The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-01-26
A TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY.
BY MRS. MARY ARTHUR.

liness, mingled with his tancles
HIS mothers wheel kept on--av It always did
Ia the winters long evenings-wIth a low hum
S min sound that had ill now been very cheerful
and pleasant to little Frantz: but somehow OH
er he forgot TO notice i. this night Poor Frantzi
he scarcely looked like himself for his head
bent DOWN and his eyes seemed 70 be looking
straight through the floor, fixed and intent
did his gaze seem
Often and often did the mother eye turn to her
little boy, for never before had the JOYOUS
speaking eye Of little Frantz been so long bent
10 tie earth but still the mother sad no word
till at last deep sigh from the parted lips
of Frantz so lost he in thought; and when
he quickly lifted his face, and saw the questioning
look of his mother, his pent-up thoughts burst
out at once:
DOh, mother! in week it will be Christmas
dav, can not have Christmas tree.
The mothers face looked sad, but only for a
moment; she knew that the earnest wish of her
little Frantz was not likely be realized but she
knew too, that it was best for her boy to learn to
bear cheerfully any crossing of his desires which
must be: and she spoke more soothIn5y and
gently than usual as she said
"And what makes my little Frantz set his heart
on that now? He has never had a Christmas
tree before
"Oh, that is it," exclaimed Frantz; Il neuer
had one Ever since | was baby, mother, |
have heard of the Good Christ child. who brings
beautiful gifts TO others. Why does he not bring
them to me? Am worse than all the rest
ther?''
No no. Frantz" SO spoke the mother hasti
", for in her heart rose picture OF the gentle
ness the self denying fortitude OF her little boy IN
the midst of trouble: his patience in sickness, his
industry in health his anxious care to help her
in all that his little hands could do. "No, no, my
Frantz. it is net that
well molher-but is there any reason? Oh!
you do not know have dreamed and dreamed
OF beautiful tree that should have this Christ
mas; full of golden fruit and lighted tapers,
and under it were laid gifts for you: dear mo-
ther; new bible with large p int, and purse of
money, SO that you might not have to work so
hard, dear mother. and warm elathes that would
never let you get cold And oh as | came alons
the street to day, and saw the windows shinin :
with their loads of beautiful toys and gifts of all
kinds, and saw the boys and girls running and
telling how they would not care for anything else
when Christmas day was come, and they would
have their loaded tree-then, mother, all the
dreams | have had since | can first remember,
came back; all you have told me about the good
Christ-child, and of his love for children; and
have felt mother as if | was left out, and not
loved among the rest
Dear Frantz,' said the mother; ''It was a sad
sad thought. Do not let it come into your
heart again. OH the Christ-childis always good
altogether loving, even when his love is shown
Come closer to me, FrantZ.
"Frantz saw in his mothers face look of
such deep tenderness that his soul grew full
He took his own little seat and sat close beside
her. and leaned his head against her knee, and
the mother gently said
The Christ-child has given YOU beautiful
gifts my Frautz; he has given you life and a
warm. earnest heart; he has given you mother
who loves YOU SO dearly; a home to shelter you;
he gives us the light of the day, and all of the
glorious things reveals and the stler beauty OF
the night, and he gives us. more than all, hope
of heaven and a knowledge of the path to ii.
Are not these gifts. ''lntz?"
Frantz lifted his face but he did not speak, but
his eyes were full of tears, and his mother knew
that his heart said
Yes
So she went on:
These are the gifts most need to make lis
happy: others MAY be good TO US, but the Christ
child knows better than do what we need. |
il were good for us. he would give us all wish
for; but then mis- ght not make good use o
his gifts. might grow proud of them. or be
50 wrapped up in gifts as TO forget the GiHer-
All my Flaniz, let Us only ask for what IS best
for have. and he will give it; he loves TO
give. ana only refuses what will hurt us
Again little Frantz had bent his head on his
hand, but now Il was not sadness, only thought
that was in his face; and he asked
How can we know what is best--what 10 ask
for?''
If it is not given. think that is best withheld,
and be patient. if il is given be thankful and use
the gift Alright See Frantz!"
And the mo her arose and took from a closet
small sum of money.
This she continued, lis all that have; Il any
OF this Is spent for toys play. shall not have
any 10 buy shoes for you nor for me, and by thu
know the Christ-child deems il best for Il
te eou.ea. vi h whs. is more necessary, and tc
give up the pleasure Of buying you beautitu
golden truii and colored tapers.'
Gould not do without shoess" asked lg,tl,
Frantz, Il would 20 50 many errands for the o',
eo6oier that lie would mend my Old ones; and Oh
II thar would make il ri ght-"
And l-Shouli DO without shoes" a~ke,
the mother
Frantz looked down 4, tile worn-ou: shoes ;
had on, and again has heart was full
"Ohi no. mo.her you must have shoes Bu
OH how happy the boys must be whose mother
have shoes aui give them Christmas tree
too
Long did Frantz lie awake thai night and pon
der over ali bis mother had said. and Al last
thought sprang into his mind, Il WAS wroar t
ask the ChriSt-child for what we wish, If W
viii only patiently bear the Withholding H
would ask for the tree. But how? His mothe
had told him the Christ-ehid ready TO al
swer, and always near. Fraatz would write hi
s hearts wish in Letter. and direct it TO tn
Chrisl-ehild.,'
And early in the fair morning Frantz wrot
+ the letter, aud when nc met his mother, his fac