Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-12-23
4 CHRISTMAS EVE.

1t was !. very bad night During the day
snow had fallen, and towards evening as it
grew colder the wind blew clouds of icy par
tlcles through the streets. A few belatcd
people were hurrying home-sor it was
Christmas Evc-and outin the bitter cold thew
thought ofthe warm hearth and cheerful
faces awaiting them. With the Germans
Christmas Eve is the mcrrest night in the
year, and there was scarcely house in this
little city on the Rhine that did not resound
with the glad ring of the children's voices.
The streets grew goomier and lonclier: il
was long past the tinc for lighting up The
trees, and the few who struggled against the
wind and drifts scarcely noticed the woman
who held out her hand for aims She did
not speak, and she scarcely moved, only Il
wild look followed the passers by until they
disappeared in the darkness. She stood
there shivering in her scant ramcnt; one
end of Il thin shawl was thrown over her
shoulders, and the other was wrapped
around Il little child which she pressed
closer TO her breast whencvera fierce gust
swept UP the street. Vice. hunger and des-
pair had pinched and hardened her face
and the slcct had strcaked and matted her
coarse black hair. 50 tha! when the wind
had lifted thrih!,'l; mas E::a moment it Eel!
hacl; heavily against her head
When she li;l stood there rmmy hours
she moved away, still rirnnilcss aud on She
wandered without aim or purpose. She
came to IL church and parsonage. ana in
front Of the latter stopped a moment for
bright lights shone through the curtains
Wearly sho dragged herself up the steps
and knocked. But the clergyman who
opened the door saw the marks Of vice on
her face, and nc turned her away without Il
word. She had stood in the the entrance
just long enough for her to hear the cracllle
O. Il fire. the merry laugh of child and
young mothers melodous voice: as she
turned back again into the bleak night she
looked down at her babe and muancl
Then she quickencd her steps and hurried
on to the river street. Following ii q while
she came to Il long, narrow wharf, and she
went far out to its edge and gazcd into the
dark current that was running swiftly be-
meath her. For moment the moon broke
from behind the clouds and she saw her own
despairing face in the black stream. With
Il shudder she made Il convulsive movement
towards the water, but the child moved un-
easily and sobbed, and she turned
back again, She retraced her foot
steps till she came once more to the par
sonage and church. The tower watch who
lived up near tho belfry had lit Christ
m%s tree. The outlines ofthe church were
invisible in the darkness, and the tree with
its bright lights and the Christ. chilli hover
ing over it seemed to be floating through
the heavens, a greeting from above to the
no ncless and friendless on earth The
woman crept up to the church and sat down
in the portal. She could see the lights still
cleaning in the clergyman's house 1t was
growing colder, but she sat without moving
70 Il long time. At last u fierce gust swept
around tho ohurnh aud chn fnlt hor child
shivering. She took the shawl from her
shoulders and wrapped it around her babe.
Then she placed the child gently in the cor
ner of the portal and sat down in front of
it, so that she alone was struck By the wind
and sleet.
Next morning people said it was = pity
there was no shelter in town for the home
less-a great pity! For during the night !;
woman and child had been frozen to death
on the church steps. The woman, they
said, sat rigid and stittn front OF the little
one, q shawl was wrapped around the child
and its face was as peaceful as though it
were aslecp.-Erchdnge.