The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-19
WHAT HOST REJOTCRS TIE HEART or
MANf
Translated from the Gsrnan,I !

Martin IA farmer to whom heaven had grant
ed, rich harvest, to reward him for the faitn-
ful tiliage of his land) entered the house. he
had taken his grain to the market-town, and,
thanks to the brisk demand, had parted with
it at an unusually high price. Aud now, re-
wife, aud pouring ont the money before her on
the table, said laughingly Look, Agnes,
that will give us q rare treat! What thlnk-
heart of mani 1 want something that shall
make me right joyful"
80 Martinw replied the wife, "it must be
found, then. Bot this whole day has my heart
been very heavy and even if made some
thing nice indeed, don't think it would go to
the right spot and when Martin asked why,
long yesterday morning.. when in came our
and said her father was like to die,
and would for Gods SAX sake come, come to
nonrishipg. I could understand, then, how
matters stood, and taking With me juot what
ever there was in the honse, ran down to the
hat. o dear God what misery was there
The man lay on a little straw, so white and
feeble the poor wife knelt beside him, crying
and sobbing; and their children hung round
aud not bit Of bread in the
whole house. And indeed, Martin, that is
not the only home W here such want is
don't know, but it seems as if ought not to
enjoy one cheerful hour while SO much wretch
ed ness surrounds u.s."
While Martin let his wife speak out her
thoughts, his eyes were musingly bent before
him. Then he rose, and grasping Agnes's
hand, exclaimed Now / know what to do,
mother! A joyful heart viii haves for doing
good to others gladdens the heart more than
vine and good cheer. Let US see, then, what
the dear God has given us And now he
counted out from the money hrst the rent due
to his landlord, then enough to pay all that he
owed, and lastly all that must go toward pre-
pairing for the next years crop. Still there
remained a pretty little sum, 80 he said
Now, mother, count up the poor OF our viii
lage, and heat the oven, and bake Tor every
grown person two big loaves, and for every
child smaller one and then send the bread
round. adding to each loaf a jug OF WINE and
two forms. Then when the people have
merry Christmas. and say grace without
tears, our hearts will be light, an thinking,
even if We set nothing on the table besides our
usual fare"
Now when Agnes heard her husband speak
| thus her heart grew very happy, and she said
yes to every thing, and shook -four into
the bread trough, aud baked all day and all
| GLORIA in excelss Dec :" there was not one in
| that whole parish who had not enough to eat ;
| and many one who for long time had not
tasted wine refreshed himself on that day,
thanking with heart and lips the farmer and
| his wife. These two had merely their usual
homely fare upon the table, but within their
breasts were joyful hearts and the conscious,
So far, SO good; but something else hap
| Pened afterward for as, according to the
proverb, a pleasure never comes alone, %
1
plying themselves. And of that we are now
going to hear something.
When it came to the landlord's ears that hit
farmer, who was no capitalist, bad made 6
merry Christmas for himself in the love of tn.
holy Christi t-ohild, he was well pleased, and
thought to himselfthat he too might try some
ed day Ithe octave of the blessed Christmas
New Years day. when all the poor in his par
ish should be invited to the CASTLE In the
hall was 8 long table covered with hne white
o1o he
for himse'f and his family. at this small ia
BILE he placed Farmer Martin and his wifi
Agnes and near the head too, which has NJ
small Significance among knights and noble
men, But he said that he honored such excel
lent people as his own friends and relations
: believing that the heart makes better nobilit!
than long pedigree.
!, When now the table was filed with the SOM
: and daughters OF poverty, grace was said b!
the priest, while all remained standing ant
,ined devotedly in his prayer. Then were
bread cakes set on the board, and huge piece
of roast beef, and for each person bnmpe
of good old wine; but if any one was i'll ant
could not come to the feast, then was his shar
despatched to his home, with beautiful golt
piece and friendly greeting from his gracou
lord. So all the parish poor had second timt
plenty to eat and drink, and more than one en-
; joyed himself better oa that day than ever be
fore in his life.
When the people had bad good dinner
they thought the feast was at an end, ant
wished to express their thanks courteously
to the host, but he begged them to wait lit
tie quarter of an honr longer, for something
else was coming. Then four lottery vase
; were placed on the table, one for the men, an
other for the women, a third for boys, and
fourth for girls; and when all the guests hat
been arranged according to age and family
one after another put his hand into vase ant
drew forth number, one fifteen, anothe
twenty-ope, q third two, and 80 on until eacl
; person had number. Then they looked q
their numbers and thought, What does thi
, all mean and they waited full of expecta
= tion.
Suddenly a side door opened, and the ser
I wants brought in a wooden frame, on the fou
sides of which hung all sorts of garments, on
side for men, another for women, and then 70
.. boys and girls, az. at q fair; and everything
Q Q was new and neat and strong, such as peasan
) folks like to wear, and a number was fastene
: : on each piece. Some one called out, "NOV
. look ont for the numbers that you have in you
! hands" The men looked shyly at each Othe
= = as if to say, Scan he really mean it y but th
Q women were more clever, and had soon foun
white and colOred skirts, aprons, stockiD g
i neckerchiefs and handkerchiefs to mate
their numbrs, and were helping their husband
. and children in their search. Before long nc
Z one single thread hung on the frame, an