The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-26

cd nav. we beg pardon, with one exception
only for the beron used to say, when attet @
relating his experiences to bacpelor irIenus,
g Won NAV believe me or not, sir, there was
every mortal business under the sum- OUT @er"
a bit of a lapyer." ..,
The baron could not long remain inactive
He was rapidly seized with violent desire 20
do something to help, which manifested iIse,t
in insane attempts to assist every pooy AZ
once At last after having taken ell the Skin
off his kuuckles in attempting to hammer IN
nails in aid of the carpenters, and then nearly
tumbling over fairy housemaid, whose broom
| had lob. and stood aside with his friend the
goblin. He was just about to inquire how u
was that the poor occupants OF the mousse we're we're
NOT awakened by much din, when fairy
sam Slick who had been examining the GOTTA
gers old clock, with q view to thorough re.
pair. touched some spring witnin u, ,.,;tinn anu
When 10 and behold, at the very hrst stroke,
cottage, goblin, fairies and all disappeared
into utter darkness and tina oaIoh ioufa b;a toe
which he had just hit with considerabie Iofce
against the fender. As he was only IN his
slippers the concusslon was unpIeasanS,h LAY ahe
After be had finished with his toe he rubbed
his nose, and finally, with countenance OF
deep reflection scratched me pump baad The od
CLOCK on the stairs was striking three, and the
fire had gone out The baron reflected for
short time longer snd haa h dg sceordnev.
The morning dawned upon the very ideal, as
far as weather was concerned, of Christmas
day. bright winter sun shone out just vivid,
ly enough to make everything look genial and
pleasant, and yet not with sumclent WarmCn
to mar the pure unbroken surface of the crisp
white snow, which lay like a never-ending
white lawn upon the ground. and glittered in
myriad silver flakes upon the leaves OF the
sturdy evergreens. Pm afraid the baron had
know that he was wide awake at an hour long
before his usual time of rising. He lay first on
> one side, and then on the other, and then, by
way of variety, turned on his back, with his
r magenta nose pointing perpendicularly toward
, the ceiling but it was all of no use. Do what
8 he would, he couldn't get to sleep, and at last
. not long after daybreak, he tqmbled out OF
: bed, and proceeded to dress. Even after he
was out of bed his fdgetiness continued. 1t
9 did not strike him, until after he had got one
ceeding to put his stockings on hrBt after
y which he caught himselfin the act of trying to
. put his trousers on over his head (Which, L
# NAV mention for the information of lady
v readers who, of course, cannot be expected to
know anything about such matters, is not the
u mede generally adopted.) In word, the ba
whole air was that of man who felt strong
y, impulse to do something or other, but could
:; not quite make up his mind to it. At last
er however, the good impulse conquered, aud
this wicked old baron, in the stiffness of the
d calm bright Christmas morning, vent down
l. upon his knees and prayed. Stiff were hi!
d. done such work for mauy long day past
b but have read in the Book of the joy of thu
[e angels over repenting sinner. There need
of not much eloquence to pray the publican
r PRAYER and who shall say but there was glad
1t ness in heaven that Christmas morning
IN The baron's appearance downstairs at sucl
ne an early hour occasioned quite commotion
d, Nor were the domestics reassured when tn
baron ordered bullock to be killed and jointe
an instantly, and all the available provisions il
ed the larder, including sausage to be packed ul
Sc in baskets, with good store of his own pecu
to liar wine. One ancient retainer was heard t.
declare, with much Pathos that he feared ma
ny his head" OF not, they knew the baron must b
obeyed, and in an exceedingly short space {
Ike time, he sailed forth accompanied oy tnr.
nd what in the name of fortune their mast
to- would do next. He stopped at the cottage
he wilhelm, which he had visited with the gobl
a ON the previous night. The labors of the fari
Ity did not seem to have produced much lastiI
IN benefit, for the appearance of everythil
me around was as wretched as could be. The po
family thought that the baron had come hiI
tes self to turn them out of house and home; al
gs, the poor children huddled up timidly to the
ess mother for protection, while the father q
,w- tempted some words of entreaty for mert
ant The pale, pnched features of the group, al
Der their looks of dread and wretchedness, we
bill too much for the baron. "Eh what! what
nth YOU mean, copfound you Turn You out!
,rd. course not I've brought you some breakfa
.nt, Here! Fritz-Carl; where are the kuave
nth Now then, unpack, and don't be a week abo
pre- it. Can't yod the people are hungry,
al villains Here, lend me the corkscrew." II
Ted last being tool the baron was tolerably accl
and those of the fairy carpenters; and it was 4
ILL long before the poor tenants were seated befe
'ver q roaring fire, and doing justice, with the g
eep. petite of starvation, to asubstantial breakta
, is The baron felt queer sensation in the thrc
/; it at the sight Of the Poor, peoples eDjoyme
p in and had passed the back of his hand tW
lnd across his eyes when he thought no one y
looking; but his emotion fairly rose to boili
'ull- point when the poor father, Wilhelm, W
b he tears in his eyes, and about quarter o.
pound of beef in his mouth, sprang up from
one, table and threw himself at the baron's knC
ght, invoking blessings on him for his goodn'
YOU a. Get up, you audacious scoundrelp roared
baron. "What the deuce do you mean by 81
ling conduct, ehl confound youp At this MON
cit o the door opened, and in walked Mynh
gion Klootz, who had heard nothing of the bare
lin's change of Intentions and who, seeing With
ton, at the baron's feet, and hearing the la
she'd, speaking, as he thought, in an angry tone
ally, once jumped to the conclusion that With
!, I'd was entreating for longer indulgence.
rushed at the unfortunate man, and colla
don't him. "Not if ice know it," exclaimed
| tI1 bau he for bndfa1loya