The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-12-19
2Uiscellaueous.
The ChTiSt3l as Tree.
BY MARY V. SPENCER,

1t was late in the afternoon before Chrstma as
a bright, frosty day, and Lucy Grafton, taking
her usual brisk walk, was attracted by little
girl, who stood wistfully regarding some hot
house flowers in a florists window. The child
was neatly, but poorly clad. Her hands were
clasped, her lips half parted in admiration, her
eyes riveted on a superb cloth of gold lace.
"Was anything ever so beautiful" Lucy
heard her say, under her breath.
"Would you like it, my dear ?" asked Lucy
for though rich, beautiful, and 6attered, pros
perity had not spoiled our heroine she still
had heart.
"Oh, so much ~ replied the child, looking
round to the speaker, and finding assurance in
the soft, kind eyes. "But, it was not of myself
was thinking" she added, with blush, "it
was of my brother. He is hump backed, you
know, and sick in bed, and, oh he loves fow-
ers So"
The earnestness Of the gil brought the ",nis-
ture to Lucy's eyes. "Waitmy dear, she cried ;
and going in, she brought the rose. "Give that
to your brother as a Christmas gift she said ;
''now tell where you live; tomorrow I'll
come and see you; and perhaps" with a SMILE
"Tll bring more flowers"
"oh thank you so much" And then she
told Lucy where to come; and as our heroine,
with nod and another of her sweet smiles
passed on, the child looked after her as if she
had seen an angel.
Hugh Willoughby had been unnotced of this
scene.
"Who can she be ?" he said to himself watch
ing the graceful figure going down the street.
"Ive been in Europe so long that know no.
body. But I'll follow the child, and asked her
where she and her brother lives. may be able
10 help them"
He sincerely meant to help them, but in his
secrect heart lurked hope that he might,
side of the deformed ooy."
Meantime, the girl hurried homeward, and
bursting into the attic, where the poor invalid
lay, held her rose in exhultation.
ooh, May !" cried her brother, feebly, "where
did you get it? Such beauty. Do let me
touch it,
at is yours, all yours, Harry. And beau
tful lady gave it to me, and said she would
come to see you, to morrow" And then she
told the whole story, breathless with enthusi-
asm.
Harry took the rose in his thin, frail hands
"I thought it was only in heaven that such
flowers could grow" he said. "0h maybe the
beautiful lady was one of Gods angels. They
used to come on earth, in the Bible times; and
why not now? Perhaps He sent her to let me
know how bright it was up there, with trees,
| and grass, and living waters, and no night, no
pain, no hunger. Often, when my back hurts
me, wonder if God thinks it wicked, that l
want to go to him? I'll not be bumped back
ed in heaven-will l. mother?"
Christmas morning broke bright and beauti-
full. The church bells rang out their glad
chimes. Happy people, in hundreds, went
trooping up the street But, Harry, in his mar
row attic, was racked with pain. A great
change had come over his face; it had pinch
! ed. gray look and his sister glanced anxious
| ly, hrst at it, and then at her mother. The
poor little fellow asked to have the rose, which
| had been put in a broken tumbler, with some
water, placed beside him. at is beginning to
fade, but don't seem to suffer SO much, when
l can see it," he said. And he murmured, as
if to himself owe all do fade as the leaf"
His mother was vainly struggling to keep
back her tears, when there was knock at the
door, and Lucy appeared, bringing whole
handful of the loveliest hothouse flowers.
"Oh, how beautiful how beautiful" cried
the little sufferer, stretching out his wan, wasted
hands. "And you say they are all for NO." for
Lucy, having first spoken to his mother, and
then to his sister, had come up to his bedside
"I never saw anything, l never believed there
could be anything as pretty as these white flow.
ers they are so pure they make me think Of
angels, the angels in their shining robes"
"They are lilies, dear" She could hardly
speak steadily. "I thought you would like
them"
Hetook them in his hands and smelt of their
fragrance. "Oh so much. I know now angels
always carried them. You are an angel, and
God has sent you to bring me home to Him,
he said, looking up at her, earnestly.
"Oh! my child, my child" cried the dis
tracted mother, "dont talk SO. You can't mean
it. You will outlive US ALL" Trying to keep
down her tears.
He smiled family, and put out his other
hand "Kiss me, mother, he said family. DOM
cry"
Just then the chimes of a neighboring church
began to ring. The sound rose and died, ard
died and rose again, till the whole air quiver-
] ed, as if with celestial music.
"I hear them singing-the harps of gold,
his face glowed, his eyes were fixed above.
"Oh! the walls, the walls all shining"
His weak voice stopped. There was Sob
| n Tlo Anruora fall from his hand The frail form