Page 44 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 44
AN1I THE POuR CHILDREN. 2]
to you," said little Gertrude, with a disap
pointed look. " Never mind the Christ-
child," replied Wolfgang ; " the old woman
had a bushel of oranges, and will never miss
these." " Perhaps she is poor, and sells them
for somebody else, and will have to pay for
these," said Heinrich. "Oh, shut up, shut
up," shouted Wolfgang, laughing : " Come,
eat your oranges : the old woman will never
miss them, I tell you. It is a hard case if
we can't have some Christmas as well as
other folks." He cut open an orange, as he
spoke, and the rich juice flowed so tempt
ingly, that Heinrich and his sister began to
eat. They had scarcely eaten halfan orange,
when some men came into the lane, ana a
woman, who was with them, cried out,
" That 's the boy that stole my oranges !"
Then the men roughly seized Wolfgang and
Heinrich, and said, " Ah, you young thieves,
come along with us to prison." Gertrude
threw her arms about her brother, and cried
out piteously, " Oh, don't take Heinrich away I
He didn't steal the oranges, indeed he didn't."
A friendly voice spoke, and said, " What is
the matter here, my little girl ?" Gertrude
looked up, and through her tears, saw the
gentleman who had given her the small coin
the day before. She immediately ran to