# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1904_S92
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

A Blessed Christmas.

Hattie went.out to take a walk on Christmas
morning, and as she reached the doorstep on her
return, she saw a poor, ragged-looking boy lean-
ing upon the railing and looking wistfully into the
kitchen-window, where the cook was preparing the
dinner.

“T wish you a merry Christmas,”’’ she said.

-‘*Thank you,”’ said the boy, lifting up his torn
cap and trying to make a polite bow; ‘‘but I guess
it won’t be a merry Christmas at our house.”’’

money to buy one; and I’ll add the half dollar
which Uncle Roy gave me this morning.”’

“Don’t get so excited, Hattie; I will talk to the
boy and see what can be done.”’

While Mrs. Allen was talking with him, her
servant-man returned with some parcels, and as he
passed the boy he recognized him as the son of a
poor man whom he well knew. The lady was quite
satisfied that Johnny’s story was true, and calling
him into the kitchen, she filled a basket with good
things, and Hattie slipped in an envelope enclosing
her half dollar.

Christmas in the Home.

““Why not?’? said Hattie; ‘“‘I thought every-
body was happy on Christmas Day.’’

“Well, there won’t be any good time at our
house, for father’s been sick, and mother has had to
work so hard, she’s all tired out. We had only one
slice of bread a piece for our breakfast this morning,
and there isn’t even a crust left for our dinner.’’

Hattie’s blue eyes opened with wonder at this
sad story, and her bright face was clouded with
sorrow. ‘‘Wait till I come back again,” she said,
and she flew up the steps and over the house to find
‘her mamma. When she found her she said, “‘O
mamma, there’s a poor boy on the steps who says

“his father is sick, and they haven’t a morsel in the
house for dinner. Please, mamma, give him some

Johnny’s mother went about her work that ,

Christmas morning with asad heart. Her husband
was growing weaker every day for the want of nour-
ishing food, and now they had actually eaten their
last crust.

‘“What will become of us??? she asked herself
again and again as her little ones came crying
around her for food.

Just then Johnny burst into the room, his face
aglow with pleasure, and setting the well-filled
basket upon the table, he exclaimed, ‘‘Cheer. up,

mother, we’ll have a Christmas dinner yet; only, ;
.see what I have here!”?

Mrs. Morris examined her treasure as well as

she could through the tears of joy that filled her -