Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-26
ROSALIE'.S CHRISTMAS.

sea, TO the shores of eternity. The poor
mother, for her children's sake, struggled
bravely with her sorrows She was a nice
seamstress, and after many disappointment
she succeeded in getting work, mostly through
the kindness of an old washerwoman who
rented room in the same tenement
Her work was 80 nicely done that more
was ready for her and she toiled on with
fresh courage, while Franz and Gerda did all
they could to help. They aided her in house
work and cookery, and sold fruit in the
streets. They were honest and industrious,
gentle and respectful in their manners and
soon one and another began to notice and re-
member them. Their small knowledge of
our language, while it hindered them in one
way, helped them in another. They escaped
the street lessons, which poor woman has
most to fear for her children.
Children did you ever think, that, to the
very poor, every week, every day, brings
tcmptatiOny
You come from your play to your we'll
spread tables with keen relish for your
food, and an apple or pear seldom comes
amiss at any time of day. But can you fancy
feeling faint and sick with hunger, and see
ing all about you delicious food that is not
yours that you must not even touch Pity
and help the children who do know what this
is.
You go out for while on winters day,
wrapped i'll your warm clothing and know
that when you return from your walk, or
merry sleigh-ride, or run in from your coast
ing and snowballing, bright fire and boun-
tiful supper await you.
Very different is the lot of the children
who, lalf-c and shivering, sell matches or
fruit in the streets and creep back at night
to fireless rooms and straw beds.
6 Al.
snatch little that they think the comforta-
BILE and happy people around them will new
or miss, do you wonder the tiny hands learn
to steal: Judge them not harshly Do not
say you never would do SO, for you have not
been tried.
Franz and Gerda, indeed, did not reach
such bitter straits as many do. Their moth
or was still with them, and they were healthy
children, able to do their part to keep the
wolf from the door. But it was hard strug-
gle.
Franz never found rich mans pocket
book containing hundreds of dollars, but
every-d day tests of honesty and honor were
not wanting. He had chances enough to hide
the bruised side of a peach to slip in a poor
orange or two when counting dozen; to
fill measure of cherries with nice ones on
top, and green or over-ripe mixed into the
middle to return little less than the right
change to purchaser hurrying to the cars,
or n child unused to reckoning. But against
all tricks of trade" he and his brave little
sister steadily set their faces. They were
careful to buy only ripe, fresh fruit, and no
more than they would be likely to sell and
with these two aids, honesty and prudence,
their business prospered.
when Gerda, with bright face, and brisk
step, came to her brothers side. and showed
him her empty basket, and the worn old
pocket book in which she kept her treasure.
Sold all ?" said he 80 have /. Mother
will be glad tonight" Franz picked up his
basket, and took his sisters hand. People
bought moro today than most days; maybe
because Christmas il coming"
cts Christmas Eve now, isn't it,"
Eyes, dear"
"DO you think"-the child drew nearer to
her brother, and lowered her voice--'do you
think the Christ-child will bring us any
thing?"
"a don't know" the boy answered, thought
fully 'he used 10 come at home,-i the
dear father-land, Gerda, you know"
eyes. l remember" she said, q sudden
glow in her face, and her voice quick and ca
gor Father always came home early, and
the curtains were down, and the lamp light
ed, and we had supper. We always had soup,
Christmas Eve, nice hot soup, and, oh, the
Christmas cake! Franz, don't you remem-
ber all full of plums? We won't have one
this year, will WEI"
No." said Franz mother made that,
you know. 1t wasn't on the tree. She
couldn't pay for the things to make it now.
Gerdn! I'm thinking that maybe we can get
tree, "a little bit of tree the Christ
child would bring anything for it. But
don't know, Gerda, maybe he doesn't come
in our street"
Gerda's face was picture, in its changing
doubt and hope. Presently she said, in an
eager, excited way, clasping her hands tight
ly together on her brothers arm, Lets get
it, Franz, if we can. 1t won't do any harm
to have it, and maybe he will come. But how
could you get it, Franz 2"
you see that stone church ?"
yes"
They were trimming it when passed this
morning, and there were ever 30 many little
boughs and twigs that they didn't seem to
want or count anything. You can SEQ now
there's quite Il pile outside the door Now,
if anybody is there, I'm going to ask for just
one Of thosej and they won't refuse us that
on Christmas Eve, I'm sure"
Gerda's face frightened.
And then, Gerda, wen put it in the win
dow"
But we didn't use to have the tree in the
window" said the little girl
81 know but don't you see? II it stands
in the window, and the Christ-child comes
into our street at all, it will be moonlight,
you know; the moon is Just coming up now,
over that roof, he viii be sure to see it ; and
think he will put something on it,-some-
thing for mother, anyway"
80 Franz - and Gerda's tone was low and
very earnest 'f we could see him! Maybe
un cor catch fba frlaa Of 10 a
he-dO you think he would-stop minute 2"
Il don't know, Gerda, dear, but here's the
church, and it's open there are people busy
in there yet"
The church was but partly lighted, and the
two children stood few moments in the veg
tibule, looking in with silent admiration and
delight, till young man, who was lighting
the lamps, came near the door
YES" lie answered, readily, to the boys
modest request; take all the stuff that's
there, if you can use it, We want to get it
out of the way"
GerdA's eyes sparkled "We'll choose the
prettiest for tree, Franz" she said, as she
helped gather them up, land won't mother
be glad of the rest for frewood!' And she
danced along the sidewalk, to the music of a
German tune she was humming.
You know that now, in the "good time"
that has come, every child who goes to Sun
day school has place in the church on Christ
mas Eve, and share in the wonderful Christ
mas tree but my story is of years ago. Then,
but very few churches were lighted or dec
GRATED for Christmas, and the children who
had friends able and glad to give them pres
ents used to, almost without exception, hang
up their stockings. The Christmas tree is
purely German custom.
In Rosalie Lincoln's home merry compa-
ny were gathered around the Christmas tree.
She was the youngest of large family and
her married sisters, with their husbands and
children, had come home for the holidays.
Then, besides her father and mother, there
were grandpa and grandma, Aunt Carrie and
Uncle Frank and the tree held gifts for ALL
Rosalie's stockings had been filled every
since she could remember but this was the
first Christmas tree she had seen.
kosalie was very happy her presents were
inst what she wanted, "A wax doll, china