The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-18

Der was peaceful and gentle, as 1t used TO
be long ago. Like pure gold and purple
the morning light shone into his hut when
he awakened. AS he stepped before the
door it seemed as if the green fir tree
pointed with one branch down to the peo-
pie and stretched the other to the bright,
blue heaven.
A happy thought came to the old man,
more sensible than that of the wild Heiner
on the day before; he laughed quite JOY
ously to himself as often as he thought of
it, and could hardly wait until he should
be able to execute it. He kindled bright
fire and cooked regular breakfastfor him.
self; then he brought the donkey his fod-
der and quite astonished him by stroking
and slapping him friendly on the back.
That had never happened to him before,
or at least it occurred long time ago.
1--WE are going out to-day with one
another, comrade," said the hermit, "and
you shall have some beautiful oats for
Christmas"
From an old musty box he fetched out
an article of dress; no one would have
thought that the old man had such beau
tiful Embroidered mantle. Somewhat dusty
and moth-eaten it was truly; but good and
warm, and one did not know the old
man, so grand did he appear, after he had
thrown the mantle around him. When
his donkey was saddled, the hermit went
cautiously to the farthest corner of his hut,
lifted board from the floor, reached down
and drew out heavily filed money bag
and took it with him. So all was not I'M
true then, that people said OF him. Itwas
pity that the BOYS of the village could
not see him as he rode down the bill upon
his donkey, an empty sack behind upon
the shabby old saddle. But the boys did
not trust themselves again out in the for
est; their consciences troubled them for
leaving the old man wounded, out there
alone. They had not yetseen Elizabeth and
feared that some one might find the hermit
dead and accuse them; they were not in
JOYOUS and Christmas-like mood.
But the old man seemed to have for
gotten all that had happened to make him
so angry. He appeared quite joyous as
he trotted forth upon his donkey, and
muttered to himself: "All kinds of beau
tiful things and dolls and playthings."
The donkey knew his way; it was the
only road, he had made it, and he went to
the city in about an hour. But the master
and his donkey had never come into the
CITY, There was, out in the suburbs, a
dirty, pItiful shop. There the hermit
bought, when he had to, the most neces-
sary things-a little TEA, matches, can fish
and the like, for his wretched household.
Up to this shop, where the hermit had
never appeared in his fur mantle, the DON
key now trotted. His master gave him a
gentle slap, and said: 'Not there, COM
rade, forwards"
In silent wonder the donkey marched
from the door. On the day before Christ
mas people have very much to do, so they
did not give much attention to the strange
looking old rider.
But he looked only atthe show-windows
of the stores, until he finally halted his
donkey at toy-store, that was decked out
like true chiid's paradise.
Thedonkey understood nothing ofall the
grandeur therein, but remained standing
patiently while his master went into the
store with the sack in his hand.
The shopmen were highly amused at
the singular apparition. But when the
rusty-looking old man in the moth-eaten
fur mantle drew out such thick bag of
money they all sprang up and fastened to
serve him. -nHnRn ,."a
They spread out before him the most
beautiful things-the loveliest dolls, chill
dren with little wax heads and gloss eyes;
little messy gardens with little woolly
sheep therein; poultry yards with feath-
pretty kitchen furniture and gracefully
painted porcelain cups and coffee pots. 1t
was real pleasure to see how joyously
the old Poppel took took them up and laid
them by his side, one after the other. The
clerks wrapped everything carefully in fine
paper before they put them in the sack.
THAT is for the girls; now, something for
the boys, he commanded again and again
and riding-horses, and carriers wagons,
boxes with lead soldiers, whips and guns
went into the sack, until it was so full
that the donkey could hardly carry it.
"Come again soon, old SIR" the clerks
said laughingly, when he had paid cash
for his purchases. But der alter Herr,
whom no one for long time had treated
so politely, did not have enough vet. He
went into candy shop and bought great
paper bags of candies which he pushed
into his deep mantle pockets Finely he
went into bookstore and the bookseller
looked at him wonderingly as he asked for
picture and A. B. G. books, which for
many long years has been the fashion
with children.
The master and donkey were then laden
enough. The latter was refreshed with
most beautiful golden oats and became on
that account, very we'll disposed toward
sack of them on his back when he set out
joyfully on his way home.
There is a little story of post horn in
which on very cold DAYS all the beautiful
tunes, which the post boy blows in, are
frozen. When the horn is hung over a
warm fire the tunes thaw out and it blows
of itself the most beautiful tunes, one after
the other. Such frozen horn seemed the
heart of the old man, and many happy
Christmas message, to which he paid nc
attention, was now thawed therein. On
that account he came home so richly
laden, almost as ii he were himself the
Christ child.
On this night also he had beautiful
dreams. 1t seemed as If age and sorrow Of
heart had fallen from him; as il he were
again a happy boy and the holy Christ
child himself paved with him.
"Give me something too" he asked, as
| in ais dream the Christ child wished tc
rise again to heaven.
But he heard only bells lovely as the
song of the angels on the first Christmas
night: "Glory to God in the highest ano
on earth peace and to men good will"
1t was busy day for the old man after
| he arose the next morning. He had never
had so much to do in his life before. The
only person whom he knew in the village
| the schoolmaster, had come out TO his hut
at his invitation. But when he said to
him, Listen, Mr.. Schoolmaster, wish tc
make for all the young folks down
there joyous Christmas day
/ helm ma q little the echoolmasta,