The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-08-19
MISCELLANEOUS
LITTLE FRANTZ HOFFMAN.

~ LII IIIA1N IL HUT Il MAN,
twas cold evening, and there was but little
hire in Mrs Hofmap's stove so little -Frantz sat
close by III; and though his thoughts were far
away, yet slight feeling Of discomfort, from chill
ness mingled with his fancies. ~ HI g6if b
His mothers wheel kept on---as it always did in
the winters long eyening-with low, humming
SOUND, that had Gill now been very cheerful and
pleasant to little Frantz; but somehow he forgot
to notice i this night. Poor Frantz! he scarcely
looked like himself for his head was bent down,
anu his eyes seemed to be looking straight through
the foor, SO fyed and intent did his gaze SEEM
Often and often did the mothers eye turn to
her little boy, for never before had the joyspeak
ing eye Of Frantz been so long bent to the earth ;
put still the mother spoke no word, till at last
deep sigh came from the parted lips Of Frantz,
50 lost was he in thought; and when he quietly
liea his face and saw the questioning look Of his
mother, his bent up thoughts burst out at once.
'Oh, mother, in a week it will be Christmas. day:
cannot have q Christmas tree?" Il a lI0. 4,
The mothers face looked sad, but only for a
moment; she fnew that the earnest wish Of little
frantz was not likely to be realized but she
knew, too that it was best for her boy to learn to
| bear cheerfuIy, any crossing of his desires that
| might be, and she spoke more soothingly and
gently than usual as she said: rs s,e'-l'E "
"And what makes my little Frantz set his heart
| on that now? He has never had Christmas tree
before" tal3
"Oh! that is it." exclaimed Frantz. 81 never
| mad one Ever since / was baby, mother. I
| 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,
mother? ?" t4i T7
Mono, Frantz:p 80 spoke the mother hasti-
ly-for in her heart rose picture of the pentle-
ness the selfdenyng fortitude of her little boy in
the midst OF troubles his patience in sickness his
industry in health, his anxious care to help her In
all that his little hands could do. "No-no nv
Frantz-it is not that" ~ n
"Well, mother--but is there any reason? Oh! /!
you DO not know have dreamed and dreamed of
beautiful tree that should have this Christmas ;
it was full OF golden fruit and lighted tapers, and
under 1t were laid gifts for you, dear mother--a
new Bible, with large print and purse of money,
so that you might not have to work 80 hard. dear
mother, and warm clothes that would never let
you get cold. And oh as came along the street
to-day, and saw the windows shining with their
loads of beautiful toys and gifts of all sorts, and
saw the boys and girls running and telling how
they would not care for anything else, when the
Chrstmas-day was once come, and they would
have their loaded tree-theD, mother, all dreams
l have had since can first remember, came back;
all you have told me of the good Christ-child and
OF his love for children; and havo felt, mother,
as If was left out, and not loved among the
restn
"Dear Frantz," said the mother, cit was a sad
sad thought. Do not let IL come into your heart
again. OH the Christ-child Is always good
ways loving, even when his love is shown in such
ways that we do not see it at once. Come closer
to me- Frantz."
Franz saw in his mothers face look of such
deep tenderness that his soul grew full. He took
his own little seat and sal close beside her, and
leaned his head upon her knee, and the mother
said, gently
"The Christchild has given you beautiful gifts,
my Frantz: he has given you life, and warm,
earnest heart; he has given you mother who
loves You dearly; home to shelter you; he gives
US the light of the day, and all the glorious things
it reveals, and the stiler beauty OF the night and
he gives us, more than all, a hope of heaven, and
a knowledge of the path to it. Are not these
great gifts, Frantz?"
Frantz lifted his face; he did not speak, but bis
eyes were full of tears and his mother knew his
heart said -
"Yes"
SO she went on - s
"These are the gifts We most need to make us
happy; others may be good for US, but the Christ
chilo knows better than we do what we need If
it were good for us, he would give us all we wish
for; but then we might not make good use for
his gifts, or we might grow proud of them, or be
so wrapped up in gifts as TO forget the Giyer Ahl
my Frantz let us only ask for what is best for us
to have, and he will give it; he loves to give, and
only refuses what viii hurt us. %
How can we know what is best-what to ask
forT
"Ifit is not given, think that il is best withheld
and be patient IL it is given, be thankful and use
the gift Alright See, Frantz"
And TIE mother arose, and took from a closet
a small sum Of money
"This," she continued, "s all have, and If
any of il is spent for toys play, shall not have
any to buy shoes for you nor for me- and by this
know that the Christ-child deems Il best for me
to be content with what is more necessary and to
give up the pleasure of buying you beautiful golden
fruit and colored tapers"
Could not do without shoes ?n asked Frantz
/ would 60 so many errands for the old cobbler,
that he would mend my old ones and oh IL that
would make il right" tI
"And I-sbould do without shoes ~ asked
the mother.
Frantz looked down at the worn-out shoes she
had on, and again his heart was full
"0h no, mother you must have shoes, but
OH how happy the boys must be whose mothers
have shoes, and car give them Christmas trees,
too"
Long did Frantz lie awake that night and pom
der over all his mother had said and at last a
thought sprang into his mind. II was not wrong
to ask the Christchild for what we wish, If we
will only patiently bear the Withholding He would
ask for the tree. But how His mother had told
him the Christchild was ready to answer, and al
ways near. Frantz would write his hearts wish In
letter and direct it I" To the Christ.childn
And early in the fair morning, Frantz wrote the
letter, and when he met bis mother bis face was
once more the gay, bright face Of old for in bis
pocket was the paper which seemed to him war
rant of coming joy, and in bis heart was feeling
very like certainty that bis wish would be granted.
Yet he did not speak oft. It was his first, his
glad, darling secret, and it should be the great
surprise 70 his mother. So he only looked joyful
and kissed her, and she laid her hand on bis head
and said how glad she was to see her boy 80 patti
ent and cheerful once more 81
Frantz did many little acts of kindness and in
dustry that day. for in his heart was fountain of
hope and love; and he wished TO help every one