The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1894, Page 47

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 47

Farmer Brown’s Christmas Gift. The north-east storm was still raging, and
the snow falling and drifting fast, but on, on
went the stout, well-fed team with its Christ-
mas gift, while the occupants of the sleigh,
wrapped up in blankets and extra buffalo
robes, urged the horses through the drifts and
in face of the storm. That ten miles’ ride,
which required in the summer hardly an hour
or two, was not finished until the farmer’s
watch showed that five hours had passed.

upon them, for His dear son’s sake who was
born that night. The tramps seemed strangely
touched by this simple and earnest prayer,
and ate their portion in silence.

Supper over, the old man, pushing his plate
slowly from him, said: ‘‘I have a good barn
with plenty of hay, and you can stay there to-
night.’’

‘‘Father,’’ said the wife gently, ‘‘it is a holy
night, and a bitter cold one; we have room in
the house, let them stay.’’

He said nothing. ‘Then, taking one of the
wax candles the lady bade them follow her.
She took them to a dainty, warm room, and
giving them the light bade them good night.
Early next morning the maid servant came
down to her mistress and gave her a note,
saying: ‘‘This morning I found both the door
and window of the spare room opened, I went
in and found this; the bed was not touched.’’

The note read: ‘‘Kind Mistress of this
house. We came here last night intending to
rob you; but your kindness to us and your
prayer for all, saved both you and us as well.’’

Gratefully your friends, L. & K.

Selected.

On the summit of Washington mountain,
overlooking the Housatonic valley, stood a
hut, the home of John Barry, a poor charcoal

' burner, whose family consisted of his wife and
4 himself. His occupation brought him in but
| a few dollars, and when cold weather came he
managed to get together only a small provision
| for the winter. One fall, after a summer of
t hard work, he fell sick and was unable to keep
his fires going. So, when the snow of Decem-
ber, 1874, fell, and the drifts had shut off com-
munication with the village at the foot of the
mountain, John and his wife were in great
! straits.
i} Their entire stock of food consisted of a few
t pounds of salt pork and a bushel of potatoes.
| Sugar, coffee, flour, and tea had, early in De-
| cember, given out, and the chances to get
1}
{]

At last they drew up in front of the hut
where the poor trusting Christian man and
woman were on their knees praying for help
to Him who is the ‘‘hearer and answerer of
prayer,’? and as Farmer Brown reached the
door, he heard the voice of prayer, and then
he knew that God had moved him to bring his
Christmas gift up the mountain‘to John Barry’s
hut. He knocked at the door; it was opened,
and we can imagine the joy of the old couple
when the large supply of food was carried in,
and the thanksgivings that were uttered by the
starving tenants of that mountain hut.

anything were slim indeed. ‘The snow-drifts
deepened. All the roads, even in the valley
were impassable, and no one thought of trying
ii to open the mountain highways, which even
» in summer were only occasionally traveled, so
hi none gave the old man and his wife a thought.
i Christmas week came, and with it the heay-
iest fall of snow experienced in Berkshire
t county in many years. ‘The food of the old
iN couple was soon reduced to a day’s supply,
but John did not despair. He was a Christian
and a God-fearing man, and God’s promises
Were remembered, and so, when evening came,
and the north-east gale was blowing, and the
fierce snow-storm was raging, John and his
wife were praying for help.

In the village, ten miles away, lived Mr.
Brown, 2 well-to-do farmer, who was noted
for his piety. On the day before Christmas
he was at the village store and heard the mer-
chant speak of John Barry, the charcoal bur-
ner on the mountain. The merchant said: ‘‘I
wonder if the old man is alive, for it is six
weeks since I saw him, and he has not yet laid
in his winter stock of groceries. It must be
old John is sick and wanting food.’’

That night Farmer Brown did not sleep well.
The thought of John Barry’s need troubled
him. He thought he heard a voice, saying,
*tSend food to John.’’ At last he arose and
proceeded to dress himself. **Come,’’ said he
to his wife, ‘‘waken our’boy Willie and tell him

© feed the horses and get ready to go with me,
and do go pack up in the two largest baskets
you have, a good supply of food, and get us
an early breakfast, for I am going up the
mountain to carry the food I know John Barry
needs.’”,

Mrs. Brown cheerfully complied, and, after
a hot breakfast, Rarmer Brown and his son
Willie, a boy of nineteen, hitched up the horses
to the double sleigh, and then, with a month’s
supply of food, and a ‘‘Good-bye, mother,”
started at five o’clock on that cold December
morning’ for a journey that almost any other
than Farmer Brown and his son Willie would
not have dared to undertake.

—_—> - e=<= eo

How True Christmas Kindness was
rewarded.

——_- <a e - =

It was Christmas Eve. The snow was on
the ground and in some places it had drifted
in great heaps against the stone walls and the
houses. The wind howled and shrieked madly
through the village. From every window
gleamed a bright light; even the poorest,
meanest cottage looked cozy and warm.

On the steps of one of the prettiest cottages
stood two dark forms. Their ragged coats
were sprinkled with snow, their hats were
drawn down over theireyes. They stood still
for a moment, as if hesitating to get up cour-
age to do that which they had started to do.
Then, after muttering a few words to each
other, one of them knocked loudly at the door.
A voice within bade them come in. They
opened the door and there in a cozy, well
lighted room sat an old couple. The tramps
(for such they were) stood awkwardly looking
at the well-filled table. ‘‘We have come a long
journey, and have no home, and we are very
hungry,”’ said the tall one, who seemed to be
most forward. ‘‘Can you give us shelter for
the night and a little food?’”

The old man laid down his spectacles, looked
at them, and said: ‘‘You may sit down and
warm yourselves,’’ but the tone implied ‘‘no
more.’? ‘‘Father,’’ said the old lady, ‘‘it is
Christmas Eve; we must remember the poor
and needy,”’ at the same time motioning them
to sit down, and placing the father’s chair in
its place, took the opposite seat. Then, bow-
ing her head reverently, prayed for all outcasts
without homes and God, that He would turn
them from the path of wickedness and cleanse
them from all sin through His precious blood.
She prayed for the poor and hungry every-
where; that He would care for them, give
them bodily comforts and let His peace rest

Do You Believe the Christmas Tidings?

A pathetic incident is related of a Hindu
lady who heard for the first time the words,
‘*For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever be-
lieveth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life,’”’? when she suddenly ex-
claimed: —

“Do you believe it, Mem Sahib; do you
believe it?’ :

‘*Yes, Mohini; of course, I believe it. It
is God’s own message to us all. Iam read-
ing it to you from His Word.’’

“‘Ah, I know; but, Mem Sahib, do you be-
lieve He gave His Son to die for us miserable
Hindu women, as well as for you English
ladies—do you believe that, and do your
people at home believe it?’’ © ~

‘*Mohini, yes; we all believeit. It is God’s
glad tidings to us all—to you and to us alike.
Yes, we believe it.’’

“Then, why, O! why did you not come
sooner, and bring more with you, to tell all
of us this good news?’’ sobbed poor Mohini.

—$—$—seenseans BESSE NN Eas =

——_» +e» o> oo

Faith in the Saviour.

It is not sufficient to believe that Christ has
come, but we must believe also that He was
sent from God, that He is the Son of God, and
also very man, that He was born of a virgin,
that He alone has fulfilled the law, and that.
not for Himself, but for us, that is for our
salvation. — Luther.

—~ 0 <a oe

EET 0 ry it a SRT SRE BET I =7)

In God alone we must trust. Paul said:
‘““My God can supply all your need.’”’