Page 41 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 41
18 THE CHRIST-CHILD
chips. They had never seen the Christ-
child, with glittering wings, that floated over
the Christmas-trees ofthe rich ; but the angel
called Mother's Love was with them that
night, and right happy were they arranging
their Christmas-tree against a broken chair.
The mother went into the shed to get a
piece of wood, to make it stand upright, and
the children followed her. When they came
back, their apples and nuts were gone ! This
was a great affliction to little ones who had
so few joys, and they cried bitterly. " It is
that ugly Wolfgang," said Heinrich ; " when
I am big enough, how I will beat him ! "
Poor little Heinrich ! there was no Christ-
child in his heart when he said that. The
large tears ran down Gertrude's cheeks ;
and now and then she sobbed for their lost
Christmas-tree. But she said nothing ; only
when they lay down to sleep that night, she
asked, in a very melancholy tone, " Mother,
why don't the Christ-child bring things to
poor children ?" Her mother kissed her, and
answered not a word. Her heart was very
full, for she too thought it was very hard
that the Christ-child carried so much to the
rich, and left her little ones without anything
on their Christmas-tree. The children no