Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-26
leaving work on Christmas eve. The,

leaving work on Christmas eve. There
it lay, goodly heap Of silver, in one Of
the pockets of his trousers. What
should he do with it As he asked him
self that question, a great conflict be-
tween selfishness and self.sacrifce rag
ed IN his heart. The temptations Of
the society to which he had promised
that night urged him on the one hand,
the expectations Of his children, so pitt
fully expressed, and with such childllke
confidence, drew him on tue other hand.
In the midst Of his conflict he came to a
brilliantly set-out toy shop. What did
he care for the sight of gayly laden
! Christmas trees, chubby wax dolls,
wooden horses, woolly lambs, drums,
and carts, and boxes Of toys ? And
yethe stood gazing quite oblivious OF
the keen, frosty wind that was blowing
| in his face, The fact was he was gag
ing with his chlldren's eyes, SO to speak,
and every toy seemed a treasure to be
earnestly coveted. All. if Maggie could
see them |! Surely the Queen had never
sent better to Great Orrnond street to
gladden. little eyes and hearts. n cr
"Well, which is it to be-myself or
the children?'' he asked himself, I'M
consciously thrusting his hand into his
pocket, to feel the silver there and az
he stood gazing still, he thought, IF
don't 60 there tonight shall be looked
upon as a shabby sheep for backing out
Of the expense Of the supper and the
treating: and il won't be pleasant to
meet 'em all afterwards. And then it
would be a treat-the beef and the turk
ey-and we shat get nothing of the
sort at home. A fellow that works
hard all the year round ought to have
bit of treat now and then. fl don't
90 l know shall feel sort of shame
faced in meeting 'em all again.. Then
said voice within him, God speaking
through his conscience to his soul,
why should you be one of them !? In
times gone by did you not learn to dis
tinguish between good and evil, and
were you not taught TO choose the one
and hate the other? Is it becoming of
you-you, the husband OF an over-work-
| ed i'll fed wife, and the father of neglec-
ted cnildren-to be wasting your subs
lance in riotous doings? If you have
your treat, what will they haves If
you are selfish, they must suffer deep.
for it if you are sef-denying, you will
afford them happiness to which they
have hitherto been strangers" So he
unused nthe cold night air. s1+'a p
All, the crowds Of hurrying passers
by little knew, even if they noticed the
workingman looking in at the toy shop
at all, that spot was an arena in which
good and evil were struggling tor mas
terry over an immortal soul-that the
decision arrived at there might affect the
the entire future temporal and eternal
welfare of that man and his family
Such mighty issues often depend on
| trivial circumstances. He had been
looking down during his last bit of rev.
erie. Now he looked again at the dis
play in the window, and again the ques-
ton arose, Myself Or the children 2"
Another shert reyerie, and then his face
became lighted up with beautiful father
love and pity, SO that it was easy to
see for whom he had decided. a
He walked firmly into the shop. If
little Tom and Jack could only have
been there how they would have lifted
up their voices in loud hurrah. ,g
When he came out again his tool bag
was crammed with medley of fair-like
treasures that might have well made
the posy old tools huddle themselves to-
gether in one corner, quite COMPOUNDED.
Never before had they found themselves
in such society. A snow-white lamb
nestled costly against a fierce pair Of
pincers boxes Of toys scorned to no.
tics the tools on which they rested,
some ofwhich they had been familiar with
when being manufactured. Tops and
balls make themselves comfortable
amongst small heaps Of sharp pointed
nails, ana 4 delicate wax doll laid her
cheek confdingly against a saw which
protruded out Of the basket. "-i5
| Never before had Stephen Gregson
carried his bag home SO carefully or so
laden with precious spoil and never
before, may safely add, did working
man trudge home to his wife and little
ones with such happy heart and joy
Gus step. sf gl4stg as-.u .uar-l
There il nothing, my friends, among
earthly delights to transcend the joy of
trying to moke home happy and to
cheer those we leve and those who love
4 M
US. And what il mere easy to do7
Kind words, gentle, thoughtful deeds,
loving smiles which We are often 50
lavish in dispensing out Of doors--let
these DO INDUCED in to the full at home,
and the thing is done. Home be-
comes bright with perpetual sunshine
our joy is increased through the joy OF
those we love. This may involve self
sacrifice but what is there 20 elevat-
ing to our own hearts as self-sacrifce
for the good Of Others" --'4 q
When Stephen arrived at home at
tea-tims that Christmas eve, Of course
| nothing was expected Of him. He
looked around kindly - the little ones,
a. he had done the evening before, but
he did not take his bag from his Shout
der as usual. His wife, moving abou
getting tea, perceived a.sisien ola wax
en- face in end of the bag, and won dered