the cottage warm and shoes on all the 

 feet. The night before Christmas the 

 meal was hardly any better than on 

 any other night, and it was scanty 

 enough, yet each child gave to the 

 little guest a part of its own portion, 

 and was pleased to see him eat it with 

 satisfaction. When the meal was 

 ended the Christ Child rose, his poor 

 garments became white, and a halo 

 glowed about his head. 



With a sweet and loving smile 

 he thanked them all, then vanished 

 like a vision. The children cried, " It 

 was the holy Christ Child," and peace 

 and contentment were over that cot- 

 tage all the night. The next morning, 

 Christmas Day, when they opened 

 the door they found blossoming be- 

 side the doorstone beautiful white 

 flowers with dark-green leaves. The 

 father plucked some and carried them 

 within doors, where they were faith- 

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