Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-12-21

and balls, ana tops, and Other nice
toys hung upon them. In one window
the child noticed little lamb made of
soft white wool. Around its neck was
tied q red ribbon. 1t 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 most of all was he drawn
towards this white lamb. At last,
creeping up to the window pane, he
gently tapped upon it A little girl
came to the window and looked out
into the dark street where the snow had
begun to fall She saw the child, but
| only frowned and shook her head and
said: $50 away and come some other
time. We are too busy to take care of
you now" Back into the cold, dark
street he turned again. The wind was
whirling past him and seemed to say:
Hurry on, hurry on, we have no time
to stop. "Tis Christmas Eve and every
body is in hurry tonight"
Again and again the little child
raped softly at door or window pane
Ateach 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 go home where he belonged,
and not to trouble other folks.
The hours passed; later grew the
night, and colder grew the wind, and
do, a,.1-a ln ,,l
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 ap-
peared bright, single ray of light 1t
shone through the darkness into tho
child's eyes. He looked up smiling and
said: II will go where the light beck
ons; perhaps they will share their
Christmas with me-"
Hurrying past all the other houses
he soon reached the end of the street
and went straight up to the window
FROM which the light was streaming,
1t was a poor, little, low house, but the
child cared not for that. The light
seemed still to call him in What do
you suppose the light came from?
Nothing but tallow 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 as the little child looked
in he saw standing upon small wooden
table a branch of Christmas tree. The
room was plainly furnished, but was
very clean Near the fireplace sat a
lovelyfaced mother with little two
year-old on her knee and an older child
beside her. The two children were
looking into their mothers face and
listening to a story. She must have
been telling them Christmas story. /
think A few bright Goals were burn
ing in the fireplace, and all seemed
| 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,
very gently, on the door. The mother
stopped talking, the little children n
| looked up. "What was that, motherP''
, asked the little girl at her side. 81
, th'hk 1T was some one tapping on the
, uoor' replied the mother Run a.
{ quickly as You can and open it, dear
. ior II Is bitter cold night to keep any
5 one waiting in thia storm" "Oh, moth