The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-12-25

! Could not De kt pit out, and as the MN.
ntes We 1t by tears stood in the boys
.es, b'olL ut there by the bitter pain
ii S hands and i-ct, bu. he sill wa,ch.
! ID on. he could not bear 10 give up
the thought OF the Beau iful City and
he dared not so home.
"E}evcn, chitned Out the bell, and
he e., WIS 8 .og comparatively d, :
Scr,ed. Fc: 4 few mcmcots the crowd
was even greater nan il me ely even
'n9 as hoaue-9oe hrr. ed home wa. ds.
hcn a. al on evc y one seemed gone.
5 opkeepeys were rapidly closing, and
where al lad been SO DILL ant gloom
began 10 re gn.
DIVES heat sank. There seemed
no hope o. the Christ Child comi1;.
out sill me lad remained in The shadow,
eagerly scanniog each belated traveller.
the cold seemed to grow less intense.
HIS aching hands and feet were quite
comic able now, though growing
strangely numb, and Dave. ovetpowcred
by feeling of drows ness, leaned back
oga rs the BRICK wall and one more
p Cured 10 himself the C,,v Beau,lul.
thoA - thai to-mo! 'ow he would surely
find the Ch;iG vino was to show him
the way.
A delicious warmth began to steal
over the little lad so that when he closed
his eyes he could almost imagine him
self buck in the kitchen corner and
bcaut full dreams led him, half walking
into pe'feCt fe.i.l~nd. Once more he
aazed upon the sparkling Christmas
tree and the rosy-cheeled l.tle maiden
he HAD seen descending the stairs came
towards him, while Santa Claus looked
smil:ngly at them.
And then, all at once, Dave knew
his quest WAS over. Straight toward him
came the Christ Child, just as he had
seen Him i'll the picture, the halo about
rs head shedding a soft light all
around. Dave lifted up the lily and
s,fove v'inly to speak, 10 ask that he
might enter the Beautiful City. But The
Child Sc med TO understand, and TAX
ing him by the hand said in a voice
that was sweeter than silver bells,
Come"
E.en the strange numbness was gone
now, aud Dave, rising, found voice to
say, "Plcase may l go 10 the Beautiful
c. the teacher told US abou,o"
Aga the sweet voi.e said Come"
md row Dave saw thai the brick wall
had vanished and long, white road,
growing brighter and bri ghter as it re-
coded lay before him.
Twelve" ,olled OUT the great church
clock, aud then the chimes pealed out
Christmas hymn:
''Christ is DO }, r;'e great A,oiu ed,
beaver and earn His sIo2ys ,g,"
The music seemed far off to Dave,
bat ve.y sweet, and he wonde' ed as he
c1t~red the b i;ht Way if 1t was the song
OF he angels the .;,c;lcr had old hin
about.
5, l. he .wo wen: on a I'd new beau
ties we constantly rofold:d. Green
fi~lGs STR cned out on e: he: hand, and
steat banks Of flowers shed their rag
rance on The And as the way grew
more Gazing Fave could see, just
ahead, { ys,al towers baihed in a mel
low r.o.alce, and he Llew thai at last
the CIV L -au,ifdI lay close before him.
Yes, he could see the pcarly cafes, and
though ,1ey were closed he kne the
Chr S, Oh IDS f;nv hand could SWING
them open aad went gladly On.
As he God 0e;o the gates a burst
of sweeter muse than that which had
greeted him as he -utered on the way
tell upon BIS ears, and as he Christ
Child touched the gates and they swung
quickly open me melody swelled in,o a
chorJs Of pra Sc. Wo ehv is the Lamb
that was STAN"
And Dave, ro:~'ilg the gates, Stood
IN ne sitee,s Of Gold, III the midst Of
ne C.y Glorious, where srall be no
more sorrow, no more pam, no more
death, but endless jov and peace.
The i,rle body, IA its ragged sarb,
S. ST - t'v uDr;Eht against the brick
wall: the w,hered lily clasped closely
against The icy breast, but Dawes Christ
mas was passed in the City Beautiful,
thence to 50 no more out forever.
ETA F. MARTIN.