New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-12-25
Lord Mayor Whit:ington,) but to be a learned
and tender shepherd of men.


Another still more touching story is that Of
tho holy Rupert. Rupert was the only child of
princely house, and had something to give be.
side apples. But his generosity and human
love were ssch that, as child, he could nsver see
poor children suffering without despoiling himself
oil all he had with him 10 their behalf. His mo.
ther was, at first, dispeased at this, but when he
replied, "thsy arc tiny children too" her reproofs
yielded to tears.
One time, when he had given away his Goa.
to poor child, he got wsaried and belsted on
his homcward way. He lay down awhile and
fell asleep. Then re dreamed that he was on
.ivsr-shore, and saw mild and noble old man
bathing many children. After he had plunged
them into the water, he would place them on
beautiful island, where they looked white and
glorious as little angels. Rupert was seized
with strong desire to join them, and begged the
old man to battle him, also, in the stream. But
he was answered, at is not yet timen Just
then rainbow spanned the island, and ia its
arch was enthroned the child Jesus, dressed in a
coat that Rupert knew 10 be his own And the
Child said to the others, See this coat; It is
one my brother Rupert has Just sent to me- He
has given US many gifts from his love: shall We
not ask him to join US here 2" And they shout
cd a musical eyes," and the child started from
his dream. But he had lain TOO long on the
damp bank of the river without bis coat. A
cold and fever soon sent him to join the band of
his brothers in their home.
These are legends, superstitions, will you say
But, in casting aside the shell, have we retained
the kcrnel2 The image Of the child Jesus is NOT
seen in the open street does his heart 6nd other
means to express itself therel Professionalism did
not mean, we suppose, to doaden the spirit in ex-
Guiding the form?
The thought OF Jesus, as a child, has great
weight with children who have learned to think
Of him at all. In thinking of HIM, they form en-
image al that the morning of pure aud ervent
life should be and bring. In former days knew
q boy artist, whose genius, at that time, showed
high promise. He was not rnoie than fourteen
years old, a slight, pale boy, with beaming eye.
The hoPes and sympathy of friends, gained by
his talent, had furnished him with a studio aad
orders for some pictures. He had picked up
from the streets boy still younger and poorer
than himself to take Of the room and prepare
his colors, and the two boys were as content in
their relation as Michael Angelo with his Ufbi.
no. |! you went there you found exposed TO
view many pretty pictures, GA Girl with
Dove" "The Guitar Player" and such subjects
as are commonly supposed to interest at his age.
But, hid in corner, and never shown, unless to
the beggar page, OF some most confidential friend,
was the real object of his love and pride, tho
slowly growing work of secret hours. The sub
ject of this picture was Christ teaching the Doc
tors. And in those Doctors he had expressed all
he had already observed of The pedantry and shall
low conceit of these in whom mature years have
not unfoldcd the SOUL And in the child all he
felt that early youth should be aud seek, though,
alas. his own feet failed him on the difficult
road. This one record of the youth OF Jesus had,
at least, been much to his mind.
In earlier days, the little saints thought they
best initiated the Emanuel by giving apples and
coats; but We know not why, in our age, that
esteems itself so enlightened, they should not be-
come also tho givers of spiritual gifts. We see
in them, continually, impulses that only require
a good direction to effect infinite good. See the
little girls at work for foreign missions that IS
not useless. They devote the time to pur-
nose that is not selfish the horizon of their
thoughts is extended. But they are perfectly ca
pable of becoming home missionaries as WE'LL
The principle of stewardship would make them So
have seen little girl of thirteen, who had
much service, too, to do, for hard working
mother, in the midst of circle of poor child
rem whom she gathered daily to morning
school. She took them from the door-steps and
the ditch; she washed their hands and faces;
she taught them to read and to sew and she
told them little stories that had delighted her
own infancy. In her face, though in feature and
complexion plain, was something, already OF
Madonna sweetness, and it had no way ecllpsed
the gayety of childhood.
| have seen boy scarce older, brought up Tor
some time with the SONS OF lahorers, who so soon
as he found himself possessed OF superior ao.
yantages, thought not of SURPRISING Others oot Oh
oycellipq and then imparting, and he was able
=, do il, If the other boys had less leisure ana
could pay for less instruction, they did not suffer
for it. He could not be happy unless they also
could enjoy Milton and pass from nature 10
natural philosophy. He performed, though IN a
childish way, and in no Grecian garb' the part
of Anolle amid the herdsmen of Admetus.
The cause of Education would bs indefinitely
fur,hered, If, ia addition to formal means, lisie
were but this principle awakened IN the hearts
of the young, that what they have they must
l..,,u An arc not natural instructors, but
large proportion are; and those who DO possess
snas talent are the best possible teachers to
those little Younger than themselves. iney
have moro patience with the o'llcui''es aI ~
have lately left behind, and enjoy 'hsif poWs' =.
assisting more than those farther removed III
ace and knowledge do.