Letter: Do the young know any Christmas Carols? Any? At all?

Letter: One night before Christmas my doorbell rang twice. The first time in the snow stood two young teenage boys, dressed in Santa hats and beards. They started to sing: "We wish you a Merry Christmas", managed the first four lines and then waited expectantly.

The second time four different lads without hats and beards appeared, but the song was the same.

The conversation went the same way also: "Don't you know any carols?".

"Jingle Bells?" they inquired.

That's a Christmas song," I said. "I mean carols."

"Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer?" I shook my head.

"Tell us one, and we'll see if we know it."

"While Shepherds Watched. . . ?" Blank looks.

"Once in Royal David's City. . . ?" Blank looks again.

"Silent Night. . . ?"

Their faces brightened and they started to sing. After the second line they petered out.

"That's not my kind of music", said the younger of the two.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star?" said one of the four, helpfully. "Isn't it about a star?"

I said: "I suppose you'll think me an old Scrooge (I don't think they'd ever heard of him) but I don't think that what you've sung so far is worth any money."

I gave them some chocolate bars, thanked them for coming and wished them a happy Christmas. I told them their reward would be greater if they came back with a proper carol.

One of the four had a good idea: "I'll download one from the internet."

These bright and lively lads had no idea of what Christmas is really all about. They may have the latest Blackberry, computer, iPod, etc, but I was saddened at how poor and disadvantaged their lives really are.

Name and address supplied