One winter evening, this good family gathered about the table to eat their small loaf of bread, while the father read aloud from the Bible. Just as they sat down there came a knock on the window, and a sweet voice called:—
“O let me in! I am a little child, and I have nothing to eat, and no place to sleep in. I am so cold and hungry! Please, good people, let me in!”
Valentine and Marie sprang from the table and ran to open the door, saying:—
“Come in, poor child, we have but very little ourselves, not much more than thou hast, but what we have we will share with thee.”
The stranger Child entered, and going to the fire began to warm his cold hands.
The children gave him a portion of their bread, and said:—
“Thou must be very tired; come, lie down in our bed, and we will sleep on the bench here before the fire.”
Then answered the stranger Child: “May God in Heaven reward you for your kindness.”
They led the little guest to their small room, laid him in their bed, and covered him closely, thinking to themselves:—
“Oh! how much we have to be thankful for! We have our nice warm room and comfortable bed, while this Child has nothing but the sky for a roof, and the earth for a couch.”