The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-14
NO. 1853.

full being, who comes from the cold regions Of
Russia 70 see whether the children have behaved
we'll. can say their prayers and have learned well
at school He is clad in furs, chains clsnk about
him as he walks, and his entire face Is covered
with black and bristly beard. In bis right hand
he carries a rod for the terror q evil boys. After
the tel.things are put away, the family sit III 81
lent expectation of the arrival Of Ruprecht The
little children con over the prayers they have
Termed in order TO repeat to him when he comes
and the older ones reflect on their conduct for
some weeks past; for, if they have been bad, Rup-
recht is sure to know it, and tell them about it.
Al last he comes His heavy tramp and the
clank of his chain are heard on the stairs. He
enters, and questions the children about their
learning at school, their behaviour, their prayers
commends the good, and threatens the bad with
his rod He ends by distributing nuts, fruit, ana
cakes, from bag which is suspended at his neck,
and by telling them that the Christ-Child VIII
soon be here with the presents for good children.
The departure of Ruprecht is the signal for the e
most uprolrous glee among the youngsters, anu
for the cracking of nuts and munching OF aPPie''
Sometimes, the Christ Child comes tue sauio
night, sometimes not before the mex. MOI n'"t, a
hour or two before daylight. The hour has been
told them by Ruprecht As it approaches. the
children are gathered in the dark hall before the
door of the mysterious chamber TO watch lor the
descent of the welcome visiter, and hear the rust
ling and see the radiance of his white Wings
This last is difficult for his flight Is very rapiu'
and the children are apt TO fancy they have zone
it, when they have only been dazzed by the giare
of light from the chamber As the door IS suaoehiy
thrown open, and reveals scene OF fairy beauty
and briliiancy. The Christmas tree, with Its
tapering branches hung with lights rehected from
golden and silver fruit, and relieved py .he
dark green of the foliage, rises in the centre
An angel suspended from one Of the branches
by an invisible thread, seems TO announce some
thing-in fact, the birth of Christ, to the shep-
herds, who are tending their focks beneath Birds
of gaudy plumage fly among the branches AT
either side are tables richly tapestried, covered
with snowy presents and with lights. The pres
ents for each one are separate from the others,
and marked with his name, for the bringer has no
confusion in what he does. The mirrors and
richest furniture of the family are arranged as
20 add 20 the scenic effect This is the supreme
and joyous moment for the children. The dis
coyery of the presents, the laughter, the tears of
delight, the bursts of affection from these young
hearts, are indescribable
All is happy within The joyous urchns do
not see the anxious face of the ragged little boy
who stands shivering in the street TO look in on
the splendors, which alas he is forbidden to ap-
proach Some years ago a little boy was frozen
u
on the Christmas tree of palace. As he gszed,
his limbs stiened with the cold his earthly vision
was glazed over but his mental was purified, and
he saw Christmas tree, ell made of bright stars,
and which seemed to extend from heaven, over
the place where he fay while the Christ Child
stood at the top and beckoned him upward,
lhrough the avenueSS gSstS nina angels bore
him upward. and he passed his Christmas Eve in
Paradise. The deserted body was found next
morning, the little hands clasped as If in an &C.
stasy of pleasure, and the face turned upward,
and radiant with joy.
The Christmas tree of the poor is frequently
nothing but a sprig of the fir and the presents
the cheapest toys, or necessarysartices Of cloth
ing, reserved TO be given at this season. A case
occurred last year, in Berlin, of childs faith
procuring him something more costly. He had
set his heart on having trumpet and some wood
en- soldiers for himself, and a warm cloak>for his
widowed mother, who suffered from the cold. He
had often fervenly prayed the Christ Child &c
send these things but his mother, who was per-
picked by his extravagant DESIRES which she was
unable to crafty, told him his prayers would do
no good. The boys faith was not shaken, but 10
make assurance doubly sure, he wrote letter to
the Christ Child, setting forth his wants, and
more particularly his mothers This he put into
the post Office, not doubling of its speedy deliv-
cry On the lopg-looked-for evening he put up
his little sprig of fir placed near it his mothers
black lamp, and, having first kneeled down before
it, and said over his petition, sat down in COR
ner, and, leaning his head on his hands, watched
for the gitteripg of the Christ-Childs wings.
He had not waited long before the door was
pushed open, and man, whose face was con-
cealed, entered with O basket on his arm.
This he placed on the table, and disappeared.
The basket contained the toys and cloak prayed
for What happy moment for the mother and
child! The Christ-Chi had sent the presents,
but through human agency. The strange ad-
dress of the letter had caused the post Office
clerks to open it They had been touched by
the simple faith Of the child and raised con-
tribution to purchase for him what he so srdently
desired. W.B.