The Democratic advocate., 1906-12-21

good and evil, and were you not
taught to choose the one and hate the
other? Is it becoming of you-you, the
husband of an over worked i'll fed wife,
and the father of neglected children-to
be wasting your substance in riotous doings ?
If you have your treat, what will they
have? IF you are selfish, they must suffer
deeply for it; if you are self denying, you
will afford them happiness to which they
have hitherto been strangers. So he
mused in the cold night air.
All, the crowds of hurrying passers-by
little knew, even if they noticed the work
ingman looking in at the toy shop at all,
that that spot was an arena in which good
and evil were struggling for mastery over
an immortal soul-that the decision arrived
at there ght affect the entire future
temporal and eternal welfare of that man
and his family. Such mighty issues often
depend on trivial circumstances He had
been looking down during his last bit of
reverie Now he looked at the display in
the window, and again the question arose,
'sMyself or the children p Another short
reverie, and then his face became lighted
up with beautiful father-love and pity, so
that it was easy to see for whom he had
decided.
He walked firmly into the shop. IF
little Tom and Jack could only have been
there how they would have lifted up their
voices in loud hurrah
When he came out again his tool bag
was crammed with a medley of fairy like
treasures that might have well made the
prosy old tools huddle themselves together
in one corner, quite confounded. Never
before had they found themselves in such
society. A snowy-white lamb nestled
costly against fierce pair of pincers;
wooden horse started defantly down
amongst gimlets, and bradawls, and tweez-
ers; boxes of toys scorned to notice the
tools on which they rested, some of which
they had been familiar with when being
manufactured. Tops and balls made them
selves comfortable amongst small heaps Of
sharp pointed nails, and delicate wax
doll laid her cheek confdingly against a
saw which protruded out of the basket.
Never before had Stephen Gregson car
ried his bag home so carefully or SO laden
with precious spoil; and never before, l
may safely add, did working man trudge
home to his wife and little ones with such
happy heart and joyous step.
There is nothing, my friends, among
earthly delights to transcend the Joy Of try
ing to make home happy and to cheer
those we love and those who love us. And
what is more easy to do? Kind words,
gentle, thoughtful deeds, loving smiles,
which we are often SO lavish in dispensing
out of doors-let these be INDUCED in to
the full at home, and the thing is done.
Home becomes bright with perpetual sun
shine; our joy is increased through the
Joy of those we love. This may involve
sacrifice; but what is there so elevating
to our character and SO pleasure giving to
our own hearts as self sacrifice for the good
of others?
When Stephen arrived at home at tea
time that Christmas eve, of course nothing
was expected of him. He looked around
kindly at the little ones, as he had done
the evening before, but he did not take his
bag from his shoulder as usual. His wife,
moving about getting tea, perceived vision
of waxen face in one end of the bag,
and wondered greatly.
"Why don't you put your bag down p
asked little Jack.
"Would you like to. know why asked
the father, with meaning smile, at which
four pairs of eyes were suddenly raised to
him, as wide open as they could be.
"You' We got something, l know, dad, "
said Maggie.
"Have 1? Then suppose you must
see what it is, he replied, lowering his
bag to the ground with as much strain and
effort as if it were as heavy as sack Of
-four.
Then there was such flourish Of voices
and clapping Of hands as might have made
the entire dingy old court ring again.
''Bless the children! you II frighten Bob
into fits, exclaimed the mother, when she
could make herself heard. But baby
seemed more inclined for a fit of delight
when his father put into his little hands
puffy, white lamb, on stand with four
wheels. How he crowed and shouted over
his treasure!
As for the other children, Bessie could
scarcely believe her own eyes. Maggie
was trembling with happy excitement,
and the little boys were lost in admiration
of tops, balls, and the other wonderful
things produced from fathers bag.
''It's dreadful piece of extravaganza
for such folks as us, you'll say, wife, .
remarked Stephen, as he watched his
happy children rejoicing over such treas
ures as they had never possessed before;
''but if I had spent the money, instead of
this way, by having a jollifcation at old
Stills tavern tonight, as intended to do, |
shouldn't have thought it bit of e1trav-
agance; nor have thought it extravagant
to spend many and many pound Of good
money there, for which [ got nothing
worth. "
.'Oh," said Maggie, under her breath,
''ses what God has sent us because we
asked HIM.
81 hope He has sent you something bet
ter than toys, said Stephen, with tremor
in his voice.
IA father in his right mind, and who
wishes to keep SC" he replied.
"Oh, Stephen! are you really going to
begin to care for us, and be good to us p
his wife managed to say, before her voice
utterly broke down.
But he could not answer He hurried
upstairs, and there in the darkness wept
such blessed happy tears as had never be-
fore fallen from his eyes. But in the fu-
ture he answered that question of his wife s
by good deeds better far than mere words.
That Christmas proved to be the first of a
series of very happy ones.
And when little Maggie faded away, and
,vos patborad to tho ho,oa q ahova tho 20 thor