The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-21

might make such . sound. When they
had gone mp very high, they saw o little
child emerge from Q great darkness
s% !.p the clouds, making path Of Light
buS beautiful beyond all words, with
cheeks like rosebud's most exquisite tint,
and perfect head crowned with golden
curls. Ifs form was like what mon chisel
for models Of angels, and its eyes Of rarest
violet looked eagerly down. Down to the
was going, through the blue air down, ex-
pectant and sorrowful. They followed the
path of light its feet made, wondering and
sad. AS the fair vision neared the earth,
30 did they. It shivered with cold, as it
went on, and dropped tears, as babies do
elo sasS ARE in II shs gathered up the tsas
and carried them on high. So they knew
it was the Baby God, and the story of the
first Christmas the world ever knew, flash.
ed for the frst time, across their minds.
Then they began to feel why they had been
brought there.
In the world below they could see the
homes full of light and warmth, filed with
happy parents aud happier children. Cur
tains. fell over snowy beds, where people
slept peacefully, and lights cleaned, and
fres glowed, where they sat in joyful cir
cles. The Divine Child shivering and
was opened. As He turned from each, the
bright beings who had gathered up His
tears begged Him to come with them, but
he motioned them away with . royal
wave of His hand. They obeyed.
Finally, He stopped before the door Of
their own home. They could see down
into it, themselves-bu with preparations
for tomorrow. In one room their parents
were adjoining the Christmas-tree, In an
other they were laying out their gifts.
Mamie's party dress glistened on bed in
the nursery, and all the toys they had COW
eted, were arranged for them. The house
was one mass of joyous preparations.
Even the kitchen was crowded e., WIN nnt WGa-
the shivering baby knocked and wept.
The looked to see if no one heard Him.
No one-all were too busy to listen, and
the knock was q baby 80 little and 80 low,
that unless you were listening for 1t, you
| would miss it altogether.
choked her voice, " why can mo- one hear
| Him Z"
"Because,r answered her conductor,
even more sternly than before, emo one got
ready for His coming, or listened for His
| knock, which means the same thing. Be
kind enough to look now"
The baby turned away weeping, and
dark cloud settled on their home. They
saw then where he next knocked, at q
poor little house opposite, in which people
lived, with whom they never visited, an
there-He entered
Around this house, angels then set their
watch, and light enveloped it, that made
the beams and rafters, and roof, and CHM
neys, shine like FURNISHED gold.
| The gold of that roof, SO sacredIy guard
ed grew transparent, 80 that they could see
all that took place inside. Alb what was it
marked the place, where the Bsby's knock
had been heard and answered !
The floor was bare, and the walls were
coarse and stained by the weather. A few
poor bits of furniture, the least that cal
answered to earthly wants stood about the
room, and fire, only half the size it should
be for the season; burned in the CRATE
Near it, sat poor mother, her clothes
faded and scant, and her face pale ant
weary. On her knee, with her arm claspet
fondiy about him, sat boy with one littl,
LIMB hanging limp and helpless. TheI
knew his face, wan and bright, with larg'
and thoughtful eyes they had often seer
it looking wistfully out Of the window, 81
they passed to school. Her other hant
rested softly on the golden hair Of littl
girls face was lifted eagerly to hers, AMI
e was beautiful with the feeling brough
nv the mothers words, for she was speak
ing. This was what she said, land, as sh
said it, the angels drew nearer and neare
. the little touching group, as if the, word
| CuAlI0u
"My dears, 1 cried coming home: think
, ing Of your Christmas, and how ooule
give you nothing to make it as chiidre
love to have it. Thought of poor Edward
lame leg, and how hard it wac, that
couldn'J even buy him a crutch in place @
the toys other mothers give their boys
only o orutch to let him have Il chance O
the fresh air again And you, poor Nora
, II thought of the thin, old shawl and dres
You'd have to wear TO- morrow, and then
and then" now her tears choked her, bu
angels gathered them, and held them j.
the palms of their hands, as if they wer
very precious. She went on: Co! "a.
dears, thought it very hard, that conl'
give you no better dinner to 'rorro"
+ than any other day-hardly az good, DO
cause to morrow 1 don't work. Bar the
remembered One" now the Divine Ch!l
bent towards her, listening, as if fearful o
losing a word, "One, who came the frs
, Christine as, and, my dear He had not eveI
: roof to cover Him, aud had to lie dow
amongst the dumb beasts. All ! we're no
SO poor as He was !"
mo, neither" softly said the chi'dre
f weeping, we could have Him IN by on
E fire."
4La,rht daars and though