December, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
431
Junior KING’S BUSINESS B y M a r t h a S. H o o k e r
A CHRISTMAS SHARED By J ames W orboys I t w a s o n Christmas Day in an
“That is a very interesting list, my boy— but I thought your birthday was in July,” commented Uncle John. “It is,” replied Tommy, “but this is a Christmas list.” Privately, Tommy was thinking, “Uncle does act so stupid. He doesn’t seem to understand what Christmas is for.” After looking at the list for what seemed to Tommy a long, long time, Uncle John leaned back in the chair and began talking in a heart-to-heart fashion. “Christmas is such a blessed season, Tommy. It’s the time when we remember the day so long ago when God gave to the world His best of all gifts, the Gift of His only Son. You and I have both accepted Him as our Saviour, Tommy; and now at this Christ mas time we are remembering the earthly birthday of our Saviour. What a wonder ful day it was, nearly two thousand years ago, when our Lord Jesus left His beau tiful home in glory to come into this dark, sinful world as a Babe in Bethlehem’s manger! Angels bent low that night to announce the good news of His birth to the shepherds on the Judean hills, and a star of wondrous light, seen by the Wise Men, caused them to travel across desert sands to the very place where’Jesus was, that they might lay their gifts at His feet. Yes, Christmas should be kept as His earthly birthday. And if it is His birthday, Tommy, who then should receive the gifts?” asked Uncle John, looking toward Tommy, who had been sitting very quiet as he listened eagerly to the story of that first Christmas Day. “Why—Jesus should—of course,” an swered Tommy thoughtfully, as he re membered his own last birthday and all the fine gifts he had received. “I guess, Uncle John, that I had forgotten about Him on His birthday,” Tommy added, looking down at the floor. “But tell me, what can I give Him ?” “Well, Tommy, you have already given Him the very best gift,” continued Uncle John, as he put his arm about the shoulders of his nephew. “You have accepted Him as your Saviour and have given Him the gift of yourself; that is the first gift, and that brings Him great joy. But how it would rejoice His heart if you could tell some friend about Him and get that friend to receive Jesus as Saviour! Do you think you could do this, Tommy, and become a [Continued on page 432]
After a while, the governor returned and found the girl in the arms of her father. “Governor,” the prisoner said, “may I give my coat to cover my little girl? She can never get home alive without it.” “No, no,” the governor replied, “keep your coat' your little girl is going home with me today, and my little Gladys has a coat that will just fit her. I’ll share my own coat with her until we reach home.” And this is how it happened that a poor little girl was rescued from the cold on a certain Christmas Day and taken to the beautiful home of the governor of the jail. She was dressed in clothes belonging to his own little girl, and shared with her the lovely gifts about the beautiful Christ mas tree. Back in the jail, the ringleader in all the disturbance, Hall Brown, was changed. His heart was touched by the governor’s kind ness to his little girl. This act paved the way for the gospel message, which later found its way into his dark, sinful heart. The Lord Jesus in love and tender mercy reached down and rescued him from a life of sin and shame. Hall Brown became a new creature in Christ Jesus. Years have passed by since then, and today, in a certain eastern city, Hall Brown and his daughter are living in a Christian home which they have established, and there they are serving the Lord together. Tommy’s Christmas List W hen Uncle John came into the room, Tommy was very busy at Mother’s desk with pencil and paper —so busy, in fact, that he did not look up from his writing to greet his visitor. This was very unusual, for Uncle John was Tommy’s favorite uncle. “Well, Tommy, my lad,” began Uncle John, after he had stood in the room for a few minutes unnoticed, “what is this important letter you’re writing?” “Oh, it’s not a letter—but—a list,” re plied Tommy slowly, scarcely looking up from the desk. “A list?” repeated Uncle John, “a list of all youf aunts and uncles and cousins, I suppose?” “Oh, no, Uncle John—don’t you know that Christmas is only two weeks away? I’m writing out a list of the things I want most of all for Christmas; I thought Mother and Daddy might like to have it.” “You are a helpful lad,” teased Uncle John, as he chose a comfortable chair by the lighted grate. “Would you mind let ting me have a look at that list?” Tommy, remembering Uncle John’s generous gifts in the past, eagerly granted this request, and was soon seated on the arm of his uncle’s chair, while Uncle John adjusted his glasses and began reading aloud the long Christmas list: “Roller skates, a ball and bat,” and on to the very last item, “a brand new bicycle.”
e a s te rn city. The governor of the jail had been delayed from leaving for his home because of the u n ru ly con duct of some of the prison ers, led by a c e rta in Hall Brown. The governor was anxious to get hom e to h is little girl, who w o u ld be watching fo r him from the bright window beside a beau tiful C h r is t mas tree.
As he left the jail and the large gate closed behind him, he noticed crouching there by the wall a little girl who looked to be about the same age as his own little Gladys. This girl was poorly dressed, and she trembled in the cold winter air. “Mister,” she called as the governor of the jail hurried past, “Mister, are you the head of the jail?” “Yes,” he replied, a bit annoyed at an other delay. “May I see my daddy?” the little girl begged, as the governor started to pass her. “Who is your daddy ?” he stopped to ask. “Mr. Hall Brown,’’the child replied. The governor, remembering the disturb ance of the morning, said a hurried “No” and started on. But the little girl was not to be refused. “Mister,” she called again as she followed close behind him, “if your little girl was me—and her mother was dead—and her father in jail—and it was Christmas—and if I was you—don’t you think I’d say ‘Yes’ to your little girl?” The heart of the governor of the jail was touched. His own Christmas pleasure was forgotten for the moment. Back he turned toward the gray walls of the prison, leading the little girl by the hand. Into the waiting room of the prison the father, Hall Brown, was summoned. When he entered the room and saw his little girl, he said, “What are you doing here ?” “Oh, daddy,” began the little girl, “it’s Christmas—and I brought you a present. Little Jimmy’s gone to be with Jesus, and I cut off one of his curls before they took him away. See, Daddy, I’ve brought it to you—for Christmas.” Tears streamed down the face of the father and governor alike. Finally, the governor left the room. The father and child were left alone.
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