Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-25

III
Nhrls'maH-lree, upon the branches OF which birt
Lwlttered and sang, and brilliant-wingel insec
nuttered around. To them were fastened. 10,
me glits that each child was to receive but b,
lore the old man shared them round, he made
little speech. "rbese Christmas- gifts" said hl
"that are hanging here for you, are far NOR
FaiuaDle ana costly than any you have ever ha1
Or perhaps ever viii have. IN your lives. Thes
noWers, 10 those who could look deeply into thei
cups, exhibit oolors SO rich and lovely that u
eye can tire Of watching them. These fruits
placed in the mouth, fill il with more deliciou
taste than any fruit on earth can give Thes
birds, listened to in the proper spirit, will de-
light the ear with songs so exqnisiely sweet, tha
! ihe flchtst notes OF the sweetest birds in th
world. put together, cannoi equal il; and wha
IS more the music is constantly varying, so tha
a. IS Impossible TO tire Of IT, Dut'--and her,
the old man mada n very solemn pnusc-"but
these lovely eulOrs, these delicious tastes. aut
these exquisite tones, can be enjoyed only b,
those whose hearts are free from envy, false
hood, and anger. The child who speaks thai
which Is not true, who envies the goods or han
piness OF another who gives way to anger. mud
ls peevsh, iretful, ill-tempered, aud dsobelieoi
when told TO do what he does not then fancy
doing such CHILD Is not worthy Of Christmas
glite like these, aud will not be able to fiud the
Treasures Of delight that the spirit of the blessed
Thus was the speech that Albertus made. and
then he shared among them lis wonderful gifts,
10 Theodore he gave flower, to Lor hen n
lruit, and TO little Hugo bird. Theodore grasp
ed his Hover and looked eargery within, but
dropped it with o Shrek, "a toad toad r.
Lorchen bit her fruit in haste, and the next mo-
meut puckered and distorted her mouth, and Le-
gan to spit as If she had eaten gall Hugo put
his ear down to hear his bird sing, but il made
such frghitul noises that he dropped II and stop
ped both ears with his fingers
TIE children stood coniounded. and looted Mt
the old man with doubtful faces, as though lhev
thought he was making fun Of them. But he
was just as calm aud quiet as ever, aud said
quietly: "Chidren, there must be sometbinp
very bad within your hearts, when Gods bes-
sed gifts turn 10 prnishments Let us look into
this. Theodore, tell me TRULY, have you given
way to enyy and jealousy since we have been
here together, or since Gods beautiful sun arose
ihls morning, 10 warm and cheer the world and
teach us how kindly aud carefully he il always
watching over us Tell me honestly, my child"
Theodore hung down his head, and confessed
that when his parents were sharing them the
gifts that they had hung upon the family tree,
he had ianoied that they gave his brother more
aud better things than they gave him.
'And you Lorchen," said The old man, 'shas
no lie no lille Ab, passed your lips to.aay ? The |
gall tasie that the fruit lett in your mouth came
rom false heart,
Lorchen turned very red, aud confessed that
he had told her mother a ia school in the NOR
'lng, though she thought no more of 1t, because
WAS only IL little ib.
Tue old man shook his head sadly "The
malles fb," said he, ais as sinful al the black
st lie"
Honest little Hugo did not wait to be question
d, but mauiuy confessed that he had been
cry angry that day. and had fought hard bat
10 with another litle boy.
"The shrieking scream that you heard from
he bird, my dear boy" said Albertus, "was
he echo of your own heart it was the cry of
niger and ill-temper. And noW," continued the
Id man, 'that you have confessed your faults.
yourselves to work, with Gods mercilul helm
D cure them Aud when you have doue the best
ou can towards getting rid of them, let us again
ry the virtues of the Christmas gifts, aud see
ow much they have improved in the mean
me-"
They promsed-and the promice was kent
or many weary days they bsttled with these
ieir hesetting sins-but the battle was not in /
min. "lieaVen helps those who try to help them. i
'lyes, and "Well begun is half done :" and
heu another Christmas-tide came round. they
nee more assembled in the room of Albertus
ugo was the first who dared the new trial. lie :
Ut his ear close to the bird, and it's voice SCUM l
ed with such gush of changing, ever-varyine
Teetness, that 1t sent thrill through his whole
anne Thus encouraged, Lorchen took the ,
ait and put it TO her lips, and forthwith there !
reamed from it into her mouth river of lus- !,
Gus sweetness that could be compared to moth
g she had ever tasted before; while the long
she sucked it the sweeter it grew. Then, at =
st. Theodore consented to look within the cup
his flower; but the sight that met his gaze
IN be compared only to sea of floating beauty,
here the everchanging waves of color were
rising aud falling, ebbing aud sur
ing, forming new pictures and new combna-
ons Of light that cannot be described. I
The children stood enchanted and astonished.
I'd could ouly look, and taste, and listen. AT /
st, Hugo lurned TO his sister and said sis +
n, let us change Do you listen for a while TO Z
y bird, aud let me taste your fruit" |,
But Albertus inteyposed "Not So" said be 0
each has his own peculiar fault his task is to e
leck that; that is all that is required Of him o
IT 10 cultivate other defects, that he NAV have h
ore work to do" C
Delighted at the measure of SUCCESS that thew i,
I'd bad, the children each day tested the value C
the Christmas gifts; but whenever Theodore II
I'd given way to Jealousy, within his flower sat o
e slimy toad; whenever LorcheD had told n p
E, great sGlall, her lips puckered with gall, !,
I'd the sweet fountain OF the fruit was gone; /,
I'd when Hugo had allowed bimself to be made 5
igry aud quarrel, there was no need to ask n p
iesliou, for the harsh screaming OF his bird Il
Id the tale. If they would have the daily N
easure, when the old mans eye rested on them,
showing him, by glad smile, that the Christ
as gifts were still pleasure and nut puuish-
ent--so must they take the daily trouble to
'nquer the faults that would dsappoint them. .
ut each effort made the ask less difficult; aud =
hen another year had rolled over them, Theo- !
ore had become generous and dlsinGerested
But Just as all this was accomplished, and that =
'entful year was drawing TO its end, it was
'und that Albertus had Disappeared from the .
ouse of the Chamberlain but where he had !,
,ne no one knew. The Chrlstmas.gifts still re- i
aimed with the children, and lusl none of their
rtues How It will be after this, none Gun ,
II yet this much it will be very safe TO pre-. !
ct namely that envy, falsehood. and anger
ring their own punishment, while love and
gentleness mud obedience, fud I eli,
ward in the fivor Of GJd and mau. .-NstD York
Isthodist.
@$-S%4-$
Butchers Rows. !