The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-13
THE PROFESSORS CHRISTMAS GIFT
Translated from Me BeNlne, Taae1iat.

to the rule, but when II came to being
put upon pedestal and worshiped from
q distance the pleasure did not outast
the novelty.
1t was cold up there all alone, and she
wanted TO be warmed. Respectful hom-
ago might do for queens, but she was
only a loving hearted little German
girl, who had just passed her sixteenth
birthday, and been invested with the
embroidered bronze slippers, which
signihed that childhood had passed, and
she might take her place in tho world rs
q young lady, and be called you in
stead of the familiar Chou" of years
past, and who had had no thought be-
You'd papa, mamma and the children,
till the young candidate, Rheinhart,
came to be tutor TO her brothers, and
keep her from forgetting what she knew
Much time was passed in the school
room, and Franz Rheinhart soon discov-
cred that the docile, goldcn-haircd pupil
would be the sweetest bride on earth for
some one fortunate enough to win her.
That ii should be himself never entered
his mind. As soon would he have asked
one of the royal family to keep his house
and mend his socks-which shows Of
how much advantage is deem reading and
knowledge to q man in understanding
woman.
1t had not taken very long for Rhein-
hart to become Frida's ideal of all that
was great and good His learning she
venerated; his abstraction covered, to her.
the most profound thinking, while his
careless and neglected dress only excited
longing to take upon herself the hum
BILE task of ministering TO the creature
comforts of this young divine, who, TO
an unprecedented on-looker, was at most
an awkward, shy, self conscious dreamer,
only distinguished from hundreds of
others by firm, an all-abiding belief in
what he protested.
This hero worship, however, did not
blind Frida to the story told by Rhein-
hart's near-sighted blue eyes. She saw
had raised barrier between them that
she alone could remove, and when could
it be better done than now, at the feast of
the blessed Christ Child?
She could not as yet tell how, but il
should be done he loved her already,
would soon tell her so, and in the mean
time she reveled in innocent dreams Of
the future.
He would soon have parish, of
course, and she would work hard; oh,
yes, and do all he told her with the
children's classes; but if she could only
look little older; such curly head and
baby FACE would ill become coffee table
surrounded by = Heaven preserve us
Frau Doctor this, and Frau Professor
that. Oh, no. She will knit and mend
his socks, brew cherry cordial for his
cough, keep his books busted, and never.
never lose the loose leaves of his sermons;
anything but take her place as Frau Pas
tn~ ranatya al atua inc ~, n,
ladies.
Startled by this idea into looking up,
she met his eyes fixed on hers, felt sure
he had read her thoughts, and hid her
blushing face behind huge pile of UNI
mended socks.
Poor Franz never dreamed the blush
was for him. he saw himself through his
own blue glasses and sighed, patiently
going on with little Max, who could not
under repeated explanations be made to
understand that the square of number
was not the same as twice.
Was the child duller than usual, or
was 1t that he could hardly see the slate
through the mist of vision-a vision Of
little room smaller than this, oh yes,
but warm, with curtains and freight? 1t
has shelves on three sides, with books
and books are on stand at his right
hand.
In the middle of the room there is a
table with n green CLOTH and napkin
folded diamond fashion under the lamp
There is work basket, too, and 1t be-
longs to dear little wife, whose feet are
on the fender, o little golden haired wife
whose name is Frida. But he must have
spoken the name aloud for she looked up.
"Did you speak to me, Herr Profess
sor %
Pardon, Fraulcin, / but thought
aloud; we want to leave the book and
states tonight, the little ones and l., for
stories of the Christ Child"
IF you will listen l will tell them bet
ter"
So while the good mother in the next
room dressed the children's tree, the
candidate told quaint old legends of how
the oxen in the stable warmed the Holy
Babe with their breath; of how the wise
men who worshiped Him. were, after
Ills death, baptized in the faith And of
how the Christ-Child fills the shoes of
good children, and knows when only a
rod is deserved, till the little eyes opened
wide with the same wonder they felt
every year, and'they ran to hunt for their
Sunday shoes sure of forgiveness for the
little naughtiness that had already
brought their punishment from the dear
house mother.
Frida and Franz left alone sat very
still; he saw again the little curtained
room. with Frida in the armchair, and
worshiped her with his eyes. Oh,
heaven, if he sits there ten minutes lon.
ger he must tell her then she will open
her big blue eyes at him, and run to hel
mother, then tomorrow the father will
most undoubtedly tell him the little boys
are to have another tutor.
''Shall you put your shoes outside YOU
door tonight, Herr Rheinhart
The candidate thought not; he haC
done it last ut home, and though all were
heavenly kind to him here, he had only
one hearts desire, and most certainly NJ
Christ-Child would put that in his
shoes.
Still if Fraulein Frida desired it, she
must know any wish OF hers was his law
Here the parents entered, good nights
were hurriedly said, and soon all was
quiet
The children made merry rush fc
the breakfast table Christmas morning
displaying their shoes filled TO overflow
ing. When some of the rapture had sub
sided they asked the candidate what hi
had found.
Nothing, not even his shoes.
Possibly they had been taken ava!
mn L.. s..:ol o,,t l., Itct,o,.