# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1892_S46 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) The Lutheran Pioneer. Christmas in a Missionary’s Home. In our picture we see a Christmas celebra- tion in the home of a Missionary in South Africa. After the Christmas services in the church near by, the Missionary’s family, to- gether with some African friends, assembled around the Christmas tree in the Missionary’s humble home. There is the Missionary point- ing the little colored boy to the bright tapers and telling him of the Babe of Bethlehem, who came into the world as the Light of all nations. There is Peter, the Missionary’s faithful as- sistant, looking with folded hands at the blaz- ing Christmas tree. His heart is filled with joy and gratitude, for under the Christmas tree he found a Bible in his native language as a welcome Christmas gift. His daughter Martha is kneeling at the table and reading. She has received a New Testament as a Christmas pre- sent, and is so absorbed in reading the pre- cious Book that she has no time to admire the beautiful doll of her little friend Mary. There are Christmas gifts for all, and by those gifts they are to be reminded of that unspeakable gift of God—His only begotten Son. The upper part of the door of the Mission- ary’s cabin has been opened, and through the opening two African heathens are looking in Christmas in a Missionary’s Home. upon the happy family circle, admiring the tree and the presents. They are still in the darkness and misery of sin and are strangers to the true Christmas joy. On their way home that Christmas night the elder of the two said to his young companion: ‘‘To-morrow I shall go to the Missionary and have my name put in the list of those that wish to learn. We live in darkness; we live like the wild beasts of the forest; we know nothing. The Missionary and his wife are very kind tous. They love the poor African. I must know what is in the books of these white people. I must learn more of their God and of Him whom they ca} Saviour and whose birth they celebrate to- day.”’ Old uncle kept his word. He went to the Missionary and was instructed in the way to heaven. And when the next Christmas came, he was among those that assembled at tho Missionary’s home, and with glad heart he joined in-singing the sweet Christmas hymns of the Saviour born at Bethlehem. May the glad tidings of a Saviour born for the salvation of sinners bring peace and joy to the hearts of many of the children of Africa! —_—_——» 2