A BIT OF CHRISTMAS WHIMSY

Christmas comes but once a year and so do books like this (more often by Elizabeth Goudge) to raise your sights and your spirits. Roosevelt, a little black boy from a tenement goes to buy a hand mirror ($1.97) for his mother; Jimmy, who needs a few fixes to tide him over the Yuletide tries and fails to get them; and finally rich Mrs. Lockroy, all alone in the world, after conversing with her deceased husband, goes out and buys herself her only present -- a diamond and emerald necklace. The three meet in a church where Jimmy steals Roosevelt's package, Mrs. Lockroy replaces it with hers, and all works out better for each. A tinkling reminder of The Gift of the Magi but a pleasant enough seasonal handwarmer.