FullReads

The other windows were like picture books, but this one was like home; for there were sheep in it and flowers, and a dear, gentle Man, with a loving face, and He had a lamb in His arms.

When little Carl looked at this window, he crept very close under it, and, laying his head on his arm, sobbed himself to sleep.

While he slept, the sunbeams came through the window and made bright circles round his head; and the white doves that lived in the church tower flew through an open window to look at him.

“It is good to live in the church tower,” cooed the white doves to each other, “for the bells are up there; and then we can fly down here and see the dear Christ’s face. See! here is one of his little ones!”

“Coo, coo,” said the white doves softly; “we cannot speak so loudly as the bells, nor make ourselves heard so far; but we can fly where we please, and they must stay always up there.”

All this cooing did not wake little boy Carl, for he was dreaming a beautiful dream about a king who had a face like the Good Man in the window, and who was carrying Carl in His arms instead of a lamb, and was taking him to his mother; and just as he dreamed that they had reached her, Carl woke up, for he heard somebody talking in the church.

He lay still and listened, for this seemed part of the dream. Somebody was talking about him, and the words were very plain to Carl:–

“Dear Father in Heaven, I have lost my little boy. I am like Mary seeking for the Christ Child. For His sake, give me my little child!”

Carl knew that voice, and in an instant he ran out crying:–

“Mother! mother! here am I!”

And in all the joy of the king’s birth day, there was no joy so great as theirs.