Page 63 - HSLChristmasAnthology

HSL Christmas Anthology Page 63
40 THE CHRIST-CHILD

" Wolfgang's mother is dead. Let us all
help him to be good." The teacher, deeply
moved, said, " Whoever thinks as Mary does,
may hold up the right hand." Every hand
was raised. When the culprit saw this, he
held down his head, and the big tears drop
ped on his feet. The good Mother said,
" Let us sing together." And they sung a
plaintive little song, that told how the mother
loves her child, and wishes him to be good
and happy. Every verse ended with the
mournful chorus,
" But my mother died
A long, long time ago."
The poor boy could not bear this. He re
membered how his mother used to kiss him ;
he remembered when she lay dead and could
speak to him no more. He threw himself
on the bench, and sobbed violently. The
other children began to weep with him.
The teacher said, " This is too sad. Let us
sing a cheerful hymn together, and then we
will go and play in the open air." But the
good Mother took Wolfgang by the hand,
and kissed him, and led him to her own
room, where they talked together, till the
stars were in the sky.
After that, Wolfgang was much changed