The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-25
THE FROST CHILD.

1t was a Christmas night and from
his high Northern home, where he
sits alone on a glittering throne by
the side Of his father, King Winter,
the Frost Child descended into the
milder zone to roam through the
cities Of the world, and look In at
windows draped for the holidays. |
Though he came from the cold, he
was not cold. Over the yellow Of his
hair he wore a coronet that shone
with the eternal brightness Of the
diamond, Two luminous rings rose
to the level Of his crowned head,
like the pinions OF the cherubim In
the pictures OF old time. In his
hand he bore a wand that he had
brought out Of his fathers kingdom,
and as he waved 1t before him the air |
filled with myriads Of frost flakes,
the little laughing rivulet ceased her
dancing and became sheet OF pearl.
Fine, ethereal, transparent as q veil,
the breath OF the Frost Child diffused |
itself and made anatmosphere about |
him as he flew. The branches Of the
cypress and hemloek showed a glitter
ing coat of mail when he went by,
and reeds, grasses and tender shrubs
gllttered beneath the treasure that he
scattered over them.
He stopped before the palace Of a
great lady, ~ will tell her some
tales Of my fathers kingdom" he
said, and forthwith he fell to tracing |
blossoming ferns and glowing stars
over all her window panes. On all
her laurel bushes he hung wreaths
Of frost flowers, and decorating her
house and grounds he wrought all
night, but in the morning he vanished
away, so that when the lady asked,
"Where Ii the exquisite artist ?" no
one was able to tell. i
He stood at last within a large and
brilliant city. From many a church
spire silver bells rang In the happy
Christmas eve. Waxen tapers spark
led on the affairs and In the windows.
The shop windows flashed with forms
Of costly beauty-a blaze of jewels:
Every where were merry groups OF
men, women and children, hurrying
to aud fro. Christmas trees showed
through half-open doors, and gayety
and good will filled the streets. The
Frost Child saw some wanderers that
he did not like, but being Frost
Child and a sou Of King Winter, he
could not understand that they were
poor and suffering, and blamed them
for their sadness while all around was
glad. Flashing In his jewels, unseen
himself, he mingled with the throng,
playing many u merry trick, touch.
Ing with his wand the beard OF some
young man and ringing 1t with
white. On the cheek Of beauty he
froze the tear ere it could fall; he
Hinged the finger-tips that were
wrapped in sealskin, and gave many
poor child slap on the already too
red cheek. With his wand he drove
some old men and women tiercely
over the smooth ice OF the pave
ments. He stopped to look In at the
windows, always leaving his pictures,
stars and ferns blossoming all deli
cately fair on the smooth tablet OF
crystal.
AT last he waited before window
well lighted in q shop Of the second
or third grade, very pretty, but mostly
in 1t were displayed articles OF use.
This child could not understand pain.
hunger or cold. No emotion had ever
kindled within or warmed the heart
of the Frost Child. A beautiful
Italian girl was looking In wistfully
at a tippet of down, a bright red
flannel petticoat, a hood, and a pair
of shoes. The extreme fever OF ex-
laustion had settled like red rose
leaf on each cheek; her feverish lips
were slightly parted; her breathing
was hurried and quick. A solled
boauet was in her hand, the last
remnant of her days labor. The
Frost Child breathed upon 1t; It'll
shrivelled and collapsed. A few
small coins were In her hand also,
but not enough to buy shoes, tippet
or hood. Unseen himself, the Frost
Child drew yet nearer to her heart;
his coronet Of diamond brightness
touched her bosom. She shivered
little, trembled and walked on. The
Frost Child followed, now near and
now afar off, but ever keeping her In
sight. The two passed on up the
winding ways Of the city.
"She Is more beautiful than the
brightness of my fathers throne,n
whispered the Frost Child to himself;
az will steal her away and she shall
be with me and my father alone In
that solitary kingdom Of light"
"I can 20 no farther" sighed the
italian girl; ~ am weary and must
sleep"
She sat upon the great cathedral's
step, and laying one arm on the next
step above she rested OIL 1t her weary
head. The jubilant notes of the
organ exultingly sang the songs OF
MAY and the stars. They seemed to
flood the church, and issuing there
from to surge and roll above her
dropping form like pillows Of fire, for
she was no longer cold. The Frost
Child stood beside her unseen, but
the shining nimbus Of his person en-
veloped both. Languor and sweet
ness, ease and rest possessed her. So
fell the Italian girl into a long, long
dream. The gay crowd Of the church
passed out-girls In dresses Of gleam-
Ing satin, and matrons in velvet and
diamonds, but none tarried to see the
girl who had fallen asleep on the fair
Christmas night. The Frost Child
waited by her side; more luminous
his starry eyes grew through the
darkness Of the Christmas night, and
sparkled like blades Of fine Damascus
the coronet set In the yellow bright.
ness Of his hair. Hewaved his wand
three times above the head of the
sleeping girl; her form shriyelled,
and only a little bit Of pale white clay
was left In her place, for the wrath
Of the Italian flower girl, out OF the
nimbus that surrounded both, arose
fairer than any Christmas light, and
with the Frost Child floated away.