The Washington herald., 1910-12-24
GRETCHEN'S CHRISTMAS.

! Tomorrow would be Christmas Eve!
/ The great tree was already in the room
/ with the door tightly closed so that no
/ one might enter until the Christ Child
should can them. and every one moved
about with happy face and mysterious
/ air
/ Little Gretchen had been with her par
ents to the great fair. where she had seen
displayed every manner of toys. great
/ punches of tapers FOR the trees, every
thing in short that any child could desire,
but Of all the things at the fair, that for
which Gretchen most longcd was a pair
! Of beautiful red shoes.
Scarcely could her parents coax her
away from those alluring shoes. Again
and again she returned TO look at them
once more-she knew they would Just III
/ her. She Wen remembered how tile tree
looked last Christmas, and in fancy she
saw it again with its myriad lights. its
fucker bebackenes" Of every shape IN
der the sun, and above all. the lovely
/ waXen Christ Child. but now was added
/ the browning delight q pair or red shoes
/ How could she get through the lone
/ hours until the Christ child should call
/ and the great doors Doe opened. when she
/ could see for herself if the little red
shoes were really there II they were
not. oh, how could she bear il?
At last bed time came-snd Gretchen 5
| last thought was OF the little red shoes
| She was almost asleep. when she heard
a gentle voice calling, Gretchen, Crotch
en- She saw no one, but She knew that
| the voice came from the ChFist Child. 50
she arose and followed the v0tce when
she came 10 the closed door it opened OF
| itself and there was the beautiful Christ
mas tree. and on it hung the little red
shoes.
Then Gretchen heard the Christ Child
I say: My little girl, the feet that wear
| these shoes must only and ever go in
good ways. They are 10 be helpful little
feet, Fastening always 70 help the mother
the father the poor. and the sick
They are 10 be cheerful feet when al
| play with companions, and pious feet.
going often 10 the church to pray 10 the
! good God and TO thank Him for all His
goodness but especially for the coming
! OF the Christ Child and for all the joy OF
Christmas.
Then the Christ Child leaned down and
touched Gretchen's little feet in blessing.
and said. Little one follow Me"
When Gretchen opened her eyes. II was
morning-the morning of Christmas eve.
and all the house was astir with busy
preparation for the great festivaI-and
Gretchen scarcely knew whether she
| had dreamed OF whether she really had
| seen the Christ child. but whether dream
or reality, its influence was with her. and
! she almost forgot the little red shoes in
thinking Of those words Of the Christ
child follow Ne"
She knew what it meant-and all day
long her parents wondered at her helpful
unselfish ways.
At last came the call to enter the
| Christmas room. The great tree was
ablaze with lights. the beautiful Christ
| Child at the top OF the tree seemed to
| little Gretchen, TO look at her very ten
DERBY, and TO whisper very low Follow
Me"
AS she came very close to answer soft
| ly, Yes dear Christ Child. will, -
she lifted up her eyes, and there in very
truth hung the beautiful, the longed for
red shoes.
The dream did not fade from Crotch
ems mind. Almost reverently she put on
the red shoes, and before they were
| worn out, the habits Of helpfulness and
| Unselfishness had become a part of her
nature. and ever after Gretchen was
known as a blessing TO her parents and
| to all whom she could help.
About her steps as she went on her er-
rands of helpfulness there seemed to
| spring up hearts-ease and forget-me-nots,
and as she passed, the people said: 'She
| follows Him. LOUISA 5. WEIGHTMAN.