Cinderclaws and Merry Christmus discovered the indigent family living in an abandoned railroad shack in the middle of winter. The time was just after World War II; the location was in the poor rural South, where a third of the population found living far from easy. Needs were great, and opportunities were few.

While many of the animals were wary and fearful of having a human family move into the railroad yard, all were curious to learn about this new family in their midst. So, with Christmas coming, the animals agreed to organize and create a meaningful season for the human family. Through the generosity of the animal citizens, all managed to identify the needs of the family and set about to meet them. With concern and a bit of timidity, they bravely set a strategy to meet the human family and share their gifts.

As the animal citizens and the human family began to share memories of how they came to live together and their early Christmas experiences, they realized how similar everyone's wants and desires could be. Little beginnings were able to bring happy endings. They learned how a shared peace could shape the behavior of all creatures, one to another. And now, Merry tells her story.