The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-03
him to the policeman who stands near

| the door.
A servant approached him to tax
him out, but he. touched Him not
There was something in the child
look and manner that caused grea
awe to fall upon him and he gently lex
the way out, motioning to the child t
follow. AS they passed out the serVan
said: SIS there anything that | can d
for you?" and his voice was very kind
"Nay," replied the child, II need moth
ing. you have done what you could,
brt there were great tears in His eye
when He spoke. The servant. with 1
dazed but very bright look on his face
said in a scarcely articulate voice, a
the child walked away, "The Chris
Child! that is the Christ Child, thu
stories of the Christ Child are true, fol
I have seen Him"
And so the child passed from house
to house in that great city, knocking al
every door. Sometimes he was very
coldly received and turned away witt
no att ntion showed Him. Sometime:
He was sent into the kitchen and fed
but without that heartfelt charity and
good will that makes little kindness
into great one. Sometimes He was
jested with but still fed and warmed
At last He came to a house in the fal
northern suburb of the city, good
house, but rot fine one; house that
seemed as though the people who lived
in it were not distinguished nor great
people in the world-not rich nor very
poor. The lamp light shone clear and
bright through glass window whose
blinds were not closed. BE looked in
and the father and mother, with their
little children, were just taking their
seats at the table to partake of their
evening meal. The hour was some.
what late for that, but the father had
been away,was engaged and something
detained him later than usual. The
child knocked, the father at once rose
from his place at the table, went to the
door and opened it. o, the pitiful sight
that met bis eyes! A little, forlorn look
ing child, with garments all draggled
and wet, for it had rained some, with
flush upon His face and slight,
hacking cough, when he essayed to
speak, as though the fever Of fconsump-
ton was upon him, stood on the steps.
The father said nota word but "my
poor child" and lifting him from his
feet and taking him in his arms be
bore him into the house. and placed
him in seat not far from the fire.
The mother chafed his cold hands,
,tookeof his garments which were wet,
put others clean and dry upon hinn,
and then when he felt comfortable she
wheeled his chair round to the table 80
thathe might partake of the Christmas
cheer with them. When seated at table
he looked at the little boy, the young
est, on the opposite side, and, oh, WON
derful! the little fellow crowed and
reached out his hands as though he
would leap across the table and nestle
into the bosom of the strange child for
-F - s. =
he saw that thestranger was very beau
tiful. They all saw it soon. And when
He took up loaf of bread, looked up
to heaven and gave thanks, great
awe and feeling Of love fell upon father
and mother and all the house. He rose
to His feet and giving the bread to each
one at table, He sad: "Take, eat, this
is my body" He then poured the
wine, producing it from the very vim
tage of heaven which He carried with
Him always. He gave to each one and
said, "Drink ye all of it; this is my
blood, shed for the redemption of the
world" And then his face shone as
the sun and His garments became
white and glistening, and laying His
hand gently upon the head of each He
said, 'Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give unto you, not as the world
giveth give I unto you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid" He then rose and passing up
wards to the far heavens, which opened
to receive Him, and whose glories they
for moment could see, He vanished
from sight.
Such, children, or something like
this, is the story Of the Christ Child as
I learned it long ago.
Some years ago grandpa versi6ed the
story for a lovely little girl, who is now
a young lady, and has pas ed on into
the active, busy world. We cannot be
young always, but, if we will, we can
always retain the friendship of the
Christ Child.
The verses are reproduced here,
slightly changed for Francis and Ag-
mes, Clara and Gilbert, and all other
good children:
An old time German story tells
That on the eve before the bells
Of Christmas ring out clear and sweet,
A little child with naked feet,
In tattered garments old and poor,
Goes softly round from door to door,
Low knocking, begging to be let
Within from out the cold and vet.
And if one opens, the tale tells,
Before the ringing of the bells,
That little child, alt gloriied,
Becomes the holy Christ who died
To save the world. And then he breaks
The bread and gives, and then He
takes
The wire and pours it in the cup,
And blesses ere they drink it up;
And then He vanishes from sight
in bright robes of light.
That little child, ., children, dear!
That little child comes every year,
Indeed, indeed, He's always here;
And He is softly knocking still,