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  A Touch of Spring

  Spring came today

  And walked with me

  Up the hill,

  Breathing softness in the air,

  Opening gates within my head.

  The birds felt his presence,

  Pouring forth symphonies

  Of unrestrained welcome.

  It was mid-January

  And he just came

  To have a peep,

  Trailing behind him

  Along the valley

  Wisps of purple veils.

  About the Author

  Alice Taylor

  I love Christmas. It’s a love affair that began in childhood and never faded. Where I grew up, on a farm in the hills of north Cork, Christmas revolved around the home. My mother created memorable Christmases. She believed in the sacredness of the season and celebrated it with respect for its origins. She prepared for it as for a royal visit. This is what I learned from her. Now I celebrate in a similar way here in my home in Innishannon. Our Christmas memories, like young trees, are planted in childhood and over the years sprout many branches. That memory tree has grown branches that for me trace the changing face of Christmas down through the decades.

  Recent Books by Alice Taylor

  And Time Stood Still

  The Gift of a Garden

  Do You Remember?

  The Women

  Tea and Talk

  For a complete list see www.obrien.ie

  Copyright

  This eBook first published 2017 by Brandon,

  an imprint of The O’Brien Press Ltd,

  12 Terenure Road East, Rathgar,

  Dublin 6, D06 HD27, Ireland

  Tel: +353 1 4923333; Fax: +353 1 4922777

  E-mail: [email protected]

  Website: www.obrien.ie

  First published 2017

  The O’Brien Press is a member of Publishing Ireland.

  ISBN: 978–1–84717–985–2

  Parts of this text were first published as The Night before Christmas, but have been substantially rewritten and incorporated into this new text.

  Text © Alice Taylor 2017

  Photographs © Emma Byrne

  Typesetting, layout, editing, design © The O’Brien Press Ltd

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or in any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.