Page 39 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 39
16 THE CHRIST-CHILD

'that he and Gertrude could have a Christ
mas-tree. He gathered up, here and there,
a green bough, which some servant had
dropped on his way. " I will carry home
these to mother," said he, " and she will make
us a Christmas-tree." " And will the Christ-
child bring us anything to hang on our tree ?"
asked little Gertrude. As she spoke, she
raised her large sad-looking eyes to her
brother's face, with a very earnest expres
sion. A gentleman, who was passing, heard
what she said, and was struck with her inno
cent countenance. "Here, my little one,"
said he, "the Christ-child sends thee this,"
and he placed a small coin in her hand. He
inquired where they lived, and wrote it on
a card.
Great was the joy of the children at re
ceiving the bit ofmoney. They bought four
apples and some nuts, and went home hap
pier than kings. " Here mother is a Christ
mas-tree," said Heinrich, displaying his
evergreen boughs. " And see here ! sec
what the Christ-child sent us !"r..said little
Gertrude, opening her ragged apron, and
showing the apples and nuts. Tears c-vne
to the eyes of that poor mother ; for she ) id
a kind heart, and loved her little ones, though
she was too ill, and poor, and discouraged,