Page 57 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 57
34 THE CHRIST-CHILD

swear again ; I will be a good man, for your
sake, my angel-child." He came next day
to the Father-House, as it was called ; and
he was so steady and industrious, that he
soon became the head gardener. He had
been so used to scolding and swearing, that
he once or twice said what he ought not to
have said. But little Gertrude blushed for
him, and Heinrich said, " Please, father, don't
speak so here. You know the good man
don't like to hear us speak any but kind,
and pleasant, and clean words." And he
would answer, " I did wrong, my son ; but
it was because I forgot." Thus did the lit
tle children take their father by the hand,
and lead him to the angels.
And where was Wolfgang all this time ?
He was cursing, and swearing, and fighting.
When the good Father went to Hamburgh,
he several times tried to coax him to go
back with him ; but he always answered
gruffly that he would rather stay as he was.
At last, he was detected in stealing, and sent
to prison, where he was treated severely, ,
and kept company with many boys worse
than himself. He came out with a heart
much harder than when he went in. When
the good Hans, son of the blind flute-player,
tried to persuade him to go to the Father-