Once upon a time there was a little Lebanese village, nestled in the wooded flank of a marvelous mountain. It was born one evening (or was it a morning?), now buried in long-past ages, no one could say just when.

Ah, contemplate within yourselves the six hundred nests of Kfar Sama... They were lowly, but so much in harmony with their landscapes, so peaceful among the trees and flowers... One went from one to the other on little paths lined with bindweed, up odd-shaped stairs and through exquisite little gardens.

With so many other little villages on earth, naive and old-fashioned like their landscapes, Kfar Sama kept a child's heart which beat at the rhythm of its faith, of its tenderness, and of nature; a heart which had the patience of winters that hold seeds...

Karim - have I already told you? - was born one winter evening. He first opened his eyes on a world dressed in white. That particular winter the north wind was plucking at the clouds more than usual.

That winter Kfar Sama added up almost as many snowmen as inhabitants. And the snowballs, thrown by the children, whirled through the air dense as snowflakes.

Once again the earth awakens from its long winter sleep. Life is born again on the plains; softly it climbs up the mountains...

Soon they will take off their ermine mantle and again put on their tunics with the colors of the rainbow.

Oh! This smell of undershrubs and happy childhood! What a sweet gift, so good and so easy to share. Are these only the poor joys of poor people?

Somewhere in Kfar Sama a rooster crowed. Jeddo awoke immediately and prayed: "Blessed are you, O God, for this new day. May we, with your help, live through it in goodness, beauty and peace. Amin"

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