[Santa Claus’s Partner by Thomas Nelson Page]@TWC D-Link book
Santa Claus’s Partner

CHAPTER IX
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It was simple and childish enough: the words that he had been taught at his mother's knee.

He hardly knew he had said them; yet they soothed him and gave him comfort; and from some far-off time came the saying, "_Except ye become as little children, ye shall not enter_--" and he went on repeating the words.
Another verse drifted into his mind: "_And he took a child and set him in the midst of them, and said, * * * Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest.

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea._" The events of the evening rose up before Livingstone--the little girl in her red jacket, with her tear-stained face, darting a look of hate at him; the rosy-cheeked boys shouting with glee on the hillside, stopped in the midst of their fun, and changing suddenly to yell their cries of hate at him; the shivering beggar asking for work,--for but five cents, which he had withheld from him.
Livingstone shuddered.

Had he done these things?
Could it be possible?
Into his memory came from somewhere afar off: "_Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me._" There flashed through his mind the thought, might he not retrieve himself?
Was it too late?
Could he not do something for some one ?--perhaps, for some little ones?
It was like a flash of light and Livingstone was conscious of a thrill of joy at the idea, but it faded out leaving him in blanker darkness than before.


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