troop out into the open air. How rudely the cold wind trcats their poor little noses! But they are so happy, they don't think of the cold. And all this time the snowflakes have been very diligent in their work, and everything, as far as the eye can see, is already quite white. The children soon arrive at the pretty, glittering stalls. What a pressing and crowding there is, to be sure! What pretty things! And what wishes arise in the little hearts! But the children have learnt for a long time to be content with little, and are delighted to only look at the wonderful things which are for other children. But now it is time to go home. As they turn a corner of the street, Karl stumbles over something. At first he thinks it is a curb-stone. But it moves ; and a little voice says wearily, “Mother, I'm cold! The children press round. There in the snow they see a little child, half frozen with the bitter cold. • Where is your mother ?' asks Karl. I don't know,' said the little thing, and its teeth chattered as it spoke. Karl looks round, and sees no mother. So he picks up the child that clings round his neck, and nearly weighs him down; but he plods on bravely, and his little brothers and sisters follow. At length home is reached, and the children tumble up the staircase again. They stop outside the parlour. Mother opens the door and says, 'Wipe your shoes, and wait outside till I call you! Father Christmas has come !! The bright light from the parlour lit up the dark street where they were standing, and then, as the door closed, all was dark again. It seemed quite ghostly to the children. They heard talking within. Father had come home. What—what is there? Their little hearts are full of the pretty things they saw at the market. Come in ! cries father. The room, with its polished boards and snow-white curtains, glitters in the light. Seven heaps lie on the white table-cloth under the Christmas-tree. But seven heaps, andeight children! Why, there are eight of them !' cries the father, half amused, half frightened. And there the eight stood round the tree, and gazed at the burning lights in glee. Oh, father! cried Karl, ‘we found the little thing half frozen in the snow !' • Quite right of you to bring it here,' answered father; "it would have frozen to death. But, wife,' he added, as we have one more of them to-night, cannot you get it a few presents ? So after hunting about the good wife collects a little heap of presents. Then she took off the child's wet frock and cap, and its golden curls fell down over its forehead, so that it looked like a Christmas angel. • What will its mother think?' cries the good wife, weeping and kissing the little stranger. And then mirth and noise rang louder even than in the afternoon, and the old clock ticked on unheard. And later on the father went to the police-station to report that he had found a strange child in the snow. Early next morning, when the children and the little foundling were fast asleep, its mother came for her child. She sobbed for joy when she saw it once more, fresh and well, and kissed Karl who had saved it. What tears were shed when the happy mother carried off her child ! But the children often met to play together, and every Christmas, when they had their Christmas-tree, the biggest heap of presents always fell to the little Christinas Angel.' 6 6 1874. Page Hard as Stone 365, 370, 378, 390 Now Mother': Shawl was bought, 398, 196 How Marcian became Emperor 410 'I neror thought of it!' 374 . : : 142, 150 198 Pace Adrent 3 “And Then po 6 A Little Saint 62 An Obedient Ear 71 Ancient Writing Materials 94 Among Lions 146, 154, 162, 174, 178, 186, 194, 206, 210, 218, 226, 238, 242, 253, 258, 266, 274, 282, 290, 298, 310, 315, 322, 334, A Story about the Ibex 170 An Idler taught 183 Ascension Day • After long Years 220 A Cedar from Lebanon in Paris 230 • All Alone' A Word to the Wise : 283 A Seriuon from a pair of Boots 318 *A soft Answer turneth away Wratli' 359 A good Maxim 410 Blind leading the Blind 21 Be Soiacbody 202 Blackberrying ;' or,' why did he leave her? 326, 331 Christmas 38 Christie's Birthday : 294, 302 Cataracts and Rills 315 Pago Templo 102, 107, 118 The Night of the storm : 110 The Ibex 119 The Wry Ginss : 123 The Crooked Fingers 140 The Icelanders' Custom 142 The Cuckoo's Eyg in the Hedgesparrow's Nest 157 The Bittern 170 The Boys' Motto 180 The Fallow-deer, Hart, and Roe 194 The Box on the Ear 198 The French Fish-girl 199 Trinity Sunday . 215 The Stork 215 The Pelican 250 The Charterhouse 251 The Mother's Old Bible 262, 270 The Wet Sunday Afternoon 276 The Filter-Tap 286 The King-fisher 314 The Rainbow 324 The Scorched Testament 339 The Glass Marbles 342, 346, 354, 362 The Flask of Oil 850 Thoughtless Mimnie. 356 The Swan 370 The Struggle and the Victory 888 . . . 148 . Washing Hands 130, 138 Whit un Day 202 Wise Sayings 246 What a child cannot forgot 330 The Generous Slave The Christian Angel The Circumcision . 11 38 43 331 A Winter Hymn 5 60 93 13+ 166 214 372 405 91 : 308 (in the Water 208 |
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