This is not the usual holiday tale of the cherubic favorite of children everywhere.

For evidence that even the most commercial Christmas phenomenon can serve a higher purpose, consider this holiday tale.

It is one of the handful of longer duck adventure stories by Barks to include Gladstone, who mostly appeared in the 10 pagers and holiday tales.

She summarized that the film was a "heartwarming holiday tale that lovingly illustrates the power of faith and the fact that miracles can and do still happen."

Well, this is New York, and so let's rewind and start again with this holiday tale.

Their holiday tale started last week.

In the holiday tale about the Birds (the surname of a human family), the child is named Carol because the music of the Christmas service reaches her mother's ears.

Strangely enough, no one wanted to meet us to hear our holiday tales or to see our photographs for some weeks.

Every hour the staff will read holiday tales, including Rechenka's, about an old woman, Babushka, who is famous for her lovely Easter eggs.

Is this holiday tale just too icily hip for its own good?