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THE STRANGER CHILD, A LEGEND
BY COUNT FRANZ POCCI [TRANSLATED]
This story has been altered to cover all the children
of the world. There is nothing more joyous than to
see the sparkle of anticipation, and joy with the mist
of moonbeams on their little faces during the celebrations.
PLEASE!!! Visit the "Children's Literature Web Guide"
for the "true" printed version:)
THERE once lived a laborer who earned his daily bread
by cutting wood. His wife and two children, a boy and girl,
helped him with his work. The boy's name was Valentine,
and the girl's, Marie. They were obedient and pious and
the joy and comfort of their poor parents.
One winter evening, this good family gathered about the
table to eat their small loaf of bread, while the father read
aloud from the Book. Just as they sat down there came a
knock on the window, and a sweet voice called: --
"O let me in! I am a little child, and I have nothing to eat,
and no place to sleep in. I am so cold and hungry! Please,
good people, let me in!"
Valentine and Marie sprang from the table and ran to open
the door, saying: --
"Come in, poor child, we have but very little ourselves, not
much more than thou hast, but what we have we will share
with thee."
The stranger Child entered, and going to the fire began to
warm his cold hands.
The children gave him a portion of their bread, and said: --
"Thou must be very tired; come, lie down in our bed, and
we will sleep on the bench here before the fire." Then
answered the stranger Child: "May the Gods in Heaven
reward you for your kindness."
They led the little guest to their small room, laid him in
their bed, and covered him closely, thinking to themselves: --
"Oh! how much we have to be thankful for! We have our nice
warm room and comfortable bed, while this Child has nothing
but the sky for a roof, and the earth for a couch."
When the parents went to their bed, Valentine and Marie lay
down on the bench before the fire, and said one to the other: --
"The stranger Child is happy now, because the child is so
warm! Good-night!"
Then they fell asleep.
They had not slept many hours, when little Marie awoke,
and touching her brother lightly, whispered: --
"Valentine, Valentine, wake up! wake up! Listen to the
beautiful music at the window."
Valentine rubbed his eyes and listened. He heard the
most wonderful singing and the sweet notes of many harps.
"Blessed Child,
Thee we greet,
With sound of harp
And singing sweet.
"Sleep in peace,
Child so bright,
We have watched thee
All the night.
"Blest the home
That holdeth Thee,
Peace, and love,
Its guardians be."
The children listened to the beautiful singing, and it seemed
to fill them with unspeakable happiness.
Then creeping to the window they looked out.
They saw a rosy light in the east, and, before the house in
the snow, stood a number of little children holding golden
harps and lutes in their hands, and dressed in sparkling,
silver robes.
Full of wonder at this sight, Valentine and Marie continued
to gaze out at the window, when they heard a sound behind
them, and turning saw the stranger Child standing near. The
child was clad in a golden garment, and wore a glistening,
golden crown upon his soft hair. Sweetly the child spoke to
the children: --
"I am the Child of God, who wanders about the world seeking
to bring joy and good things to loving children. Because you
have lodged me this night I will leave with you my blessing."
As the God Child spoke, stepped from the door, and
breaking off a bough from a fir tree that grew near, planted
it in the ground, saying: --
"This bough shall grow into a tree, and every year it shall
bear Christmas fruit for you."
Having said this the child vanished from their sight, together
with the silver-clad, singing children -- the angels.
And, as Valentine and Marie looked on in wonder, the fir bough
grew, and grew, and grew, into a stately Christmas Tree laden
with golden apples, silver nuts, and lovely toys. And afterthat,
every year at Christmas time, the Tree bore the same wonderful
fruit.
And you, dear boys and girls, when you gather around your
richly decorated trees, think of the two poor children who
shared their bread with a stranger child, and be thankful.
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