The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1894-12-13
oNE CHRlsTMAs EVE.
Disguised ~ Iieggar, the Christ Child
seeks shelter \ German Legend

Here is Christians story that has
been bid thu li'tlc children IN Germany
for many hundred, Of years:
Twas the njgaf / fore Christmas. \
liule child wa wandering all alone
through the streets Of great city. Pep-
pie werc hurrying hither AMI thither,
and express wagons were being ratified
through the streets. Even the snow
hakcs seemed happy with the expccta-
tion f the coming Christmas morning
But the little child seemed 10 hav
no homo and wandered ON from stree
t. street No one noticed him excer
perhaps Jack Frost, who bit his bar.
toes aud made his fingers tingle Thu
north wind, too, pierced his ragged gar
ment, and made him shiyer with cold.
| Home after home ne 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 tho little wandcrer
softly tiptpcd his way up to a beautiful
window through which he could sec a
tree loaded with gifts and glittcring
with lights He tapped on the glass, but
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 tho 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 Il tail footman in white
hat and gloves. He looked ut the child
then sadly shook his head and said:
"Go down off tho steps. There is no
room for such as you here p"
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
tic ono wandered Tho street was
lengthy, when suddenly there shone
ahead of him single ray Of bright
light. He hurried ON, saying, Il will
20 where the little light beckons me. d"
He soon reached the end Of the street
and went straight up to tho window
from which tho light WAS streaming.
1t was poor, little, low house What
do you suppose the light came from? A
tall0w candle. Looking III, the little
ono saw standing upon small wooden
table a branch of 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.
Tho little wanderer crept closer and
closer to the window pane SO sweet
seemed tho mother and SO loving the
children that he took courage and tap
ped gently, very gently, on the door.
Tho mother stopped talking; the little
children looked up. What WAS that,
mother" asked the little girl. II think
it was some ono at the door. Run
quickly, dear, for it is too cold night
to keep any one waiting in the storm. y
The child ran to the door and threw
it wide open. The mother saw tho little
stranger, cold and shivoring, clothed i'll
rags, and his little feet almost bare.
"Oh, you poor, dear child Come III
quickly and get warm. Have you no
home? No Christmas to celebrateT'
Tho mother / at her arms around tho
strange child and drew him close to !
her. Sho sat beside the fire with tho lit
tic ono 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 |
4 Al. . Il l. l.,f
had been put away for their own break t
fast, and when lac had eaten it tho little |
girl said, "Now 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 filed
with n strange and beautiful light
They turned aud looked at tho spot
where the little wanderer was. His 7
ragged clothes had changed to garments
white and beautiful. His tangled curls
seemed like halo of golden light, and /
his face shono 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 sweet smile the child looked /
upon them for moment and then slowly /
rose and foated through the air, higher
even than tho clouds themselves, until
no appeared like a shining star in the |
sky and at last disappeared from sight
The wondering children turned and