The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-19
CNE CHRISTMAS EVE.
Disguised ns "a utasar. ti,s 'chrtst Child
sooks Sheitcr--A German Legend.

soeks sheiter--A German Legend.
Here is Christmas story that has
been told tho litllo children In Germany
for many hundreds of years:
Twas the night before Christmas. A
little child was wandering all alone
through the streets OF a great city. Poo
pie were hurrying hither AMI thither,
aud express wagons were beirg ratified
through tho streets. Even tho snow
flakes seemed happy with the expecta-
tion Of the coming Christmas morning
But the little child seemed to have
no home and wandered on from street
to street. No one noticed him except
perhaps Jack Frost, who bit his bare.
toes and made his fingers tingle. The
north wind, too, pierced his ragged gar
ments and made him shiver with cold.
Home after homo he passed, looking
with longing eyes through tho windows
In upon the happy children who were
trimming Christmas trees and hanging,
stockings for old Santa Claus to fill. I
Cold and alone the little wanderer
softly tiptoed his way up to beautiful
window through which he could see
tree loaded with gifts and glitteringl
with lights. He tapped ON the glass, but
a little girl coming to the window
frowned and shook her head, saying:
"Co away. We are too busy to take
care Of you now"
Back into the dark street he went.
Coming to another happy home, where
he heard the song and laughter Of mer-
ry children. he climbed up the broad
steps and gently tapped on the door 1t
was opened by tell footman in white
hat and gloves. He looked at the child
then sadly shook his head and said:
"Go down Off the steps There is no
room for such as you here. {"
Again and again the little child rap,
ped softly at door or window pane. Att
each place he was refused admission. :
Later grow the night and colder blew
the wind. Farther and farther the lit
tie one wandered. The street wasl
lengthy, when suddenly there shone
ahead of him single ray of bright
light. He hurried on, saying, II will
go where the little light beckons me.
He soon reached the end Of the street
and went straight up to tine window
from which tho light was streaming.
It was a poor, little, low house. What
90 you suppose the light came from? A
tallow candle. Looking in, tho little
one saw standing upon small wooden
table branch Of a Christmas tree. 1
Near the fire sat lonely faced mother,
with baby on her knee and an older
child beside her. She was telling them
a Christmas story.
The little wanderer crept closer and
closer 10 the window pane SO sweet
seemed the mother and so loving the
children that he took courage and tap
ped gently, very gently, on tho door.
Tho mother stopped talking; the little
children looked mp. "What was that,
mothcr?" asked the little girl II think
it was some one at the door. Run
quickly, dear, for it is too cold night.
to keep any one waiting in the storm. ,"
The child ran to the door and threw
1t wide open. The mother saw the little
stranger, cold and shivering, clothed in
rags, and his little feet almost bare.
"Oh, you poor, dear child! Como in
quickly and get warm. Have you no
home? No Christmas to celebrate?"
Tho mother Pct her arms around tho
strange child and drew him close TO
her. She sat beside the fro with the lit
tie one on her knee, and her own two
little ones warmed his half frozen hands
and, bending low over his head, kissed
the little wanderers brow -Thny gaze
4 = ,x.sll- hat
had been put away for their own break
fast, and when be had eaten it the little
girl said, Nov let US light the Christ
mas tree and share our presents with
this little child"
So busy were they lighting the tree
and getting the presents ready that they
did not notice that the room had filled
with strange aud beautiful light
They trrred and looked at the spot
whore the little wanderer was. His
ragged clothes had changed TO garments
white and beautiful. His tangled curls
seemed like halo o. golden light, and
his face shono with light that they
could scarcely lock upon.
The little room seemod to grow larger,
the roof of the low house to expand and
rise until II reached the sky.
With sweet smile the child looked
upon them for moment and then slowly
roso and iloatcd through the air, higher
even than the clouds themselves, until
he appeared like shining star in the
sky and at last disappeared from sight. (,
The wondering children turned and
whispered to the mother, 'Oh. mother,
it was tho Christ childp' And thei
mother said in low tone. "Yes, my
| children. - ESchaugo.