The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-12-27

Hoffman in my cOmpany--Ffanz HOfT'
man, from POtsdam--w which accounts
for the mistake, and he must have
! fallen, poor fellow. l have not seen
the list. He had been with Us only n
few days; and though 1 knew him but
little, he was counted good comradc
and Il genial man. trust he does not
leave many to mourn HIM" And look
ing around ON the little household
band he bowed his head in silence for
u moment.
~ wanted to surprise you ALL" he
continued, 'as reached the house. !
knew your mothers arrangements were
/ to be just like those of last year, from
her letters. The doors were open, so /
just stole in, and finding everything
7 ready to my hand, was there to receive
the Christ-child, little thinking
what II strange surprise / would
give you; little dreaming that /
was to appear as one risen from the
dead. l waited while you sung your
Christmas hymn, dear children, hardly
able to rest.am my impaticnce, won
dering all the time why the dear little
mother didn't steal in to see if the
Christ-chiid had come"
Paul sprang UP then with a sudden
| thought cf the neglected Christmas
tree: ooh, the trce we're all for
getting it, and our splendid tapers are
fast burning away" so, Followed
speedily by all, he ran into the next
room into the midst of the Christmas
warmth and beauty.
The children were soon wild with
delight over the wonderful gifts on the
separate little tables and Fritzel and
Carlotta were shouting and clapping
their hands under the tall sparkling
tree, down from the hcigth of which
the fair, waXen face of the Christ-child
image seemed to smile on the happy
| little ones.
Loving little Olga, who fully real
ICED by this time that her papa was
not an angel, but living and real, the
best gift the dear Christ-child could
have brought her nestled up to his side
aud pulled him gently by the. hand
over to his special little table.
Gretchen, the good, careful little
maiden, had slipped out during the
confusion and brought in the gifts,
which, just completed, bad not been
placed there after the dreadful news
came.
All the children crowded up to watch
and comment on Papa's pleasure, as lie
examined his gifts, praising the skill of
this and the tlioughtfulness Of that
donor, as he did so.
Just then, there was violent ring Mt
the entrance bell, and in another sec
ond the old professor burst into the
room, looking like Knecht Ruprecht
himself, in his enormous shaggy over
coat and. fur cap, carrying II big basket,
ami fairly beaming aud overfiowing
with true German glee.
Good news travels fast.
Almost before he family were sure
Of the fact themselves, the happy It'd
ings seemed TO have spread in some
mysterious way, and other friends soon
filed the room; coming in, they said,
for just q look ut the dead returned to
life again.
The children and work people of the
neighberhood ran up and down the
steps, calling out to Lima and asking
questions, till she was forced to drive
them away.
"The streets fairly alive with our
good news" she whispered to Gretchen,
as she ran in, painting to see the beau.
titul tree and receive her gifts with 4
pretty show Of surprise.
Frau Eoilmann, who had disappeared
for few moments, returned presently
in her pretty blue dress, which lad
beon especially prepared fort happy
occasion, followed by Christel and Lima
with the rcfreshment trays. Then
there was jubilee, indeed. :
The Christmas greeting PASSED
around, and the Children's Christmas
hymn was called for. What q joyous
strain the music took this time! How
out of each heart in that now blessed
little family rose the song Of thtuks-
giving
Gretchen and Paul, Olga, Carlotta
and Frltzel laid happy little heads on
their pillows that memorable night;
and, think, ths dear Chirsi child scnt
them beautiful dreams to herald in the
holy Christmas day. N IN.