Page 58 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 58
AND THE POOR CHILDREN. 35
House, and be a better boy, he mocked at
him, with his fingers on his nose, and then
kicked him. But there was a soft place, in
his heart, after all. Wolfgang once had a
little twin sister, who died when she was
about four years old. He loved that little
sister more than he ever loved anything in
the world. It chanced that Gertrude Lud-
wig came to Hamburgh one day, with seve
ral other little girls, and the good Mother,
to sell flowers. When Wolfgang saw her
standing with a bouquet in her hand, singing
"Come buy my flowers," his first thought
was to snatch the bouquet, and pull it to
pieces. But then he remembered his little
sister, and he thought Gertrude looked like
her; and he could not do it. He lingered
round them, as long as they staid. He
thought of the prison he had lately left, and
he wondered whether it was as pleasant at
the Father-House, as Hans had told him.
Gertrude had in her hands a garland which
she had broken. She smiled at Wolfgang,
and throwing him one end of the garland, in
play, she said, "Come, Wolfgang, let me
lead you to the Father-House. We will
make you so happy there !" The innocent
little creature did not know she was a mis
sionary to the poor; but when the rough