh, that's too bad. Yes said my father it's broken. When I'd shaken the Bell my parents had not heard a sound. At one time most of my friends could hear the Bell. But as years past it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear it Sweet Sound. Though I've grown old the Bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe. Minnesota public radio's Liz Hannon reading the Polar Express conclude this portion of our seasonal readings for the season with one of the best-known. I think Minnesota Public Radio is Dan Olson the reading is there a Santa Claus the famous letter and editorial which appeared in the New York Sun newspaper. The following article originally appeared on the editorial page of the New York Sun September 21st, 1897 and was reprinted from many years in the December 24th editions of the newspaper. We presented in only slightly altered form. We take pleasure in answering at once and that's prominently the communication below expressing at the same time. Our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of the Sun. Dear editor. I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus papa says if you see it in the sun it's so please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus, Virginia? Virginia your little friends are wrong. They've been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see they think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little Minds all mines Virginia, whether they be adults or children are little in this great Universe of ours. The human is a mere insect an ant in his intellect as compared with the boundless World about him as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of Truth and knowledge Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus exist as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist. And you know that they abound and give to your life its highest Beauty and joy a last how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus it would be as dreary as if there were no virginias. There would be no childlike Faith then no poetry. No romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment except incense and site the Eternal Light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus you might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your parents to hire people to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus. But even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. the most real things in the world are those that neither children nor adults can see Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn of course not but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the Wonders that are unseen and unseeable in the world. You tear apart the baby's Rattle and you see what makes the noise inside but there is a veil covering the Unseen World which not the strongest person not even the United strength of all of the strongest people that ever lived could tear apart only face fancy poetry love romance can push aside that curtain and View and picture the supernal beauty and Glory Beyond. Is it all real? Virginia in all this world. There is nothing else real and abiding. No, Santa Claus. Thank God he lives and he lives forever a thousand years from now, Virginia Mae 10,000 years from now. He'll continue to make glad the heart of childhood. Is there a Santa Claus famous letter and editorial which appeared in the New York Sun newspaper read by Dan Olson Dan and Vicki Olson's daughter Anna red, Virginia's letter you been listening to stories for the season on midday. Join us again between 1 and 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. For more holiday readings. Tomorrow's program, including the poem a cup of Christmas tea by look writer, Hey Arnold days stories of the Season or proofs by Greta coming him. Thanks for joining us. Thanks also to technical director Randy Johnson. Midday produced today by Bruce McDonald, this is Mark. I stood thanks for listening. 1:30 is a time you listening to the news and information service at Minnesota Public Radio. That's bringing Mike Moss now to continue on with the afternoons programming.