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

Once upon u time--it was so lcrg ngc
that everybody has forgotten the date
there was littlo boy named Wolf.
He was years old. He had neithei
father nor mother and was left to tho
care of on old aunt, who was so colo
hearted that sho never embraced hel
nephew except on Now Years day anf
was so penurious that she heayod doci
sigh every timo she served him to 4
dish Of soup. The poor littlo fellow wa
naturally SO good that he loved the OIL
dame, only he had such a dreadful fea
of her that he could not look at hel
without trembling.
Because VOLTS aunt was known
have house upon good street and
stocking full Of Gold she did not dar
TO send her nephew to the school fo
the poor, but she had so haggled with
teacher for a reduction in her price
that the teacher was vexcd TO havo /;
scholar who brought her in SO little
Little Wolff was also dressed so poorly
that the FOOLS cap was often unjustly
inflicted upon him or Ounce was writ
ten upon his back, and his comrades
were unreasonably prejudiced against
him.
All the other pnpils were sons Of rich
citizens and made the orphan tho butt
of their jokes or the object of their
malice. The poor child was wretchedly
unhappy and would often hide himself
away in corners TO weep.
The time OF the Christmas festival
approached On Christmas eve the
schoolteacher conducted all of the pu-
pills to midnight mass and afterward led
them back TO their homes.
AS the winter was extremely rigorous
that year, and az for several days a
great quantity Of snow had fallen, the
children all came warmly bundled and
muflled in fur caps which turned down
over their ears, double and triple coats,
knit gloves and mittens and good heavy
boots that had iron nails and thick
soles.
Wolff alone presented himself, shiver-
ing in the same clothes that he wore
every day and Sunday, summer and
winter, and his feet wero covered with
only the low wooden shoes of Stras-
burg.
His naughty companions, seeing his
poor appearance, made thousand jests
at his expense. but the orphan was so
occupied in breathing upon his cold fin
gers and by the aching chilblains that
he did not heed them.
Soon tho band of boys, marching two
by two, with the schoolmaster magis-
terially at their head, started for the
priests house.
II was good to reach the church,
which was brilliant with lighted can
dies. The children, excited by tho gen
tie heat. sweet perfumes and glittering
snow, proftod by tho organs din and
the swelling chants to prattle in low
voice.
Each boasted Of tho delights which
awaited him in his own family circle.
The burgomaster' S son had seen be-
fore his departure Inonstrous goose,
with trutfles spotted with marks like a
leopard. At the house of an alderman
was a spruce tree, all planted in box,
from which were suspended oranges,
sugar toys and jumping jacks, and tho
notary's cook had fastened behind her
head with pin tho strcamers of her
cap, which she never did except on days
OF inspiration, when she was sure TO
succeed in her famous sweet dishes.
And then tho pupils also talked Of
what the Christ child would bring
them, what he would put in their
shoes. which all would take care to
leave mt the fireplace before going TO
bed.
In the eyes of all sparkled tho antici-
patton of JOY. They thought of tho pa
per roses, the bags Of nuts, tho trumpets
and drums, the laden soldiers arranged
in battalions, menagerios smelling Ok
the vanished wood and purple puppets
that could tumble and jump
Little Wolf knew very we'll from ex.
perience that his old avaricious aunt
would have him 20 % bed without any
supper, but innocently no hoped that
the Christ child would not forget him,
Cor had he not been all the year as good
and hardworking as possiblel He, too,
piunuct 10 PIT his pair Of wooden shoes
Uloso TO tbe ashes in the fireplace
The midnight mass terminated. the
iithful went away impatient for the
treats which were to follow, and tho
troup Of pupils. always two by twc and
following tho teacher. lost the church.
But under the porch, sitting on n
stoue BENCH sprppornfed by . stone