The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-04-27
4 CHRISTMAS
"A in MEMORIAM
[Original.1


In a princely mansion child lay
dying Around the bed We're physi-
clans, nurses and servants. They had
been trying to save life, but now that
it was plain their efforts were vain
they were awaiting the end The
father and mother were kneeling by
the couch watching till the spark OF
life had gone out.
Suddenly the child awoke from I'M
consciousness and felt itself rising. An
angel was drawing it. magnet-like,
from the body. Then when the little
| spirit was free both lowered over those
grouped about the body that had been
| left behind as locust leaves its shell.
Angel" said the child. why have
| no voice to speak to my dear papa
and mamma!''
Because it is not in the nature of
possibilities. The dead cannot speak to
the living. They may only influence
them. Conner
| They passed out of the house as light
shines through solid glass window
or as radium pierces iron. Floating
over the houses, they saw with their
| immortal vision countless people pre-
pairing for the morrow. Children were
hanging stockings from mantels; par
ents were gathering toys. ready to fill
them, while wagons were delivering
gifts that had lately been purchased.
This is where the wealthy people
live those of your own class" said
the angel Before we ascend to
heaven l will show you the homes Of
the poor"
Without change or motion they were
in the poor district Here the Christ
mas preparations We're meager. Toys
were few; good things to eat We're
scant Many who had been hoping for
gifts Of clothing and food from charita-
bic societies or individuals had been
disappointed. for there were not enough
to go round.
TIE angel led the newborn spirit to
the home of sick child. No doctors,
no nurses, no servants stood about the
bed. only a woman with pinched fea-
lures. clad in rags. A good doctor had
left n prescription, but there was no
money to pay for. it.
Mamma" said the sick child, 81
want an orange"
The mother bent her cheek down
against that of her little one. but did
not reply.
why doesn't she give her child an
Granger" asked the spirit child of the
angel.
Because she has not even common
food. and oranges are luxuries.'
but why don't those who have all
these things divide with those who do
not have them?''
did you, when alive. give your good
things to poor children
Il didn't know that there were any
poor children
You were too young to learn these
things for yourself and you We're not
the millions of people on the earth the
good things are distributed by natural
laws. Those with the most advan-
tages must inevitably possess the most
comforts and luxuries. This is a law
of selfishness. Eighteen centuries ago
a child was born upon the earth who
established that whereby the natural
law might be softened. not by counter
acting law. but by something far
lnobler-self sacrifice"
Il have learned Of the Christ child"
replied the newborn spirit, lin my Sun
day school. but never realized that he
wished me to give my comforts and
Injuries to poor children"
"Then you have never known the
true meaning. the highest enjoyment.
of Christmas"
While they were talking they were
watching the mortal child beneath
them and its agonized mother. The
spirit child shuddered at the contrast
between the inability of the poor wo-
man to do what was necessary to save
her child and all that had been lavished
i'll its own case. AS they gazed young
girl entered the sickroom and taking
from bag number of good things
laid them on the table. Among them
was an orange.
From the Helping Hand" said the
girl and went away.
The mother seized the orange and
gave it to her child. who ate it all. then
fell into slumber.
THAT gift has saved it." said the an
gel. 1T will recover. Now we will go
on our journey"
: Angel" said the child. take me
back to mamma and papa. I want to
influence them"
In twinkling they were in the
chamber they had left. The parents
were still lingering over the body of
their child. Then that child spoke to
them not by sound, but by spirit influ-
ence.
Il feel said the weeping mother,
that there is something we have not
done to our dear baby that we should
have done. We did not teach her SYM
pathy. And realize that we have been
selfish. We have thought only of our
selves. We have not remembered the
poor
Some such thought has just fitted
through my own BRAIN" said the ia
ther let us send out tomorrow in
the name Of our dear child a gift to