Yazoo City herald. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1976, 1914-12-25
"Why the Chimes Rang" A Christ
mas Wonder Story
RAYMOND MACDONALD ALDEN

ceieDratloh. NOBODY can guess, Little
Brother" Pedro would say, "all the
fine things there are to see and hear
In the church; and l have even heard
It said that the Christ Child himself
sometimes comes down to bless the
meeting What If we could see Him ?"
The day before Christmas was bit
terly cold, with a few lonesome snow
flakes flying in the air, and hard
white crust on the ground. Sure
enough, Pedro and Little Brother
were able to slip quietly away early
in the afternoon on the way 60 the
Christmas celebration; and although
the walking was hard in the frosty
air, before nightfall they had trudged
so far, hand in hand, that they saw
the lights of the big city just ahead
of them. Indeed, they were about to
enter one Of the great gates in the
wall that surrounded it. when they
saw something dark on the snow near
their path and stepped aside to look
at it.
1t was poor woman, who had just
fallen outside the city, too sick and
tired and cold to get in where she
might have found shelter the snow
made sort Of pillow for her, and she
would soon be so sound asleep in the
wintry air that no one could ever
awaken her again. All this Pedro saw
in moment, and he knelt down beside
her and tried to rouse her, even tug
ging at her arm little as If he would
try to carry her away. He turned her
face toward him, SO that he could rub
some Of the cold white snow on it,
and then, when he had looked at her
silently for moment, he stood up and
said.
"Its no use, Little Brother. You will
have to 60 on alone"
"Alone 2, cried Little Brother "And
you will not see the Christmas fes-
ltixs43D
TaJ zaid Pedro; and he could not
IhelF little choking sound Of dis
appointment in his throat. "See this
poor woman; her face looks like the
Madonna in the chapel window, and
she will freeze to death If nobody
cares for her. You can bring some
one to help her when you come back,
and can keep her alive. Both of us
need not miss the celebration; it would
better be |. You can easily find your
way to the church; and you must see
and hear everything twice, Little
Brother-once for you and once for
me. am sure the Christ Child must
know how / would love to come and
worship Him; and oh! il you get a
chance, Little Brother, to slip up to
the altar without getting in anyone's
way, take this little silver piece Of
mine and lay it'down for my offering,
when no one is looking. Don't forget
the place where you left me, and for
give me for not going with you as |
would like"
In this way he hurried off Little
Brother to the city, and wrinkled hard
to keep back the tears as he heard
the crunching footsteps sounding
farther and farther away in the dark
ness. 1t was so hard, to lose the music
and splendor Of the celebration that
he had planned for so long, to lose
the chance Of offering his own silver
piece that he had saved for the Christ
Child, and spend the time, instead in
the lonesome snow outside the city
wall. But it never occurred to him
that he could leave the poor Madonna
to freeze without his help.
The great church was truly won
derful place that night. Everyone
said it had never looked 50 bright
and beautiful before. When the organ
I played, and the thousands Of people
sang the hymn, the walls shook with
the sound, and little Pedro, outside
the wall Of the city, felt the earth
tremble all around him. Az last came
the procession to bear the offerings
to the altar, when great and rich men
marched proudly up to lay down their
gifts to the Christ Child Some brought
wonderful jewels, some baskets Of
gold SO heavy that they could scarce
ly carry them down the aisle; a great
writer laid down book that he had
been making for years and years; and
last Of al walked the king Of the eoun-
try hoping with all the rest to WIN
for himself the chime of the Christmas
bells. There was a great murmur
through the church as the people saw
the king take from his head the royal
crown all set with diamonds and other
precious stones, and lay it cleaning
on the altar as his offering to the holy
Child Surely" said everyone, Eve
shall hear the bells now, for nothing