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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1920-12-23, Page 7+"- A 4 J C fistulas Made Thera] cn th.„ table, har ehin lipped ia nu _ ori,111 Wi11 1,i114 Of W0111111 A V Part nold Masters ti. ianad when the ers FOR LOVE OF HIS LITTLE CHILD, THIS FA'I'HER GAVE ALL AND GAINED ALL, "It's dre'rul to get a puncture, 'op 01allY after dark:" said Bobby an gazed ruefully at the broken rubbe band In has band. On the floor at his side wag a dis- abled auto -truck, loaded down with 0hrlstmas packages—at least that was what Bobby saw. Of course 11 one had only grown-up eyes, It might have ectoked to hen liko a cigar box mounted on lour little wheels, three of them bound round with rubber bands and the fourth, as Bobby had mournfully declared, minus. Its "rubber the," "Mother!" Ile called, scrambling to his feet. Receiving no reply, ho ran to the door through whose crack a ray of light shone. "Mother, please light the gas, I've got a blowout." With the opening of the Iiitchori e door a flood of light, an appetizing .odor and Comfort all entered together. Comfort had flushed cheeks and ten ar eyes She wore 0 wefts apron ov a. blue muslin dress exactly the shit of her eyes; her :sleeve% rolled abov her elbows, displayed her shape white a rma. "Why you blessed darliug! All 1 the dark, are you?" She lighted th gas and with the light the roe sprang into definite lines, like a d veloping negative. It was the oraii ary dining room of the ordinary Mt flat: a chetp, ornate, built-in aid board, a :,•eilawmilli dating table, fon tatalra aiul a divan that could be use -far a bial, made up the furniture. 'Sae nay palliative, mother?" Bobb brad up the rubber band and pointe 1(1 1 114:. 1:1 I lo ballrlles:, wheel. '1')..1 iwitlitaaa iiii/(.110 eyes suddenlY • eaddered. "Cars, cars, cars, always cara! Put up nal' play, Bobby, an do tut! examples." Ttere was a cadence in the moth er's tone that the child felt though h did not untleratand, Ha reluctantly eliaaail. Ills mind was not on the question of how many two's make four. Aiter his mother had returned to her dinneagetting he tied the brekan rubber band and stretched It over the fourth wheel; it brake shorter than liefore. Once more he tried but alai die same result. If I died only a big rubber!" he mourned. Tia tried to fasten It with a string buttae rubber was rotten and he threw it down with tears in his blg gray eyes. "The mean old thing!" he cried. Suddenly be sprang to his feet, a look of determination on his face. "I've a great mind—" he said and put his hand on the knob of the hall door. For a full minute he stood de- liberating, then Ile turned the knob, walked slowly the length of the dark ball and paused outside another door. For weeks Bobby had been forbid- den to enter that roora. "Father is at work and must not be bothered," was the law laid down to him every morn - In and never repealed. Each morn- ing after breakfast that room swallow- ed 'Father. Sometimes he came out for lunch, sometimes Bobby did not see him again till the next day. When he did conie out, he seemed to be °eking at something far away and hardly spoke to Mother or Bobby, Yet Ile was not angry with them. 011, 110! When he did see them, he cuddled and kissed them as if he had been away for a long time and only the other day, i'rlieu the auto -truck was out of order, he got right down on hte hands and lanes and fixed it quicker—quicker— why, quicker than Bobby could think about it Mother could cure had cuts and black-and-blue spots by kissing them and could make wonderful things to -eat but she did not seem to know one wee bit about automobiles, ,and sometimes Bobby thought she acted as If she did not want to know. Why, Bobby himself knew more about autos t than Mother didl For five. long minutes he listened a outside the forbidden door. Well might he pause: it was the first time in the nix years of his short lite that he had ever deliberately disobeyed those wile bad authority over hint, But his mind Was made up, He was going to face Father aa man to man. and, no matter what resulted from ft, ask hies to fix the truck. He opened the door noiseletsly and entered the mom. For a menthe the glare of light almost dazzled him, for it was as light as six flaring gas jets meld make it, 131inklag, ho advanced on tlp-too, • At a table In the middle of the room sat Fathee—tall, slim, his mop ot black hair thrown beak, Ws dark GM fixed on ecenothing he held in, pts hand and was adjusting with a tiny tool. At last he put the thing 1,--. • Sh.nla f. DIV° the whole Woelent Still bolter reset shall be, Fee the heart of man gees for - And a good year, . To meet the dam the holy days When each for ail end eta las one Of sbalwarit Pretheallteed, lies a New ..Year, dears, To width vietoey--- ward 13y MAY ELLIS NICIIOLLS, 0- down on the table and for a mo d length Bobby stood motionles r sheer amazement. Then ho Jut and capered and fairly squealed with delight, The thing was a tiny auto- mobile, only a few inches high but per. feat hi every part and it ran like mad, 1Irst this way and then that over the polished surface of the table, "Oh, gee, Father Gee whiz, can't she go!" Bobby's little body fairly quivered with excltemeut. "It's from Santa Claus, isn't it, and it's for me?" The eager little hands were out- stretched, but before they reached the coveted treasure they were struck aside and a voice that Bobby would never have known for leather'e, shout- ed at him: "Don't you dare touch that, Child! Why did your mother let you come here anyway?" cl- "Mother didn't let me; 1 came," Bobby protested, ready to defend er de Mother even in his extremity. The surprise and suspense in the ment he questioned anxiously when elle re- s in turned. nped "Yes, he Is few:deli, but I hope it is only a cold," elle replied absently. Then she burst out. "Robert, do you know that tomor- row is Christmas? Christntas! and we have nothing for.Bobby!" "Have we really nothing for the little chap?" "Not a thing and no money! No turkey, no greens, no tree, Nothing to make a real Christmas. Oh, Robert, give up the Invention. Many men have tried just as hard as you and Palled,". "But someone haft to do it," he pro- tested. "It is the ineentors who make the world move." "And their wives aed children who have to suffer!" she flashed. This was the first time she had spoken so and he flushed and gave her a look of pained eurprise. "Have you no faith in me, Dear?" She lett her chair and slipped one arm about his neck. "I have faith in you, Dearest, and I hope, oh, how I do hope for your sake, you will succeed. If I had not had faith, do you think I shotild have con- sented to give up our home? Would I have used up our snug little nest - egg? But it is used up, Robert, every penny of it. There isn't enough left to pay the rent." "Never mind, Little Wife, we'll pull through some way and another Christ,. mss, God willing, there will be enough money to gratify your every wish." "It isn't for myself I mind. You he know that, Robert. I have you and Bobby, what more could I want? But le pitiful little face brought Robert Nor- ton to a realization of himself. With one hand, he swept the marvellous lit- tle car from the table and with the a other turned Bobby gently but firmly In toward the door. _ "leather cannot talk with you 210W) 1" Sou; he's busy, One of these days Y you shall have all the cars you want, e'' I hope, Run along now, that's a man!" r Bobby, stopped in the passage, his d small frame .shaking with the sobs of a very small boy. He felt stunned and y humiliated and desolate, He crept into d the kitchen "Father wouldn't mend my tire," sobbed. For once his gentle mother turned d on him almost fiercely as his father had done, "Bobby! You don't mean - you bothered Father?" o "He isn't working, alother.dear. That's -a -what—" choking back the ache that seemed to fill his throat, "hurts my feelings so. He isn't work- ing! He's just playing. He's playing w th the cunningest little touring car you ever saw in your life and he wouldn't let me touch it." Mother hell out her arms and se- cure in the privacy of the kitchen, Bobby ran into them. It was all such a puzzle. Father playing with toys in the parlor, Mother getting their dl ner in the kitchen, when Father use to go to business every day, Nora use to get dinner, and Mother used to se and read and play 'with him. And th worst of it was Father did not see to enjoy his play and sometimes h bought Mother did not ince to get th dinner—anyway she had looked Gorr nough when a man came with a pa er and she had counted money out o 11 old pocketbook and given it to him And another time a man came an here didn't seem to be enough mono n the pocketbook, and he said some king cross and went away. It was Omfort to lie still, cuddled agenst hm oft shoulder, for all at once he fel Bred and sleepy and knew that hi ead was aching dreadfully, "How hot your head is, dear,' Tether said, raising his chin to look to the tear -stained little Moe. '"Do you eel sick in any way?" "Only when I stvallow." Mother carried him to the light, "I will give you your supper right away, Dear, and put you to bed. You have played too hard to -day," "I've got to hang up my stockings, Mother," Bobby reminded her re, preach fully. "Of course, you may hang them be- fore you go to "I 'don't want one 5(101)01', and you may hang up my stockings. I only want the thing anyway and I wrote Santa Claus about that." "Ana -whet was that, Dearie?" "A touring oar—a real one like the one we saw in the wladow oe the blg oy st ore. It has an engine and gears, nd a (I Irrential. You remember!" Yes, she remembered. Two weeks o she had Laken Bobby to see the nderful display at the largest toy op in the city and he had had eyes cu itt tin Id 11 on T1 oe to .11 tha Pa de, t0i0lt 110 s, 31- w (11 0 d y a good, res WO sis only one thing, this little car, a rvellouale intrIcate miniature of a ownsthet expensive 'plaything —the d of toy this extravagant age pro. es for its pampered darlings. Mother! You think Santa Claus 1 bring me a little car like that 't you?" -he questioned wistfally. sat was all I asked --no candy, nor 0, nor anything, Some way 11 110 sn't bring me the car I shall think hie Davis 'mows." Knows what, Darling?" Nothing; only Mettle le nine and ettys there ain't any Santa Claus." he mother gipped oft his clothes, e some simple home remedies, ed her son Into bed and turned Ufa light Then she hastily put frugal dinner on the table and ed her httabancl, o sat down, with the far -away look Bobby had so reeented. He utas le and the purple shadows muter oyes made them look larger and ricer than, they really were, He Med hardly to know whore ho was a hearth cough sent the mother rrying to Bobby's totem Anythin the emitter Aphig?" 11 51 a 11 ho go tucI on th 0011 pelititel the Vireeli motile,. tier lame shapely lut e tie we) 0,1110111wit It N1(41, her di ep be, eet wee a haven el' rest, her teeny eitettly eye. were met - She was rot (111 alive woman. As !I. MOP girl she had not beee a lover 00 fairy taloa mot now sla, all1,2 to enter into her intabitatra Hurl she boon abio to do et) :he miebt have hall more sympathy with him, but !night not hat been 1114 patient as she had bemi. She coveted his heart's desire for her —big boy" RS she playfully called her husband, just as sho desired the ex pensive little car aar Bobbby, because she loved and it hurt her te have him disappointed. Again a hoarse cough sort her hur- rying to Belety's room, and as she looked fearfully at the delicate flush- ed face, her motherhood revolted. Bobby should have a Christmas! He (Mould not be robbed of his rightful inheritance of childhood for some in- tangible future prosperity. What would It all be worth when dear old Santa Claus had been offered to the god, Mammon! She hastily slipped on her coat and hat and ran down. the long flights of stairs to the street She returned an hour later, loaded with bundles and followed by a beY who carried a market basket and a small tree. Piling all the things on the dining room table, she knocked softly at her husband's door, and, after wait. Mg in ram for an answer, turned the knob softly and went in. Once across the tbreshold, she was attempted to retreat without making her presence known. Robert Norton sat at the table, but he was no longer playing with the little car. His head was rest- ing on his arm and his whole attitude told of utter weariness and discour- agement, "0 have the Christmas things, Roll- ed; come and help me trim the tree." "I thought you said you had no money." For she held her left hand before his eyes The finger nails were trimmed close mid, though the hand watt carefully kept, it bore the unmis- trtkable marks of rough work. Her plain gold wedding ring hung loose HERE WE ARE AGAIN1 ia can t waft till next year for his Christmas. It le exactly like asking you to wait until eternity for your in vention. You want it here and now What do you think Bobby said to me tomigbt?" "Something that Roared you, 011 bet!" Like a burst of sunshine in a dark day was the smile that lighted the father's sombre eyes. "'He said he should not believe there was any Santa Claue, if he dal not get a little touring car with an engine and gears and a cline:M.1a What is a diferential, Rolled?" The father leugbed aloud. "Wants a car with a differential, does he? The young rascal knows more about ears now than half the chauffeurs do. Well, I must get back to my work," But he still sat, looking Into space, his brows 1111 1 1, his teeth set 031 his under let. "I lt1101Y 11 is absolutely simple," he said at last; "Just a trick that a, child could do. I am always ori the verge 01 getting it, and to -night. ,Ann, just before Bobby Interrupted 1310, I was sure I had it fa last. Ts/wiled to the it slowly coming out before me just OS mountain peaks rise out of a fog, and I held my breath—one moment mote:a-one single step--and—and then Bobby spoke and it was gone, That was the reason I was so hard on the poor little beggar. For a moment I. could have Ituockecl. him down, I was so furioth. But lql make It up to hint and to you, too, Annie." She exulted and hissed him iu sil- ence. After he hall gone 'back to his work she still sat listlessly, her el- .__ . . upon it and its guard was gone, The ] man looked still more puzzled for a instant, then started to his feet, • "Your rIng—Dear---?" "'It has turned into red and green and yellow balls and a turkey, and a Christmas free." Then, as he still looked dazed, sbe gave him a hysteri- cal little hug. "Goosiel" she laughed, "don't you understand yet? I pawned It." "You pawned your` engagement ring!" His tone could hardly have ex. pressed more consternation had she conleseed to petty larceny. She laughed again. "'It's only 'pawned, Dearest; I can get it back again, if I ever have money enough. But suppose I never redeem it, what is it after all but a stone. A. very precious stone to me, because it has always been a symbol of our love for each Mbar but not half so precious as our other jewel—our living little eon. Come along; lot us trim the tree, Leave your week for one night and thine," The tree was small but perfect and when they had Bniehed it shoes like O pillar of Dre. Ann Norton smiled happily as the Mat tinsel threads were spun Like deevestarred cobwebs from branch to branch, where already hung deli itoltwe glittering red and green and yet- I the neve "How complete It is!" her husband Bob said, stepping back to get the full effect, "and so little to do with, You are a wonder, Little Woman," He drew her to him and tenderly kissed her lips She had made ttp her mind to ask t certain thing, of him but after this. caress her courage almost failed her, ;hs knew she nuut ask at once or she hould never do it at all. She spoke urrieclly. "Complete, Robert; Look again." He gazed, squinting a little, as if lethally dazzled by the glitter. "I on't see what more any reasonable WM could ask," "I3ut the Ilttle car. may as well onfeth a11. I had made up 1117 intna o bey that car for him, 11 (1 took all he money I had, but bought the ther things Brae anti when went -er the ear, What do yolt think was he price Of ft? Otte hundred dollent had loss than fifty." Thenaida whigillo 1t did The Lad's Gift to His Lori TWO shepherds and a shepherd lad Came running from afar To greet the little new-born One Whose herald was a star. But empty were their toil -worn hands, And on the stable floor The Wise Men knelt with precious gifts The Saviour to adore. "Oh, take my cloak," one shepherd cried, " 'Twill keep the Babe from cold." "And take my staff," the other said, Twin guide Him o'er the wold," The shepherd lad looked sadly down; No gift at all had he, But only on his breast a lamb He cherished tenderly. So young it was, so dear it was— The clearest of the flock— For days he had been guarding it, Close wrapped within his smock. He took the little, clinging thing And laid it by the Child, And all the place with glory shone -- For lo! Lord Jesus smiled. come high, didn't it? But Bobby might other with fast beating hart. The have had it and welcome," he added child stood speechless, his lips parted, more to himself than to her, "tf I had a look 00 0(151007 on Ina race. At last 000nsloy.got that last step in my pro- 0080 his wife repeated. "But, Rob- ert," she hurried 130W, realizing more and more the audacity o1 the request she was about to make, "you have a little car more perfect than any Mal was ever in any toy shop, one with gears and a rubber tire and a 'difiren- Mal.' Bobby had set his whole child- ish heart on this as much as you have set your man's heart on your great invention, and he Is ill—oh, Holed, It frightens 1110 to think how 111 he might be! What would success or wealth or life Itself be without am - darling boy? Robert, will you not give Bobby your little car?" Ho stared at her, honestly ignorant of her meaning, "My little car? I have no little ear." "The one you were 'playing. with' when Bobby found youn Then he understood. His wife was asking him, seriously asking him, to give his working model—the model on which he was trying to perfect bis wonderful invention—to his child as a Christmas plaything. The blood surg- ed purple to the roots of his hair. This then was the measure of her faith In 1 m m Lh to h hi as yo qu te ea st br let an th coi a X• the hin mo ing alit al-etIli: giv 'nor you stet hal "I the PREPARINGFOR L Only a ahort time yet remains t4 prepare our bottles and ourselves tat receive the Great Gift that vette* t4 us on C.hristents Day, And to make ready, let us first read again the story of His life' hoW He came to earth, how He lived here and how Ile left. The story is one of the simplest ever vrritten; of ono who was a poor man, who never had any money to give to any one, who never bought gifts of any kind. What he gave was Himself, and of that He gave freely and gladly. It is His birth that wo are to celebrate on Thursday. We are to give thanka that came to us, and for that great and lasting Gift we give to others. Everything that wo give on Christmas Day is in memory of Hine. Do wo think of this enough? Do we tell our children as much about this most precious of all Gifts as we do about Santa Claus? Tho whole story of Christ's coming to earth, as told in the four gospeas, is summed up by the late Dr. George Hodges 111 lies beautiful book, "When the King Came," in these words: "This tells how once the King of Glory came from heaven to resit us here on earth and lire among us; how He was horn in Bethlehem and brought to Nazareth; how He went about telling people of the heavenly with a sigh of supreme content, he k ngelom and doing good, minietering reached out his hand and tenderly, to the pick. and the poor; how He was and lifted it to his lips. Then he turn- misunderstood and disliked and hat- ed, till at last they took IIim to Jere- almest reverently, took the little car knee. salem and nealed Him to a cross, so ed anti hid his face on his tether's ' is!" he said. "Just see my car! It's He came to life again and went back into heaven, promising to return." "Oh, there is a Santa Claus, there that Ho died; and hew, after that, And In memory of the little child who was born in a etable at Bethle- hem on a Christmas Day', centuries age. we are to keep Christmas again got tires and geara and a dif'rentlal, to ery," I'm so glad I—I—I'm afraid I'm going The happy (lay sped on. All the Il us Father and with the little ear. Father pointed out 1 Bobby played ! .ms year. Christmas always wM be. all the complicated mechauisms of ' ic"s long as the world endures, the tiny machine and Bobby looked hut. Inctway of keerang it rests with and listened and marveled. He could I eaeli ooe of us. Let us make our not ba separated from it even for a gifta. but with each ore let us give minute. It stood by his plate while j 1,71eTetobleifig of ourselves. Let us de the sacred ordinance of turkey and i with love, and diepatch them cranberry sauce was observed, and I with thoughtfulness; let us make no now, while Mother 1,,*.a..11e diehes, 1 gifts that cannot take with them the he lay, on his stomacIl7crin with eyes riveted on Ills treasure - ' spirit of Christ; and, with Tiny Tim, was enjoying to the full one af the ' let us say with hearts that mean it, `GOD BLESS 0-5, EVERY ONE." , e e rarest experiences in life—the posses- I -----.1------ Father stood at the window, gazing and 1 Ch,r4istmaz at Jerusalem., skin of hie heart's deeire. moodily at the alarm, crowds ill the p‘ctureaone C i me Days," "I have spcnt . 1 a few romantic reconcile hireeelf to the Inevitable to Ismael-. "but none that remains so said a well-known olerg-a . an to the streets far below. He was trying to is power. He loolteti as a man sight accept cheerfully if he could, and at ook who has just been told he has a least bravely as he must, what the Ilene ortal disease. vividly in my memory as the onea.,I New Year held for him. Suddenly his passed a few years ago at Ilethlita- "You want rue to give Bobby my trained ear cauglit a new sound from °dell" the little car—a peculiar buzz followed "It was a cold hut very beautiful She did not reply at once. She saw by a brief interval of silence, and then morning 0/1 which I jeined the thou - he had wounded him beyond belief, a second slightly different thund. He ja.en:ms . of Apnidlgraimam:hieonst;tuerregslqe: he mother -love end the wife -love whirled and crossed to where Bobbyof the Jaffa Gate on the way to Beth- ho crowd it was! truggled within her. "Never mind, la/. eareet," she said at last. "'Believe "That emand! What makes that e, did not dream you cared like sound?" "A two hours' walk brought me to at," Then she reached out her hand "What sound?" Bobby tusked placid- the quaint, old world little town, in him. "Come, let's have a look at ly. im." Father flung himself down on the As they leaned above his bed, Bob- floor by Bobby and gazed with strata - y opened hts" eyes and gazed about Mg eyes, every muscle. tense, at the 111 with a startled look. 'gyrating model, Bobby had set up "How- are you, my man?" Father part of an cad toy train outfit, a min. ked gently, iature hill with a roadway winding up The wide dark eyes stared at him and down around it, and up and down itis no sign of recognition. "Don't this hill the little ear was speeding. u know leather, dear?" his mother As it reached the beginning of the (fattened with mingled love and ascent there mune the momentary rror III her crooning voles pause and then the change of sound as "Father is playing with the little It began to climb. The man watched r," drowsily answered Bobby. Then tt with unwinking eye.s, perspiration arting up, "Santa! Please, Santa! starting on. his forehead, After sev. ing MG a little car. leather won't eral breathless minutes ho snatched me play with hls," the model from the track and stared 'Wes, he will," brake in his father at it as if his gaze could melt it part d hastened frons the room to get from part. At last he drew a long, e cherished model, but before he sobbing breath, ad return the boy had dropped into "I see It at last," he whtspered, "I estless sleep, see, it at last!" Bobby's stocking had been hung be- Bobby scrambled to his feet and e the tree and now Father stuffed looked at Father with troubled eyes, model into the top of it. "I want What could he have done to the pre- ). to see it the first thing in the cious car? He had never seen Father ruing," he said. look Hee that before. he mother watched him with brira. "That's it! Good havens, of course eyes. T.Isually cue most self -o10- that's. RI Blockhead, not to bath seen Dell of women, she could not trust thalitebeoafoorgebit" Bobby op in bbi arm. sell to speak. After an, it is best that way," he "Let's fend Mother!" he shouted, ed hoarsely. "I could not have "What havto you two boys been do - en it up for snything but love. To- ing?" Mother tusked, were she caught row I will enjoy Christmas with a glimpse of Father's face, Then she t out to hunt a job. - and Bobby; the day after I will wtuirtanehdiplott,heowiSohroeto-wodlto. iv,a,0851,n Rdeoetclboleinve, Oolig,ivReeoltuerpt?,,,y7 don't mean you she cried and isle joy reflected through her face and voice. nmilutsti,thBye_lbyyouwi.1151a0borenc tilreamobodwel BoTbhbyeypotetunbido, hs aortolluenede baortir thaetx" tate it. Is Annie, Well, It will, be neclus and bound them closenhntioitignosetthh;ret. r was a dearer little lad than breaking ot my idol and outre 'aTust to think, Annie," Bather said laitttlel"ct'arlutpwatintIcl Ild°obwnbr'6thrue Ann Norton had intended to keep flnallY 011 the went, had vigil by her son's bed during the en. not givev, it to him, should be Puz- tire night, but as the hours wore On snug over it his troubled muttortngs cetteed, hie "I a.m so thankful, Dearest," she sleep became quiet end peaceful and said, the happy tears glistening in her the weary another slumbered too. She tender eyes. Then elle added lalse was awakened by Ids soft cool cheek ohlevousily. "et is a groat combinable, pressed to hers and his eager, "04, isn't It? Norton and Sonl" .And "Son" Mutilate, do you think Santa. Claim has Wondered what meant, brought me the ear?" The first rays of 1 110 sun glittered on the fleecy snow heaped on the window ledge, the crisp air was full of tate sound of bells and 111 a neighboring chureh sweet boyish voices were caroling: Sing, ob, ethic tide blessed Morn Jesus Christ to -day lo born. ' leather rolled Debby up in his Mane list and carried blanket and all, into the 'looming room. The boy etail one hurried glance In the dtheetiott of hie stocking, wriggled from alle tangling folds and embed to seize bie treaeure, tbe ellenee tollowi d, rather and Ziotlisr hulked st sash "It was always said of hirn, that he know how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge, May that be truty said of us, and all of usl",--Diekons, its setting of olive -groves and flg- trees nestling among the Judaean hills, and looking so old and hoary that one might well believe it is un- -changed since Christ first opened his eyes on it, "But that day the narrow streets - 50 narrow that ono could alenest shake hands across any of them, were already full 01 1020 and color. Pass- ing through the market -place, where is the world-famous Church of the Nativity, I followed the stream of people until I found myself one of the er,wd in the Field of the Shep- herds—the very field in which, so tra- dition says, the shepherds were watching their flocks that memorable night more ihan nineteen centuries ago. "In the field were priests engaged in blessing the pligeleats, and atter ne- ceiving my benediction I hurried Sack to Bethlehem in time ho witness tate prooeselon of priests end People to the Church of the Nativity, "Att the head of the procession walked the Patriarch of Jerusalem, a stately, impressive figure in racie— even gorgeous—vestments, with a bodyguard of almost equally splendid priests bear,ing aloft towering candles and magnificent banners; while be- hind eame a most picturesque moiler at priests and people. "One by one these lento/reds of wor- shippers filed through the low, nar- row doorway leading into the c'hurele, until the 'building was full almost to suffocation. "Here services are held all through Christmas Day and might uneit dawn breaks, the Patriarch himself tele - bawling inass at midnight "From the church and its alp -lifted and solemn senice I found my way into the famous 'Grotto of the Nat - " "It is but a tiny room, this 'Grotto ot the Chamber,' as it Is called, and it contains but a small altar, said to therapy the very ground on which the Wise Men from the Bast prostrated theanselvee before the Intent Jesus" The first testAval of Christmas hold In Blitain was in the year 521. Pre- vious to that the 25th December Iteed to be dedicated to Oaten, It is Chrietherte 1» the matt:don— Yele.-lag flees and silken /make; It is Christmas in tho cottage— Mothers filling little socks; 1,0 is Christmas on the bilghwaY, ±n the 1.11Wettging busy Marti DIA ths dearest, treolet Christ - Mae iho Christmas ...le