El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-08
The HeraId's Daily
Short Story

they announced the birth OF the king of
Rome, a never to be forgotten day,
when Heaven granted the hero son:
And tonight they ring as merrily and
triumphant, as when they announced
the victories of the Austerlitz and
Nagran, IN honor OF the carpenter s
son who was born in a stable eighteen
centuries ago.
The emperor is dreaming He is
thinking OF his childhood, Of the Christ
mas service in the Cathedral OF AJacciO,
of his return to his parents home, OF
their proudly born poverty and of the
beauty Of his mother as she prepared
his evening meal consisting only OF
roasted chestnuts. His son. the son OF
the victorious emperor and an arch
duchess of Austria, will know no such
misery. He viii be the master Of the
world.
SUDDENLY he feels that he must see his
son he arises and cIaps his hands. A
secret door opens and ROustan enters.
At a sign from his master he takes
one Of the candlesticks and walks
ahead of the emperor through long cor
ridors 10 the little kings room. With
motion Of his hand, the emperor sends
away the women and stands alone at
the cradle Of his son. The king OF
tome Is sleeping. He IS resting com
tortably in his nest OF white linen and
lace, and across his breast is the rib
bon Of the Legion OF Honor The broad
req rlODOn looks like stream of blood
winch Is to be shed in the hope OF
Delng aDle some day to place on this
frail head the heaviest OF all crowns.
How quietly the little baby sleeps
IN It's cradle, how beautiful is the smile
ABOUT his lips The emperor looks At
MS SON. He dreams-and never has
human pride dreamed a more beautf-
t1l dream-that the highest dignitaries
OF MS court, his most famous generals
ministers and statesmen are to bow
IAelr heads at this bed with awe and
respect The emperor is dreaming, and
tnrOugh the chimes OF the Christmas
Dells he believes he hears the marching
u ms troops and the rumblinE Of the
ammunition carts far away on the
frozen ground OF Germany and Poland
intoxicated with fatherly ambition. ne
thinks more than ever Of the Strength
OF the army, Of the conquest OF Russia
ana INDIA, and he sWears that he will
leave behind him as an Inheritance 10
MS son all the thrones OF the old world
AIready he has given him as a first
present the thrones Of the City OF St
follow.
Emir OF Mecca, Rajah Of Benare!
THESE are titles worthy Of a king OF
On, Why has he not untold millions
OF soldiers at his disposal? Then he
would conquer the whole universe and
laF the globe into this little hand
he is dreaming and hears not the
chime Of the bells. His thoughts are
not Of Him who rules heaven and to
WlOIn tne great empires are like ant
hills He dreams and does not see what
the future brings-his immense army
ourled under the snow OF Beresina, his
ie-N-aAAllA5 llUMEQ down DIV Eng
llsh shrapnel at Waterloo. He-does not
see IN the midst Of the ocean the rock
WneIe the tOrtures Of PrOmetheus are 7
waiting for him. and he does not see
the hardest Of all-the young pale man
IN the white uniform with the Austrian ]
SchOenbrunn.
But the chime OF the bells sounds
ever merr!er in honor OF the baby born
h Bethlehem, who 1900 years ago con- I
lueEeQ the world, not with blood and /
steel. but with peace and love.