AT THE CHRISTMAS CRIB

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 51, 19 December 1907, Page 41

AT THE CHRISTMAS CRIB

It was the afternoon", before Christmas. During the early morning hours quite a heayy snow had fallen, as if nature, wishing to celebrate the coining of her- Creator, had arrayed herself in whitest raiment, like a young bride greeting the arrival of her lord" and master. Within his private office sat the well- " .known .banker, Charles Thornton. He had just finished looking.-, over the year's accounts,-which showed quite a gratifying balance ' in the firm's favour. ' Still, he was far from being at peace, and the troubled lock upon his face was not, in keeping with the atmosphere of cheerfulness that surrounded him at this glorious Christmastide. ■ - Banker Thornton had risen from poverty. By virtue of business integrity and unceasing labor, he had surmounted the . obstacles in his path and finally reached the goal of his ambition. In the early days of his struggle he wedded a beautiful young woman from his native village, and to her unswerving devotion and womanly encouragement in the darkest hours of their wedded life he owed much of his after success. In the first years of their married lif e_ a handsome baby boy came to fill their humble home with love and gladness. Of course, the child immediately became the joy of his father's heart and the light of his mother's eyes. What dreams she had of the high " place he would one day hold in world affairs !» , As the heir grew into manhood his doting parents, wishing •- to gain social distinction, now that their financial position- was r secured, had paved the way for a marriage between him and the daughter of an old family of high standing" in the neighbourhood. Judge of their surprise when the son informed them that the plan could not be considered, as he had already wooed and won the heart and hand of Agnes Fleming, the child of poor, though refined, parentage. The father threatened and stormed ; the mother begged and pleaded, and even Agnes offered to return the engagement ring. But the young man was headstrong, claiming that, as his father had married the girl of bis choice, and had never regretted his bargain, he proposed doing likewise.- So there the matter -ended, with, the mother secretly admiring her son's 'logic, even though he was compelled to leave his old home by his -father's stern decree. A week later Charles Thornton, jun., and Agnes Fleming were quietly married in the * village church. With a_.simple trust in God, and a love for each other that would increase as the years went on, hand in ' hand they started on the broad highway of life. Now, after the lapse of five years, the old man sat alone in his office at this joyous yuletide wondering, as many a man has done before and since, if he had treated his own as he should have done. In the depth of his reverie the door was timidly . opened, and a beautiful boy of four years stood on the threshold. The_ banker glared at him in astonished admiration. * Grandpa,' said the child, ' I am on my way to the church to see the Christmas Crib, so I stopped to wish you a merry Christmas !' Instantly the -troifbled look died out of the banker's eyes, - and a happy smile lit up his grizzled face, like a ray of summer" sunshine falling upon tfsnow-capped mountain, for the unexpected sight of that child of his child standing in the doorway took him back to happier days when his own boy climbed upon his knee, to fall asleep within his arms. Drawing the lad to him, and brushing the curls back from, his forehead,- the grandfather kissed him. -as tenderly as his mother could have done; then, seating the child upon his knees, began to talk to him about his father and mother, and about his home, each moment growing more and more pleased with the- boy's bright answers and merry laughter. Suddenly.- the little fellow sprang : from the banker's knee, crying : ' 0 grandpa,' I forgot about the ** Crib! Won't you come" with me!' Pride and anger were forgotten. The old man, donning his overcoat and taking his grandson by the hand, went out into the crisp winter air, feeling happier than he had' been' for years. j . Soon they reached the church, and the child, leaving his grandfather in a rear seat, joined the at the Crib, near the altar railing. It was but an humble representation of the great mystery in the plan of man's redemption, but it spoke, oh ! so eloquently to the hearts of the little ones gathered there. The quiet peacefulne.ss of the holy place harmonised with the happy state of the banker's mind, even though" it'was strange ' to him, sb far had he wandered from the faith of his fathers, which had be'en taught, him at a gentle mother's knee. He liked .the sacred pictures which spoke of man's frailty and of' the" in- - finite -mercy of God.- "The little red lighff burning before the "

altar appealed to him very strongly, for his knowledge of the world taught him that it was the emblem of undying faith, which the 'fiercest winds of religious persecution could never extinguish^ and whether shining in the vaulted cathedral or in. ihe lowly wayside chapel, it still proclaims the great' promise made,, to man by the risen Christ — ' Behold, lam with you all days, even -to the consummation of the world.' While he was thus meditating a beautiful young girl moved . quietly up the aisle and bowed, her head in "silent adoration before; the main altar. What a sweet picture she presented as she knelt there in the winter twilight, with the last rays of the settipg sun falling like a halo , around her innocent head ! She was indeed', beautiful, but the world of love- and tender devotion ..shining from the depths of her: young soul gave to her 'face that look of angelic sweetness which the old masters strove- so -earnestly to portray. ' That is the kind of girl my boy married,' thought the old man to himself, ' and I disowned him for it.' Like a thunderbolt from a. clear sky that thought went crashing through the; accumulated pride' and prejudice of a liftetime, and sank quivering into, the very depths of his soul, like an arrow- in the heart of a giant oak. Slowly his head sank upon his breast. When he looked up again there were traces of tears in his eyes, but the r ; look of peace upon his face showed that his better .nature had v. won. - • . - • * A little hand slipped into his". Holding it tightly^ theold 'r^man-let it lead him to the .little home of 'his son'/^vhere an affecting' reconciliation took place. 'Come home "for Christmas,* he said as he bade the little family good-night. "' Come home to-morrow, son, and give your mother ' her daughter and • her gi'andson.' -s So Christmas Day found the Thornton family united in Christmas joy and Christmas peace in the mansion on the hill. The poor little boy of- the day before had become the banker's heir between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.— ' Catholic Standard and Times.'