Page 52 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 52
AND THE POOR CHILDREN. 29
good, Heinrich.' " " The Christ-child can't
speak, can he, father ? " said the children, ad
dressing the gentleman, who had brought
the poor little ones from their cold dismal
home, into fire-warmth and gladness. " Yes,
my children," he replied, " he speaks inside
your hearts ; and he says ever, Be good ;
love one another."
They had a happy time there, at the
Father-House and the Mother-House, that
merry Christmas day ! I wish all the poor
children were brought from all the dark
holes of the world into such a pleasant home.
The wife of the gentleman had a beaming
face and very friendly eyes. She took lit
tle Gertrude and Heinrich by the hand, and
calling two or three of the older children to
help her, she led them to the bathing rooms,
and washed them, and combed their hair,
and dresssed them in cheap, but very neat ,
clothes. When little Gertrude came out of
the bath, the water made her hair twist into
curls, and the golden ringlets fell all round w
her innocent face. She looked first at her
self, and then at Heinrich in his new gar
ments, and then she clapped her little hands
and laughed. When they went back to the
large room, she stroked her clean apron
with great satisfaction, and Heinrich kept