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- 
184 
