News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-01-01
A CHRISTMAS RUNAWAY.
HOW A LITTLE PRINCE FOUND THE CHRIST
CHILD IN AN HUMBLE COTTAGE.

A CHRISTMAS RUNAWAY.
HOW LITTLE PRINCE FOUND THE CHRIST
CHILD IN AN HUMBLE COTTAGE.
1t 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 fleecy mantle. To the tired ewes of
little boy who stood gazing IDLY out OF
the window it seemed the most beauti-
full 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
principally of Liechenstein, with two
governesses and tutor, out of whose
sight he never seemed to escape for a
minute.
1t was really dreadful to have three
grown-up people all bent on teaching him
as much as ever they could. If he 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 impaired all the infor- |
nation that his childish brain could |
hold there was Herr Won 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 IL attendance to see that he did
not overhead himself by running or
catch cold by lying on the grass, or he
rode out on his pretty black pony. with
Herr Won Hagen by his side and foot
man close at his heels. But what ke
wanted just now was to scamper in the
snow unmatched and unfoIlowed, 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 o: stupidity, but, no one
noticing him, he glided through the
great door and ran merrily along the
T. l.. j ,No,1N Of i
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 OF
Liechenstein was rejoicing in as much
freedom as if he had been the son of the
poorest peasant in Germany.
How delicious it was to be out amid
the soft-whirling flakes and to hear the
crisp sound of the snow beneath his
feet. In the fuIlness of his enjoyment
Heinrich danced and shouted as he ran
gleefullY along, never for minute
needing which way he was going. Now
and then a cart passed him, dragging
along Christmas tree for some family
of happy children; but the road to Va
duz was lonely one and the travellers
few. Besides, it was growing late and
dull, gray shadow began to fall over
the snow covered pasture grounds. Sud-
denly it dawned on Heinrich's mind
that it would soon be night and that he
had better go back home at once. With |
a sigh he turned around and began to
retrace his steps, feeling chilled and |
numb with the rapidly increasing cold. |
But unaccustomed to the care OF him. |
self, the child could not remember which |
path he had taken, and, confused by the |
growing dusk, he tried first one direc-
ton and then another, wandering ever
further and further from the towers of
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 realize
that he had lost his way and that night
was settling fast over the desolate and
deserted country great terror took hold
OF his heart. The snow was now so
deep that it was hard for him to push
his way along, yet still it came pelting
down with stealthy, cruel force, while
his hands and feet aehed with the cold
and his whole frame shivered when the
evening wind came whistling shrilly by.
As it grew darker he felt like lying down
and crying, he was so tired and frozen
and miserable. But, come what might,
the boy carried within his fragile little
body the stout heart inherited from
long line of fighting ancestors and he
had no idea of giving up any struggle
until he had tried his best.
Surely he would soon come to some
house where he might find shelter. He
was on his fathers land and he would
ask adnittance at the first cottage he
reached. But in the dark and piercing
cold poor Heinrich stumbled by several
humble homes, hidden behind their
garden walls, and never knew OF them,
until at last he came full on a tiny
window from whose uncurtained panes
streamed forth cheerful ray of light.
Hastily pushing open the door, he stood
in the homely kitchen, whose only occu-
pants were four children, the three
Youngest seated at table, while their
sister poured into each bowl steaming
mess of cabbage soup. They stared
With surprise at the strange child. who
food hesitating on the threshold, and
taen tine girl came slowly forward.