The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-12-26

little Peters eyes grew very large. ''Then
there was trees-real uns-chock full of
shiny things, an toys, an dolls, an Noah's
arks, an candy horns, an there was cakes
there az big as-as-an ash sitter, every bit,
an all white an crusty like"
Little Peter licked his chops very like
little dog, and Sarah and Vic swallowed
several times very fast. "And, oh, the or
anges-a big as Vic's head, and as round
and as yelly!"
"An' ath thweet 2" lisped the pet, and
then the Mentzes all laughed.
"An' the fathers would 90 in an pick
out the very best things Of all for their
little boys, an pull out great bills, and
never wink oncet rs they give 'em over.
An the mothers would look as smily as
ourn, and git the biggest dolls in the lot"
here Sarah and Vic pricked up their ears,
while Horace rolled up his eyes, and look
| ing purp0sely very sober, added shut I'll
be blamed if | can see what dolls are good
| for; you can't skate with 'em or eat 'em;"
and then he paused for the exclamation
of reproach to subside in the direction of
his two sisters. Then he looked queer, as
thonghr trying not to laugh, and said Scrou-
J
knives they'd be worth talkin' about"
"Never mind, dears," said Mrs. Mentz to
her little daughters; "you must remember
Horace and Willie Scrout are boys; go on
my son, we all want to hear"
"There was books-oh, Johnnie !"
"Never mind" said Johnnie, little pa
Ter than usual
"Oh, but they was so splendid, and
Scrouty said the inside o. one o. them
would take the ache an the cold all out of
feller reading of it, an when l saw
everyone agoin' in an jest buyin' everythin',
as tho twas nothin' at all, thought what
| bully stuff money was, and"
Horace stopped his throat choked. and
he could say no more. Then all the little
Mentz family grew very still, and Johnnie
stroked Horace's hot head with his white
| fingers.
"If we could only have one Merry Christ
mas, jest to see how it seemed" said little
Peter, looking down at his bare toes.
"There is one precious Gift that money
cannot buy,n said Mrs. Mentz, whose face,
in sympathy with her children, had been
momentarily shaded, but now shone forth
with unusual radiance, IAN all this rejoic-
| in an preser tin is because O this Gift
God knows we would celebrate the be-
stowin' o. His dear Son to us, if the power
to do it was ourn but it amt. But shall
our hearts be sad an our lips dumb because
O. this Come, come, dcarics, be joyful to-
night-be glad-God has given to us a
| Saviour! Let us kneel down an thank Him
| for Christ"
And around their mothers chair, and in
their mothers voice, they prayed to God to
| forgive their ungratefulness, and to accept
their hearts as their Christmas Offering.
| Gold, frankincense and myrrh was not theirs
to bring, but their lives should be conse-
Grated unto Him and His service. Thus
the Mentzes cheered up and were comfort
ed, and God sent His blessing down upon
them.
Merry voices were heard outside as they
arose from their knees, and Andy and
Scrouty Gal poor neighbours childD, and jim
my Reeves (ditto), rushed into the room in
the noisest manner Of happy boys.
"Oh, Horace Oh, Johnnie" shouted
Andy, "it's goin' to be the biggest Christ
mas ever you saw! 1t was man, an he
give me Il purse full 'thout my askin' a
ward, and I've got shawl for you, mother
an the lotsest, l0tsest things and big
book for Johnnie, too an young Scrouty
has got a four-blader bought him an
we've got a big cake fur us all an some
thin for Horace and little Peter, an the
sissies, an all and oranges besde!'
sit was stranger man," said Scrouty,
explaining, in low voice, to Mrs. Mentz,
while Andy and the children, frantic with
delight, proceeded to undo the many pack
ages, "an' he said he'd been II watchin'
Andy, an he had eyes like his boy what
died; an he just mule him take the money.
It'ss little for the rich uns to give thin's,
but so much for us poor folks to git, amt
itf" and Scrouty laughed, though his lips
trembled
Such an excitement as followed, my pen
fails to portray, but l just love to tell you
that the JOY was very, very great, and that
believe God was looking out for the little
Mentzes all the time, and that he put it in
the heart of that noble man to bcstow his
money upon them.
| 1t was late ere they retired, for they were
not 10th to celebrate now that they had the
means. And as for the benefactor of that
family, had he heard the blessings that were
called down upon him, and listened to the
prayers of the Mentzes which assembled to
the throne of Cod l think he would have
said with all his heart, "Truly, it is heaven
upon earth to be able to gioe !"--7Ae Metro.
p0litan.