Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-20
December.
Christmas Story.
Little GOttlieb.

Little Gottlieb.
By PHGBK CARY.
Across the German Ocean.
In u country far from Our own,
Once poor little boy named Gottlieb
Lived with his mother alone,
They dwelt in the part OF village
r, Where ID houses were poor and small.
But the home OF poor little GottIieh
Was the poorest one OF all.
He was not large enough to work,
And his mother could do no more
(Though she scarcely laid her knitting down
Than keep the wolf from the door.
She had to take their threadbare clothes,
And turn and patch and darn;
For never any woman vet
Grew rich by knitting yarn.
And Oft at night beside her char
Would Gottlleb SIT, and plan
Inc wonderful things he would do for her
When he grew to be i man.
One night slle sat and knitted.
And Gottiieb sat and dreamed.
when hal py fancy all at once
Upon his vision besmed.
Twas only q week till Christmas,
And GotLlleb knew that then
The Christ-child whe was born that day
Sent down good gifts to men.
But he said: "He will never fnh US.
Our home is SO mean and small,
Anu We, who have most need Of them,
Will get no gifts at ALL
When, all at once. a happy light
Came into his eyes SO blue,
And lighted up his face with smiles
AS he thought what he would do.
Next day, when the poatman's 8 letters
Came from all over the land,
Came one for the Christ-chlld. written
In chlld's poor tremUllnR hand.
You may think he was sorely puzzled.
What IN tile world TO do;
So he went TO the burgoma,ter,
AS the Wisest man he knew.
And when they opened the letter,
They stood almost dIsmayed
That such little child should dare
To ask the Lord for uid.
Then the burgomaster siammered
And &c trce knew what to sprak
And hastily he brushed aside
A drop, like tear, from his chsek.
Then up he spoke, right gru1hy,
And turned himself about;
This must be u very foolish boy,
And small one. too, no doub:.''
But when six rosy children
That night about him pressed,
Poor trusting little Gottileb
stood near him with the rest.
And he heard his simple. touching prayer
Through al: their Eulsy play,
Though he trled his very Dcst to put
The though ol him away.
wise md learned man was he,
Men called him good and just,
But his wisdCm seemed like toolishness
By tha: weak child's simple trust.
Now, when the morn Of Christmas came,
And the long, long week was done,
Poor Gotillsb. who scarce could sleep,
Rose up before the sun.
And hastened to his mother,
But he scarce might speak for lear
When he saw her wondering loOS. and saw
The burSomlster near.
He wasn't afraid of the Holy Babe
Nor his mother, meek and mild,
But he Ielt rs If SO great u man
Had never been child.
Amazed the poor child looked, to find
Aus ueaItu was p!leu with wood,
Anu Inc liable, never full before,
Was heaped with dainty food.
Then, half to hide from himself the truth,
The burgomaster said,
Wnile the mother blessed him on her knees
And Gottlieb shook for dread
May, give no thanks to ma, goGd dame,
10 such as me ior aid,
BE grateful TO your little son
And the Lord to whom he prayed" 4"
Then, turning round TO Gottlieb,
Your written prayer, You see,
Z me not 10 VIII, In It was addressed,
II only came to me.
Twas but a foolish thing you did
AS you must understands;
For. though the gifts are yours, you know,
You have them from my hand"
Then Got'lieb answered feariessly,
Where he trembling stood apart,
But the Christ child sent them all the same
He put me in your heart"