The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-23
FELICE
nv 7, \. ARTHUR.

glad time 1t will be for the little ones!
In thousands and thousands OF homes,
when breaks the Christmas morning,
there will be sweet surprises, and
hearts made happy by loye-gifts.
Christmas il coming! You are
waiting for It. children-waiting and
wondering what gifts 1t will bring.
Shall tell you. In this waitlng.time
q Christmas story? l know one; 1t Is
about u little girl just nine years old.
Her name was Felice, and she lived
with her old grandmother In u small
cottage that stood by the roadside,
nearly mile away from the village.
One day, just week before Christ
mas, n man came riding by. lie was
closely wrapped In heavy cloak, tor
the air was cold, and snow lay deep
on the ground. His face had An I'M
happy look; and he rode along with
his head bent forward and drawn
down among the fur Innings of his
cloak.
As this hOrseman passed the cot.
tage, he looked carelessly ut Its single
small window, and then drew his rein
and stopped. What did he sect
Nothing very wonderful. Only two
tiny cedar trees, not more than twelve
inches high, each with gay ornaments,
like flowers, Oh its slender branches
purple, yellow and scarlet.
He drew his rein and stopped. For
little while he sat gazing at the tiny
Christmas trees, the hard, unhappy
lines going slowly out Of his face.
Then he got down from his horse and
went into the poor little cottage.
Felice was all alone, for her grand.
mother had gone to neighbours to
get some wool to spin; hut she was
not afraid when the tall man came in,
for though he had a cold. almost
stern face, there was something kind
in the dark eyes that looked into hers.
"All alone, my little maidenF he
said, as he looked around the room.
Yes, SIR" answered Felice; and
the man thought he had never heard
u sweeter voice. "Granny's gone for
WOOL"
Aren't you afraid to stay here all
by YOURSELF" asked the man.
"Afraid"' There was slight tone
of wonder in the child's voice.
Yes, its so still and lonely"
Granny says, If ] think good
thoughts, angels will come close to
me, though | can't see them; and
granny knows. I'm not afraid Of
them, SIR"
Felice looked up into the mans
face and saw 1t soften and change.
He could not bear her steady gaze.
and so turned a little from her.
Won't you sit down, sir" said
Felice; and the stranger took one OF
the old wooden chairs in the room
and sat down.
$50 YOU are going To keep Christ
masr The man looked ut the two
tiny trees in the window, and as he
did so his eyes rested on two OF three
more standing In q corner, but not
dressed like the others. But what
do you want with so many trees!"
Oh, sir, they're for some of the
poor children down In the village,
who won't have any Of their own
replied Felice.
The man seemed to catch his breath
4 warm color came suddenly into his
face. He turned and gazed for some
moments, with a look Of strange sur.
prise, at Felice. How pure, how
sweet, and innocent her face was!
Not line of self.approval there;
nothing to show that thought OF
anything but making the poor village
children happy had ever crossed her
mind.
Did you dress themi asked the man,
rising and going to the window.
Yes, sir; all myself. Granny has
to spin.
He lifted one of the pots In which
tiny tree was planted, and looked at
it closely. The little r0setes OF bright
cloth were neatly cut and tastefully
arranged about the tree; while here
and there hung a yellow immortelle,
OF purple amaranth.
He stood very still for awhile, and
drew long sigh.
Is your granny old, he asked, as he
came back from the window.
Oh, yes, sir; she's very old. Her
hair is white as snow.
And 80 poor that she has TO spin.
Yes, sir; all day long.
How old are you!
Nine, she answered.
What Is your name!
Felice.
The man sighed again. After
moment or two he drew himself up,
and with tone of reproof In his
voice, said: 1t think 1t would he bet
ter to help your poor old grandmother
than to waste time In making Christ
mas trees for idle children, who might
dress their own.
For a moment or two the mans
words seemed to stun the child. Shit
moved away from him, and her eye:
had frightened look. But this soor
passed off, and the peace OF u go0t
conscience rested on her dear younl
face.
You don't know, or you wouldn'
say that, she answered, looking at hin
steadily.
He felt the rebuke of her eyes and
words. The two gazed steadily q,
each other, but the mans eyes wer'
first to turn away. A feeling tina
was almsst reverence for the littl
maiden, come to his heart. Sh
seemed to him more Ike al ange
than u child.
Are there many poor children !
the village? he asked.
Oh, yes, sirl u great many. What
light what a hopeful interest cam
into her face
| DO you dress trees for them al
inquired the stranger.
| Oh, no, sir
| Why noti
J A shadow fell down upon the chile
face.
Why not =! The man repeated h
question. -
We are poor, granny and !, the lit
maiden answered, and 1t takes mon!
, to buy the pots and bright cloth. "
do all we can
The stranger caught his breat
again, like one a little scared. TIT
he bent down, and lifting the chi
gently, kissed her and went away.
That evening, just as the sun W
going down, . man brought thr
boxes and left them at the cottage.
u Who sent them? asked the graz
mother.
But the man only said They
for you. That Is all / know, aud we
away,
A When they opened the boxes, wi
| ---,.n o. Ia 40 aao Nllad IN al - N an n