The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-12-21
Legend of the Christmas free.


Mos: children have seen a Chritmas
tree, and many know that The pretty
and pleasant custom of hanging gifts
on its boughs comes from Germany
! but perhaps fe6 have heard or read the
story that is tod to little German
children, respecting the origin of this
custom. The story is called The Lit.
lie Stranger" and runs thus
! In small cottage On the borders Of a
} forest lived poor iaborer, who gained
scsaty living by cutting wood. He
had wife and two children who
helped him in his work. The boys name
was Valentine, and the giJ7 was called
Mary. They were obedient, good chill
dren, and great comfort TO their
parents. One winter evening, this hap
py family were sitting quietly round the
hearth, the snow raging outside, while
they ate their supper of dry bread. when
gentle tap was heard on tie wiRiow.
and childish voice cried from with
OUT "Oh, let me in, pray aG a
! poor little child with nothing to eat and
no home TO go TO, and l shall die of
cold and hunger unless you let me In. -
Valentine and Mary jumped up from
the table and ran to open the door, say,
ing: Come in. poor little child We
have not much to give you, but what
ever We have we will share with you. f"
The stranger child came in and
warmed his frozen feet at the FIRE, and
the children gave him the best they had
to eat. saying You must be tired,
too. poor c"ild Lie down on our bed /;
we can sleep on the bench for ore
night"
Then said the little stranger-ehild /:
''Thank God for all your kindness to
me.''
So tn y took their little guest into
their sleeping room, laid him on the
bed. covered him over, nd said to each
other How thankful we ought 10
be We have warm rooms and cozy
bed. while this poor child has only
heaven for his roof and the, cold 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 they fell asleep: The
stranger child will be so happy tonight
in his warm bed -
These kind children had not slept
many hours before Mary awoke and
VI 70
listen TO the sweet music under the win
dow"
Then Valentine rubbed HIS ewes aud
listened. 1t was sweet music indeed.
and sounded like beautiful voices sing
ing 10 the tones OF harp
20 holy Child, we greet thee bringing
Sweet strains of harp to aid our singing
"Thou, holy Child. iD pence art sleeping
While we our watch without are keeping
'Blest be The house wherein thou liest.
HappIess on earth to heaven the highest"
The children listened, while a solemn
joy filled their hears; then they step.
ped softly to the window 20 see who
might be without
In the east was a streak of rosy
dawn, and in its light they saw a group
OF children standing before the house
clothed in silver garments, holding
golden harps in their hands. Amsz zed
at this sight, the children were still
gazing out of the window, wnen a light
tap caused them to turn round. There
stood the stranger child before. them
clad in golden dress, with a cleaning
radiance round his curling hair. lam
the little Christ child,' he SAID, who
wanders through the world bringing
peace and happiness TO good children.
You took me in and cared for me when
you thought me a poor child, and now
you shall have my blessing for what yon
have done" a 6r tree grew near the
house and from this he broke a twig
which he planted in the ground saying
This twig shall become a tree, and
shall bring forth fruit year by year for
you" No sooner had he done this thar
he vanished, and with him the little
choir OF angels. But the fr-branch
grew and became Cnristm IS tree, and
On its branches hung golden apples and
tilveI nuts every Christmas tide. Such
is the story told to German children
concerning their beautiful Christmas
trees. though we know that the real lit
tie ChrisI-chil lic3n never be wandering
cold and homeless, again in. oar word,
inssmuch as he IS safe in heaven by his
Father Is side :: yet we may gsiher from
this story the same truth which the
Bible plainly. tells us-ihat any one who
helps a Christian child IN distress, it
will be counted unto him ae if he had
indeed done it unto Christ himself.
''Inasmuch as We have done it unto the
least Of these, by bretheFn, We have
done Il unto me.