Page 35 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 35
12 THE CHRIST-CHILD

improved, and she had her fits more seldom.
When they did come over her, it was heart-
touching to see how that little brother per
formed a mother's part. He would wash
his sister's face, and comb her silky hair with
a fragment of wooden comb, and every but
ton and bright thing he could find, he would
string together for her amusement. When
she needed more help than he could give, he
would summon an old woman in the neigh
bourhood, who, though feeble and tottering,
never refused to come when little Heinrich
took hold of her apron, with one of his plead
ing looks. It was a beautiful sight to see
the lovely children asleep in each others'
arms, on their little heap of rags. They
seemed like two little angels that had lost
their way, and accidentally fallen asleep in
that dismal court. Even the drunken father
felt the tears in his eyes when he gazed upon
them, and sometimes for a week after did
not taste a drop of intoxicating liquor.
It was indeed a blessing to Heinrich that
he had little Gertrude to play with ; for he
seldom wanted to be out of doors with the
bad beys. They were rough and cruel, but
Gertrude, with her sweet voice, her timid,
gentle looks, and her loving ways, kept his
heart tender.
'