River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-21

bright light she re, and the warm air.
filed with the fragrance of the Christ
mas pine, rushed out through the door
and seemed to greet the little wanderer
with a kiss. As the child turned back
into the cold and darkness, he won
dered why the fOotman had spoken so,
for surely. thought he. those little chill
dren would love TO have another COM
panion Join them in their joyous
Christmas festival But the little chill
dren inside did not even know that he
had knocked at the door.
The street seemed colder and darker
to the child than before, and he went
sadly forward, say ing TO himself: rs
there no one in ali this great city who
will share this Christmas with me?''
Farther and farther down the street he
went To where the homes were not SO
large and beautiful There seemed to
be little children inside of nearly all the
houses They were dancing and frolick-
ing about There were Christmas trees
IN nearly every window, with beautiful
dolls and trumpets and picture books,
and balls, and tops, and other nice
TOYS hung upon them In one window
the child noticed a little lamb made of
soft white wool Around its neck was
tied a red ribbon. Ii had evidently been
hung on the tree for one of the chill
dren. The little wanderer stopped be-
fore this window and looked long and
earnestly at the beautiful things in
side, but must OF all was he drawn
towards this white lamb. At last,
I e ha
gently tapped upon it A little girl
came 10 the window and looked out
into the dark street where the snow had
begun Ia fall She saw the child, but
only frowued and shook her head and
said: go away and come some other
time. We are too busy u take care of
you now" Back into the cold, dark
street he turned again. The wind was
whirling past him a seemed 10 say:
Hurry on. hurry ON, we have no time
70 stop. It's Christmas Eve and every
body is in a hurry tonight
Again and again the little e
raped softly at door or window p
At each place he was refused admission.
one mother feared he might have some
ugly disease which her darlings would
catch; another father said he had only
enough for his own children, and none
TO spare for beggar brats. Still another
told him to 20 home where he belonged,
and not 10 trou lie other folks.
The hours passed; later grew the
night, and colder grew the wind. and
darker seemed the street. Farther aud
farther the little one wandered. There
was scarcely anyone left upon the
street by this time, and the few who
remained did not seem TO see the child.
when suddenly ahead of him there APP
peared bright. single ray Of light. II
shoue through the darkness into the
child's eyes. lie looked up smiling and
said: Il will go where the light beck
ons; perhaps they will share their
Christmas " it'll me"
Hurrying past all the other houses
I ne soon reached the end of the street
and went straight up to the window
from which the light was streaming
| IL was poor, little. low house, but the
child cared not for that. The light
seemed still to cali him in. What do
-ou suppose the light came from?
I Nothing but tailow candle which had
been placed in an old cup with a broken
! handle. in the window, as a glad token
of Christmas Eve. There was neither
curtain nor shade to the little square
[ window, and a. the little child looked
I in he saw standing upon a small wooden
, table branch C. a Christmas tree. The
room was plainly furnished, hut was
very clean Near the fireplace sat a
I lovely-faced mother with little two
year-old on her knee and an older child
beside her. The two chl dreu were
looking into their mothers face aud
{ listening To story She must have
been telling them Christmas story. |
think a few bright Goals were burn
ing in the fireplace, and all seemed
I light and warm within.
The little wanderer crept closer and
closer to the window pane. So sweet
seemed the mothers face. SO loving
seemed the little children, that at last
+ he took courage and tapped gently.
4 very gently, on the door. The mother
stopped talking. the little children
Y looked up what was that, mother?'
asi5e the little girl at her side Il
I thin, it was some one tapping on the
door, replied the mother. RUN as
{ quickly a. you can and open il, dear,
7 for il Is bitter cold night 10 keep any
I one waiting in this storm. oh, moth
I er. / thinS it was the bough of the
I tree tapping against the window-pane, -
/ said the little girl DO please go on
with our story" Again the little
Y warderer tapped upon the door. MY
I child. my child" exclaimed the moth
/ er. rising. that certainly was rap on
the door. Run quickly and open il.