Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-30

those delightful anticipations that usu.
ally attend the approach Of the day
which marks the birth Of the Christ
Child. Little Frank. the youngest, n
boy Of seven. was lying Ill. and the
doctors gave slight hope OF bis recov.
cry.
On Christmas eve Frank lay in a
stupor. His brothers and sisters we're
sitting In an adjoining room talking
In low voices. but be could occasionally
hear a word or part Of a sentence. The
word most used was Christmas. Frank
had passed through four or Eve Of
these joyful anniversaries after he was
old enough to appreciate them. and a
faint interest. Notwithstanding his con-
dition. was awakened
Then he heard the word death spoken
almost In whisper. and the children
wondered whether the dead can enjoy
Christmas. One said that the dead
| were everywhere at Christmas. but
their enjoyment consisted in giving
presents to the living. Another de-
clared that these spirits visited only
the poor Then Frank heard his old
| est sister say:
1T may be that Santa Claus is one
Of these persons who lived. but have
become spirits. This would account
for his being everywhere at once"
II never thought of that" said Joe
when was little kid soon ceased
to believe In Santa. but II had
thought OF him as a spirit might have
believed In him till today"
Frank was approaching the crisis OF
his disease and was n very sick child
The doctor had told his parents that
during the night he would either die or
In the morning be much better
Among other things the children talked
about was this crisis. some speaking
Of Frank dying, others wondering. n
he passed the crisis. whether he would
be well enough the next day for them
to celebrate Christmas. And Alice. the
girl next older than the sick boy and
his inseparable playmate. said that she
| shouldn't enjoy the day anyway unless
, Frank were able TO enjoy II with her
II must not he supposed that Frank
listened to all this as another would
listen to IT, lie was in high fever.
and II seemed TO him that he was In
the midst OF turmoil What the
children said seemed TO pass by him
like bits Of mist scudding before a
driving wind. Then all was still for
awhile. Possibly the poor boy fell into
a slumber. He saw something white
bending over him. great wings extend.
ing from It's shoulders The figure
took him up in It's arms and rose slow
~ with him. The ceiling opened. and
Frank found himself passing out un.
| der the stars.
II have died." he said to himself,
land an angel is carrying me away
Now that ! am spirit. wonder II |
shall be permitted to visit live people
on Christmas ever"
Now. Frank had not died at ALL He
was in a very low condition. and his
nurse. clad In white. had bent over
him and lifted him up in her arms to
! change his position in the bed
Dreams sometimes lead us through
a long chain of events. though the
time occupied is but a fraction of n
second. And. while don't know
| whether this was dream or n condl
ton occasioned by the boys weakened
faculties. Frank was a long while I'M
a..A a
to say that there was nothing in Il
which we call supernatural. The i'm.
mortal world lies all about and very
near US. and II is not impossible that
an innocent child should be given n
sight into things that are hidden from
men,
BE this as II may. Frank was car.
ried In the ANGELS arms out into the
night. He looked down upon the
| lights ant the throngs who were pass
ing along the street going in and ont
OF the shops. for. though II was dark.
the people had not finished their buy
| Ing for Christmas The scene was
busy without and busy within Frank
could look at both and ut the same
time
And he saw the tired clerks In the
stores waiting on customers and the
children hanging up their stockings.
The angel took him TO the homes OF
the children OF well TO do parents. He
saw them all In their richly furnished
rooms going to bed in embroidered
nighties. many OF them crawling In
under silk and down comforters. In
the closets were innumerable pack
ages that had not yet been opened
while tables were heaped with can
dies and fruits.
Take me where ! can see rhe poor
children said Frank TO the angel
''These have so much that II tires me
to look Mt u all"
Then the angel passed over that
part OF the city where the poor chill
dren lived. and Frank was astonished
az their humble. many OF them squat
Id. quarters In their larders he conld
49, rnehlov for fshRfoe,xa. Ilua..e