Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-25
THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
Pleasant Little Legend Of the Merry
Christmas Time.

In asmall cottage on the borders OF a German
forest lived poor aborer, who gained a scant,
| living by cutting wood He had wife nd two
! children, who helped him IN his work Tho
boys name was Valentine, and the girl wa.
called Mary. They we're obediont, good ohil.
| dren, and great comfort to their parents.
| one winter vtniug this happy title fam ly
were sitting que ly round the h arth. the snow
and wind raging outside, while they ate their
| supper Of dry bread VIII n a gentle tap was
| heard on the window and a childish voice
cried from without "Oh, let ms in. pray. [
am poor little child, with nothing to eat and
| no home to go to, and shall die of cold and
hunger unless you let me in"
| valentine and Mary jumped up from the ia
| Dle and ran to open the door, SAYING, Come
in, poor little child We have not much to
give you, but whatever we have we will share
with you"
The stranger child came in and warmed his
frozen hands and feet at the fire. aud the
! children gave him the best they had TO eat
saving lyon must be tired too, poor child !
Lie down on our bed we can sleep on the
bench for one night"
Then said the little stranger child: "Thank
God for all your kindness to me 20
so they took their little guest into their
sleeplng-room, laid him on the bed, covered
MN over, and said to each other: How
thankful We ought TO be We have warm
rooms and coy bed, while this poor child
earth for his sleeping-place
When their father and mother went to bed
Mary and Valentine lay quite contentedly on
the bench near the fire, saying before tney
zen asleep; The stranger child will be 80
happy tonight in bis warm bed"
These kind children had not slept many
hours before Mary awOke and softly whispered
to her brother: "Yalentin, dear, wake, and
listen to the sweet music under the window"
linen valentine rubbed his ewes and lis
tened. II was sweet music indeed, and
sounded like beautiful voices singing to the
tones Of harp.
20 holy Child, we greet Thee bringing
sweet strains Of harp to aid our singing.
Thou, holy Child, in peace art sleeping.
While we our watch without are keeping.
Bcst be the house wherein thou lest.
Happiest on earth, to heaven the highest"
The children listened while solemn low
hued their hearts; then they stepped softly To
the window to see who might be without.
In the east was a streak Of rosv dawn. aud
In Its light they saw gr ,up Of children stand
ing before the house. clothed in silver gar
m nts, holding golden harps in their hands
Amazed ut the sight, the children we're still
gazing out OF the window. when a light tap
caused them TO t1rn round There stood the ,
stranger child before them clad in a golden |
dress. with cleaning radiance round his |
curling HAIR. a. am the little Christ-cbild !
he said, who wauders through the world |
bringing peace and Happiness to good chill /
iren. fon took me in and cared for me when
YOU thought me a poor child. and now Won
dc le."
. A FIR tree grew near the house. and from
This he broke twig. which he planted in the
ground, saying: TINS twig shall become a
rec, and shall bring forth frnit year by year
Tor you. No sooner had he done this than no
Tanl.h d. and with him the little choir of
angels. But the fir branch grew aud became
Christmas tree, aud on ita branches hung
golden apples and silver nuts every Christmas,