Page 33 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 33
10 THE CHRIST-CHILD
what to think of his mother when she had
these fits. When he first began to walk
alone, he would tottle up to her, and pull
her ragged gown, and stoop down to peep
up in her face, and try all manner of baby
ways to attract her attention. But she look
ed at him with strange eyes, for she did not
know him ; and if he continued to pull at
her gown, and call " Mammy, mammy," she
would sometimes push him, so that he fell
backward on the floor. The poor child had
nothing to do all day, but to tumble about
among bad boys in a dirty court, and dig
holes in the mud. If he heard his father's
voice, he would run and hide himself; for he
almost always came home drunk, and would
beat the little boy, if he happened to be in
the humour. It was a sad sight to see poor
little Heinrich at nightfall, with his" father
drunk on the floor, and his mother staring
stupidly into the air, without sense enough
to know that her child was suffering. If he
could find a cold potatoe, or a crust of bread,
he would munch it like a hungry dog, take
a sup of water from his little battered por
ringer, untie his ragged frock, as well as he
could with such very small fingers, and creep
into the little heap of rags that he called his
bed.