BELLE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT. 131

middle of the night, when some of them Him. You remember about his taking
were fast asleep, a vcry bright light shined them up in his arms, putting his hands
all round, and an angel spoke tothem right upon their heads, and blessing them ? "
out of the middle of the light, and said: "I wish I could have seen Him, mam-
'Jesus Christ is born-and you'll find him ma. I'd have gone too, and I'd have told
a little baby, asleep in a manger.' Just Him I loved Him, if all those naughty
think of it, mamma, that means right out people didn't. "
in a barn. Wasn't it too bad for Jesus You can tell Him so now, my child.
not to have any better place to sleep than He is right here in the room with us.
a barn ? And the shepherds hurried and You have a present for everybody in the
came to the place and found the little house but Jesus, darling. Don't you
baby and his father and mother just ex- want to give Him a present too ?"
actly as the angels told them they would. How could I, mamma," said Belle,
And I forgot to tell you that the angels her dark eyes growing big with wonder.
had sung a beautiful, bcautiful song, be- "Why, lie would rather have your
fore they went away-but I forget the heart than anything else you could give
words. Don't you know, mamma ?" Him, my child, yourself. Very little girls
 Was it 'Glory to God in the highest, sometimes belong to Him. Suppose we
on earth peace, good will toward men ?'" kneel down here in the darkness and tell
 "Yes, mamma, that was it. And then Him that you are sorry you haven't al-
the shepherds went back again, praying ways been a good little girl, and that you
and thanking God all the way, because will love Him and try every day to please
Jesus had come. Was Jesus ever just as Him now ?"
big as me, mamma ? "Would it be a Christmas present be-
 Yes, darling. Just as large as you fore to-morrow, mamma ?"
are now once; and so I think He must "Yes, my child He will be so glad
know exactly how such a little girl feels, to have his present to-night, and all the,
and how much she can do--just how angels up in Heaven will be glad too."
hard it is to be always gentle and sweet And there in the still twilight, with
and patient. Jesus never spoke one cross the bright firelight shining on her sweet
word, Belle, or looked one cross look, or young face, little Belle knelt down, with
disobeyed his father or mother. her mother's arm around her, and gave
 Not one single time, mamma ? the dear Jesus the best gift she had-the
 No-not even once, Belle. He never thing He would love better far than any
did one single wrong thing all the time other she could have brought Him.
He lived here upon the earth-and that The Christmas day dawned bright and
was thirty-three years-longer than papa clear, and when the chimes were ringing
has lived. He loved little children when out their sweetest carols, Belle walked to
he was here, dear, and they all loved church with the rest. She felt as happy