Page 45 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 45
22 THE CHRIST-CHILD

him, and exclaimed, earnestly, " Oh, good
sir, they are going to take Heinrich to pri
son, and he didn't steal the oranges. He
didn't steal the oranges." " Did you know
they were stolen?" asked the gentleman.
The children hung their heads, and did not
answer. " My little one, how came you to
eat the oranges, if you knew they were
stolen ? " said the gentleman, placing his hand
affectionately on Gertrude's head. The child
looked up, with all the frankness of inno
cence, and answered, " Somebody stole our
nuts and apples, that the Christ-child sent
us. We had nothing on our Christmas-tree ;
and the oranges looked so good." The offi
cers let go their hold of Heinrich, and the
orange-woman felt tears coming into her
eyes. " That is the boy that stole my oran
ges," said she, pointing to Wolfgang ; " these
other children would of course eat what he
gave them." " No, it is not of course," re
plied the stranger gentleman, in a very kind
tone ; " for good children will never eat
what they know is stolen." " Umph ! " said
the orange-woman, "whom have they to
teach 'em to be good ? " " Did you steal
the oranges, my boy?" said the gentleman
to Wolfgang. He did not answer, but stood
with his hands in his pockets, looking very