Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-12-21
THE LOST GROSCHEN.

LIE LUO1 UhOOCaEN.
1t had been showing all day, intense
cold had succeeded the storm, and the
stars. shining brightly in the clear sky,
looked down on the good old town Of
Nuremberg in the year 1900. 1t was a
beautiful winter night, and although
the curfew hour had passed the lights
still glistened through the small diamond
shaped window panes in the houses, and
the church bells rang out loud and clear
The people were coming out Of their
dwellings and walking slowly but cheer
fully along the streets, not seeming to
mind the crisp cold nor the deep snow
under their feet.
The throng of people had passed on and
the voices Of the bells had become mere
reverberations, when little girl
about years old appeared in the
principal street, which was now silent
and deserted. She was alone and look
| ed so small as she walked fearlessly
along, taking short steps SO as not to
slip on the hard glistening snow, and
singing in soft voice, made little
tremulous by the sharp cold, an old
| Christmas hymn about the angels, Beth
lehem and child asleep in manger.
Suddenly she stopped, uttered cry of
dismay, and falling on her knees began
searching for something in the snow.
She was evidently unsuccessful, how
ever, for her sighs changed to tears and
her grief increased until it found vent in
sobs.
"My money" she cried; "my poor
groscheni 0 dear infant Jesus, bring
me back my groschenr'
Like an answer to her prayer there
sounded not far off strange, sweet
melody, and she dried her eyes suddenly
and'looked about, half expecting to see
an angel, for she thought the music
must have come from heaven, SO beauti-
full it was.
But she soon perceived figure with
out wings, harp or halo, lad about Is
years old. dressed unlike any one in Nu-
remberg, with dark blue breeches, a
short cloak on his shoulders and little
red cap on his black hair. He carried a
strings as he glanced up at house where
light was cleaning 1t was the home
of rich merchant, and a lantern swung
from above the doorway, and this light
had attracted the young musician. When
he had played few chords on his lutte,
he sang, and the little girl, remembering
the guide of young Tobias who had
/ aad hr1f cfr fT-ar 70
think that the singer was indeed an
angel. The child did not understand
| the singers words, and feeling sure that
he was using the language of heaven she
threw herself at his feet, clasped her
hands and raised her eyes entreatingly
to his face.
"Good angel, pray thee" she cried,
''help me to find my groschenl beg
thee in the name Of the infant Jesusr'
What is the trouble, little one? Tell
me, and if can help you will. There
is 30 much sorrow in the world for every
one that always like to help other peo-
pie carry theirs" He smiled cheerily as
he spoke, and the child answered:
Il have lost my money-my groschen.
We never have anything nice for sup
per, but because it is Christmastime
my mother gave me the money to buy
sausage and an apple pie, but | have
dropped my groschen in the snow. We
have no more. and now we can have no
Christmas supper.
"Where did you drop itT asked her
listener, and when she pointed to the
spot he knelt down and began turning
over the snow. His back was turned to-
ward the child. when he gave cry of
triumph and held up coin in his fin
| gers.
"Oh, you must be an ANGEL" cried the
little girl joyfully. And he added with
smile:
"a Florentine angel then. My name
is Maso Napone. Rememberi it and pray
for me sometimes, little one. Now.
goodby. Go buy your supper"
mot until ! have been to the mid
night mass" replied the girl. my
mother is i'll. so must go and pray for
her."
"Then will 60 with you,n said Maso.
taking her hand. What is your name9'
Christine Dachs. My mother is the
Widow Gudule."
"Your mother has to work."
'Yes, she does beautiful embroidery.
do little of it. but have not learned
TO work very well yet. Pretty soon
shall do it better, and then mamma can
rest. She is often tired and weak, and
when she cannot work we have no
money"
II am all alone in the world" said the
youth when Christine stopped speaking.
81 have no parents. no monev. no home
Ny fathers creditors took everything ex-
cept my lutte, SO left Florence, and now
earn little money by singing in the
streets, but often have to sleep in the
open air and without supper"
AS they entered the church Maso doffed
his hat reverentially, dipped his fingers
into the holy water font and touched
them to Christines. Then the two chill
dren knelt down in the shadow of great
pillar which rose to the high arched roof
At the end of the nave stood the altar,
cleaning with wax lights and flooded
with the rising incense; priests, acolytes,
and choristers were engaged with the
| Christmas service, and one could see the
fluttering white surplices and the gilt
ter of gold and precious stones on copes
and stoles.
The whole congregation Joined in
singing the carols, and the weak, broken
voices of the aged. the silvery ones Of
the children, the sweet tones of the
maidens, the clear high notes Of the
young men and the strong, deep ones of
1 their elders combined to produce har-
monies both powerful and sweet. Maso
could not keep silence. Suddenly his