The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-18

hioncs cniiu E1S bioepln8-o cullu
covered with white wooden robe, but
with naked feet. Notwithstanding the
cold. He was not beggar, for tho robe
was clean and new, and near him upon
the pavement of the vestibule wrapped
In coarse cloth. were square, aplane,
o hatchot, a polisher and the other tools
of carpenter s apprentice
Lighted by the stars the child's face,
with its closed eyes, had an expression
OF divine gentleness. and his heavy red
brown ringlets seemed to snine like an
auraole around his white forehead.
But it would have made you grieve
to see the child's feet blue with the
cold that cruel December night
The pupils SO well clothed and shod
for the winter passed indifferently be-
fore the unknown child. Some of thom
cast upon the little vagabond a look In
which could DO read NIL the common
contempt Of the rich for the poor--of
the well fed for the hungry.
But little Wolff came out Of the
shurch the last of all and stopped, very
huch moved. before the beautiful sleep
Ing child.
"Alas, "said tho orphan, ''it Is fright
full for the poor littlo one to go without
shoes when the weather is So cold. And
it il still worse not to have either slip
pers or shoes TO put before him while
he sleeps or this OF all evenings, so that
tho Christ child might have place to
put something in 70 comfort his misery"
Carried away by his good heart, Wolff
drow off the wooden shoe from his right
foot and softly put 1t before the sleep
ing boy. Then, as best he could, hop
ping ON one foot, soaked with snow wa
ter, footsore and forlorn, he returned
to bis aunt's house.
Look at him, the good for nothing'
cried tho old woman, full of fury upon
seeing him return with but one shoe.
"What have you done with your
other shoe, you little. miserable young
one?"
Wolf did not know how to lie, and
though he trembled and stammered
with fright no tried to relate his adven-
ture.
But the old woman broke out into
gruff, frightful laughter. so monsieur
unshoes for beggarsl SO monsieur strips
off his covering for barefoot! This is
a fine way to do Oh, well, will leave
the remaining shoe in the fireplace to-
night, and the Christ child will put in
it something to whip you with in the
morning | will answer for it, And to-
morrow you shall pass the day upon
dry bread and water, and we will see
if the next time you will give your
shoes to the first beggar that comes
along.
The wicked woman, having given the
child two blows, mado him go up TO the
attic, where under the caves he climbed
into his hard cot, but he was comforted
with tho sleep of the innocent, though
in his sorrow he had soaked his scanty
pillow with bitter tears.
The next morning. when tho old aunt
was awakened by the cold, she descended
to her lower room.
Oh, marvell She saw the great chin
ney full Of sparkling playthings, bags
of magnificent bonbons riches of al
sorts, and in front of that wealth OF
treasure the shoe that her nephew had
given the sleeping child. 1t was close
beside its mate, which she had left
there, intending to put therein bun
die of whips before calling Wolff
Now, when he ran co her, awakened
by her cries and in ocstasies at seeing
the beautiful gifts of the Christ child,
the attention of both was called 60 a
noise in tho street. They ran to learn
what was tho matter and saw all the
gossips Of tho neighborhood assembled
at the fountain in tho public square.
ooh, very pleasant thing has hap
pened, and very extraordinary, they
were saying.
"All the rich peoples children, whose
parents wished TO surprise them by sus-
pending from trees the most beautiful
gifts, had found nothing but whips in
their shoes. The beautiful things had
all disappeared.
Then the old woman and the child,
remembering tho marvellous presents III
their chimney place. were full of fright.
Suddenly there was seen approach
ing Father Zwingh, the benevolent faced
priest.
Behind the bench at the church
door in the same place where ON the
previous evening child clothed in
white, but with naked feet in spite OF
the great cold, had rested his sleeping
head, the priest had just found circle
of gold imbedded in the hard stone.
All the hystanders crossed themselves
devoutly, comprehending that the beau
tiful child who had dropped asleep there
and who had near him the carpenters
tools was Jesus Of Nazareth, who had
become again for one hour such as no
was when he labored in tho house of
his earthly parents, Mary and Joseph.
They bowed before the miracle which
rhe good God wished to perform to REQ
ompenso the confidence and charity o.
, child.
"Ah, it,was good" SAID tho people
"to have tho poor and innocent reward
ed and the rich and cOntumptuOus pun