Chapter X: Part II: Stories to Read and Tell to Children (4)

But what had happened to the rich old uncle who lived alone, an unsociable miser, and who had never given his poor sister and her children a thought--what had happened to him to change him so? In the night following the day on which Werner had visited the Christmasman, the uncle had had a strange dream. A man with a blue velvet cap and a long white beard, wrapped in a golden robe, suddenly stood before him, looked at him with great, blue, penetrating eyes, then spoke slowly and impressively: “Konrad Borodin, have you a sister?” Thereupon fear overcame him so that he could not answer. Then the apparition gradually vanished, the eyes only gazing threateningly upon him. Three successive nights he had the same dream. In the meantime a restlessness beyond description drove him from room to room of his dreary, empty house, and ever in his ear there sounded that deep, reproachful voice of his dream, saying, “Have you a sister?” On the morning after the third night he could endure it no longer, but hurried to the city, where to the astonishment of all the people who had known him as a miser, he bought the loveliest things, ordered a sleigh, filled it with his purchases, and drove directly to his poor sister.

Little Werner received a good education, and grew to be a famous and highly respected man. He himself told me this story.

A CHRISTMAS LEGEND

(A Florentine Legend of the Nativity)

VERNON LEE

Beyond Bethlehem, which is a big village, walled and moated, lies a hilly country, exceeding wild and covered with dense woods of firs, pines, larches, beeches, and similar trees. At times the people of Bethlehem, going in bands, cut down these trees and burn them to charcoal which they pack on mules and sell in the valley. Sometimes they tie together whole tree trunks such as would serve for beams, rafters, and masts, and float them down the rivers, which are many and very rapid.

On these mountains in the thickest part of the forests a certain woodcutter bethought him to build a house wherein to live with his family, store the timber, and care for his beasts. For this purpose he employed certain pillars and pieces of masonry that stood in the forest, being remains of a temple of the heathen, which had long ceased to exist. He cleared the wood round about, leaving only tree stumps and bushes. Close by in a ravine between high fir trees ran a river of greenish waters, exceedingly cold and rapid. It was always full to the brim even in mid-summer, owing to the melting snows; and around up hill and down dale stretched the woods of firs, larches, pines, and other noble and useful trees, emitting a very pleasant and virtuous fragrance.

The man thought to enjoy his house and came with his family and servants. Also he brought his horses and mules and oxen which he had employed to carry down the timber and charcoal. But scarcely were they settled when an earthquake rent the place, tearing wall from wall, and pillar from pillar; and a voice was heard in the air crying, “Ecce domus domini dei,”[16] whereupon they fled, astonished and in terror, and returned to the town.

And no one of that man’s family ventured henceforth to return to that house or to that wood save one called Hilarion, a poor lad and a servant, but of upright heart and faith. He offered to go back and take up his abode there and cut down the trees and burn the charcoal for his master. So he went. He was but a poor lad clothed in leathern tunic and coarse serge hood.

And Hilarion took with him an ox and an ass to load with charcoal and drive down to Bethlehem to his master.

The first night on which Hilarion slept in that house, which had fallen to ruin, he heard voices, as of children--both boys and maidens--singing in the air. But he closed his eyes, repeated a Paternoster, turned over, and slept. Another night he heard voices which made him tremble, but being clean of heart he said two Aves and went to sleep. And once more did he hear the voices, and they were passing sweet. And with them came a fragrance as of crushed herbs and many kinds of flowers, frankincense, and orris root. Hilarion feared the voices were those of heathen gods, but he said his prayers and slept.

But at length one night as Hilarion heard these songs he opened his eyes, and behold, the place was light, and a great staircase of light like golden cobwebs stretched up to heaven and hosts of angels appeared, coming and going, with locks like honeycomb and robes of rose and green, azure and white, thickly embroidered with purest pearls. They had wings as of butterflies and peacock’s tails and a golden glory shone about their heads. They went to and fro carrying garlands and strewing flowers, so that, although midwinter, it was like a garden in June, sweet with roses and lilies and gilliflowers. And the angels sang and, when they had finished their work they said, “It is well,” and they departed, holding hands as they flew into the sky above the fir trees. And Hilarion was astonished and prayed fervently.

And the next day when he was cutting a fir tree in the wood he met among the rocks a man old and venerable with a long gray beard and a solemn air. He was clad in crimson, and under his arm he carried written books and a scourge. And Hilarion said, “Who art thou? The forest is haunted by spirits, and I would know whether thou be of them or of men.”

And the old man made answer, “I am a wise man and a king. I have spent all my days learning the secrets of things. I know how the trees grow, how the waters run, and where treasures be. I can teach thee what the stars sing, and in what manner the ruby and emerald gather their light in the heart of the earth. I can chain the wind and stop the sun, for I am wise above all men. But I seek one wiser than myself, and I go through the woods in search of him, my master.”

And Hilarion said, “Tarry thou here, and thou shalt see, if I mistake not, him whom thou seekest.”

So the old man tarried in the forest and built himself a hut of stones.

And the day after that as Hilarion went forth to catch fish in the river he met on the bank a lady, beautiful beyond compare. And Hilarion asked, “Who art thou? The forest is haunted by spirits; art thou one of them?”

And she answered, “I am a princess, the fairest of women. Kings and princes have brought gifts to me. They have hung wreaths on my palace and strewn flowers in my garden. I am beautiful beyond compare, but I seek one more beautiful than myself. Day by day I go searching my master by the lakes and rivers.”

And Hilarion made answer thus, “Tarry thou here and thou shalt see, if I mistake not, him whom thou seekest.”

And the lady tarried by the river and built herself a cabin of reeds and leaves.

That night was the coldest and longest winter night. Hilarion made for himself a bed of fern and hay in the stable of the ox and the ass and he lay close to them for warmth. And lo! in the middle of the night the ass brayed and the ox bellowed and Hilarion started up. He saw the heavens open with a great brightness as of beaten and fretted gold. Angels wreathed in roses were coming and going, and as they held each other’s hands they sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” And Hilarion wondered again and prayed fervently.

And that day toward noon there came through the wood one bearing a staff and leading a mule on which was seated a woman. They were poor folk, travel stained. And the man said to Hilarion, “My name is Joseph. I am a carpenter of the city of Nazareth. My wife is called Mary. Suffer thou us to rest and my wife to lie on this straw of the stables.”

And Hilarion said, “You are welcome.”

Hilarion laid down more fern and hay and gave provender to the mule.

And Mary brought forth her first-born son and Hilarion took it and laid it in the manger. And he went forth into the woods, where he found the wise man and the beautiful woman.

“Come with me to my stable,” he said, “where the fir trees were cleared above the river.”

And they went with him to the ruined house, and they saw the babe lying in the manger.

Then the wise man and the beautiful woman knelt down before the child.

“He is exceeding fair,” said the princess.

“He is wiser than I am,” said the king. “Surely this is He that is our Master.”

And the skies opened and there came forth angels such as Hilarion had seen before with the glory of radiant gold about their heads and garlands of roses around their necks. And they sang again, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

THE STAR IN THE EAST

Three Shepherds
Three Kings: GASPAR, MELCHIOR, BALTHAZAR
JOSEPH MARY

SCENE I. _Hills outside Jerusalem_

_Carol by Children_:

In the fields with their flocks abiding,
They lay on the dewy ground,
And glimmering under the starlight
The sheep lay white around.
When the light of the Lord streamed o’er them,
And lo! from the heavens above
An angel leaned from the glory,
And sang his song of love;
He sang that first sweet Christmas
The song that shall never cease--
Glory to God in the highest,
On earth good will and peace.

FIRST SHEPHERD:

Now must I rest awhile!
For mile on mile, and mile on mile
I’ve trudged on foot since break of day began.
And I’m but an old and ancient man.
I am stiff and my bones are old,
And the night is bitter--bitter cold.

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Aye, ’tis bitter cold, and naught to be seen
But snow and the starry sky.

FIRST SHEPHERD:

I’ve come a mighty step to-day,
But--is that the town so far away?

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Aye, dost see that great star
That hangs above the town?

FIRST SHEPHERD:

’Tis a wondrous star even as ever I saw.
But I am wearied sore;
So wearied I have never been before.

_Enter Third Shepherd_

THIRD SHEPHERD:

Look ye, here is a lamb, new born.

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Poor little beastie! Lay it down and warm it.

THIRD SHEPHERD:

An ill night to be born in! Frost and snow,
Cold heaven above, cold earth below.
I marvel any little creature should be born
On such a night. I found it all forlorn,
Crying beside its mother.

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Warm it in thy cloak. ’Tis but a little lamb.

FIRST SHEPHERD:

Hark! is that the sky that sings?

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Nay, I hear no sound at all.
You are wearied. Mile and mile you’ve trudged to-day.

THIRD SHEPHERD:

Well, as for sleep, I’m ready. What say ye?

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Aye, do. Sleep ye, and I’ll keep watch.
The wolf, maybe, will visit us ere dawn.
Or, if not he, perchance another lamb.

(_They sleep. The Third Shepherd walks, with the lamb in his cloak. Soft music is heard._)

THIRD SHEPHERD:

Hark! There’s music in the wind!
And what strange light is in the east?
Surely it is not dawn?

(_Angels appear. The Shepherd arouses the others._)

ANGEL:

Gloria in Excelsis!
Fear not, for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be the sign unto you:
Ye shall find the heavenly babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger.
Gloria in Excelsis!

FIRST SHEPHERD:

’Twas a fine voice--even as ever I heard.

SECOND SHEPHERD:

All the hills with a lighting, methought, at his word shone fair.

THIRD SHEPHERD:

He spoke of a Babe at Bethlehem, mark you well. That betokens yon
star. Let us seek Him there.

FIRST SHEPHERD:

To Bethlehem he bade that we should go. I fear we tarry too long.

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Full glad would I be,
Might I kneel on my knee
Some word to say to that child.

THIRD SHEPHERD:

But the angel said in a manger was he laid and poorly clad.

FIRST SHEPHERD:

We shall see him I know before it be morn.

SECOND SHEPHERD:

The place is near. Let us go even now unto Bethlehem and see this
thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto
us.

FIRST and THIRD SHEPHERDS:

Aye, let us go and find Him!

(_Tableau held while music dies away._)

SCENE II. _Manger Scene_

_Carol by children_:

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie,
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.

_Angel chorus_:

Away in the manger,
No crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep in the hay.

The cattle were lowing,
The baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus,
No crying He makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus!
Look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle
Till morning is nigh.

(_Shepherds arrive at the manger. They stand at a little distance, gazing in awe._)

FIRST SHEPHERD:

Lo, here is the house, and here is He!

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Forsooth, it is the same.

THIRD SHEPHERD:

Look ye, where the Lord is laid,
Between two beasts, and in a manger,
As the angel said.

(_They advance, and kneel before the manger._)

FIRST SHEPHERD:

Hail, hail, young child
Of a maiden, meek and mild.
Lo, he merries,
Lo, he laughs, my sweeting.
I give Thee my greeting!
Have a bob of cherries!

SECOND SHEPHERD:

Hail, goodly Babe!
A bird have I brought
To my Bairn.
Hail, little tiny mop,
I would drink in Thy cup,
Little day star!

THIRD SHEPHERD:

Hail, darling dear:
Sweet is Thy cheer;
A ball I bring Thee.
Put forth Thy dall,[17]
Keep and play Thee withal,
Little heavenly light.

_Angel chorus_:

Holy night, peaceful night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Only one yet wakes and prays,
Looking on with tender gaze
On her heavenly child,
On her heavenly child.

Holy night, peaceful night,
Son of God, Light of Light,
Pure and gentle in thine eyes
All thy wealth of mercy lies
For a world redeemed,
For a world redeemed.

(_The Three Kings arrive at the door of the stable. Joseph advances to meet them._)

GASPAR:

We have journeyed from afar
Led by the shining of your splendid star.
We are Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

JOSEPH:

Sirs, whom seek ye?

GASPAR:

We seek a newborn King,
Gold, frankincense to Him to bring,
And many a kingly precious thing.

JOSEPH:

Good sirs, here lies a newborn child,
Seek ye him and his mother mild?

(_The Three Kings go toward the manger._)

BALTHAZAR:

Behold, the child is clothed in light!

MELCHIOR:

Our journey ends; past is the night.

GASPAR:

Let us make no more delay
To worship him most worthily.

GASPAR}
MELCHIOR} Hail, King of Kings!
BALTHAZAR} (_They kneel._)

GASPAR:

I bring Thee a crown,
O King of Kings!
And here a scepter full of gems,
For Thou shalt rule the hearts of men.

(_He gives crown and scepter._)

MELCHIOR:

For Thee I bring sweet frankincense.

(_Swings censor._)

BALTHAZAR:

And I bring myrrh to offer Thee!

GASPAR:

The greatest gift is yet ungiven--
Oh, heavenly King, heart’s love we bring.

MELCHIOR:

Not gifts of gold nor priceless gems
Is worth the love we offer Thee.

BALTHAZAR:

And lowly folk who have no gold
Nor rare and precious thing to give,
May bring the dearest gift of all--
A loving heart.

_Golden carol_ (sung by the Three Kings):

We saw a light shine out afar,
On Christmas in the morning,
And straight we knew Christ’s Star it was,
Bright beaming in the morning.

Then did we fall on bended knee,
On Christmas in the morning,
And praised the Lord who’d let us see
His glory at its dawning.

(_Tableau, Kings and Shepherds._)

_Angel carol_:

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made Heaven and Earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought;
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël,
Born is the King of Israel!

_Recessional carol by children_:

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we had gone astray.

Oh! tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Oh! tidings of comfort and joy!

A BLESSING

ABBIE FARWELL BROWN

Now may the Holy Christ Child
Who came on Christmas Day,
The gentle Friend and Brother
Who smiles upon your play,
Bless all the little children
However far away.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] By permission. From _The Hollow Tree and Deep Woods Book_, by Albert Bigelow Paine. Copyright, 1900, by Harper Brothers.

[2] From the _Kindergarten Review_, 1908. By permission of the author.

[3] From _Some Great Stories and How to Tell Them_, published by Newson & Company, New York.

[4] From _Mother Stories_. By permission of the publishers, Milton Bradley Company.

[5] By courtesy of the author.

[6] By courtesy of Mrs. Richard Watson Gilder.

[7] By courtesy of the translater.

[8] From _The City that Never was Reached_. Copyrighted by The Pilgrim Press. By permission of the publishers.

[9] By permission of the publishers, Houghton Mifflin Company.

[10] La Dame de Noël.

[11] By permission of the author and of the publishers, Fleming H. Revell Company.

[12] By courtesy of the author.

[13] Reprinted by the author’s permission from _Why the Chimes Rang, and Other Stories_. Copyright by the Bobbs Merrill Company, Indianapolis.

[14] From _Told to the Little Tot_. Copyright, 1906, by Dodge Publishing Co.

[15] A franc is equal to twenty cents.

[16] “Behold the house of the Lord God!”

[17] _Hand_ (old English).