# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1883_S47 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ‘The Lutheran Pioneer. Luther’s Christmas Tree. Our picture shows us Luther on Christmas Eve in the family circle. His home in Witten- berg was a happy Christian home. And espe- cially on Christmas Day there was joy in the home of the Reformer, through whom God re- stored to the Church the pure Gospel of the Saviour born at Bethlehem. Luther had been taught in the Romish church to look upon Christ as an angry Judge, whose favor the sin- ner must try to gain by his own good works. He himself says that he became pale and terror-stricken whenever he heard the name of Christ mentioned. But God in His mercy led him through the Bible to the blessed knowledge of Jesus, in whom there is a free and full sal- vation for all sinners. And through Luther the Church again learned to bow with joy, and thanksgiving, and child-like trust at the man- ger of the Saviour at Bethlehem. We adopt the following description of our picture from the late Dr. Krauth: The Christ- mas tree blazes in all its glory in the centre. On Luther's lap kneels his youngest child, clasp- ing him around the neck. Its little night-cap and slip and bare feet show that it has been kept from its bed to see the wonderful sight. On Luther’s shoulder, and clasping his hands in hers, yan oat with the light of love, that light, which can beam only-from the eye of a devoted wife and mother, shining upon him. The oldest boy, under Melanchthon’s di- rection, is aiming with a cross-bow at an apple on the tree. At the table cousin Lehne is showing 2 book of pictures to the second boy; the third boy clasps his father’s knee with one hand, in which, however he manages to hold a ‘string also, by which he has been drawing along a knight in full armor on horseback, ses ee while with the other hand he holds up a hobby- horse. Madeleine is clasping in her hand, in ecstacy, the little angel, whilst the doll at her side is forgotten. ‘The full light from the tree is on her happy face, in which, however, there is an air of thought, something more of hea- venly musing than is wont to be pictured upon the -face of a child. Oh, happy. Christmas! thou mayest be the prelude to wailing. The little coffin may follow the Christmas tree within our door. The candles of the Christmas tree of 1542 were not mirrored in the eyes of the beautiful and darling Madeleine. Those gentle eyes had been closed by her father’s hands three months before. And when the Christmas of 1546 came, Luther himself stood by the Redeemer’s side in glory. ——2~4 eae + Christ’s Presence. Chrysostom, one of the church-fathers, beau- tifully says: ‘‘I have a pledge from Christ— have His note of hand—which is my support, my refuge, and heaven; and though the world should rage, to this security I cling. How does it read? ‘Lo, Iam with you always, even unto the end of the world’. If Christ be with me, what shall I fear? If He is mine, all the powers of earth to me are nothing more than a spider's web.” Tue life and the faith of children is the best, for they have only the Word; and to it they hold fast, and simply give God the honor of believing that He is truthful, holding what He promises for certain.—Znither. ; ——. +o oe ‘‘CiRISTMAS comes but once & year, é And when it comes it brings good cheer.’’ Elsie’s Christmas Eve. Those whose hearts are filled with the true Christmas joy will make others joyful too in the merry Christmas time. Let me tell you a story. In a large house there lived a year or two ago a little crippled girl. She had in her room the loveliest things you could imagine—a chair which went on wheels, a golden-winged bird who sang enchantingly, a little gray kitty, a white Spitz dog, and a gray parrot with a pink ruffle around its neck. She had four Paris dolls, and a whole library of books, and her papa and mamma tried in every way they could to make her happy. Yet sometimes when Elsie Dean sat by the window, and saw the little streetsweepers clearing paths through the snow, she thought that she would willingly exchange places with them, if she could have their straight limbs and active feet. She saw that they often looked hungry and cold and she knew that if they took time to think of it, they must fancy she was far better off than they, as they watched her, up there in her seat among flowers and birds. One day she asked her mother if she might do just what she pleased with her Christmas money. “‘Certainly, my love,’’ replied Mrs. Dean, glad to observe that any plan could brighten her darling’s pale face. “Well, then, I would like to buy a Christ- mas tree, and dress it all up magnificently, and invite the guests I want to spend Christmas eve.” A few days after that, the cold was intense. Pat and Tim, whose shoes were out at the toes, and little Mumbo Jumbo, the colored boy who had no jacket, were nearly frozen. But they were much surprised when Ernest Dean, Elsie’s brother, came out and invited them, and half a dozen little fellows besides, to spend the even- ing with his sister. They went, though they did wonder at first whether Ernest was in earnest or in fun, for he asked them, as boys do, alittle bit bashfully, and went to making snow- balls the next moment. And what happiness they had! ‘There sat Elsie like a little queen in her chair. ‘There was the tree, and its branches were loaded with oranges} cakes, ap- ples and candies, and for every boy there was a pair of new shoes, and a new comforter, and a stout jacket. After Elsie had read the Christ- mas story from the second chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, the boys sang of Jesus and Elsie seemed to hear Him say, ‘‘ You have done it unto me.”” —< + om + ‘Tre Son of God was made human that we might be made divine.”’ a a He is a brave man who dares to wear old clothes until he is able to pay for new.