Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-25
A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS STORY
THE THREE GIFTS.

In house belonging to gentleman of high
rank, there hat lived for three months, in q
back building, an old man Of singular appear
ance and still more singular character. He
called himself Albertus, and gave himself out as
mechanic aud maker of 6ne inslrumeuts-such
as telescopes, microscopes, and the like but
among the people he was centrally looked upon
as a copjuror and magician, gifted with the
power of makug instruments by which you could
see not only into the depthg Of earth and air.
bu into the most secret thoughts aud motives of
mems hearts, aud thus acquiring over them a
power that enabled him to bend b IN to his own
purposes. No one, howev r. could bunst of
having ever been, Or ,yeN see IN o his work.
shop, while his work commanded the We high
est prices. lie lived enirey BY plmsolf, and
seemed not ouly to shun. bur to hue mankind
only for children did he show anything like al
feotion but children be loved He loved to
have them round him und to talk with them; his
room was always full Of little girls and boys,
aud it was from love to them that be had left ihe
house where he had before lived and come TO
dwell 10 this one
The Court Chamberlain (fOr such was the renk
OF his landlord) had three ohidren-Iheodore,
boy Of seven yeara old LoFchen, for, as we
would say, "Lottie, a little girl Of 1--WE years
and Hugo, who wus four. AT first these little
ones were atraid of the old man with the stern
countananoe and strange appearauc ce, and 30 kept
carefully out of his way but by and by, when
they found that he could give them curious toys,
and, more than all, when he spoke so pleasantly
10 them, they grew quite reooncled TO him. and
Ventured into the mysterious workroom into
which he invited then. There they found won
deriul things. Theodore was almost wild with
delight At sight of an instrument that represent
ed the whole universe, with the sun and the
moon and nll theirpanels in their ptoper plnces,
and moving in their proper paths; LOrcbeu
stood in fascination before q landscape in which
we're tiny sheep and lambs moving about as IL they
we're alive, while every now aud thena little
shepherd drew them buck with mite of crook;
and Hugo held his breath in presence Of COM
pany OF soldiers that marched up aud down the
table, with q drummer beating drum for them
to march by, and they firing their guns that made
real noise.
With these things they amused themselves fol
hours in the old gentleman's work room, while
he taught them, in many beautiful way, to bt
careful, quiet, aud gentle, good and lovely little
Chriatian children. Whenever they came in, h,
held before their faces little looking-glass, anC
nodded kindly, or shook his head sadly, as il
told him whether they had been gentle oil
naughty during the day
AT last II began to be time to get ready fol
christmas, that was getting nearer and nearer
and everybody was as busy as sould be. Th,
KIND old man promised his landlords little oneI
that the holy Christ-ohid would leave ia his room
some token Of love ahd remembrance for them
too. THIS rejoiced them greatly. The nigh
before the great and holy festival, when parents
and kind friends were making ready the token
that we're to impress by strong practical lessons
upon their young hearts the blessed command
Love ye one another, as have loved you," th,
old man kept himself closely shut up in his owl
room Tor long, long time, till the little one
began TO wonder whether be meant ever to com,
,,a vut agaln. AT last be did however, aud taking
little Hugo by the han b, led them 10. The Qrea
apartment WRs in q blaze Of light; in the cent?,