He found the letter in his chimney
in an envelope yellowed with age
It was addressed simply to Santa Claus...
hand written...just one page...
She asked Santa to bring her brother a wagon
and as for her request...
‘something nice for me,’ she wrote,
‘whatever you think is best.’
She signed it:
From your loving Friend, Mary
then she thought and added more...
Her final appeal to Santa...
P.S. Do not forget the poor.
The letter was dated 1907
it had been in the chimney for a hundred years
the script is a little weathered
but the message still endears.
He keeps the letter in a frame
to remind him of her generosity...
and every year...a present for Mary
sits wrapped...neath his Christmas tree.