The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-03-17


that crushed his leg, and that they
had saved it for him. Peg was glad.
Hewas morefond Of the violin than any
toy he ever had owned. He could play
little.
After Peg left the hospital he went
to the place the conductor had told
him Of. A big house full OF boys, and
now Peg realized for the first time
what t was like not to have any
fatheri or mother. The place was
called an orphans home" but it
wasn't a bit like the home he ren,em-
bered. Some OF the big boys leased
him, and hurt him, and then called
him "baby" because he cried.
Peg had only been in thehome a few
weeks when Christmas time came.
The boys had turkey for dinner that
day, and they seemed to think it a
great treat, but Peg couldn't eat.
There was something in his throat
that choked him. All day long he
thought of the little home away down
in Jacksonville. 1t wasn't splendid
home at all, for Pegs parents were
poor, but there was a mother in it,
and the poor little boy was just be-
ginning to learn that a home without
q mother is a very forlorn place in
deed.
Pegs mother used to tell him stories
on Christmas night when they sat in
front OF the fire. In the southern
houses there are big fire-places where
they burn pine logs, and the best
place in the world to hear a Christmas
story is in front OF a cracking pine
fire.
Peg tried to remember on this
Christmas eve, as he lay all alone in
his little hard bed, what it was that
mother told him on the night before
Christmas last year. What a long
time ago it seemed. By and by it
came back to him-the old sweet
story that mothers have told their
children on all the Christmas ewes
that ever have been or ever will be.
The story of the little child that lay
in the manager away over in Bethle-
hem, with the glory OF heaven about
his head and in his heart a love great
enough to redeem the whole world
from it's sin. The prettiest part of
the story as Peg remembered it was
that over the hills among the stars a
host OF angels sang to the shepherds a
song OF peace and good will and bless
ing, and that one OF the stars, so
much brighter than the others that
it seemed to light the whole world,
came down out of the sky and guided
the wise men to the place where they
might find the precious gift that God
had given the world. This was the
first Christmas day, and the gold and
silver and jewels which the wise men
brought to lay at the feet of Jesus
was the first Christmas gifts that ever
were given.
Peg lay and thought it all over; he
could not 60 to sleep. A terrible feel
ing Of loneliness came over him. It
wasn't q bit like Christmas All the
other boys were sound asleep. Peg
crept out of his little bed and hobbled
over to the window. He looked away
over the city with it's thousands Of
lights. A faint sound of Ginning bells
came to him. A clock in a PARKWAY
steeple struck ten times.
There must be music over there"
thought Peg. wish I could hear it,"
And almost unconsciously he began
to put on his clothes. Then he took
his violin and stole down the stairs.
His wooden leg made a noise, so he
tied an old stocking around it.
Peg didn't really know that he was
running away; he only knew that he
wanted to get where the music was
One OF the windows downstairs was
unfastened and he crawled out; then
he hobbled away as fast as he could
toward the sound OF the bells-he
could hear them quite plainly now.
1t was cold night, the wind blew in
from the lake with a breath like ice.
Pegs thin jacket did not keep him
very warm, but he didn't mind it
much, for somehow he felt that over
there where the bells were ringing some
thing very pleasant awaited him.
1t was a long way and the sidewalks
were slippery, but Peg holding tight
to his violin, kept on. At last he
reached the oells. He stood under the
very shadow of the cathedral. The
big windows were one blaze of light,
and from one of them looked down
upon the little shivering boy that face
full of divine compassion that has so
comforted all heart-broken and lone.
ly ones who ever saw it.
1t was a picture of Christ, the shep-
herd, and in his arms he bore poor
helpless lamb. Peg looked at the
picture wistfully. Just then the great
organ played and a beautiful voice
said: HE shall gather the
lambs in his BOSOM" Peg
stretched out his arm to the picture.
The big tears were running down his
cheeks, freezing as they fell 1t seemed
TO him that there came O. smile upon
the tender face Of the shepherd and
then, in spite OF the cold, in spite Of
the fact that he was all alone, there
came into his heart a feeling of peace.
He felt warmed and comfortable did
not know why. With his little numb
ed hands he undid the violin, seated
himself against the stone front of the
church, and began to play. 1t was a
simple little melody, but somehow
there seemed q strain OF heart-break
in it, and the people who were coming
out OF the church stopped to listen.
:. They never forgot the picture of the
little pale.faced cripple standing there,
the snow falling on his bare head, and