Chapter FOUR: Tim’s Christmas (1)

In the days that followed, the shades were drawn low in the pleasant cottage home that had sheltered little Tim all his days. One of the dogs, which was inclined to be noisy, and even the parrot, were taken away. On the sidewalks between the houses, the neighbors walked on tiptoe. Indeed, all the people round about felt deeply for the little cripple. On the avenue people stepped in to ask his papa about him. And from the windows of houses neighboring to his home many eyes looked out to see how long the doctor stopped each day.

At first Tim’s mama had been almost overcome. She had come home on that sad day with several packages of presents. Especially she had had delivered a very pretty cart with a very good seat, blue box and red wheels, and plush cushion, a gift for Tim, so that Louise could take him out riding. And for some days it stood beside his bed. They did not wait for Christmas, but held it up to him that he might feel of it.

“You must get well, Tim, so that you can ride in it,” they said. But he answered nothing. No, Tim would not be able to use it,—no, not for Christmas at any rate. It was too bad. Everything was done that money could provide and that love could imagine in order to comfort and encourage the little sick cripple. Tim had always been pale and thin. Now he was much more so. His eyes glistened at times, not with animation but with fever-light. His cheeks were pink too, but it was not a natural glow. All his pains he bore very patiently.

Already it was getting dark. The lights twinkled along the streets. In the quiet of the Sunday afternoon Mrs. Rudiger had sat by Tim’s bedside. She was almost dozing in the stillness. Suddenly there was a rap. Three sturdy little strangers stood at the door, big-eyed, one of them carrying a bouquet.

“Does Tim what was hurt live here, ma’am?”

“Why, yes.”

“We bring’d some flowers, ma’am, from the Sunday school. Tim’s in our class. Yes’m, teacher sent us.” The little fellows waddled in, very dignified, each cap in hand. For some minutes they stood by the bed. Not a word was said. Soon they whispered and beckoned. How it was done no one could tell, but they understood that they were to leave.

“Please, ma’am, tell Tim we was here. Pale, ain’t he?” said the biggest, who had carried the flowers and so felt himself leader and spokesman. It was interesting to watch the three little figures as they walked along down the street. Serious little men!

One day as Tim opened his eyes from a nap he heard some one speaking softly with his mother. Over his face there passed a sweet smile of welcome. It was his teacher. She had called, and had been talking with his mother for some time.

“Awful glad to see you.” He tried to smile and to reach out his hand for her to take.

“Yes, Tim,” said she. After a few words he began to ask about the Sunday School and his class.

“Yes, Tim, they were all there except you. The flowers? Yes, they wanted to send them to you. Little Henry brought them. He was always good to you, you know. Bennie and Oscar were with him. The lesson? Oh, yes. It was about the three Kings. You know there were three wise men, kings, in the East. They saw a star, and somehow God told them that they should follow it. They followed it over deserts and mountains a long way until they came to Jerusalem. There they went to Herod and asked: ‘Where is He that should be born king of the Jews?’”

“A star? Way up in the sky?”

“Yes, indeed. And when they found out that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, they set out to go there, and lo, the star went on before them and brought them right to the place.

“Yes, Tim, that’s why we put stars on Christmas trees. Indeed, we’ll have a beautiful one on the very tip-top of the tree.”

Tim lay thinking long about this story and about the star after Miss Merton was gone.

One night Tim seemed very feverish and restless. He tossed about as far as his soreness and stiffness would allow. He was getting very sore now from lying in bed so long.

“I’m awful sorry I can’t go to church to the Christmas tree, Papa,” he said.

“It’s too bad, Tim. You must try to be quiet and sleep now.”

“Christ was born on Christmas night,” said Tim earnestly. “I was to speak a verse. They won’t have that verse now, will they?”

“Oh, they’ll find some way,” said his papa.

“The tree will be lovely, teacher said. Popcorn—and oranges—and things that shine—and angels—and stars.”

“And see”—he reached out and felt around. Yes, he found and held up a pretty angel figure. It was of paper and very light, but too heavy for Tim. “Angels like this, too.” He laid it down with a sigh.

“Wish I could be there.” A look of wistful sorrow passed over his face. He whispered almost rather than spoke. His papa, sitting by the bed, had to lean over in order to hear him.

“But Tim, you couldn’t see it anyway. Why should you be there?”

“Couldn’t see?” The lad moved quickly as he exclaimed, “I ought to hear them. Why shouldn’t I? Jesus came as a little child. He loved me. And when He came they put Him in a stable. And when He grew big, He went out and preached salvation, and they crucified Him. He died for me. And when I die, I shall go to heaven. Cause I ought to be there. All the little children should. If I was in church I could show Jesus how I love Him. He wants me to be glad on Christmas.” Tim fell back exhausted and was quiet.

The excitement seemed to have been good for the sick boy, for as he quieted down he fell asleep. Far into the night they sat by his bed, for the doctor had told them that Tim was very sick. Louise and Alex, Mama and Papa were there. Tim had mourned that he could not be in church for Christmas and show Jesus his love and joy. But that night the doors of a better church and a better home swung open for him. And with the little thin paper angel lying by him on the bed, the blind cripple slept away and went to keep holiday in heaven above. On that night, I think, he could see for the first time, and something better than a Christmas tree at that.

We might tell more of this story; of how Tim’s class in Sunday School walked by the coffin for the last time to see his face; of his sad burial on that cold winter day; of how sympathetic people said that it was better for the blind cripple to die than to live. We might say that his mama learned the way to church; that Mr. Rudiger became a better man; that Alex grew up to be a good boy; that Louise was one of the most faithful girls in that Sunday School. If we could, we should also be able to say that Tim had not lived in vain. Let us hope so.

And why does God so early take away from this world to Himself little boys and girls? Let us see. The farmer takes from the bin a handful of kernels. “Fine wheat,” says he, as he blows away part of the grain so as to take a better look at what is left. It is the lightest kernels that flee, and as he looks intently upon the few that yet lie in his palm, he observes that one is plump and fair and another shriveled. Yet the shriveled kernel might happen to yield the finest growth and bear the amplest fruit. So perhaps it was with the little blind cripple of No. 316 Blank Street.

The End.

“_Rags_”

“Rags” was not present. The boys did not miss him much, to be sure. Mr. Benson, their good old, gray-haired teacher, had brought the lad to the Sunday School about six months before, and until lately he had been present almost every Sunday. But Bob Jerrold had found not one friend among the members of his class.

He had gotten his nickname at the district school. The first time he came he had been dressed in queer old clothes, mostly notable because they were very ragged; and his garments had remained in the same condition until the children fixed upon the word “Rags” as his most appropriate name.

Not all boys begin life with an equally happy lot. Bob Jerrold was among the unfortunate. His father was a drunken good-for-naught, and his mother was a careless slattern and a boy is very apt to take after his parents. Moreover, his parents had long been despised by all the community as the very worst and lowest of people, a disgrace to the neighborhood. Nobody looked for any good in Bob. So it happened that Bob had to fight his way amid insult and abuse that his parents had earned for him.

One day a company of school children came by the tumble-down old place that the Jerrolds called home. Catching sight of Bob out by the barn on a hay-stack, someone threw a snowball. There was a loud laugh.

“Rags, Rags, Rags!” yelled the whole company.

“Want to fight?” yelled one of the rougher boys.

“He dassen’t. He might tear his clothes,” answered another.

Bob dropped his fork and began to dodge and throw back. He had recognized some of the members of his Sunday School class among the company.

At this moment there was a jingle of bells, and Mr. Benson drove up with his sleigh. The youngsters all piled in gleefully, and were soon riding merrily down the road.

When Bob failed to appear in his place in the class next Sunday morning, and that for the second time, his teacher became anxious. He pitied the boy in his unhappy surroundings. He had been trying hard to keep the lad in Sunday School, but he knew how hard the struggle was for Bob. The good work now seemed at an end. Bob might be poor and ragged, and might fight his way in school, but on Sunday it was different. He could bear rags and shame and insult. But even he had some pride, and he refused to sit in a class together with boys who did not want him. After much effort, however, Mr. Benson persuaded him to be present at the Christmas entertainment and speak the piece that had been assigned him.

Christmas night came. The church was packed with happy people. Two beautiful evergreen trees were the center of attraction. Between them was an arch, on which were the words “Peace on earth, good will among men.” The exercises passed off cheerily, and even Bob, as he sat beside his teacher, dressed in a suit that some friend had given him, could not but catch the spirit of joy and good cheer that shone from the happy faces of the boys and girls about him. For every lad and lassie will agree when we say that there is no happiness like the glad anticipations of Christmas.

And nothing is so catching, you know, as the happy heart.

To Bob all this was a dream. Suddenly the minister, who had gone before the audience, called his name. At first he shrank back, frightened; but a smile from Mr. Benson reassured him, and he stepped upon the platform. The glitter of the lights dazzled his eyes, and the stare of the many people made him tremble. But he raised his head defiantly and began:

_He came of old to Bethlehem,
The Christ of Mary born;
He came to save sin-laden men,
Sad, suffering, and lorn._

_The seraph throng the heavens along
Hymned their divine acclaim;
The Orient three on lowly knee
Bent by the manger fane._

_Well worthy was the Royal One
Angelic minstrelsy.
Dull earth took up the praise begun
With holy ecstasy._

_The burly log and rugged stone
Were gentle to the Babe;
The manger bare had tender care
Where Jesus Child was laid._

_But no one brought with reverent thought
More grateful worship then,
Nor offered there a larger share
Than the rude shepherd men._

_And since the night celestial light
Dawned upon Judah’s hills
The holy Babe his home hath made
In humble places still._

_And since the herdsmen, angel-sent,
Sought eagerly the town,
No human one, poor and undone,
Hath vainly knelt him down._

The dead silence that followed as Bob returned to his seat was followed by a hum of surprise. Who was that? That Bob Jerrold? Was it possible? The change in the lad when properly dressed was itself surprising. But the full tone and clear voice of the boy, the deep feeling with which he said each word, all contributed to draw sympathy about him.

The program was soon over, and the merry bells were jingling on the starlit Christmas night as Bob trudged homeward. In his hands he bore some gifts, too, a thing rather new to him. Altogether his heart was filled with gladness.

A few days later, James and Charlie, two lads from the Sunday School class, in passing by the humble home of the Jerrolds climbed the fence to see Bob, who was by the stables, mending a sled. Bob paused as the unexpected visitors approached, perhaps thinking they were there to tease him as had been usual.

“Hello, Bob,” called James. “Mending your sled? Can we help you? How did you break it?”

Of course, there was something said about traps and sports and skating and coasting. Many confidences were exchanged.

As they were to leave, both visitors suddenly looked uncomfortable, as tho neither knew what to say. Then James exclaimed:

“Oh, say, Bob, you haven’t been to Sunday School for a while.” Bob did not answer.

“Yes,” added Charlie, “the boys thought you spoke fine at the Christmas festival, and they’d like to have you come back.”

“’Cause,” said James, “Mr. Benson said the Christmas message was ‘Good-will among men,’ and he would like awful well for you to come, too. He’s a fine teacher, he is. We all like him.”

Bob glanced up suddenly. Mr. Benson had found a tender place in Bob’s heart, too, and he murmured something to the effect that he guessed he might come.

Thus Mr. Benson induced the boys to make up with Bob, and as a result he again entered the Sunday School. And where he had formerly met with scorn and abuse he now found a growing friendship, and you may well believe that the good-will of his fellows means much even to the humblest lad. The Christmas spirit came to that class and to that school with great blessing, but especially so to Bob Jerrold. Thus if the Christmas blessing comes truly home to our hearts, it will mend many a ragged place, and instead among our boys we shall find the whole cloth of manly-heartedness and Christian love.

_A Queer Christmas Tree_

Again the holiday season had come to the great and turbulent city. On the streets were hurrying throngs of shoppers. About the hotels and public houses cheerful-faced people came and went in unwonted numbers. Even the weariness of long and hard days of work could not wholly drive away the air of gladness from the busy clerks in the big department stores and in the little shops. The butcher, the baker, and the grocer were doing their best to bring what the good housewife wanted. The big delivery wagon, overloaded with packages of all sorts, shapes, sizes and suggestions, rattled busily from house to house. And the little boy caught with ecstasy the sight of a hobby horse’s heel, and the little girl of the doll’s nose peering warily out of the paper. How sharp the eyes of little boys and girls are at Christmas time.

“Is this where Mrs. Asleson lives?”

Thru the narrowly opened door a round, fat, rather homely face looked out. The man scowled into the dark. Perhaps he was not cross, but only trying to make out the figure in the dim light of the hall. A narrow window opposite the stairs let in a few struggling, very feeble rays. It faced blank up a nearby brick wall. Slowly the eye made out the figure of a rather young man with a basket on his arm.

Whether the man scowled or not was settled by his gruff, “Other door!”

“Thank you, thank you, sir,” answered Frank cheerily. “You’re done brown as a turkey with Christmas good nature, sir.” He spoke none too soon as the door banged shut.

Frank Wilson was employed at a grocery store some distance down the street. His brown eyes flashed merrily as he hurried from customer to customer, from salt to celery, from potatoes to lemons. The people liked to trade with him because he was so willing. He was just delivering a basket at the rear flat on the fourth floor of a tall tenement. His breath was still coming by jerks from the climb as he rapped at the “other door.” After a moment of perfect stillness the lock rattled, the knob turned, and the door opened as a little boy said:

“Who’s there?”

“Mrs. Asleson live here?”

“Ain’t home.”

“I’ve got a Christmas basket for her.”

At the magic word Christmas the door swung back, and a queer scene was revealed to the surprised gaze of the grocery boy.

“You all belong to Mrs. Asleson?” asked Frank as he set the basket on the table and pinched a little youngster. The group drew back. “Red, black, yellow, brown! Well, well—who’s the canary?” he continued, as he gave a whistle and looked around at the blinking youngsters. “Talk about your Indian chief!”

“I belong down stairs, Mister,” said one of the little girls.

The group was remarkable. Even aside from the dirty marks accumulated with a day of play. The young girl who had spoken was red-haired. The little tot in kirtles had golden locks, rather almost white. The other little girl had dark curls. While the two boys, brown-haired and blue-eyed, were enough alike to look like the brothers they were, except that the larger had an amount of freckles such as the younger had not found time to acquire. The four were the widow’s children.

“Hello!” exclaimed the grocery boy, “what have you got here?”

“Christmas tree,” said Freckles.

“Of all things!” Frank dropped on a chair. A Christmas tree! In a small-sized tub set on the middle of the floor, full of clothes and anything that might help support, stood a broom, brush in the air. It was ornamented with scraps of colored tissue paper, while from the top stood a bit of candle, burning sweetly and brightly. The girl with the black curls reached up and put it out, to save candle, no doubt. And yet Frank felt in no laughing mood for the moment. His heart was touched, and touched deeply.

“What’s that?” asked Maggie, tallest of the girls, as she pointed to the basket.

“That? Oh, I guess I’m Santa Claus this time, all right. Is your mama away?”

“She’s workin’,” vouchsafed the boy, number two for size, and scared at his own boldness, withdrew behind his sister.

“You don’t say. Where’s your freckles?” asked Frank as he snatched at the hiding boy. “Well, never mind, time’ll mend that. You’ll get them. I thought you were all singing?”

“Christmas songs,” was the answer.

“Good. Round the tree? Let’s have another.” And in a moment Frank with the five children of assorted shades and sizes, and in that doubtful shade of cleanness children will sometimes put on, was marching and dancing around the tree, hand in hand. Before they knew it they were all together singing a Christmas song, and shouting with glee, all forgetful of the basket. Frank, laughing and out of breath, had just picked up the smallest child, and they had begun to march around the room, shouting in chorus, when a loud sound broke upon their ears.

Bim, bam, boom! How the big cathedral bell sounds out over the city! Above the noise and clatter of the street, over the passing crowd, in and out among the tall buildings and little cottages that snuggle between, up and down the alleys and avenues, the mighty ringing goes forth. Above the very mist and smoke that bedims the air rises the tall spire with its heavily buttressed tower. Have you ever climbed the tall ladders far up into the belfry? Far down below, the men pull the ropes, and out from the huge latticed windows rolls forth the volume of sound. Three bells there are that chime out upon the fading day. So strong are they and vibrant with melody that the tower trembles. Even the cement walks and asphalt pavements seem to quiver under the heavy strokes of the bell.

As Frank opened the window the children with him crowded about. Over the gravelled roofs and dusty housetops came the welling music. It beat about the trembling stones, rolled in great billows over the house, searched out every nook and cranny that promised entrance. About the doors it gathered and quivered as tho ready to shake them from their hinges. Who could think that thin glass could have withstood such onslaught.

Bim-m-m! Ba-m-m! Boom! Christmas bells. “What a world of happiness their harmony foretells.” All silent, entranced with the splendid music of the cathedral chimes, Frank with the children still stood before the open window. They had not observed the click of the door. As they turned about they saw Mrs. Asleson standing in surprise beside the table. She was just about to exclaim at the children for leaving the door unbarred when she paused in surprise at the basket on the table and the stranger standing by the window.

“I beg your pardon, ma’am,” said Frank. “But I came up here with that basket. It was ordered from the store by the ladies from the church down the street, and I forgot myself looking at the children’s Christmas tree. Besides, ma’am, the chimes are glorious up here on the fourth floor corner flat. Beg your pardon, ma’am.”

“Basket for me?” exclaimed the widow in pleased surprise. Her profuse gratitude was interrupted by the welcome of the children and their eager desire to know the contents of the basket. As he hurried down the stairs to the work which he had almost forgotten, Frank felt that it was truly blessed to give.

“If those folks knew how much good they did with that basket, they’d be happy,” was his comment.

About the table the little ones crowded as mother took out the packages of necessities as well as of Christmas goodies. Their exclamations of joy were many. Nor least of all, when a very suitable gift appeared for each of the little folks, the brown-haired boys, little tow-head, and sister with the dusky curls. And each little heart felt that they had not sung in vain about the broom as a Christmas tree; but that the Lord Christ had known to bless the faith of a little child. And a prayer of fervent thanksgiving arose, as the good mother saw joy shine in the forlorn home of the widow on that night, all because a kindly heart had gone forth in sympathy to her loneliness and her need.

_Bigbeard and Little Sander_

“Christmas ain’t nothin’ ’out snow!”

Sander was a trifle too scornful in his tone. Now do not misunderstand him. For Sander, you see, was a lad eight years of age. And this was the first time he had seen bare earth so late in the winter. At least he thought so. But you will admit that his experience was limited. Besides, today was his birthday, and Christmas Eve too. Very poor birthday it promised to be, for Mama and Papa were just getting ready to drive off on a long journey to town.

For you must not imagine that this little man lives in some fine large house on the avenue or in some tall flat building in the city! Early last spring he had slipped off the train at a most forlorn little station far up in the frontier. As his eyes looked out that morning over the bare prairie, broken only by the rolling hills, with a struggling tree to be seen here and there, he jumped and frisked. The sun was just coming up, and the light glistened on the dewy grass. What little boy would not have enjoyed the long ride “over hills, over dale,” until they reached the clump of trees on a level spot by the river; Antelope it was called. This name the Indians had very probably given it long ago. Probably, too, they had encamped on this very spot; for who knows when the bubbling spring just below the hollow had begun to flow, and to draw to its freshness both man and beast. There was charm in the very word Indian, to say the least.

And now the summer was gone. At first they had lived in a tent. When Sander awoke in the morning, if it were quiet enough, he could hear the little birds hopping on the canvas roof. For a while there was hammering and building. Then the sod was cut from a grassy place down by the river, and what with the earth-wall without and the white-wash within they had a cozy dwelling. The vegetables and such crops as they had raised were gathered. The horses and the two cows were stabled. The days passed merrily and busily. There were many new things to see and learn and try. And already winter was here, Christmas Eve, really. And Papa and Mama were just climbing into the wagon for the long drive to Somerset, the railway station with its store or two, some twenty miles away. Mama cast back an anxious look, for it was risky to leave a lad eight years old for all day alone in such a place. But a birthday cake stood ready on the shelf. And the little fellow whistled manfully at the confidence being shown in him. Indeed, he was not afraid. He would feed and water old Molly, the cow.

About four o’clock in the afternoon Sander looked up from the slate on which he had been making pictures. It was very dark. Stepping to the door he looked out. Why, Mama and Papa must be on the way home! Cloudy? Yes, cloudy and beginning to blow. Snow flakes! Jolly! Snow for Christmas! He shouted for very glee and danced on the doorstep. But a great gust almost tumbled him back into the room. Hurriedly he closed the door. Then he went out to the stable, but soon returned. As he lit the lamp, even little Sander, for all his birthday, realized that a storm was on, and wondered how Mama and Papa would get along. And well might he wonder, for the wind was beginning to roar in the trees and rattle the door. The snow was thick, and it became very suddenly dark. A frontier storm of snow and wind, a blizzard such as Sander had never seen, such as the oldest had very seldom seen, was come, and even a little boy could not help a feeling of dread. Now he listened at the door, now he looked out at the window, now he stirred the fire and shivered. And the moments began to get very long. You would hardly know in the lad who wipes away the tear over by the bed the lad who whistled so manfully in the bright morning.

Some two or three hours later Sander slipped down from the chair on which he had been perched for some minutes. What was that? A noise? Somebody at the window? Joyfully he ran to the door. The gust that swept it open blew out the lamp. Somebody came stamping in.

“Well, not your papa I guess. Got a match, boy?” said a snowy figure in a muffled voice.

They had shut the door. By the stove gleam Sander saw two men. After some fumbling one of them found a match and struck it. In the light two strangers were seen busily brushing off the snow. One, big and burly, was rubbing the ice off his whiskers and blinking under icy and shaggy eyebrows. In a short time the big man and the youth stood warming themselves.

“Just in time, boy,” said he of the beard, “just in time. God is good. We were lost for sure. God only knows what would have happened if we hadn’t stumbled on this house. My boy, are you all alone here?”

Sander explained. He was still wondering at the men. In fact, he stood by the bed a little scared at the strange folks tumbling this way out of the night.

“Your parents coming from Somerset tonight?” At the tone of the big man’s voice Sander looked up. What was the matter?

Not much later the men were about to sit down by the table and eat of the lunch found in their packs. The tea kettle had been singing cheerfully and the fire was humming. There was need both of food and heat. Sander was shivering. He wondered at the men, for they bent low over their plates and said something about “thanks and praise.” The tea had just been poured when there was a thump at the door followed by several more. Sander jumped from his chair, exclaiming. “Mama! Papa!”

While the young man shielded the lamp Bigbeard opened the door. An exhausted woman fell forward into the room, dragging two children with her.

“Rescue party right here,” cried Bigbeard, as he banged the door. Soon they were busy unwrapping the wanderers and setting them by the fire. It was not Sander’s parents, but a schoolma’m and two of her pupils. The smallest boy had his feet partly frozen, and the girl a hand and a foot. When they looked up after the snow bathing, rubbing, and warming, and putting to bed it was almost midnight. The schoolma’m could speak now. They had wandered for a long distance.

“Alas, if I had only closed school earlier!” She sobbed at the thought. “Where are the other children! But who would have thought? It was so warm and bright and clear, and then just after four o’clock such a storm!”

“We cannot be too thankful for our escape,” said Bigbeard. “The Lord has saved us from the storm. Perhaps now we had better eat a bit. But, boy, how about your mama and papa?”

“Oh, they’re safe enough, I hope.”

Sander did not propose to fall short in hospitality. He now brought something from the cupboard. “My birthday cake,” he explained.

“What! On Christmas Eve, too?” exclaimed the young man.

“And how old are you, Sander?” asked the schoolma’m. For teachers always want to know about such matters.

But let us make a long story short. And it was a very long story to Sander. All that night the wind roared and howled. Snow seemed to get in everywhere. The stove glowed with heat, yet all were shivering. Every time Bigbeard put in a fresh chunk of coal he said a word of thanksgiving.

“Good coal never was a bigger blessing than this night. God care for the man who brought it here,” was his ejaculation. And then he would sit down once more. And when he saw that Sander, the little host, was at last getting sleepy, too tired to keep awake any longer, he pulled a Testament out of his pocket. They all sat about the table, this odd circle of strangers who had never before met nor even seen each other, and, as beasts that flee for safety to some cave or swamp are friendly in their common danger tho ever so hostile otherwise, were together, drawn into fellowship by singular bonds of charity in this sod hut amid the storm. The young man Bigbeard called John, and the teacher’s name was Miss Stone. Sander, wide-eyed with fear and wonder, was still sleepily waiting for his parents. The other children were in bed and asleep.

Bigbeard opened his Testament and all bowed their heads devoutly as he read from the holy pages the lesson so appropriate for the hour:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord had made known to us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”

When he had read these words Bigbeard closed the book, laid it on the table, and said, “Let us pray.” And all bent reverently as he spoke:

“O Lord God, Heavenly Father, Thou great Shepherd of the sheep, Thou who never failest Thy people in their need, we thank Thee that on this night Thou didst send Jesus Thy Son to earth, that He might live and die to be our Savior and Helper forever. And we pray Thee that Thou, who dost temper the winds to the shorn lamb, wilt this night care for the lost and wandering who are in the storm. We thank Thee for this present safety. Graciously keep Sander’s father and mother from all harm. Keep us now and forever from any storm of evil and temptation, and, because we are the weak children of sin and death, bring us at last into the sweet safety, warmth, and joy of heaven, out of this world of cold and sorrow. As the shepherds went with gladness to the manger on the first Christmas Eve, lead our hearts with joy to Jesus this night. We ask all blessings in His name. Amen.” And we might add that Sander slept very sweetly that night for all his trouble.

Bang! Bang!!

It seems that even Bigbeard had nodded, as he sat by the fire, tending it from time to time. Certainly at the noise Sander opened his eyes out of a dream, sat up and rubbed them, to become aware of bright daylight. The noise at the door had awakened all. And they were on their feet stirring when the lad crept out of bed. Another thump or two, and thru the open door in came Sander’s mama and papa all frost—with the morning cold. Imagine their surprise and joy to find their little boy safe, and their sod hut a rescue home amid the broad prairie. The sun now beamed as tho he never had set with an angry frown, and all nature was still with the serene calm which comes after the terrific storm. The cold was nipping but the day was cheery. And as Sander’s mama bustled about for breakfast, all told their several stories. The night had been an awful one, and the papers were later to bring the sad tale of how more than a hundred school children had perished in the cold.

And when they had all eaten a good breakfast, and Papa and Mama had told how they had put up at a house on the way to save being lost, trusting to a higher help for the keeping of their little Sander, Bigbeard again read a lesson and prayed, and there were tears, not of fear but of thanksgiving. For Bigbeard was not only a good man with whiskers, black and long, but was a missionary, who had gone forth to seek the dwellers on the distant frontier and bring them the Gospel. Truly he could say with St. Paul “in perils oft.” We ought probably to give him something better than a nickname.

You may be sure that the lesson of his coming did not soon leave that household, nor did the memory of it leave the heart of the little boy in the sod hut in the distant valley of the Antelope. And who can tell to what higher and better things Sander came when he grew up, because of the night in the storm. There was indeed Christmas blessing for him, besides the present that his parents brought back from the town in the wagon.

_No Christmas_

“Why can’t we have Christmas, Mama?” begged little May, as she pulled her mama’s dress. Mama was very busy, and of a sudden she wiped her eyes, for a tear had come.

“Because Uncle Mark is so sick,” she answered, stooping to kiss the little face turned up so anxiously. “We cannot be glad and happy here at home when he is so very ill, can we, dear?”

“But Mama, can’t we have any tree then, and won’t there be any Santa Claus?” begged little May, her eyes almost filling with tears.

“We shall see, my darling,” answered Mama.

You may be sure these things brought no little trouble to May and her big sister Dorothy, who boasted eight years, while May only could claim four. Like all children, they looked forward with great longing to Christmas, its presents and its joys, its songs and gladness. But we must know that all is not happiness in this world. There are great sorrows, and many homes are dark even at Christmas time. So it was in the otherwise sunny and cheerful home where May and Dorothy lived.

For alas, only a few days before, their dear Uncle Mark, always so strong and happy, had come home to the city very sick. Indeed, he had gone directly to the hospital. After a very serious operation, he did not seem to get much better. The children missed his glad and cheerful ways, for Uncle Mark was young and always had been full of fun. To be sure, he would always greet them with smiles even now.

It was very sad, indeed. Poor Grandpa and Grandma had come to be with their dying son, and every day they went to the hospital to sit with him. Poor little May could not understand it all, and when she brought flowers to her dear uncle, looked with big, round eyes of wonder to see him so thin and pale.

She went away after talking with Mama and played a while. Then she came back, with a question, of course, as usual.

“Isn’t Uncle Mark going to have any Christmas either, Mama?” she asked.

Mama looked into the earnest face and said, “Perhaps, darling.”

At that moment she caught a few words of the song Dorothy was singing in the next room and said, “Would my little girls like to sing Uncle Mark a Christmas song?”

“Of course,” they both cried with one breath.

You may be sure they practiced hard and willingly to get a good song learned, and came at once whenever Mama called them.

On Christmas eve it was snowing as our two little friends came to the hospital door. They stamped the snow off their feet, shook themselves, and went in. All was bright and cheery. Some people think a hospital is a very gloomy place. But when they came in with Mama and Papa out of the dark and the snow, they thought the hospital a very cheerful and bright place. For you see, the nurses had made everything bright and beautiful. There was evergreen, and bells, and mottoes, and it looked cheerful enough to make even the most sick well.

You can hardly imagine how happy May and Dorothy were to find a beautiful Christmas tree right on the same floor where Uncle Mark’s room was, and some of the kind nurses pulled it to his door, that he might raise his head and take a look. Yes, even he caught the spirit of Christmas joy as he saw the tinsel, and the candles, the stars, the big round apples and oranges. Yes, Jesus has a Christmas blessing for the sick also. Of course our two little girls did not clap their hands or shout for glee, for they were in a hospital where little children must keep very quiet. But little May had to point out and tell about the angel figure hung in the tip-top, as tho to remind of the angels that sang over Bethlehem to the shepherds.

Poor Uncle! He was very sick and could hardly raise his head, all bandaged and covered, but he looked happy and smiled. Then he wanted May and Dorothy to sing their Christmas carol. They were just a little bit afraid at first, because it was in a strange place, but soon Dorothy picked up courage. Then May joined in with her little song. For they were glad to do something for poor Uncle Mark, you know. These were the verses they sang:

_Oh, holy the night when the dear angels came
To Bethlehem lowly in days long ago;
The sky grew all light with a heavenly flame
As they sang o’er the plain soft and low._

_For sweet in a manger the dear Savior lay,
Whom the shepherds came quickly to see;
And the praises of God as they went on their way,
Filled the hearts of the worshippers three._

_Yes, happy they are who to angel refrain
Shall awaken ’mid glory divine,
And shall come to the manger as they of the plain
While the light from above round them shine._

_Yes, glad would I go to old Bethlehem town,
Thus nearer my Jesus to be,
And joyfully carol, as angels come down,
The grace He revealeth to me._

_For when Jesus doth nestle adown in the breast,
There is light, there is joy and content:
Oh, blessed Messiah, that mercy impart,
Ere my days upon earth shall be spent._

_Grant me then, O my Savior, a Christmas to know
All aglow with the message of peace;
And in life, or in death, or in joy, or in woe
My gratitude never shall cease._

Of course, Uncle Mark thanked them very much for the song, yes, even with tears in his eyes. When they went away, he raised his head and waved a good-bye with his hand, and smiled. But when they were gone, the tears ran down his cheeks, for he never saw them again, and they never sang another song to their dear uncle.

The next day, after Christmas day, a very sad company gathered in the home of our two little friends. Uncle Mark was gone, never to return; and when it was all over, they talked together of their sorrow.

“Uncle Mark had a Christmas anyway, didn’t he?” said little May, who could not understand.

“Yes, yes, child,” said Mama.

“Wasn’t that a beautiful tree!” exclaimed Dorothy; but she should have known better than to speak. For Uncle Mark had a Christmas indeed, with Jesus in heaven, where there is no hospital, or sickness, or sorrow, but only joy and praise for evermore. And I am sure both little girls, when they came to understand, were glad that they sang him a Christmas song, even if they had no tree and no Christmas at home.

_Buddy’s Christmas Tree_

“Whyfor no snow, Unc’e Don?”

Uncle John went right ahead at his walk and said nothing.

“Whyfor no snow, Unc’e Don? Kismas come soon.”

Buddy seemed to have the idea fixed in his head that there ought to be snow at Christmas time. He had been sucking his thumb industriously for some time, and finally broke out in the above remark.

“Well,” said Uncle John, “If Christmas comes soon, I shouldn’t be surprised if we did get some snow. Why does Buddy want snow?”

“So dat Santa Claus can make his sleigh go.”

The two had been walking back and forth for quite a while in the morning sunshine along the path to the garden gate. As a variation they had sat upon the bench under the wide spreading pine tree that stood near the corner of the house, its long branches reaching almost to the porch. Of late the days had been almost summer-like, and old gray-headed Uncle John enjoyed the change of being out in the fresh air. Thus their companionship had grown from day to day.

The path from the porch and front door of the house was well beaten. It led right out to the gate. On either side were bushes, bare of leaves and dry with the winter season, as well as the withered stems of flowers. Along the fence that lined the road was a row of locust trees, from which practically every leaf was gone. This meant a good deal when one remembers how small the leaves of the locust are.

“Look—look, Unc’e Don!”

“Well, Buddy, you know I can’t look,” was the answer.

“No look, Unc’e Don?”—Buddy seemed very much surprised. He looked up at the tall figure beside him with a puzzled air.

“Whyfor, Unc’e Don, whyfor no look?”

“Well, Buddy, you know my eyes don’t see. I used to see pretty well—few better, I should say—many is the squirrel I have hit right in the fall—but I’m getting old, and some time ago, before Buddy came, my eyes quit seeing.”

“Eye quit?”

Buddy looked up with sympathetic interest at the tall form of Uncle John, tall even if bent with age, and square shouldered still. As we said above they had come to be companions, now since Buddy had made his home at the old home of his mother, the good farm place now owned and run by two of his uncles, Will and Martin. As they walked about the little fellow had never realized that he had been eyes to the old man, and that his busy chatter told of what was passing about. The little lad had been both eyes and ears as he talked. Everything attracted his attention from the bird on the branch to the passing automobile, from the sunshine glittering among the branches of the trees to the whistle of the winds across the fields.

The farm home stood at the cross-roads and had been the only home of which Buddy had any remembrance. Here his mama had been a little girl, and here his “grannyfather” had lived his days. Grandfather had planted the pine tree, which now rose way above the house top.

“Mail-man, mail-man!” Buddy was shouting.

“Me get ’em, me get ’em!” he added, running for the gate. Mr. Mail-man handed a piece or two to Buddy, but waited for Uncle John before he handed over the rest.

“Some advertising” he explained, “Buddy will give it to Uncle Martin.”

Buddy started for the house, very proud of the commission that had been entrusted to him. He was met at the door, and by the arrival of Old John everybody became busy about the mail. Buddy and Uncle John soon found themselves on the bench once more under the tall pine.

“Letter my Daddy?”

Buddy had been quiet again for some time, and then broke out in this remark.

“Well, I guess not—what made you think of that?”

Uncle John had been unable to suppress his surprise. Instinctively he reached out to lay his hand upon the boy.

“I dno.” Buddy fell into a meditative sucking of his thumb once more. The question of his daddy had been one never referred to in the house. He had gone away with the soldiers when the Great War broke out. This was before Buddy was born. For some time they had received letters, but now for more than three years there had been no word. In secret Mama had likely shed many tears. As far as Buddy was concerned, it never seemed to make any difference. He had never known a father, and had lived a happy child and taken all good things for granted. Like the sparrows of the field, he had lived without a care. The thought of a father had hardly come into his life. For this reason the words were all the more a surprise, and old, gray-headed Uncle John sat struck silent in wonder at the boy.

“Me got letter, too, Unc’e Don,” explained Buddy, and his old Uncle laughed.

“Who wrote the letter, Buddy?” inquired Uncle.

“Aw—jes’ one o’ dem bill ones,” explained Buddy.

And Uncle John laughed again.

“Aw’fu’ big tree, Unc’e Don,” remarked Buddy, all of a sudden, changing the subject.

“I suppose it has grown big,” answered Uncle; “I remember when your grandfather planted that tree. It wasn’t so big then.”

“Grannyfader, he plant it?” Buddy showed a surprised interest.

“Yes, long ago. It must have grown big since then. Most of the trees he planted have died I suppose.”

The pine tree was indeed a large one. Standing as it did away from the corner of the house, it rose a straight pine trunk, its green top reaching far above the roof of the house. The tree looked like a pyramid or cone, had in fact grown more and more into the shape of a cone. The branches reached out in a remarkably straight way, the lower ones being of extraordinary length. The green spines with an occasional cone contrasted with the brown and rough bark. It was indeed a noble tree, and had grown nobly in its place since the day “Grannyfader” set out the original little pine shoot.

“Santy Claus—he come—come way up in air,” explained Buddy.

“Well, maybe—if there is a Santa Claus—” answered Uncle John.

“Santy he come way up in air—come right down tree—he do,” explained Buddy.

“Travels in an airship?—a Santa for boys and girls to talk about, I suppose,” continued Uncle.

“Climb right down tree—huh?” added Buddy questioningly.

“Probably that would be a handy way, all right,” agreed Uncle, smiling and bobbing his head. For a long time Buddy sat studying the tree and the new idea that had gotten into his mind. About this time Mama’s voice called from the doorway and told them that dinner was ready. When dinner was over Buddy was to take his usual nap.

“No want sleep,” was his remark as he rubbed his eyes. Mama went on rocking just as tho he had not spoken.

“Haint Buddy got no daddy?”

The big, round eye looked up sleepily and earnestly.

Mama did not answer, but she clasped her little boy tightly in her arms. Soon the sandman began to trip around, at first on tip toe, ever so quietly, and as Mama rocked and hummed Buddy little by little found his eyes so heavy they would not keep open.

“Buddy’s papa indeed!” This was what Mama thought of, as she laid the little boy down on his cot for a nap. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched the quiet breathing of the little lad, now far away in the still places of dreamland.

Papa indeed! Sooner or later the question must come from Buddy’s lips, and the longing of the little heart speak from the big, inquiring eyes. Buddy had never seen his daddy. Perhaps there had been unkind words and misunderstandings. The letters had come back from the Great War, and they were kind enough. But then they had ceased, and the heart was torn between the question whether Daddy had forgotten or whether something had happened to him, of which there was no report. Once or twice, to begin with, there had been a gift, but now there had been no word or message for a very long time. Mama sighed as she turned from the quiet little cot.

During these years Buddy had been a great comfort to Mama in her loneliness. Now he was approaching his fourth birthday. He was old enough to catch the Christmas idea. Certainly it had taken full possession of him. Mama had read and told the Christmas story of the Savior. Night and day he had dwelt upon its prospects. At the most unexpected moments and in the most unexpected ways he would break out with the notion of what was coming. He was all the time referring to the “Kismas Tree” and the “Kismas Time.” And now, as old, gray-headed, blind Uncle John related, he had connected the Christmas idea with the idea of Daddy. Singular what expectations may arise in the mind of a little boy. Mama stood, the tears rolling down her face, and watched the tousled head, the long, slender limbs, the high open brow, as Buddy lay in his little bed.