The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-05-17
TAs cb1Id's Faith.
By MRS. MARY ARTHUR.

gled Win MS IancleS.
His mothers wheel kept on--aS it al
ways did in the winters long evenings
with low humming sound that HAD ill
now been very cheerful and pleasant to
little Frantz; but somehow lac forgot 10
notice it this night. Poor Frantz he
scarcely seemed like himself, for his head
was bent down, and his eyes seemed to be
looking straight through the floor, so liked
and intent did his gaze seem.
Often and often did his mothers eyes
turn to her little boy, for never had the
Joy speaking eye Of Frantz been So long
bent 10 the earth; but still the mother said
no word, till at last a deep sigh came from
the parted lips of Frantz; then his mother
laid her hand softly upon his; yet even
that gentle. touch started Frantz, 80 lost
was he in thought, and when he quickly
lifted his face, and saw the questioning
look Of his mother, his pent-up thought
burst out at once.
oh, mother in week it will be Christ.
mas day can | not have a Christmas
tree?'
The mothers face looked sad, but for
Only - ,,Sss,..nSN,l. Sine kWGw Ss,A <clE- cScA-
est WISH W ulllc WIS nOt IlhCll 20
DC realized, but she knew, too, that it was
best for her boy to bear checrluliy any
crossing Of his desires which must be. -
So she spoke more soothihgy and gently
than usual. and 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 rantz; i
never had one. Ever since | was a baby,
mother, | have heard OF the good Christ.
chifd, H-;,so Ip1AgS beautiful gifts to others.
Why docs he not bring them IL me: Am
worse than all the rest, mother
NO, no, rantz,' spoke the mother, las
tily-ior Ia her heart arose Il picture Of
the gentcnySS; the self denying iurlItudc
OF her little boy in the unjust i truubir
his patience IN sickness, his industry il
health, his anxious care I" help her IN all
>v>>sv k -...> - S&' r.. 4 ~, ~
my Frautz. il is not that
We'll, niuther-but Is there ary r,as"n;
you do not know how have dream, Il Of Il
beautiful tree that | S!uuld have TIL
Christmas, ii vas tull Of golden fruit aud
lighted tapvrS, and under ii were land quits
for you, dear nUther; II new Bible, with
large PRINT; and purse OF money 50 that
you might not work 80 hard, dear mother;
and warm clothes that would never let you
get cold. And on as came along tue
street to day, aud saw the Windows shl-
ming with their loads OF beautiful toys,
anu gifts Of all sorts, and saw the boy,
aud glrls running and shouting, aud tell
ing now they would not care for ANY tling
else, when the Christmas day was "ncc
more, and they would have their loaded
trce-then, mother, all the dreams | have
had since | can irsI remember, came back;
all you have told me Of the good Christ.
child, and his love for children, and nave
felt, mother, aS if Was left out and not
loved among the rest
Dear Framlz, said the mother, it was
a sad, sad thought. DO not let it come
into your heart again. Oh the Christ
child is always good, altogether loving,
even when his love is shown III such ways
that we do not clearly see it at .ce.-
Come close 10 me, Frantz
Frantz saw in his mothers face a look
of such deep tenderness, that hi, soul
grew full. He took his own seat, and sat
ClOSC OCSlNS ilSl lllN lIbllS bCdh
against her knee, and the mother gently
said =
The Christchil has given you beauti-
full gifts, my Frantz. He has given you
life, and warm, earnest heart! he has
given you mother, who loves YOU 50
dearly; a home to shelter you; he gives
US light Of day, and all the glorious things
it reveals, and still beauty of the night !;
and he gives US more than all, Il knOwl-
edge OF the path to it. Are not these
things gifts, Frantzy'
Franlz lifted his face; he did not speak,
but his eyes were full OF tears, his mother
knew that his heart said
Yes
So she went on.
these are the gifts we most need to
make us happy; others may he good to us
but the Chrlst.chil knows better than We
do what we need. II it were goot for Us
he would give US all we wished for; but
then we might not make good use OF his
gifts, or We might grow proud Of them, or
he SO wrapped up as to forget the glver.
All. my Frantz, let US only ask for what
is best for us to have, aud he will give it;
nv iONSo W. BlNNS hhh iNlApSo " hht
will hurt US
Again little Frantz had bent his head
on his hand, but now it was not sadness,
only thought that Was in his tace; and he
asked:
How can we know what is best--what
to ask ior:'
y III it is not given, think that it is best
withheld aud be patient; If it is gwen be
thankful, aud use the gin right Sec here,
' t'rantz'
And the mother arose and took from Il
closet small sum OF money.
This, she continued, is all have! II
any Of this is Spc"t for toys or plays, |
shall not have any to buy shoes for YOU
aud me, and by this know the Christ.
child deems 1t best for me to be content
with what is most necessary, aud to give
up the pleasure Of buying you beautiful
golden fruit and colorcd tapcrS.'
Could | not do without shoes?' asked
/; Sram!2. ! T1A%l3 @9 ~ wauy errands for
the old cOblrr, that he would mend my
old ones, and oh! II that would make it
rght-'
And I-Should do without shoes =
asked the mother.
FranlZ looked down at the worn out
shoes she had ON, and again his heart was
full.
oh no mother you must have shoes;
but oh how happy the boys must be
whose mothers have shoes, and can give
them Christmas trees, too!'
Long did FrantZ lie awake that night,
and ponder over all his mother had said,
and at last thought Sprang INTO his mind.
1t was not wrong to ask the Christ. child
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 that the Christ-child was ready
to answer and always near. Frantz would
write his hearts wish in a letter, and d.
rect 1t TO the Christ child
And early in the lair morning, Frantz
wrote the letter and when he met his