Strings of popcorn and cranberries decorated the big pine tree outside Widow Frazier's house. She had been doing this ever since her husband had passed away five years prior. They had, had no children so she was totally alone. The birds and squirrels that came to her tree for their Christmas treats were great entertainment for her. She would watch them for hours from her window as they scurried and flitted to and fro gathering and eating her treats.
Neighbors felt sorry for Widow Frazier being alone on during the Christmas season. But she never felt alone with watching her wild friends, and watching children on the sidewalk outside. Sometimes she would wave to the children and they would wave back. Nobody thought to invite her to join them for a family meal. They just felt sorry for her and went about their own lives. One spring a family of crows had a nest in the tree. She put out food for them and had a bird bath of water available to them.
Then something strange happened.
She began to find trinkets on the porch. A watch one day, a ring another. Sometimes nothing more than pieces of string or gum wrappers. Some days things of value. The birds in appreciation of her special attention to them, had been stealing whatever shiny or colorful thing they could find and dropping it on the porch. Widow Frazier knew that she couldn't keep the valuable things and put up a notice in the local grocery store asking people to stop by and identify what they had lost. People came around to her home and retrieved their treasures. They got to know Mrs. Frazier and liked her quite well, finding that she was a gracious and kind person. Soon she was invited to join in family meals and activities. The next Christmas season, she was invited to parties and gatherings of all sorts. She always brought something homemade to share. She was never alone for the Holidays again.