The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-23

Poor old granny and little Felice
cried for very gladness OF heart.
What busy time they had for the
next dye OF six days, making little
trees out Of cedar and pine branches,
and dressing them up In gay Christ.
ma attire for the poor village chill.
dren!
He'll come again, granny I'm sure
OF 1t, Felice said, every day, as they
worked ut their pleasant task
But she was mistaken. The man
did not come, and Felice, who often
went to the gate In front Of their
cottage to gaze up and down the road,
looked for him In vain.
At last 1t was the day before Christ
mas. and the floor Of their cottage
was like fower-garden. Every one
OF the hundred pots had Its tiny
Christmas tree. that stood up bravely
in fine attire.
What shall We do with them all!
asked Felic's grandmother. as she
stood looking at the beautiful display.
They are for the poor village chill.
dren, answered Felice.
Oh, yes! But they are so many.
How shall We get them into the vii.
lagei II would take us all day to
carry them In; and it's bitter cold.
See! the snow Is beginning TO fall. I
don't know what we shall do.
And the old white.haired grand.
mothers face was troubled.
AS they talked In their perplexity,
they heard outside the sound Of wheels
and looking from the window. saw
tho man who had brought the three
boxes. He came bustling In, rub.
bling his hands to warm them, and
saying, as he entered, Are the Christ.
mas trees ready
There was no need of ali answer,
for he lad but to look down upon the
floor that Mas IN gay and beautiful rs
II fower.bed.
Ay! ay! he said, replying to his
own question. And then, without u
word more, he commenced gathering
them up and carrying them out. It
was not long before every Christmas
tree was In the mans wagon. After
stO wing away the last armfnl, the
man jumped in and drove of without
50 much as saying good, bye to Granny
and Felice, who stood looking on in o
bewildered, helpless kind of way,
wondering ut what they saw.
All day the snow fell, and Christ.
mas eve closed in dark and stormy
npon the inmates of the little cottage.
But the fire burned cherrily OH their
hearth, and their souls were full Of
peace; for, though they should not
SIZE it. they were sure that hundred
hearts would he made glad through
the work of their hands. Sweet was
their sleep that night, and in dreams
they heard angel voices sing, peace
OH earth goodwill to men,"
What a glorious Christmas morning
was that which broke upon the world
when next night drew aside her dusky
clrtains! Gp into the clear, blue
sky the sun arose, filling the air with
sparkles like diamond dust, and CIV
to the snowy carpet that covered the
earth the sheen of fretted silver.
What Is that, my child! asked the
grandmother. Their breakfast WAS
over and she was ut her wheel, just
beginning to spin.
Felice looked from the window, and
then called back in a hurried voice /:
A carriage! And.there's lady get
ting out
Too much surprised to move, Felice
and her grandmother stood still until
the door opened and \ stately women
came In. accompanied by a servant
bearing a large bundle. But, with
all her stateliness, the woman had a
kind face, and her eyes were full OF
a tender interest.
And this is little Felice! she said,
smiling down upon the wondering
child. Then she stopped and kissed
her
| As you remembered His poor chill.
dren at Christmas time, SO our good
Father In Heaven has put 1t into our
hearts to remember YOU" the lady
added, kissing Felice u second time.
Then she turned to the old grand.
mother, who WAS trembling with JOY
and wonder, and taking her thin,
brown hand, that was shriveled by
age and hardened by labor, kissed her
on the forehead, saying as she did 90,
in low, serious voice: lnasmuch
as ye have done II unto the least OF
these, ye have done II unto me,
For little while all stood In rev.
Ierent silence. Then the lady said, in
Ia cherry voice, her whole manner
changing A merry Christmas. my
good Dame Helder And merry
Christmas, Felice! There's going to
be gay time among the village chill
dren, and you are both wanted.
i At this the servant opened the bun
Idle she carried, and the lady tool
from 1t handsome new gown, warn
underclothing and wooden cloak FOL
the grandmother, and one of thu
sweetest little dresses for Felice yor
ever saw, with plenty Of other thing
10 match.
What Il busy, busting, bewilderinl
, time there was In the cottage for TIT
next half hour! Both Felice and he
grandmother thought themselves u
be dreaming all the while, and expec
ted every moment to wake up.
, AS soon as they were already, ant
so changed that they would not hav'
3 known themselves, they we're takel
? into the carriage and driven away.
I II their surprise was great at al
this, 1t was doubled when, after rid
. ing for an hour, they found themselve
entering the wide courtyard OF
q castle.
Q AS the carriage drew up amid
group that were gathered around tn
Z castle door, the tall, dark man VIII
had stopped at Dame Helder's CO.
tage came ont quickly, and liftin
Felice in his arms, kissed her befoi
Ia all the people. and then carried III
into the castle.
Ia I'm sure it's its all q dream, sal
Felice In her heart, as she lay wit
10 shut eyes In the strong arms that hel
" her very tenderly.
e All 1T once a SOUND OF many voice
--children's voices-broke upon HI
h ears. She opened her eyes. WI
N she In fairy landi II must be so, 81
Id thought, for surely nothing on cart
could he half 80 gay and beautifu
rs She was In large hall, hung aroul
60 with banners and curtains, and dec
ed with wreaths and festoons
d. evergreens. From the center Of b
hall rose q great Christmas.tree, who
re top touched the ceiling; and all
mt branches were laden with toys, a
fruit, and iich CONNECTIONS.
Iat Around the tree, at the bottom,
ta lnarrow stand had haoN nlaced and