The old man ended his song,and pulled his ragged wool coat tighter around him against the cold,his knees tucked against his chest.The sound of singing began to reach him through a warm veil of sleep.What woke him was the distinct chime of a bell near at hand.He opened his eyes to behold the entire alley bathed in rose colored light.This light emanated from a figure which stood near the alley entrance of the tavern.It was similar to some of the apparitions which were inclined to come to him when the right balance of darkness and inebriation were attained,but the usual method of dispelling them (a sharp head-shake) failed to work with this character.He at last found his tongue,mumbling "Merry Christmas?"At this the figure came closer,allowing him to see it clearly.

It looked to him like an angel.Its skin and hair were of the same rose hue as the light which surrounded it.The gown it wore was of a silky material that seemed to float in the bright vapor,and its back was adorned with a pair of transparent wings that moved slowly from side to side,bearing the spirit up above the snow of the alley.The old man was struck by the thought that this might be an angel sent to bear him to heaven or to hell,and he was quite prepared to accompany it."Did I die?" he said,and the being smiled down at him.When it spoke,its voice filled him with warmth and he smiled as well.

"You are chosen for a gift this night" the spirit said.He began to speak,but the figure held forth its hand and said "I know your heart's desire." It suddenly spun in the air,and the light brightened until the old man looked away.And then the alley was dark again,but he heard the voice."The gift shall be yours until the dawn." He sat stunned,and (oddly) sober.Then he felt infused with strength and got to his feet.Taking a deep breath,the air seemed strangely altered.Behind him the singing began once more in the tavern,and he felt a powerful desire to be there,sharing the joy and warmth of the people inside.When he reached the front door,he saw his reflection and stepped back in shock.The reflection was strange,but with a hint of familiarity.And then he knew.Forty years of age had been taken away from him by the angel,and he gazed into the eyes of his own reflection as a thirty year old man.

He opened the door and the full light and joyous atmosphere of the Mudcat Tavern embraced him.