Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-01-02

He who brings me the loyeliest thing on
earth to morrow shall have the angel"
The children clapped their hands and de-
| parted satisfied.
| After school the next day Kline was the
! first to run to Master friedrich and lay upon
his desk what he considered the lovalest thing
| in the whole world his new soldier cap, with
the long scarlet feather, and bright golden
tassel -. .--..,--. IA. 4..... ...E"
Max came next, and placed beside the cap
o small silver watch, his last birthday gift with
bright steel watch chain attached Otto
brought great picture book, just sent to him
by his good mother. Rudolph, a tiny marble
vase, richly sculptured and so on, until q
more motley co lection than before lay upon
Master Friedrich's desk.
Then poor little Carl stepped modestly up,
and placed in the masters hand pure lilly.
The rich perfume filed the room, and bend
ing over the flower, inhaling the delicious frag-
rance, the master softly SAID" My children,
the blessed Word of God says, Behold the
lilies of the valley they toll not, neither do
they spin, yet Solomon, in all his glory, was
not arrayed like one of these" Carl has right.
ly chosen"
But murmurs arose the children were not
cud lOL dHOtuCi
trial.
And as before, good Master Friedrich in-
quired: ...s.
What sayest thou, Carl p and he answer
ed as before, with generous haste. eyes, dear
master"
Now this is the last time, ;" said the master;
and he who brings me the best thing on earth
shall have the angel"
"Phe very best thing on earth is plum cake, !"
cried Kline on the third day, as be walked up
to the desk, bearing large cake richly frost
ed with wreath of sugar roses around the
edge-this he placed trinmphantly before the
master, sule of the prize. ..-
Nay, thou art wrong this time, Kline"
said Max. asked my father what was the
very best thing on earth, and he gave me this
golden guiIder-the prise is mine"
Alb but my father said that the very best
thing was good glass of Rhenish wne," cried
Otto, "and have brought bottle of it thirty
years old-tbe prize is surely mine"
So they went on till all had placed their offer
ings before the master.
"And thou, Carl" said he, what hast
thou brought which thou thinkest the best
thing on earth 2"
A crimson flush rose to the little boys fore.
head, and coming softly forward he took from
bis breast small a0Ora Testament, pressed it
to bis lips, and then reVerenty laid it down
with the rest, as he said, in a low, sweet voice
=" My mother, dear master says that Gods
precious Testament is far beyond all earthly
possessions" "
'Tis thine, my Carl" cried the master,
snatching the boy to bis breast. The white
angel is thine for there is nothing in the wide
world half so precious as the blessed words of
Christ !" and he placed the angel in the hands
Of the trembling boy. .... .
Kline knit his brow and gazed with anger
and disappointment at little Carl and therest,
seeing him do this, felt themselves aggrieved
but suddenly the cloud cleared from Kline's
face, and rushing forward be caught Carl 10
his arms, crying, Forgive me, dear Carl, now
| am right glad thou hast won the prize"
All the blessed effect of bright example
Quickly joining hands, the children danced joy
fully around little Carl, who stood in their
midst, the white angel pressed to his heart
his hair falling in curls on his shoulders and
his eyes full of tears. .r .-
The good MasVer Friedrich also went with
Joy, and prayed from the depth of his pure aad
simple heart that the Savior would bless this
lesson to the children's everlasting good He
had turned away, that none might perceive his
tears. ...rE .H t-
But One in Heaven saw them, Master Fried
rich. ..g ..-.r