Connecticut western news., 1884-12-10
A CHRISTMAS RUNAWAY.
HOW LITTLE PRINCE FOUND THE CHRIST CHILD IN AN HUMBLE COTTAGE.

HOW LITTLE PRINCE FOUND THE CHRIST
 CHILD IN AN HUMBLE COTTAGE.
 It was Christmas Eve and the snow was just beginning to fall, very lightly and gently now, but with steadiness that promised soon to cover the broad terrace and the great stone gateway with its feecy mantle. To the tired eyes of little boy who stood gazing idly out of the window it seemed the most beauti- ful thing he had seen for months and he almost laughed as the great flakes came sailing feetly down. He wished he could run out and play among them, but that was happiness not to be thought of. He almost wished he were a snow flake himself, instead of heir to the principality of Liechenstein, with two governesses and tutor, out of whose sight he never seemed to escape for minute.
 It was really dreadful to have three grown-up people all bent on teaching him as much as ever they could. Ifhe ran away from Madame Fontaine with her be- wildering array of French verbs, it was only to stumble on Frau Hessler, with an atlas and history book in her hands, and when she had imparted all the infor- nation that his childish brain could hold there was Herr von Hagen looming up in the background, with Latin grammar and head brimful of mental arithmetic On clear days he walked up and down the long terrace, with Frau Hessler in attendance to see that he did not overheat himself by running or catch cold by lying on the grass, or he rode out on his pretty black pony, with Herr von Hagen by his side and foot man close at his heels. But what he wanted just now was to scamper in the snow unwatched and unfollowed, and the longer he stood, with his little face pressed against the glass, the stronger grew this desire within his heart.
 Now or never was the chance Every body was busy attending to the Christ mas decoration of the castle, and, yield. ing to the temptation, Heinrich slipped out of the room and down the broad echoing stairs. Servants were hurrying hither and thither, full of the prepara- tions for tomorrow, and once he heard Frau Hessler's voice as she scolded them for some piece ot stupidity, but, no one noticing him, he glided through the great door and ran merrily along the deserted terrace. He had nointention of remaining here. however, where dozens of eyes might spy him from every win dow. Once past the gateway he could go where he pleased; old Max, who lived in the stone house over the arch was safe indoors and never saw him, and in two minutes more the little Prince o1 Lieehenstein was rejoicing in as mncf freedom as if he had been the son of tht poorest peasant in Germany.
 How delicious 1t was to be ont amiC the soft-whiriing flakes and to hear the feet. In the fullness of his enjoymen Heinrich danced and shouted as he rar gleefully along, never for minute heeiing which way he was going. Nov and then a cart passed him, dragging along Christmas tree for some family of happy children; but tue road to Va dug was lonely one and the travellers few. Besides, it was growing late and dull, gray shadow began to fall oyer the snow covered pasture grounds. Sud denly 1t dawned on Heinrich's mint that it would soon be night and that h. had better go back home at once. Witt a sigh he turned around and began t retrace his steps, feeling chilled auC numb with the rapidly increasing cold But unaccustomed to the care of him self, the child could not remember whicI path he had taken, and, confused by tn, growing dusk, he tried first one direc tion and then another, wandering eve further and further from the towers o Liechenstein, whose dark gray battle ments were hidden beyond veil of fall ing snow.
 For little while Heinrich was uncon cerned, but when he began to real;z that he had lost his way and that nigh was settling fast over the desolate ant deserted country great terror took holt of his heart. The snow was now s, deep that 1t was lard for him to pusl