The wife of a poor merchant died, leaving him with five children, ranging from age six to fifteen. The older children assumed many of the household chores — cooking, cleaning, and helping the younger children. When the merchant came home at night, he always brought a bag of groceries, food for the next day. After he set the bag on the table, he hugged each child. Before they ate, the father read from the scriptures and the family prayed. Many nights, before bed, the children begged their father to sing with them. He frequently played his guitar and sang quiet folk tunes.

The first Christmas after his wife died, the merchant said to his children, "This year there is insufficient money to buy presents in the store. Instead, we will all draw names, and you will make a present for one of your…