The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-12-30
CARL's CHRISTMAS GIFT.

| Christmas was coming, and the snow
! angola were scattering their gifts over
the brown earth, with lavish hands.
They made the rough places smooth,
and every thing that was homely and
unlovely they robed in white like a
bride, and when their work was done,
the sun came out and smiled for very
gladness; and the hills, and the pine
trees, and the water gurgling down un-
der the ice, all seemed to say Christmas
is coming
There was to be merry times ut the
great house OH the hill. To be sure there
were only two children, Carl and
Lizette; but then there were plenty Of
cousins scattered about, and Carl want
ell them all to come and make the house
gay, he said, for you must know that a
great sorrow had come to them all. But
children do not love gloom and sadness,
so, hand in hand, they went to their
mother, one day, and Carl said, plead
ingly:-
"Mother, our house is always still and
gloomy now, and Lizette and l are SO
tired. Why can we not havea Christ
mas tree, like old times? Father would
not like US to be SO dull and moping, for
he always wanted us to be glad; and
then, too, he is SO happy now," he ad-
ded, softly, drawing nearer to his moth
er, and hiding his face OH her shoul.
der.
Then his mother answered with a
sigh
Eyes, my children, you shall have the
Christmas tree"
Now away out through the meadow,
where the river ran fast and deep, and
over the hills beyond the woods, beau
tiful spruce was growing for this very
time. Every year its leaves had become
more glossy, and its branches more
straight and strong, and this year it had
put on beautiful cl"e+"rs or cones: '"t
Carl knew nothing about it, never
dreamed that it was getting ready for
his Christmas.
But when the storm was over, he
went with old John for a tree, and they
sped this at once, and gladly the beauti-
full spruce gave itself to Carl. Had it
not been growing for him, through frost
and sunshine, these many years?
In the great house OH the hill, many
feet were flying about, and many hands
were busy. There were plump geese in
the kitchen, and plum puddings were
whisking together in the pantry, with
all sorts of little sugar vanities that
children love, and Margaret (old Johns
wife) was polishing great red apples,
that had pulled and putied their cheeks
till they seemed ready to burst, aud
they shone so Lizette could almost see
her face in them. Then they were to
be piled in pyramids, with oranges and
grapes and nuts. All, how good it was
all going to be; and there was great
sugar Santa Claus for the crowning fig
ure of the feast. But the children knew
nothing about it; their mother meant it
for surprise.
They were also decking the house
with holly. This was to please Carl.
AT first, his mother thought she could
not have it done, for she was still under
the shadow of her great sorrow. But
when the children said:-
"Ah do, mother, we used to have 1t
50, and it would not seem like Christ
mas without the holly,'-she could not
say no.
Left alone, the mother sighed, for her
heart was very heavy.
"Gifts for ALL" she said, "but what
have for Him who gave and has taken
away?n and she bowed her head, and
the tears fell fast. II am so selfish"
she murmured; 80 my Father, help me
to make Thee an offering."' This she
said because it had been SO bitter for her
to give up hertreasure. She had never,
quite from her heart, said "rhy will be
done" And the children found her
grieving, and Lizette said wondering
ly:-
"Why mother, you have been crying,
and it is almost Christmas"
eyes,, she answered, II was think
ing had nothing to give the King"
;. > ..T.be kjng2;ns, cried Carl. opening his
~, III q
The Vinton Eagle says that the
t National Bank of that place has she
endered its charter and retired from
naSS aa A National n<,,lx