Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-01-12
A Pretty Christmas story

AANAS W0o N<ASNiAths hbth SeAo
by the Boston clergymen, amidst the
profuse decorations of their churches on
Christmas day. Here is very pretty
and very profitable story told by Rev.
Il. E. Hale;
The whole spirit of Christmas seemed
to pervade the edifce and congregation,
and the sweet voices of the children ap-
pealed to the hearts as none of our pop
ular quartetts or choirs could have done.
The services were opened with prayer by
Mr.. Hale, after which the children sang
the old carol:
What child is this. who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This. this is Christ the King;
y nom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the SON of Mary"
MIR. Hale then read the second chap
ter of Luke, containing the history of
the birth of Christ. Another carol was
sung by the children, and Rev. Mr.. Aver
having been introduced, made brief ad-
dress to the school. The great feature
of the occasion, however, was the Christ
mas story promised by Mr.. Hale. This
it was, more than anything else, which
filed the church to overfowing and sent
people away who could find no resting
place.
His story was in effect to show that no
expression of good will ever goes unre-
warded, and the most reckless natures
can be reached, and often permanently
touched, by kindly words and actions
The prominent characters were three
boys, street Arabs, living in Williams
burgh, notorious in the neighborhood in
which they lived for their deeds of mis-
chief, and looked upon as irreclaimable.
They were one Christmas Eve, several
years ago, picked up on the street andin-
vited to enter the residence of a gentle.
man whose daughter had prepared a
Christmas tree for the qualification and
pleasure of such poor children as they.
They entered, and after enjoying them
selves for time, found that there were
no presents especially for them, and in
revenge spoiled the. tree and behaved
very roughly. The two elder boys left
the house first, the younger tarrying just
long enough to see the girl burst into a
fit of crying and hear her declare that
she was fool for trying to please such
ungrateful boys. The words touched
him, and he could not get rid of their
sound. He told the others and they felt
equally ashamed After talking it over
they agreed that the only thing that
could be done would be to give her a
present at New Years. But what should
it be? At last an idea struck the young.
er boy. He had seen in shop window
what he called pair of "gold shoes
handsome bronze slippers. They would
be just the thing and so they all, after q
good look, agreed. The price was six
dollars. How to get it? Various plan;
were discussed, resulting in the hiring
out of the trio to a brewer to bottle beel
for the following five days. This worl
accomplished they found themselves il
possession of three dollars each --mor,
than enough. One of the boys suggest
ed that they buy three shoes, as they hac
Just money enough. The impracticabili
ty of the idea was made apparent to hin
however, aud it was relinquished. Th,
shoes were bought and the boys, witt
hands and faces washed for the occasion
sought the house with trembling hearts
They were received with open hands af
ter having made their explanation ant
exhibited their present, and after havin,
spent an hour very pleasantly they re
paired to their homes, thinking and feel
ing very differently from what they hat
done week before. 1t was the turnin,
point in life with them, and in afte
years-for the story was by no means al
imaginery one-they all become promis
ing and industrious members of society
The story, which was told with tha
peculiar raciness for which Mr.. Hale
famous was listened to with great inter
est, and everybody seemed to feel lik
saying with the children, "tell us an
other"
Co.ox pt