The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-26

I '" ~'"AyS &V"--oNGVuEu
loving. even when he love |. shown in
such ~ays that we DO not clearly zee i,
at once. Come closer 10 me, Pran,s.
franis saw IN his mother. face a look
OF socb deep tenderness, tha, bis soul
grew full. lie ,cok his own little seat.
and sa' cio-e bead. her, and leaned hi.
bead against her kne~. AID the ,ao,Ler
saad geally---
The Chrin child has given you Leau.
tifsi sihs. my frsni. he hss given you
life, snd warm, earnest heart be has
given you a mother. Who love. You 80
dearly home 10 shelter YOU he give.
Us the Esh: of day, and all the z lorrous
things II reveals, and the ailler beau.
ty of the night, aud be gives. more
than all. the hops Of heaven, aad a
knowledge Of the path to it. Are no,
these grea, sifts, Fran,, Z"
Yes"
So she went on:
| These are The gifts We most need 10
make U, happy; others psdy be good
iur Us, hut the Christ child knows bet.
ter than We do what We need. If il
were good for Us, be would give US all
we wish for ; but then We nigh, no,
make good use Of his gifts, or we
might & ow proud OF them. or be 50
wrapped up in the gifts as to forge, the
Giver. All my Fran,z. lc, US only
ask for wha. is best for US to have and
he will give il, {; he loves TO give, and
only refuses what will hurt us"
Again little Franlz had ber. his head
on hi. hand hut now it wa, not sadness
only thought, tina, was in his face, and
he asked
How can we know what is best
wba, TO ask for z"
If il Is no. given, think ,ha, i, /,
best withheld, and be patient; if i; is
given, BE- thankful, and use the gif, a.
right. See, franiz r
And the mother arose and took from
close, small sum Of money.
"IAis,' she continued, is ali the
money ! have /; if any OF this is spent
for toys or play, l shall not have any to
buy shoes for YOU nor for me, and by
tins | know the Chris,-chld deems i,
bes, for me TO be conten, with wha, is
most necessary. aud to give up the pleas.
urc of buying you beautiful golden frui,
and lighted tapers.'
/" Could not do without shoes: ask
ed Fran'z. I" would 90 so many er.
rands for the old coJblcr, tha, he would
mend my old ones; and oil ! if tina,
would make il right"
"Au1 L. should do without shoes Z"
asked the mother.
Frantz looked down a, the worn-ou,
shoes she had on, and ag.;A his heat
was flll.
"Ohl ~. mother; you must have
shoes But oh how happy the boys
mus, he whose mothers have shoes. and
can give them Christmas.trees, too"
Long did Franrz lie awake tha, night
and ponder over all his mother had said,
and -, last "A thought sprang into his
mind. IL was not wrong TO ask the
| Chris, child for what We wish, if We
will only patiently bear the withhold
l ing. He would ask for Tie tree. Bu,
/ how: His mother had told him the
/ Chri>t-rlild was ready TO answer, and
always near. Frau,z would write hi,
! hearts wi,h-in "A lcuer, and dircc, i, to
| the Cnri-t-chi'l.
And Early in the fair morning, Frantz
wrote the letter, and when he me, his
! ,aothcr. Iii, face was once more the gay
bright face of uld ior in llis pocket
was the paper which seemed TO him q
warrant Of coming JOY, and in his hear,
was feeling very like certainty that
his wish would be granted yet he did
not speak Of il. 1t WAS hi FIRST, his
glad darling secret, and it should be a
grea, surprise TO his mother. So lie
only looked joyful, and kissed her. and
she laid her hand on his head, and said
how glad she Was to see her boy so pa
tent and cheerful once more.
Franz did many li,iIe acts Of kind
ness and industry 'ha, day, for in bis
heart aas n fountain Of hope and love +;
and he wished 10 help every one, But
lively as he was, he did no. forget 10
drop b., precions leiter in the Po>io'hce
When the post master came TO look
over the le,ters, Of course he was much
surprised at this one of fran,z. with so
strange direction but in a momen,
lie SAW that i, was in a child, hand,and
lac opened il. i, ran thus:
=" Good Uria.cAHh,
] am poor little Toy, hot !
have good mother, who has ianeh, me
many things abou, you and she has
said that you nre kind and good, and
love little children, and delight TO give
them gifts, so rha, they are not hur''ul
ones. Now my mother u kind, too and
would like to give me al want, bat she
is poor. and when ! asked her for a
Chri.tmas-irce, she could no, give mc
one. because she had only money
euough 10 buy shoes FOR US; 20 ! ask
YOU. Who are Kind and rich, 10 give me
one. l hope am moi bad boy am
sure my mother doc. no. ihinh / am
and ii i, i. best for me- not 10 have The
tree. ! will Try TO lie patient, and bear u
as a good boy should but don't set
wha, hurt large Bible. or warm cio'hr'