WHAT DOES
ling as the windows outside had prom ised. He lingered near two well- dressed women, one of whom held in her hand a beautiful piece of jewelry. A frown spoiled her .handsome face, and her voice was hard and impatient as she said, “ It is too expensive; I will not spend so much on a gift for her. I know, for one thing, that the silly thing she gave me last year was given to her the year before. I shall have to give her something. She can’t live forever, and her money — ” She stopped, realizing she had spoken her thoughts aloud, and then broke out s h r i l l y , “ I hate Christmas.” She caught then the eyes of the Stranger upon her. He instantly withdrew his gaze, but not before he had seen a flush upon the cheek and a wonder in the eyes of the Christmas shopper. Coming now to a large table heaped with highly colored and gilded cards, he stood watching especially the girl who served with patience even unto graciousness the not always patient or pleasant crowd. As it thinned, she came to the Stranger. “May I serve you, sir?” Bowing, he met her question with another, “What are these?” “ They are Christmas cards, sir.” “And what is Christmas?” queried the Stranger. Whatever wonder she may have felt at the question was lost in her eagerness to reply. “ It is the celebra tion of the birth of the Saviour, sir.” “Whose Saviour?” came the quiet, insistent voice. Full into face of the Stranger she looked, and joy pulsed' through her answer. “The Saviour of the world, and — my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” The Stranger’s smile was response enough to this, so he turned again to the table. “ These, then, are His birth day cards? But His name is not on them.” “True, sir,” she sadly assented, “ and oh, how the world needs Him! I can speak of Him to some. But so few care. And I never cared to tell them, as I do today!” The crowd, strangely held back, now surged forward, and with a low- breathed, “You will,” the Stranger was gone. But a Presence remained to make speech and service “ in His name” forever after a new delight to this faithful lover of her Lord. In the street, he paused next in his lonely walk before a large window
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I t w a s Christmas Eve in a great city. The brilliantly lighted streets were filled with a hurrying throng, many of whom carried parcels in gay wrappings. Laughing children clung to smiling elders. Mystery was abroad and happiness seemed to reign — until one looked closely into passing faces, as did the Stranger. He was alone, and few except the children appeared to note or respond to the ready smile that lighted his beautiful, wistful face. His slow walk led him at length to a gay little bootblacking stand, in the door of which stood its owner a young boy, who stopped his soft whistling of a Christmas mel ody to greet the Stranger with a cheery, “Merry Christmas, sir.” “What does Ch ri stmas mean?” , asked the Wayfarer. The hoy did not try to hide his surprise as he answered “Where do you live? Christmas is the time when everybody gives everybody else pres
ents and good things to eat.” “ But why?” was the next question. The boy’s bright eyes softened un der the look that reached the core of his heart, and he said, “ It is Jesus’ birthday, sir.” I “And what would He like for a birthday gift?” Eagerly now came the answer. “ 0 sir, He would like — myself. And I’ve given Him that. And sir, I’m going to give you the best shine you ever had,” adding softly, “ in His name.” A little later, when the Stran ger went his way, the boy’s eyes fol lowed in wonder, and from his heart, warm with a glow that the Best Gift alone can give, he breathed, “ Oh, I wish everybody knew.” And it seemed as if the voice of the Stranger, now out of sight, floated back to him, “ Tell them. And lo, I am with you alway.” The Stranger soon entered a great store, where the display was as dazz
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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