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Little Jean
by
Now, I wish the story turned out differently and that his auntie said when he told her about it, “I’m so glad you did it, Jean.” But she was so very cross, that she slapped Jean and sent him off to bed without any supper, saying, “You had no right to give away that shoe and stocking for my money paid for them!” Somehow Jean didn’t mind doing without supper that night and he soon went fast asleep and dreamed a beautiful dream, for he thought he was still singing “Peace on earth, good will to men!” And he saw a vision of the little sleeping boy, that grew into a tall and gentle man with a radiant face who walked to and fro in Jean’s dream, singing with him “Peace on earth, good will to men!” Then morning came and outside his window, Jean heard the voices of children singing, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will to men!” And he heard a very strange sound too, for his auntie’s voice, soft and gentle, said, “Jean, wake up, and come down and see what has happened,” and Jean came down the ladder and lo! there was a wonderful tree just like the other boys were having today, and a goose, and by the fireplace his own wooden shoe, and beside it the mate that he had given to the sleeping child, and far in the distance Jean heard the children’s voices singing as they ran down the street, “Peace, peace on earth, good will to men!” Then the room grew very still and peaceful and Jean’s heart did too–and through the silence there came a voice so tender and loving–so gentle that the auntie’s eyes were full of tears, and Jean wanted to listen forever, and the voice said, “Jean, inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto ME.”