The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-22
Sunday Aaoing,
From the Baltimore Patriot
THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL.

"
sro-day for US our Lord was born, comelet
us adore him. &N
The morning was breaking on the anniversa-
ry of our Savior's nativity when an angellook-
ed down from its home in the skies, upon the
world at lis feet The sun was Just rising,
and casting its beams abroad upon hills sEd
valleys, town and country. w
Everything looked so bright and beautiful
that the angel for a long time admiringly gag
ed and won dered that there should be so much
sin and vice, where all was SO fair to look up
on.
The bells were soon heard ringing merry
peal, and the angel decended and walked invis
IDLY among the beings that now began tocrowd
the streets of great city. Narr2wly he
scanned the faces of all to see if any wore the
appearance Of perfect happiness. But all bore
the impress of sin, and that first disobedi-.
ence,' tn It brought death into the world and
all our woe.' Many were exchanging jests
and good wishes, while others looked misera-
Bile, as if even hope itself, had forsaken them.
Plying while he beheld, the angel thought
that for this one day, he would try to the ut.
most what power he possessed to avert evil
from human beings, and influence them to do
good.
Soon he espied tiny boy clad in rags. and
so prematureIv wrinkled and care-worn; that
he now looked as IL he never could Aave poss-
essed the happy and innocent face Of child
hood. His clothes had evidently descended
from at least ne generation, and were "a world
too large' fos his poor little body. Tears
sent to purchase for a sick mother, some small
article for which the sum tightly grasped in
his hand had been insufficient. A group Of
jocund, laughing children passing by, the rag
ged boy looked wistfully at their toys and
bundles in their hand, and after they had pass-
ed sat down upon cellar door and fairly sob.
bed his little heart away. At that moment q
gentleman came along and was about to pass
without noticing the boy, when the angel
whispered in his ear Turning round, he for
the first time saw the child, and after putting
some money in his hand and saving few
kind words, he left him. The faces Of both
were more calm and happy, and as the angel
looked he could not but feel how much more
blessed it is to give than to receive
A party Of joyous boys were seen carrying
their skates, and Fastening toward the river.
Fearful of danger. the angel followed and
watched their gambols on the sparkling ice.-
1t was not given to him to see into the futurey
and as everything seemed going on safely, he
was about to leave, when a cry of agony rose
from the startled and awe-str ck boys. One.
had broken in, and the rest stood by, anxious
but totally unable to save their comrade: The
hands of the youth were placed upon piece
of fine ice, while he felt gently drawn up, and
placed upon the shore in safety. His friends
wondered how he had strength left to do soy
and that evening, while sitting at his fathers
fre-side, he told them how he had broken thro'
the ice, and drawn himself out, when he had
thought he was about to die With tearfnls
eyes his mother said:
Some good angel must have helped you, my
son.
The sound Of revelry and mirth vas heard
within the walls Of noble and stately man.
sion. The feet of the guests pressed the Q it,
est carpets. and their eyes rested on the noblest
works of art, as they pressed their way thro'
crowded rooms, to offer their congratulations
to the host, who had been exalted to place Of
high honor. Wealth was his and all the lux
uries that ii could purchase; but he possessed
what he valued far more, a fair, unsullied name.
and great earthly glory. He had reached the
pinnacle of fame, but his heart was sad and
heavy within him. His only child-he who
was once the light of his eyes-oyer whose,
infancy and boyhood he had so anxiously
watched--who was 10 inherit his name and.
wealth, had forgotten his early lessons, and
had not only wand ,red into paths Of vice, but
had acted 90 oishoaoraby, that had strict JUS
tice been dealt him, he would now be occupy
ing felon's cell.
Unobserved, the father left the thoughtless
multitude, and enter an inner chamber. Here
the strong man bowed his he'd and wept.---
Suddenly he was aroused BY the door opening,
and some one softly entered. Looking up, hes
beheld the objec. Of his thoughts, but uthaggard
two confronted each other, and thought Of tho
past A tide of memory rushed across the mind
Of the father aud told him what he was now
and what he might have been. .
With look almost Of loathing he turned a.
way; when the young man cast himself at his
feet, and. with tears or cOnlrltiOL, made m0nys
promises and vpws Of amendment. But tho
stern man spurned him, and was about to cast
him off forever, when the spirit Of his separa.s
ted wife, she wlo unto his youth was given.s
more than all things TO love him. now stood
beside him, and placing sher gentle hand' in
his. plead for their erriAg son. The arms
which little while before ad been 50 reso-i
lutely folded, now opened and the predigaf
was wrapped in long, loving embrace, while.
the father whispered, boy, tits the spirit Of thy
angel mother has done this.'
Our good angeln next stood among the friends
collected around the bed Of one who had been
so intensely happy here with husband ard chil-
dren that Il she had thought of change At
all, it would have seemed to her that no trouble
could come where happiness sprung from such
pure and innocent source. But the waters
of life were troubled; and where all had been
light and love, came darkness and desolation.
The close was near by, and while children and
friends prayed for the life ct her they loved,
she alone. was calm and happy. Earth weary.
she closed her eyes and felt soft hand placed
beneath her head, and herself borne Tar away.
Whithsr, she knew not, but opening her eyes,
she found herself in the arms OF him she lows
ed on earth. Supported BY the guardian angel
they Joined the throng to the blessed around
the throne oe Him who had saved them and
bought them with his blood.