THE OREGON SUNDAY: JOURNAL. PORTLAND, SUNDAY 'MORNING, DECEMBER 24, 1911
CiRLSTOPH
VON vSCJMID
O VER 100 years ago In Germany, winter, cold
and drear, was upon the town of Thalau. No
need to gay there ws much suffering, not only
V, - I. . . f lan frnm h u Tl STf T And
KUill lUS HCABUU, UV
tflsease.
''.' There were troublous times In the klngdoirt, while
the rich and. poor were divided. But for all the social
i unrest that prevailed, charity In some thoughtful
hearts .et ill sought work to do.
( A widow, whose husband was killed In the wars.
had died In extreme destitution. Her sole known re
lation was a son, who soon fqllowed his mother to
the churchyard.
i During; the Illness of the pair another woman, also
busbandless through the wars, but slightly better off
fn this world's goods, had done for them in kindness
what her limited means an allowance from a distant
gelation permitted.
" In this task of trying to relieve the necessities of
her unfortunate neighbor and her child, she had had
an earn mi t coworker In her own boy, Otto.
After their return from the funeral, where they had
been' the only mourners, the mother observed that
Otto was very thoughtful. As this was not usual
With him, she asked the reason.
! "I don't think, mamma." he answered, "that poor
Alfred ever had a Christmas toy, and It seems to me
lie would be happier even in heaven If he thought
some one had been kinder to him on earth. I waa
going to give him the striped horse you bought for
me last year, but I did not And now I so wish I
had."
She consoled him and said It was a good feeling.
even if he did fall to carry It out into deed.
That same evening Otto continued his thoughtful
tneod. When engaged at preparing Ma school les
ons he was In the habit of breaking In on the alienee
with questions from time to time; but tonight it was
not so,
, When he finished his task, however, he Inquired:
. "If little Airrea waa still anve, motner, woman
we light a Christmas candle for him this year?"
"Certainly, my son,"' she replied, "we might have
done that but hardly much more. For I may as
well tell you now. Otto, the death of Alfred and his
nether has cost us so much, you must do without the
new coat I was going to buy you at the holidays."
. x ur roumem iuv jura vi ivmiig wiii ,iv uau
looked forward to with much pleasure saddened
Otto's heart, but he got bravely over It.
""All tight, mother," he said, with a pretense of the
content he did not altogether feel. "Some other time."
'After his prayers that night he kept thinking of
the dead boy in the graveyard. And he either thought
or dreamed he came to him in a vision and asked:
"Have I not enough poor brothers and sisters on
earth who may take my place? Do for them what
you wished you nad done lor me.
' When morning came the words were still ringing
In his ears. After bis devotions he sat on the bed a
few moments to renect. and a strong purpose came
upon mm.
"Ill write a letter to my schoolfellows," he mused.
II J III ecv "V V V ' tonill v bvvm ww
children of the poor school. Each one of us can do
something for the less fortunate of the town.
"But it won't do for the writer of the letter to be
known." he went on. half aloud. "Unknown I can
more xuuy enjoy me xun ana see wnai comes out 01
It,"
.Then, on going downstairs, he 'at once told his
mother of his Intent. She not only enthusiastically
approved of it, but also suggested how he could carry
out his wish to conceal his Identity.
; H should write the letter and she would copy It.
This was done, and in an hour he had put down
what he wished to say on paper, she had transcribed
t and It was sent to the teacher of the high school, with
the request that he read it to his classes at his
convenience.
So Otto and she waited In Joyful expectation of the
outcome.
Several days passed without result. At last tne
"iJiat Is a sign for me,' suid the desperado."
fateful moment came. The scholura ii i.
places, when the printipul, a tall. Btatnlv mn with
White hair, entered, carrylna a letter in hi. h.n
Uv children," he began, "toddy I have somethina
vtrr important to aay to vou. l.Wten
ii slowly unfolded the letter and read:
My dear schoolmates:
"The holy season la near at hand. We nil am mart.
so muon nannier ov it. it brine, m iv,
gins of jov. Hut how many children hr nr thai
can Know nominar ox us Joys.
"1 tirofbs that each of us choose one nf h rhii.
dren ttt the naor uihonl um hla rhrlitm,, r,u.. a
Invite him to the festival that we win cat
i h . Aii r . . hwiHM. A ii . .. .
n?i ii ui ui mi ma i mo scnooi wnatever
Ur parents allow us, either of toys or money, for
" "ONE OB" TOUR SCHOOLFELLOWS."
The teacher waa much moved as he finished read
ing the letter. It was' plain, too, that the scholars
arasped the idea at one. lie could clearly see the Ira
rreislon cnade, w
iwwwvwwyyv v;..i n. -fT'ri: tssaMssea
ii um i i n' v, jevartM-1 "v. -i hh - u'li itvi n u i ii i i
i i r t aJ vi v i. 'i mlm mm w aa .iiiiintii .
a - m j i a v ram . k m j, w mi viiiiiihi i
Vflt fa.' t-m , w, '.aw iii i i sail KH I
LVTTTfl TT 1IMJV II I l . ST I . I XI
si iiii i in m-nT ur i.i . twi k usiu 11 1 1 1 a 1
immmmimwm , urn
warn i
I NiU VfliMVVT?' I'l I I III I
' "My boya," he remarked, "the letter Is addressed
to you. and you must furnish the answer. Come, let
me know what you think about it"
One lad stood up with the words:
"Herr Lehrer, I think we should make a collection."
Then the whole class rose and shouted with ona
voice, "A collection."
The teacher, with the brightest of approving smiles
on his grave face, gave his consent, and then grad
ually led the excited youngsters back to consideration
of their regular school tasks.
e
On the evening of that same day two men wers
talking in a miserable hovel lying some distance out
side the town. Had the peaceful residents known
what was the topio of their conversation, they would
have slept less quietly.
There was considerable difference' in the ages of
the pair. One waa about 20 and the other nearer 40.
' In the face of the latter was every sign of dissipation
and wickedness. The countenance of his younger
companion was as yet unmarked by those signposts
on the downward path. '
Whatever tffeir tople was, the elder had paused a
moment In his talk to take a draught from a black
bottle before him. After handing a glass of the liquor
to his comrade, he reaumed:
"While my wife your sister was 111, and her baby
worse, I had to work at the shoes night and day.
What wonder I grew tired, nervous and cut myself
there's the scar still' holding out his hand "so that
I could not work. No work, no money, no medicine
and not a orust of bread in the house. Nobody would
help me. I was starving; so was she your lister and
our baby's cries pierced my heart
"I went to the Baker Fromler, for whom I had
done work. I begged him for God's sake to give me
bread to save my starving dear ones. He laughed at
me and ordered me out of hla shop.
"I was mad. I did not know what I was doing. I
seized him by the throat and would have choked
him to death but that the police were too quick for
me.
"I got ten years for It and served every day of
my sentence. When I came out my wife your sister
and my child, were dead. Nobody could even tell me
where they were burled."
It was evident by his frequent mention of the
words, "your sister," that he was trying to rouse a
spirit of hatred In the heart of his young comrade,
"I came back here, and they think I am trying to
lead a better life. But I am fooling them. I am a
thief, a member of a band made outlaws by injustice
like myself. We have sworn to be avenged when the
time comes, and it is almost here. We Intend this
Christmas to light up the biggest tree this kingdom
has ever known. Starting with the church and schools,
we will burn every house in the town of Thalau. I
shall kill Fromler. and then if needs Knuth dies con
tent" The young man whom he had. In the course of his
remarks, addressed aa Ludwtg, shuddered and his face
grew white. Before the other could resume his
threats, a distant shot was heard.
"That is a sign for me," said the desperado. "If
we hear two more it means nothing Is to be done to
night." He had hardly ceased speaking when a couple of
reports sounded from different directions.
"It Is all right." he remarked to Ludwlg, "we may
rest."
a a e
Almost Immediately after the reading of Otto's
letter, the boys got down to business. In fact, the
day following, on returning from school he ran to
his mother in great Jubilation, shouting:
"Just think of It, mamma. Already the scholars
have collected over 5. Every one of them brought
something else, too. We have, among other things, a
cannon, a sword and a box of lead soldiers. The
teacher's own two boys. Qua and William, fetched a
big rocking horse. All were taken to the front room
of the teacher's house and what we had almost filled
one side of it He's taking care of the money, too.
Aa first in class, he told me to keep the aocount of
what is collected each day. It's Just splendid, the
whole business." v
After some further talk on the subject. Mra
Koerner sent Otto to the Baker Fromler's for the
morning's bread, and meanwhile knitted at a pair of
atocklngs she intended should make one of her own
contributions to the school's collection.
The house In which the Koerner's lived belonged
to this man. He was between 60 and 60, stout and
florid. Vain of his wealth, mean In spirit and coarse
of speech, he was liked by none. His wife, both in
appearance and nature, was his other self.
There was, at the moment, a loud racket close to
his store door. Two boys, on their way to school,
were going by. They were doing their best to make
a great uproar and fairly succeeded. One had a
slightly used drum and the other a trifle battered
but still serviceable trumpet, by means of "which they
were making the aforesaid din. These articles repre
sented their gift collections for the day.
Fromler and his wife watched them as they ran
gayly on. He shook his head, despairingly, as though
he gave It up. His feeling in the matter was natural
enough, as he knew nothing of what was going on.
"There they go. That's the way children are taught
nowadays. Going to their lessons with drum and
trumpet. Bah!"
He and hla wife were still exchanging opinions on
the wronpr educational ideas in vogue, and how the
schools were going to the dogs, when a servant maid '
entered, basket on arm.
"Did you know the teacher Is collecting money and
Christmas toys for the poor school children?" was al
most her first remark.
Fromler said he couldn't believe such a thing.
"Hut It's true," reiterated the girl. "Our house is
turned upside down with the things the school has
gathered and there's no making anything out of Ous
and Will, they're so excited over it It must be a
great laugh with teacher. He says an unknown boy
wrote a letter to him. which he read to the class, and
this is what's happening. Of course, that's only a
Joke."
"Not a doubt of It," added the baker's wife. In a
tone of conviction; "he wants to make himself Im
portant by pretending to hide who the real person
back of it is and then pretend to be surprised when
It comes out."
"Well, if this Is true," broke In the baker, "I think
I have a word to say about It. This sort of business
is no part of the school lessons. In the next meeting
of the town council I'll see that the teacher is called
to account. I'm not a member of MTfor nothing, and
1 won't allow such carryings on."
Even at the time this conversation was In progress
In Fromler's store, there was an Important conference
being held elsewhere on various phases of the same
fubject. In the teacher's house was present Herr
Schneider, the head of the poor school. He had called
by invitation to talk over the coming festival.
"You know the Idea?" inquired Herr Lehrer.
"Only slightly," returned the other. "I heard soma
of our boys talking about wonderful things that wers
going to happen to them this year, but that is alL"
After having explained to him the details of the
affair, which pleased him beyond measure, he was
shown the toy riches already accumulated., Herr
bchneldor could hardly believe his eyes.
As soon as he left the principal's house he went to
the pastor In spiritual charge of the poor schoel and
told him the story. In his turn the minister was de- '
lighted and promised all the aid In his power to make
the affair a success. ,
That same night there convened an extraordinary :
meeting of the town council, called by the burgo
master, at the request of the master-baker, Fromler.
The latter was first to appear. As the other mem
bers entered they saw him sitting grimly In bis seat
like a bomb about to burst.
Adapted reoM
After the session was opened In regular form, the
burgomaster told the baker to state his reasons for
requesting that It be called.
Amid much hemming and hawing he told why he
thought Herr Lehrer should be rebuked for his collec
tion business. "It is against decency and Chris
tianity," he concluded.
"How?" he was asked.
"It is filling the heads of the children with non
sense." Then he went on to tell of several conversa
tions he had had In his store and what he bad learned
since. "And that's not the worst It will teach them
to steal. A case was related to me where a boy stole
a box of his sister's toys to take them to school and
so be a big man among his fellows."
"Who told you that story?" inquired a msmber.
"It's all true; no matter who told me."
"You are mistaken, master-baker. It Is not true.
It was my son who was supposed to have taken his
sister's toys, but she simply mislaid them, and forgot
"All were taken to the teacher's house."
where she put them In her bureau. Hereafter, don't
be so ready to listen to the story ol our servants wtiea
they go to you for bread."
"I still insist," cried Fromler, chagrined at his de
feat "that it will make the children disobedient liars
and lead them to steal."
This last remark caused general commotion. Half
a- dozen members were prompt to say that though
they had children Interested In the collecting, they
had noticed no tendency to lying, stealing or dis
obedience in them.
Next In the order of speakers was Herr Rucker.
a factory owner- He was a man of rather shallow
mind, had traveled to some of the larger cities a day
or two at a time and picked up some of the Jargon
of politics and economic questions. These words he
worked into his talk wherever he could. Two favorite
expressions were ""ideas" and "principles."
"Gentlemen," he commenced, "this matter has a
dangerous side. ; I am opposed to the whole idea. The
alleged principle of it Is 'goodwill.' Goodwill Is
another word for charity, and what does that lead to?
To laalness. People who can get money or goods
without working will come to demand them as a
right. No) Give folks bread only when they labor for
It That Is my principle."
The teacher himself now took the floor.
"I never thought a good and Innocent thought
would meet such opposition or be so misconstrued.
Children have done what we failed to do They should
make us ashamed of ourselves. One of you speaks of
this movement as a new idea. Is love toward the poor
a new Idea? It Is really aa old as the gospel of ths
Lord, one of the first teachings of Jesus Christ."
These final words made a deep Impression and there
fell upon the assemblage a deep silence, which was' only
broketl when the president asked If Fromler's motion to
rprove the teacher should pass. Only two voted for It,
Rucker and the baker himself, "i v .
; "And now," said the burgomaster, "I propose that,
following ' the example of the children, we do some
thing this Christmas for the poor of our town. Thosa
In favor of further favorably considering the matter
win rise." -
TREuERMAN BY PeTER,u.D0YLE
If little Alfred was still alive, mother
Rucker and the baker were the only ones to re
main seated. .
With the adjournment of the meeting, Fromler
rushed out furious. He had aimed at doing the cause
harm and instead he had actually instigated the
council to take part In the boys' charity scheme.
. On his homeward way his eyes were too blinded
with rage to notice two familiar figures In an ob
scure neighborhood through which he had to pass.
They were Otto Koerner and his mother, with
hearts Just as full of love for the suffering aa hi
was charged with hate to all. They had, in their
humble way, been visiting and brought such consola
tion as they could to a house of death, where a de
spairing young man had for a time raged over his dead
mother, and declared that Knuth was right But
ere they had left him the kindness of his visitors had
lessened his wrath. The eyes that had flashed with
the fire of vlndictiveness now shed tears and his
threats began to be mingled with half-recalled
prayers.
e e
A few days later the town council was again hur
riedly convened. Fromler, the baker, was the only
absentee. Immediately the session had come to order
the president read the following missive.
fTo the Council of Thalau:
"A band of murderers and thieves have appointed
tomorrow evening, the eve of Christmas, as a time to
set fire to your church, your schools, and to start a
scene of murder and pillage, I was to be one of the
gang; for, like them, I had corns to think there was
neither thought nor mercy nor kiadness for the poor
In this world.
"But I have learned differently with my mother's
death. There are still such things as love and
charity. The knowledge has come to me too late for
my own good, perhaps, but not to save you. I have
written to the leader of the band that I have betrayed
their plans to you. You need fear nothing, only let
Baker Fromler, who stands in imminent danger, be
ware. "When this letter reaches you, I will bs on my way
to another land, where I may become another and a
better man."
A name had been signed to the communication, and
then crossed out
The council was still consulting about what meas
ures should be taken to guard the peril referred to
should the villainous band persist In carrying out
its purpose to light the greatest Christmas candle
ever seen, when a messenger broke In to say that
Knuth, the council shoemaker, had killed Master
Baker Fromler. The murderer was himself shot down
by a citizen as he attempted to escape.
There never had been such a condition of things In
Thalau as was observable that holiday season. New
and strange notions were abroad. Among them sup
port of ths ailing and employment for the well.
These principles were nobly carried out that day,
or at least a start made, and became a source of Joy
for the poor in the present and of promise for the
future. '
The festival of the children was to come off In the
evening.
How many youthful hearts found fault with the
slowly-moving hours, and how often the wooden clocks
against the wall were gazea at witn longing eyes; ana
where these tardy time-measurers were absent, how
many eager ears waited for ths tolling bell of ths
church tower. .. . v .-;.- ;.- 'u
By a quarter of I almost ths entire youth of ths
town, rich and poor, were on their road to ths school
house, where the lower and upper classrooms were ablaze
with light. Downstairs all had to remain until . the
appointed moment . .''
- When ths signal was given and they trooped up,
a noisy throng it wasas if they thought they were
mounting to heaven. The doors opened and Inward
they moved, a happy multitude. What a glorious
ptcturel Never, surely, wss there such Christmas
tree, and It was simply beyond . ths power of art ta
have 'made brighter lights than glowed upon its
' branches. I. ! :
If there was anything that possibly beamed with
: brighter luster, It was ths eyes of ths children as
they gased enraptured on the ravishing sight; yst
Joy went even further when the gifts were handed
out-words, In fact, fail to do Justice either to the
variety of presents or the. boundless exultation of
the happy receivers.
Before the children went home, after an evening
that must have been marked full of golden letters
in their lives, ths teacher announced a resolution,
passed that afternoon by ths cpunclL It was to this
effect:
."To those scholars who graduated at Easter, first
In their class, three boys and three girls, should be
presented confirmation garments, purchased by and
given as an honor In the name of the community.
. Moreover, the three boys should be put to trades and
their apprentice fees paid from the public funds."
And Otto Koehner. who had been the first to sow
the little seed from which so much had grown, what
. of him?
Whether or not It was known his had been ths
head and heart which had devised so nobis a scheme,
remains doubtful. Still, there Is reason Xp suppose
that in some way or other It had come to the ears of
some eminent and wealthy persons,, who were Incited
by the circumstance to the encouragement of such
kindly traits of character.
In any case, it is certain that at the most Interest
ing part of the festival ceremonies Herr Lehrer as
cended the platform and : said:
"My dear children: "I am going to tell you some
thing I know you will like to hear. The council has
concluded to offer to the best scholar of this school
a ' free course at the university. The credit of being
the first to win this great honor has fallen upon one
whom you all love and who I eel will prove himself
worthy of the prize that has come to him. Otto Koer
ner, you have been selected as ths ona best entitled
to this honor." i
Although up to this point hla name was not men
tioned, all eyes had been fixed upon him from the
start and now a loud huiza. Joined In by young and
old, made the very rafters ring whils the lights on
the tall Christmas tree shone with greater brilliance,
as though trying to add their meed of glory to the
crown that seemed to encircle the boy's fair brow
as he wept his Joy on his mother's breast
The Ancestors of Our
Christmas Carols
GHRISTOPH VON SCHMID, the author of the story
here adapted from the German, was among the
first writers of Christmas tales as wa know them
in modern times. Hs was one of the leading
writers of his day for the younger element, but his
works, filled with religion and philosophy, would be. in
the original, much too prosy to suit the youngsters of the
present
The story here adapted Is, as he wrote It, of a length
equal to our novelettes. It goes deeply into the psychol
ogy of Christmas and contains long exhortations on
pretty nearly all the virtues of the calendar, with plen
tiful warnings on what will happen to those who fall
to heed the plenitude of advice.
Like ths yuletlde tree, we have really inherited our
holiday tales from Germany. As it stands at present
English Is probably as rich in Christmas literature as
any language. Dickens made ths Christmas story. his
own. Thackeray and a good many other writers have
turned their hands to it on occasion. Besides, there are
multitudes of poems, long and short for both old and
young.
The same can hardly be said of the continental lan
guages in general. French, for Instance, has no such
array of holiday literature. Daudet, Coppee and Paul
Arene have produced some Christmas stories that per
haps rank with almost any that have ever been written;
but In quantity the yule time productions do not in any
way compare with those of English and German.
Christoph von Sohmid, the author at present in ques
tion, wrote much and long. He was born in lt, ana aid
not end this life until 1854. A large number of hla juve
nile works, like the one here presented, wers turned out
at the beginning of the nineteenth oentury.
The Germans always were strong for the yuletlde
good things, and by no means confined themselves to lit
erary feasts. As one authority says:
"Many of the beliefs and usages of the old Germans,
and also of the Romans, passed over from heathenism to
Christianity and have partly survived to the present day.
But the church also sought to combat and banlsu nu ..i
this it was, to a large extent successful the deep-rooted
heathen feeling by adding, for the purification ot tv
heathen customs and feasts which it retained, its grandly
devised liturgy, besides dramatic representations of the
birth of Christ and events of his life. Hence sprana; the
so-called 'mangel songs and a multitude of OnriMnma
carols, as well aa Christmas dramas, which, at certain
times and places, degenerated into farces or fools'
feasts. Hence, also, originated at a later period the
Christ trees, or Christmas trees, adorned with lights
and gifts, the custom of reciprocal presents and of
special Christmas meats- and dishes, dumplings, etc.
Thus Christmas became a universal social feast for
young and old, high and low, aa no other Christian fes
tival could have become. At one time the festivities wers
continued until Candlemas and Twelfth day."
In England the Christmas plays are as much a part
"What a glorious picture !"
the holidays as the stories ars with Americans. Chll-
drsn thro&s to the pantomimes, which are but the de
scendants of the old dramatic representations of Christ's
life. No trace of the religious, however,' has been re
tained by the pantomimes, which tell some fairy tale and
always have a Harlequin, a Columbine and other char
acters familiar to children.:.; ",t v 1 ' ,' '
As to ths stories, it was well within the life of Chris
toph von Bchmid that the most popular of all was pub
llshed. The "Christmas Carol" of Dickens made Its ap
pearance in London in 1843, and 15,000 copies were dis
posed of Immediately by the firm that brought It out.
They netted Dickens $3500 a sum that would buy many
more Christmas .presents then- than It would now. . In
popular Interest and sentiment the "Carol" baa sine
been without a rival
msm