Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-26
THE CHRIsrMAs TREE.
a GERMAN STORY, RENDERED FROM MEMOIR,

house IN closely built street Of q certain ducal
capital. Near him played his three rosy boys
while Ermingarde, his sweet, blonde wife,
piled her household tasks, emily psusing now
and then TO tarn cheerful glance toward the
dormer window nook whore Bernhard was
writing, or softly to leave kiss on his broad.
white brow, as she passed to and fro behind his
chair.
It was the week before Christmas; and the
three boys, gathered In a knot before the blgs-
Ing nrs, were rscounting the last years gifts
Of the good Christ-kindchen, and innoeently
wondering what they would receive this year
"I know what would like 80 exclaimed
Paul, earnestly clasping his little hands, If
bat the dear Christ kindehen will fnd me
worth Of it-s book Of fairy tales, filed with
beautiful cclored picturss, like the one we saw
In the booksellers Windss."
"And /, ," said Hermann, scan think Of
nothing would like 50 we'll as a rocking horse,
very little larger than that Of our neighbours
son Heinrich, dewn in the third story"
"As for me-" lisped little Peril, "I would
choose a basket Of sugar plums, wrapped in
golden and silver paper, and"
mann. "Let Us write the dear Christ kindchen
letter asking for these very gifts"
Papa, papa! :" and the children sprsng to
his side-"uill you be SO kind as to write
little letter for usl"
"And to whom my little men 2" asked the
AabucEY IOOkluS Up III 5ulllDK SURPRISE.
ITO Christ-kindchen, papa; We will tell you
what to say
And Bernhard prepared to write, at his boys
dictation:
"Dsar good ChrIst-kin6eGsn-Dop please,
bring US a rocking horse, q book of fairy tales,
with lovely pictures, and basket of sugar
plums, this Christmas; and do not forget, dear,
dear. Christ-kindchen, that we live in room
No. 70, nth story, Of house No. $40, Linden
Strasse. Your
"PAUL, Hermann, AND LITTLE PERIL"
When the letter was written, neatly folded
and addressed ''To Christ kindct en-, - the boys
persuaded Bernhard to open his window, and
cast il far out on the roof, confident that those
heavenly eyes would look down and see Il, all
In good time.
That night there arose great storm Of wind
and snow, and the little white messenger was
lifted up and borne over the high roofs Of more
than one street to the splendid Government
Square, whore it rested at last on the ledge of
one Of the upper easements Of the palace Of the
Grand Duke.
Long after the next morning 8 sun had risen
over the snow covered city, q blue-eyed lady
stood at this easement; and looking out on the
bright winter picture, beheld the tiny letter
where it had lodged without-the address ITO
Christ-kindchen," in full view. Hastily sum-
moning her maid, the Countess Victoirs di-
rected the window TO be opened, and the folded
paper handed to her. She lost no time in read
ing it.
''Dasr children ~ and a. the fair lady fn-
ished the little petition, tears stood in her
beautiful eyes, "God has guided their simple
place Of their dear christ-kindohen?"
Christmas-dsy dswned brightly on the little
group Of eager expectsnts: and as Bernhard
and Ermingarde washed their happy faces and
listened to their impatient longing for night to
oome-this night, when as the children frmly
believed, rist-kindchen would answer their
letter with the so-desired gifts-the fond
parents had very often to turn away to conceal
their emotion Alas! their slender purse
would not allow them the luxury of procuring
these little presents for their children.
After their early dinner, in preparing which
Erningarde had exerted all her skill, besides
exPending the best part Of her last form in q
Christmas cake, to which Bernhard and the
boys did full justice, the dear little woman
prepared them all for q walk in the brilliant
Christmas streets, trusting that the children
would become absorbed in the gay scene with
eat, and 80 forget their expected visit fren
Christ-kindchen. With this hope she and
Bernhard permitted them to linsef at pleasure
before the beautifully arranged shop windows,
and before the lottery booths, where Bernhard
was tempted TO risk few kreutIsrs for his
little people, and won, to their delight, scornet
Of the most delicious bon bons.
When night came on, and the lamps began
TO twinkle along the crowded street, the HItle
party found themselves at some distance from
the Linden Strasse, whereupon the careful
mother prevailed upon them to turn their foot
steps homsward. But now, 10 her sorrow, the
ohildrsn's thoughts again reverted to Christ
kindehen and the expected gifts.
I'VE will find them awaiting rs nteht so,
tie6s rsHftsr-Hteht so, Ess6s, papa ?" was the
question Of each little heart.
Impstisncs lent wings to their feet, and
fh oh fha Aoor
the stone stairway leading up to their attic
home the three boys resehed the narrow nfth
story landing, in advance oftheir weary he1vy-
hearted parents.
A joyous shout from the boys, and food of
light falling In waves over the winding Stair
way, now startled Bernhard and Ermingarde
Hastily mounting 70 aide Of their children
what sight met their eyes! The door leading
into their little room Was vide open, aud ia
the centre Of the tidy room rose q beautiful
ChTIStrLGs- Ires-a taperinz, dark-green fr-
In whose graceful branches blased innumerable
wsxen tspers, between which hung the love-
lest toys that ever uere seen, golden and
silver-covered fruits, mats and sugar plums
on Q little round table beneath lay three
prettily bound books, and near by stood fine
rocking horse, Just as If he were awaiting
rider.
Let the .urtaIn fall on the transports Of the
children, the bewilderment Of the parents,
their gratitude 10 the generous unknown, a.
they watched their darling boys around the
radiant table. There were happy, glowing
hearts In the little attic home that Christmas
night.
The next day two letters were brought to
Bernhard. The frst announced to him that
the volume Of poems submitted by him 70 the
court bookseller few weeks before, had been
received, accepted, and would "be published
at the earliest possible day" Good news;
bat the other letter, which bore goyernment
seal raised the hsppiness Of the little family to
q height still greater. 1t was Bernhard's
appointment to an once under the Grand
Duke, the duties Of which we're little more than
nominal, but whose salary would at once place
his family In position Of comparative ease.
Years later, when Bernhard's name ss q
poet bad become known AID honored through
out his fathsrisnd, ths s.in lovely Countess
Yiototre confessed 70 bin and Ermingarde the
part she had taken In answering the letter OF
Paul, Hermann, and Pertl-now grown to Be
manly youths-to Christ kindehen; and also
the fact Of her having exsrted her influence
with the Grand Duke and Duehess (after