The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL"


Concluded from last week.
Margaret seated herself by the side O
the bed and Angela's eyes gently closed
A quarter of an hour later, Mr.. Knigh
entered the church. A pious and recollect
ed multitude had already assembled Th
sonorious voice of the organ pealed fortl
its varied harmonies. now powerful al
the roar of a tempest. now soft ant
plaintive as the sigh of repentant sin
ner. Hundreds of tapers surrounded tn,
altar, which could be seen only through
waving clouds of incense. With heat
erect. Angela's father made his way vi
to the foot of the sanctuary. where tn,
crib was arranged amid a profusion o.
rarest flowers. Childish caprice!" hs
said to himself, Ito send me here at such
an hour! However. if I can distract hel
for little while, 1t is nothing" With
such thoughts. Mr.. Knight threw a crit.
ical glance around him. He saw the faith
full praying with unmistakable fervor
with bowed heads and clasped hands
The august sacrifice had begun; the
priests robed in their richest vestments
were celebrating the holy mysteries. The
voices of the singers blended with those
of the angelic choirs. who IN heaven
above intoned the eternal hosannas, and
lying upon a little straw, the sweet SYM
bolical figure of the child Jesus smiled on
everyone. while His outstretchei arms
seemed ready to clasp all humanity to
His loving bosom Angela's father looked
long at the little figure on the straw. A
singular impression began to steal over
his being. His glance wandered from the
priest who was saying mass to the in
fant Jesus, holding out His arms to him.
He made an effort to tear himself from
this species of fascination. and turned to
go out. But the way was blocked crowds
were kneeling in the isles as wei, as in
the pews. At that moment priest left
the altar and descended to tie communion
railing. Mr. Knight resumed his place.
The priest made the sign of the cross.
and in voice vibrating with genuine
emotion, began: "All ye who suffer. come
to Me and l will console you" The words
produced sudden commotion IN the
heart of unfortunate father. Trustingly he
took a step forward to gather NOR, surely
the consoling words that flowed from the
lips of the preacher. AS 'ong as the SER
mon lasted Angela's faith ,r remained mo-
tionless tasting at leisure the solace
which the speaker seemed to offer him
on behalf of the Divine Infant. AMI when
the echo of the final blessing die ! away.
he buried his face In his hands and gave
himself up to the tide of reflections that
flooded his mind. The mass drew to an
the congregation approaching the Holy
Table; noticed all those countenances ir-
radiated by faith and confident hope; and
thought of the happy period long ago,
when he. too.participated in that sacred
banquet. He beheld in fancy his pious
and devoted mother; his young wife.
whom he had loved SO tenderly; Angela,
whose lamp. was slowly dying out; and
immense sorrow took possession Of him.
to tcc1r bad In, fha rhrIr IrOh
was all but deserted; the gas was exiting
uished. only the little crib shone out
brilliant, a lighthouse of hope and con-
ISOLATION. Mr. Knight approached the com
munion railing, and, kneeling, murmured:
"Oh God! my God, whom have so long
neglected to serve, return to me my An
gela, and will serve Thee and return to
Thee forever" AS he ceased the tears
flowed from his eyes, and for some time
he knelt and wept silently. but bitterly. AT
length he left the church. In the porch he
met a beggar; he gave generous aims,
and hurried homeward. Margaret opened
the door to admit him. How is Angela|'
were his first words. "She has been
sleeping quietly ever since you left, and
has only now awakened" The father
went into the sick room and. having
kissed his little daughter, said cheerfully:
well, I stayed too long. did not?'
mo, no, papa!" replied Angela, whose
face was radiant 1t was so beautiful.
why, yes; the little infant was there, l
know 1t, and He was even prettier than
He was last year"
Mr.. Knight looked at her with surprise
and could see her air Of supreme JOY.
How can you know it?" he asked.
BECAUSE, papa, ] went to church with
you"
"She Is delirious," thought the father,
trying to quiet her. ..
NOW just listen and tell me II II
wasn't just like this"
Calm yourself dear, calm yourself.
But 1 am calm," said the child. with
a wounded air.
"Yes-well now?"
.Well when we went in" said Angela,
"the church was pretty full: they we've
singing; the priests were at the altar
we went through the crowd and up 10
the railing to admire the crib What
lot of lights and of nice flowers there
were! There was in particular ohe speh-
did tree that just dropped over the IN
fant Jesus" .. It,
"a palm tree" said Mr.. Knight, his
surprise increasing.
Yes, palm tree. We were golhs "
leave the church when a priest came
down and stopped not Tar from us ne
began TO SPEAK. iou lie -~"N' h''f'-'
you seemed very sorry.
Al this astounding recital, the 1atner
felt his heart bound in his bosom ana ne
gazed at Angela with species OF rear.
: "And YOU know what he said!
3 HE said," replied Angela. drawing ner
father toward her, "he said that Inc W-
fant Jesus would console you.
Mr. Knight started but she weit on; on;
I'VE stayed a long time after that unti'
they put out the lights, and theh you ap
preached the Infant Jesus; you hhei'
down and said with tears: % Goo' re-
turn to me my Angela, and l VIII return
to Thee forever"
Mr.. Knight uttered cry Oh "ohoe' '''''
grew pale as death.
Yes, you said that" continued Ahesia
triumphantly. But I saw that you u'u
not hear the reply of the Infant jesus
"a reply?' ,os on..
yes, dear papa, the Infant Jesus ans
wered you" osp
ed the distracted father.
He said return to Me f1rst.
Mr.. Knight dropped on his knees oy '"'
bed, quite overcome with emot,oh'
and when we came out OF the churcn
continued ANGELA. "you gave some mon
ev TO an old woman. saying quite 10"
.Prav for Angela and her father.
/ This time Mr.. Knight could retain mn,
self no longer. He clasped Angela IN M M
arms and wept the sweetest Tears ~ !,
had known during his entire life Neea no, !
be added that he returned to the chure'
that very morning and entered o,,.a, con,es
sional. The following day ne reoe'ou,
holy communion with so much ierVoI ao' fo
JOY as to edify all the attendants As ,u
Angela, or as her father calls her h' =,
''his Christmas Angel" she impro.euh 10,
health steadily The physicians W tho,
given her up visited her, and IN less .,,s' ,.n
a month she accompanied her father, WIS
iblv this time, to the church, TO imam
the Divine Infant for her restoration. ,
REV. JNO. SONDERGEl-D