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their waxen lips； and everywhere and above all the image of the Holy
Child。 Sometimes it was the tiny waxen Bambino； in its pathetic
helplessness； sometimes the Babe Miraculous； standing with outstretched
arms awaiting the world's embrace … Mary's Son； held up in loving hands
to bless； or the Heavenly Child…King with crown and lily sceptre； borne
high by Joseph； that gentle； faithful servitor。 It was the festival of
Bethlehem； feast of never…ending keeping； which has its crowning
splendour on Christmas Day。
A Sister passed with a fat； rosy little girl in either hand； they were
chattering merrily of the gift they were to buy for the dear Christkind； the
gift which Sister said He would send some ragged child to receive for Him。
They came back to the poor booth close to where I was standing。 It was
piled with warm garments； and after much consultation a little white vest
was chosen … the elder child rejected pink； she knew the Christkind would
like white best … then they trotted off down a narrow turning to the church；
and I followed。
The Creche stood without the chancel； between the High Altar and that
of Our Lady of Sorrows。 It was very simple。 A blue paper background
spangled with stars； a roughly thatched roof supported on four rude posts；
at the back； ox and ass lying among the straw with which the ground was
strewn。 The figures were life…size； of carved and painted wood： Joseph；
tall and dignified； stood as guardian； leaning on his staff； Mary knelt with
hands slightly uplifted in loving adoration； and the Babe lay in front on a
truss of straw disposed as a halo。 It was the World's Child； and the
position emphasised it。 Two or three hard…featured peasants knelt telling
their beads； and a group of children with round； blue eyes and stiff； flaxen
pigtails； had gathered in front； and were pointing and softly whispering。
My little friends trotted up； crossed themselves； it was evidently the little
one's first visit。
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〃Guck！ guck mal an；〃 she cried； clapping her fat gloved hands； 〃sieh
mal an das Wickelkind！〃
〃Dass ist unser Jesu；〃 said the elder； and the little one echoed 〃Unser
Jesu； unser Jesu！〃
Then the vest was brought out and shown … why not； it was the
Christchild's own？ … and the pair trotted away again followed by the bright；
patient Sister。 Presently everyone clattered out； and I was left alone at
the crib of Bethlehem； the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven。
It was my family； my only family； but like the ever…widening circle on
the surface of a lake into which a stone has been flung； here； from this
great centre； spread the wonderful ever…widening relationship … the real
brotherhood of the world。 It is at the Crib that everything has its
beginning； not at the Cross； and it is only as little children that we can
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven。
When I went out again into the streets it was nearly dark。 Anxious
mothers hurried past on late； mysterious errands； papas who were not
wanted until the last moment chatted gaily to each other at street corners；
and exchanged recollections； maidservants hastened from shop to shop
with large baskets already heavily laden； and the children were
everywhere； important with secrets； comfortably secure in the knowledge
of a tree behind the parlour doors； and a kindly； generous Saint who knew
all their wants； and needed no rod THIS year。
One little lad； with a pinched white face； and with only an empty
certainty to look forward to； was singing shrilly in the sharp； still air； 〃Zu
Bethlehem geboren； ist uns ein Kindelein；〃 as he gazed wistfully at a shop
window piled high with crisp gingerbread； marzipan； chocolate under
every guise； and tempting cakes。 A great rough peasant coming out； saw
him； turned back； and a moment later thrust a gingerbread Santa Klaus；
with currant eyes and sugar trimming to his coat and cap； into the half…
fearful little hands。 〃Hab' ebenso ein Kerlchen zu Haus'；〃 he said to me
apologetically as he passed。
I waited to see Santa Klaus disappear； but no； the child looked at the
cake； sighed deeply with the cruel effort of resistance； and refrained。 It
was all his Christmas and he would keep it。 He gazed and gazed； then a
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The Grey Brethren
smile rippled across the wan little face and he broke out in another carol；
〃Es kam ein Engel hell und klar vom Himmel zu der Hirten Schaar；〃 and
hugging his Santa Klaus carefully； wandered away down the now brilliant
streets： he did not know he was hungry any more； the angel had come
with good tidings。
As I passed along the streets I could see through the uncurtained
windows that in some houses Christmas had begun already for the little
ones。 Then the bells rang out deep…mouthed； carrying the call of the
eager Church to her children； far up the valley and across the frozen river。
And they answered； the great church was packed from end to end； and
from my place by the door I saw that two tiny Christmas trees bright with
coloured candles burnt either side of the Holy Child。
A blue…black sky ablaze with stars for His glory； a fresh white robe for
stained and tired earth； so we went to Bethlehem in the rare stillness of the
early morning。 The Church； having no stars； had lighted candles； and we
poor sinful men having no white robes of our own had craved them of the
Great King at her hands。
And so in the stillness； with tapers within and stars alight without； with
a white…clad earth； and souls forgiven； the Christ Child came to those who
looked for His appearing。
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The Grey Brethren
A Christmas Idyll
THE Child with the wondering eyes sat on the doorstep； on either side
of her a tramp cat in process of becoming a recognised member of society。
On the flagged path in front the brown brethren were picki