The Dermott news., 1915-12-16


 could be seen of the great church, save glimpses of the tower when the weather was fine lived boy named Pedro, and his little brother. They knew very little about the Christmas chimes, they had heard of the service in the church on Christmas eve and had secret plan that they had often talked over when by themselves for going to the beautiful celebration. 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 some times comes down to bless the meet ing. What if we could see him?'
 The day before Christmas it was bitterly cold and few lonesome snow flakes were flying in the air and there was a hard white crust on the ground.
 Sure enough. Pedro and Little Brother were able to slip quietly away early in the afternoon on their way to the 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 en- ter one of the great gates in the wall that surrounded 1t. when they saw something dark on the snow near the path. and stepped aside to look at 1t.
 It was poor woman who had fallen just outside ot the city. too sick and tired and cold to get in where she might have found shelter The snow made a soft pillow for her and she would soon be so sound asleep i'll the winter air that no one could ever awaken her again All this Pedro saw ill a moment, and he knett down be side her and tried to rouse her He turned her face toward him, so that he could rub some snow on it. but he soon sighed and said
 It's no use, Little Brother you will have 10 20 on alone
 "Alene29 cried Little Brother, and you will not see the Christmas festi val9"
 No" said Pedro and he coald not help q little choking sound of disap- poiutment in his throat See this poor woman, she will freeze 10 death if nobody cares for her. You can bring someone to help her when you come back and I can keep her alive. You can easily find your way to the church. and you must see and hear everything twice, little brother. once 1 for you and once for me. am sure the Christ child must know how l would love to come and worship him. brother. slip up 10 the altar without 1 getting i'll anyone way, and take this little silver piece of mine and lay 1t down for my offering when no one is looking Don't forget the place where you left me, and hurry. HOW, so l you won be late
 He winked hard to keep back the tears as h. heard the crunehing foot steps of little brother sounding farther and farther away in the darkness.
 It was also hard to lose the music and the splendor of the celebration that he had planned so long. to lose ] the chance of offering his silver piece i that he had saved for the offering 10 the Christ chJd. and to spend the time instead in the lonesome snow outside the dreary walls But t ueH i CT occurred 10 him to leave the poor woman in the freezing cold.
 The great church was truly q won. i drrful place that night Every one said that t had never looked so bright l and beautiful before. When the or gan played and the thousands of pco- pie sang the hymns. the walls shook with the sound, and little Pedro, out. i side the walls of the city. felt the earth tremblc all around him Al i last came the procession to bear the l offerings to the altar, when great and rich men and women marched up to 1 lay down their gifts to the Christ child. Some brought wonderful jew els. some baskets of gold SO heavy that they could scarcely carry thom down the aisle A great writer laid l down book that he had hcen mak- ing for years and last of all walked the hul of the country, hoping to win for himself the chimes of the l Christmas bells.
 There was a great murmur through Che church as the people saw the king take from his head the royal crown. all set with diamonds and other pre- cious stones and laid Il gleaming on the altar as his offering to the Holy child.
 Surely said every one. we shall hear tho bells now. for nothing like this has ever been offered before
 And they all stood still to listen. but only the cold. cold wind was heard in the stone tower and the people shook their heads some of them saving as they had done before. that they really never believed the story of the chimes, anyway.
 The procession was over, and the gifts were all on the altar the choir had begun the closing hymn.