The Christmas Candle

[match ignition]

[NARRATOR]

There's a story that has been

passed down for centuries,

from father to son.

Legend has it a

certain man came

to live in the

village of Gladbury.

He was a good-hearted man,

devoted to his

family and his craft.

The candle maker brought

light to the entire village.

But he longed to give them more.

Life was hard in Gladbury,

and the people had

become disheartened.

[NARRATOR] Night and day,

the candle maker worked,

pouring his heart and

his prayers into each candle.

But on the first

Sunday of Advent,

all he had left to give...

was a single prayer,

not for himself, but for

Gladbury, for his son,

and for all the sons

and daughters to come.

Silence was the only answer

he would receive that night.

Or so it seemed.

[NARRATOR] An angel

blessed a single candle.

The heavenly gift was given

to the ones who needed it most,

with the simple instruction:

Light this and pray.

[NARRATOR] The children

hoped for an answered prayer.

But what they

received was a miracle.

On Christmas Eve,

the village rejoiced

upon hearing of

their change of fortune,

for such things do happen.

And from them, legends are born.

As the tale is told,

every twenty-five years,

the angel visits

The Haddington Chandlery,

and every time

a prayer is answered.

But even the greatest

stories must come to an end.

Much has changed

in two hundred years.

In a world illuminated

by modern marvels,

who needs the

light of a simple candle?

[bustling about and voices]

[YOUNG BOY]

I'm starving.

[ABNER]

How are you'! Hello.

[ABNER]

How we doing'! Alright?

[DAVID]

Yeah, very good, yeah.

Hope they'll be bringing

some more soon.

[ABNER]

Bless you little lady.

[GIRL]

ls it soup again'!

[ABNER]

God bless you, sir.

[MISS FOSTER] There's no

longer a place for you here!

[RUTH]

Please!

[MISS FOSTER] I'm sorry,

but there's nothing I can do.

Orders came straight

from the top.

[MISS FOSTER]

You should learn to keep your

affections to yourself,

Ruth Goodchild!

[MISS FOSTER] And don't even

think about coming back!

[WOMAN PASSERBY]

Serves you right.

[Ruth begins to weep]

Abner, will you take

over for a second?

Yes. God bless you, sir.

[Ruth weeping]

Hello, miss.

Miss.

What do you want'!

I only mean to help.

[DAVID] It's no Buckingham

Palace, Miss Goodchild.

But you'll be safe here.

And with three meals

a day, you won't go hungry.

When the baby comes, what then'!

Well, perhaps there's someone...

No.There's nobody.

Or rather there was,

but he found someone else

and dismissed me

from work today.

[DAVID]

Don't lose hope, miss.

We'll find a place

for you and your baby.

[ABNER]

God bless you, sir.

[LADY CAMDON]

Reverend Richmond?

Friend of yours?

I have no idea.

God bless you.

Reverend David Richmond.

So you really

have left the pulpit.

Nonsense.This is my pulpit now.

Soup, soap, and salvation.

And please,

I'm only known as David here.

Have we met?

We might have, had you not

rejected my last three letters.

Ah, yes, Lady Camdon

of Gladbury, in the flesh.

But I'm sorry that you've

traveled so far only

to hear me decline your

offer once again.

My place is here,

helping the needy.

You, sir, have you

heard this man preach?

Can't say that I have.

[LADY CAMDON] Villagers

flocked to London to hear him.

I once sat by a fisherman

who rode his boat

twelve miles for one sermon.

It was along time ago.

But I'll never forget.

David Richmond, miracle man.

In the midst of

my own great loss,

it was your words

that revived my faith.

Any able bodied man

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