Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1886-12-30

emotion which has caused his weak eyes TO
shed a tear of joy, father and mother
proudly survey the treasures of their hearts
and home as they approach the hallowed
tree-not hastily, not patiently, but de-
murely and decorously-chanting in a low,
sweet whisper the message of Joy: GLORY
to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
goodwill toward men" Grandfather
whispers solemn aAmen,'' and then rises
to read prayer from the old and we'll
worn family prayer-book, while the others,
with folded hands, surround the tree and
listen with wrapt attention to the words of
thankfulness and supplication uttered by
the noble old man. Then the children re-
ceive gifts brought by ''Christkindchen,n -
tokens of love whose pitiful intrinsic value
would cause wording to smile, but which
are dearer to those remembered than the
most gaudy and expensive baubles can be
to those ''hIghly-civilized" unfortunates
who know not the value of love.
While this touching distribution is taking
place in the cottage, a sweet chant is heard
on the street, and in few moments dozen
voices, lowly singing ''Glory to God in the
Highest seek and gain admission. The
spokesman of the twelve young men and
| women repeats the story of the "Chrlst-
kinds" (Christ-child's) birth, and asks in
and needy for whose sake the Son of God
was born in a lowly manger, suffered and
was crucified; and while the sturdy youths,
clothed in leather -breeches and short
Jackets with huge brass or silver buttons,
and the pretty young women, whose pictur-
esque attire adds to natural charms, sing
another appropriate song, the PEASANTS
wife fills a basket with fruit and cake and
a jug with apple cider, thus practically re-
spending to the melodious petition of her
visitors, who leave the house chanting once
more the joyful message, son earth peace"
From house to house they wander, filling
heavy cart with the contributions of the
cheerful and charitable, ever repeating
their songs and their stories and their
legends, until every one able to do so has
given his or her mite. And when the work
of collecting is finished, the distribution
begins. The novels of the poor and sick
| are visited, and at each door a basket is
left, together with a word of cheer and the
never-ceasing ''Good d-will toward men"
The sleepy old night watchman of the
village toots the hour of eleven on his mel.
| ancholy horn as the cheerful band of yo ne
people reach the last cottage whose owners
are to be made happy through the generos-
| ity of their neighbors. Their glad chant is,
however, not answered by words of well
come. Instead of the care-worn face Of the
overworked widow whose load they desire
| to tighten, they see the benevolent face OF
| the village pastor. Quietly they file into
| a dingy room, dimly lighted by single
| tallow candle. A distracted mother, ,wrapt
| in gloom and sorrow, stands at the head OF
| miserable bed watching every motion on
| the face of a little sufferer whose frail body
| is buried under the weight of heavy feather
| bedding. Slowly the child opens her CLASSY
eyes and raises her weak body. A thought
of the present seems to fit across the
| fevered brain.
| Mamma" she whispers, "has the
| 'Christ-child' comet"
| ayes, my darling" sobs the heart-brok
en- mother, land it has brought you such q
gay little frock."
| "Oh, mamma'-lispiugly gly-" give it tc
neighbours Barbele, they're poorer thar
We"
| Kneeling at the bedside, the worthy pas.
| tor wipes away a tear, the almost par
alyzed mother surpresses a heart-rendini
sob, the subdued roysterers weep tears ot
| sympathy. Silence, broken only by tht
slow tick of the old cuckoo clock on the
wall and the heavy breathing of the dying
child, is at last interrupted by the patien
sufferer.
Mamma" she whispers, hoarsely, eve
in death preaching charity, ''fm going
Give me kiss. I'm going. Let me se'
the dress. Yes, yes; give it to Barbele
Give it to Barbele. Yes, mamma''-start
ing up-s'see the Christ-child. 1t beckon
ms to come, to come. Yes. yes I'm CON
ing--rm coming-Glory to God in the -
One last gasp and the pure soul of tn
widowed mothers only treasure has joineS
the "Christ-child'' in His home on high
The good pastor offers a fervent supplies
ton for the bereaved woman, and as th
youthful witnesses Of this touching seen
silently leave the house of death, tn
watchman toots the midnight hour, tn
church-bell rings the advent of Christ
natal day, and over hill and dale, FRI ]
every neighboring village, sung by youn
voices, come the words of hope: GLORY
) God in the highest, and on earth peac'
goodwill toward men,"