News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-01-04

your door? Were you afraid that Boruta
would come and take you? As if could
not open all the doors in Christendom
should I so desire, ha, ha, ha!' he said,
laughingly.
Upon which he opened the bag and
took out ever so many things. 1t seemed
to the little ones that Swienty Nikolai
must have stood under the window lis
tening, for he placed upon the tree Just
the very things they had wished they
could see others enjoy, though they
might not be able to have them them
selves.
And rom very delight they could
hardly breathe. They did not know
whether the things belonged to them to
keep or were only placed there for them
to look at, for they did not dare to ask
good Swienty Nikolaj, although his face
was so beautiful and pleasant, but re-
manned as still as mice.
Soon, however, soft steps were heard,
ooh here is dear mother, let us go and
meet her p
As they were about to go another
wonderful sight met their eyes. They
sank to the ground in terror, for in place
of their mother there stood the Virgin
Mary bearing in her arms the infant
Jesus, his face full of smiles, while the
right hand was extended to bless them;
in his left was a crowned scepter with a
cross above it, and over his head was
halo, the light of which was a thousand
fold stronger than that of all the candles
of the illuminated Christmas tree, and
when Jesus again smiled at Them and as
it seemed was about to open his lips,
they in unison softly whispered:
''Holy Jesus, we thank thee that thou
didst come from heaven to bless the poor
and needy widow and orphans. %
When they tried to reach out their
arms the vision and light gradually faded
away, and when they again dared to
look about the room, the angels, Swienty
Nikolaj and the strange light had van
ished.
But the candles on the tree continued
to burn as bright as ever, and also the
many presents which Nikolaj had taken
from his great bag remained, filling not
only the room but the whole house from
garnet to cellar.
When finally the mother made her way
hOmeward, empty-handed with a heavy
heart to her children, she was filled with
anguish, and a trembling shiver took
possession of her as she saw from the dis
lance her house all Illuminated knowing
that there was nothing in the house to
give light, she feared that in some way
an accident had occurred and that
the house had caught fire, and ran as
as fast she could.
Butwhen at home her fears and grief were
turned to JOY. She found her little brood
dancing merrily, having stilled their hun
ger from the many good things that were
ing enjoyed themselves to their hearts
content, the mother placed them all i'll
their beds, and gave them their custom
airy goodnight kiss. They all prayed, |
thanking the infant Jesus for his many
blessings to them in their great hour Of
trouble.
Gu Christmas day after breakfast,
Bogumil bethought himself of the book !
which good Nikolaj had given him; it
was very thick, and between each pair
of leaves was a piece of money, which |
made the poor widow and orphans into
the richest people in the land.
Now my young readers, does this story
meet your appreciation hope it does,
for after all it is not a mere fancy, but |
grain of truth round which fiction is
For they who really try to
follow The infant Jesus and try to he like
him, to them he will come in some way
or other, if not in visible form, then
certainly in their hearts; and especially |
to the poor and needy, the widow and |
for has he not promised to be
a husband to the widow, and a father |
TO the fatherless? If you live after his |
commandments, darkness will turn into |
light and every Sorrowing tear into a
TRANSPARENT pearl