Connecticut western news., 1882-12-20
VOL. XII.

SoAAAAASo Woul I you share, if yor' had many nice presents given to yor1, ~r~-h children that did not have them !. would you be selfish, like many i~nndren of the ricE and their parents, who ordJ think of theil pleasures ?"
 ooh, no, all th>. ried as with one voice. "We wor 1 give the larger hall to those who had nothing, or less thar ourselves. Mother always taught us that the infant Jesus came into the world to teach mankind to be good and upright, and to be charitable to the poor, and in order to be members of his flock, we must do likewise, no matter how poor our own lot may be-
 Bogumil, however, cried-for he began to feel weak having worked very hard, he sooner felt the gnawing bangs oi hunger. "But, somehow, the infant Jesus does not seem to care for us poo1 folks, for if he did he would not let us suffer so.
 At this the old gray-beard made a very grim face, which frightened them all, especially Bogumil, who at once said:
 "Yet I must not murmur. We will have a Christmas tree such as we de- serve. It will not be laden with pres ents, for poor mother is not able to give us anything this year, as she has been heretofore"
 ''Don't be alarmed, my little man, the infant Jesus will not forget you-yet if you continue to complain, he may send with other things birch-rod to punish such children, who think that Jesus will forget them, "and he was heard by Bogu- mil and his sisters to mutter to himself ::
 "Who has ever heard that Christ is neglectful of the deserving poor? Why, to them he delights most in bringing into their homes his beautiful rays of sunshine and hope"
 The children looked more cheerful, wiping away their tears, when the old man arose, and they followed him as he shouldered his long bag, after having opened the mouth of 1t and filled it so that it seemed as if it could hold no more. After little while when they came to road the old stranger with a smile said:
 ''Now, dear children, here is the road which will take you to your village and home. Come give me each kiss and shake hands with me as we part, for l must go in another direction. Here take each of you girls sugar doll, and you, my boy, take this book, from which you can learn to be wise man if you study it, and in few years will be able to sup port your mother and sisters. Don't open it till tomorrow morning. We will see each other again, and I want you to remember me, for it is not every boy and girl who has the good fortune to see me in such & good humor. am known to the bad boys and girls as Bo ruta, or the bad man, who takes then away in his large bag, and to the good children as Swienty Nikolaj."
 Upon this he turned and walked away and it seemed to the children when they looked after him that he had on magic boots, for every step was mile long.
 When he had entirely gone out O sight the girls looked at their sugal dolls and they represented beautiful angels, with wings on their shoulders.
 'fYou must keep them,' said Bogumil ''for it would be pity to eat them, al though we are so hungry, as they will locl very nice on yonder evergreen which Swi enty Nikolaj winked at me I might take
 Upon which they shook the snow from it and Bogumil shouldering it, they walked slowly to their home, which they reached shivering with the cold ani hunger, as well as much fatigued.
 When their mother saw them they tolc her what had happened to them. Upo1 which she replied: Nonsense, it mus have been some forester who made fun O you, it could not have been Swienty. Nix olaj. No one has ever seen him. Here my darling, whilst you were gone found in the cellar three turnips; I did no know that they were left over from the last time we had them for dinner, it is al I can give you, it will still your hunger for little while. I will go to the vii lage and see if cannot earn something Do not be afraid if it should be very darl while l am away and late before Ireturn you can both lock and bolt the door. Blu be good and pray to God and the infan Jesus that I may bring back something wherewith we may all be happy at leas tonight and tomorrow.
 In spite of the snow-storm, which a that time came on heavily, the mothe went into the village. In her absenc the children put up in the best way the, were able the Christmas tree, althougl they knew that they had nothing wit which to adorn it except the two suga dolls, nor had they any candles to plac upon it. Yet they felt happy that the were not to be without something. Al three children were in great glee whe they saw it standing erect with its imb extending in all directions, for it ha cost them considerable labor. As ever ing came on they placed themselves 2 the window to enjoy as long as the
 could the last ray of day, for there wa nothing in the house which could ighte
 the darkness of the approaching evenin
 and night, they enjoyed also the fallin
 of the snow which now came in larg
 flakes. Bogumil said to his sisters thu
 they ought to he thankful that in the
 great poverty they had at least rot
 over their head, and were not compelle
 to wander about in the snow, as he ha