In 1941, a young father can't afford to buy his 5-year-old daughter the bicycle she expects Santa Claus to bring her for Christmas.

A young father struggling to make ends meet on a Depression-era salary can't afford to buy his 5-year-old daughter what she's expecting Santa Claus to bring her for Christmas. The surprise, uplifting ending is guaranteed to put even the most embittered Scrooge into the Christmas spirit.—Beth Brickell