Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-12-19
ONE CHRISTMAS EVE.
Disguised a Beggar, the Christ Child
Seeks Shelter-A German Legend.

Disguised a Beggar, the Christ Child
Seeks Shelter-A German Legend.
Here is Christmas story that has
been told the little children in Germany
for many hundreds of years:
Twas the night before Christmas. A
little child was wandering all alone
through the streets of great city. Peo-
pie were hurrying hiteer and thither,
and express wagons were being ratified
through the streets. Even the snow
fakes seemed happy with the expecta-
ton 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
nents and made him shiver with cold.
Home after home he passed, looking
with longing eyes through the windows
in upon the happy children who were
trimming Christmas trees and hanging
stockings for old Santa Claus to fill
Cold and alone the little wanderer
softly tiptoed his way up to beautiful
window through which he could see
tree loaded with gifts and glittering
with lights. He tapped on the glass, but
q little girl coming to the window
frowned and shook her head, saying:
go 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 tall footman in white
hat and gloves He looked at the child
then sadly shook his head and said:
$50 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 At
each place he was refused admission.
Later grew the night and colder blew
the wind. Farther and farther the lit
tie one wandered. The street was
lengthy, when suddenly there shone
ahead of him single ray Of bright
light. He hurried on, saying, 81 will
go where the little light beckons me. :"
He soon reached the end of the street
and went straight up to the window
from which the light was streaming.
1t was poor, little, low house. What
do you suppose the light came from? A
tallow candle. Looking in, the little
one saw standing upon small wooden
table O branch of a Christmas tree.
Near the fire sat lonely faced mother,
with baby ON her knee and an older
child beside her. She was telling them
Christmas story.
The little wanderer crept closer and
closer to the window pane. So sweet
seemed the mother and so loving the
children that he took courage and tap
ped gently, very gently, on the door.
The mother stopped talking; the little
children looked up. ''What was that,
mother?" asked the little girl. .I 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
it wide open. The mother saw the littlo
stranger, cold and shivering, clothed i'll
rags, and his little feet almost bare.
"Oh, you poor, dear child! Come i'll
quickly and get warm. Have you no
home? No Christmas to celebrated"
The mother put her arms around the
strange child and drew him close to
her. She sat beside the fire 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. They gave
him the bowl Of bread and milk that
had been put away for their own break
fast, and when he had eaten it tho little
girl said, CHOW 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 and beautiful light.
They turned and looked at the spot
where the little wanderer was. His
ragged clothes had changed to garments
white and beautiful. His tangled curls
seemed like halo Of golden light, and
his face shone with light that they
could scarcely look upon.
The little room seemed to grow larger,
the roof of the low house to expand and
rise until it reached the sky.
With a sweet smile the child looked
upon them for moment and then slowly
rose and foated 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 the Christ childp' And the
mother said in low tone "Yes, my
children. .'-Exchange.