“Silent night … holy night … all is calm …” The young voices rose in heartbreaking unison before a small audience of mostly elderly churchgoers, but all was not, in fact, calm.

Dark looks were shooting back and forth between the choir director and two recalcitrant children. Shortly before the group of singers had stepped to the front of the room to begin caroling, the choir director had tapped two 10-year-olds on their shoulders and asked them to be ready to sing certain verses solo. It was an honor, and well deserved: Both the boy and girl had exceptionally pure, sweet voices.

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