Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-24
TIE LITTLE WOODEN SHOE.

A.A thS &ALSO1O- lNlOS, py ME. n. =.
Once upon time, so long ago that every
one has forgotten the exact date, in city
OF the north of Europe-the name of
which is SO difficult to pronounce that no
one remembers it-there was little seven
year-old boy named Wolff, who had
neither father nor mother, and who had
been left in the charge OF an old aunt a
harsh, avaricious person, who never kissed
her nephew but once year ION New
Years day., and who heaved deep sigh of
regret every time she served him a ladleful
of soup.
But the poor little fellow had such a
sweet disposition that he loved the old
woman, notwithstanding her severity,
although he was dreadfuIly afraid of ber
and was always seized with fit of trem.
bhng whenever he looked at the huge
adorned the tip of her nose.
AS little VOLTS aunt was known 70
have house of her own and an old WOODEN
soek full OF gold. she did not dare to send
her nephew to the charity school: but she
haggled so with the schoolmester tn
whom the child was sent, in order tn oh.
tam q reduction, that this wicked media
gogue, vexed at having scholar SO poorly
clad and OF so little profit, very often in
nlcted upon him, without any PROPAGATION
Whatever, the punishment of wearing a
piacaro on ms BACK and TOOLS cap on his
mead, and even prejudiced against him his
comrades, all pe,ted sons of wealthy boar.
geois, who made the little orphan The vic.
tim Of all their righteousness. The moor
Dog was therefore as unhappy as could be.
ana used to hide in some out-of-the-way
place TO weep when the great feast of
Christmas drew near.
On the eve OF that momentous day. the
schoolmaster was to conduct all Of his
scholars TO the midnight mass, and after.
Ward accompany them to their respective
MONIES. as the winter was very severe
.nat year, ana as Tor several days the snow
had fallen heavily, the scholars came to the
appointed place warmly wrapped and
mufhed, with fur caps drawn down over
thelr ears, double and triple waistcoats,
knitted gloves and mittens and good strong
hoo-naiied shoes. Little Wolff, alone, Of
all the class, presented himself in the
threadbare suit which served alike for Sun
day and every day, wearing on his poor
oenumbed feet coarse Strasbourg socks and
: heavy wooden shoes, called sabots.
his arlstocratic comrades made thou.
sano gioes at the expense of his homely
carp ana peasant awkwardness, but the poor
little fellow was kept so busy blowing on his
ICY fingers and suffered SO much from his
achlng chillblains, that he paid no atten-
non to their mockery. At length the band
OF urchlns, marching two by two, started
for the parish church.
Ii was very inviting within the chapel
which was quite resplendent with myriads
OF lighted wax candles and the scholars
excited by the gentle warmth which per-
vaded the atmosphere, took advantage OF
the pealing of the organ and the chanting
OF the choir to chat softly together. They
boosted OF the festivities which awaited
them on their return home. The burgo.
masters son had seen, so he confided to bis
aomlring comrades, an enormous goose
covered with truffles, like the spots on 8
leopard's skin. At the Alderman's there
was to be an evergreen tree in a box, from
the branches of which hung oranges, can
dies and punchinellos. And the notary's
COOK had fastened her bonnet strings be.
hind, something which only happened on
her days of inspiration, when she was sure
10 make success OF her famous pudding.
And then the schoolboys spoke also OF
what Santa Claus would bring them-oi
what he would put in their shoes, which
all wonld, OF course, take good care to put
by the fireplace before going to bed; and
IN the eyes of these young rogues, as wide
awake as nest of mice, shone beforehand
the joy of discovering upon awakening the
pink paper bags of burnt almonds, the
lead soldiers arranged in battalions in
their boxes, the menageries, smelling OF
fresh yarnish, and the magnificent jump.
ing. jacks clothed in purple and tinsel
Little Wolff knew from bitter experience
that bis misery old aunt would send him
to bed without any supper; but, certain OF
having been the whole year as good and in
dustrious as possible, he innocently hoped
little Santa Claus would not forget him
and he fully intended to place, after q
while his pair of wooden shoes in the
ashes of the fireplace.
When the midnight mass was over the
faithful hastily departed, impatient for the
revetllon, and the band of scholars filed out,
sui two by two, the schoolmaster heading
the procession.
Now, under the porch, on stone bench
beneath an arched niche, child had fallen
asleep-a child clothed in white wooden
dress, whose feet were bare despite the cold
and frost. He was not beggar, for his
dress was clean and new, and near him, on
the ground. was seen q piece of coarse
cloth, in which were tied the square
Ratchet, chisel and other tools used by 9
carpenters apprentice. Illumined by the
clear light OF the stars, the countenance oil
the sleeping child had an expression of di
vine sweetness, and his long golden curls
seemed to throw bright halo around his
head. But his poor little feet, purple with
the cold of that cruel December night
were pitiful TO see.
The school-boys, so well clad and pro
tected against the snow and ice, passed with
indifference before the young stranger
some even (sons of the Weather people o.
the town. cast upon him glance which
revealed all the contempt of the rich fol-
the poor-of the sleek ana we'll fed for the
starvelings.
But little Wolff, who was the last one
out of church, stopped with pitying hear
before the beautiful sleeping child.
Alas! thought the orphan, this is
dreadful This poor little fellow withou
shoes or stockings in such bitter weathe,
as this But, what is even still worse, hs
has this Christmas Eve neither shoe MOI
sdbot to put down before him while hs
sleeps, so that Santa Claus may drop into il
something to comfort his poverty 7"
And, carried away blythe kindness of hi.
heart, the boy drew off the sabot from hi!
right foot, placed it softly before the sleep
ing child, and then hopping nmping, ant
wetting his feet in the snow, he hastenec
home to his aunt.
'See the good-for.nothing screamed
the old woman, in fury, when she saw thu
shoeless foot. What did you do with
your sabot. you worthless child"
Little Wolff could not lie, and although
his teeth chartered with fear as he saw ths
gray hairs bristle on the virago's nose, BIZ
tried with many stammer to relate wha
he had done.
But the old woman burst out into 8
hideous laugh.
.'Ahl" said she sarcasticaily, "the little
gentleman takes of his shoes for beggars
All indeed, Monsieur makes an odd on,
of his pair of sabots for barefoot That i:
something new, par eramplei Well, sine,
such is the case, l am going to put in tn,
fireplace the shoe that is left, and SAINTS
Claus will drop into it to night, promise
you, something with which to whip yor
when you awake in the morning. More
over, you shall fast all day tomorrow or
dry bread and water, and we shall Sc,
whether you will again give your shoes t.
the first vagabond you meet ~
And the wicked old woman, after givins
the poor little fellow q couple of sharI
blows, made him Chamber up into the Low
attic where lay his miserable cot.
Thoroughly disheartened, the child wen