Angel on the tree

This angel is the first tree-topper I remember. I have a picture of it from Christmas 1968. I remember Dad lifting me so I could place Angel on the tree. Since I have black hair, I always had a special affinity for that angel. And, of course, I was always such a perfect little angel! (Please ignore the horns holding up the halo.)

I always looked forward to placing it on the tree. My angel made the tree mine.

As the years passed, Angel began looking rather shabby. Her face had a large smudge on one side. Her robe became increasingly dingy. Her wings were dirty.

Finally, my mother had had enough of her rather pathetic appearance. I helped her put up and decorate her Christmas tree that year. When we pulled Angel out of the box, she told me to throw her away.

“She’s worn out,” Mother said. “Get rid of her.”

Mother wasn’t very sentimental about such items.

But I am.

I was horrified. I didn’t want to throw away my angel! “Do you mind if I take her home? I think I can clean her up and use her to top my little tree.” I didn’t have a good tree topper for that tree anyway and what topper could be better than Angel?

I brought her home, carefully washed her robe and gently scrubbed her face and wings. Angel was as good as new. I was thrilled to place her atop my tree. She now presides over our dining room every Christmas, our angel we have seen on high. Now if I could just get her to sing “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”