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by which I felt surrounded。 As the whitened stems environed me； I
thought how the Founder of the time had never raised his benignant
hand； save to bless and heal； except in the case of one unconscious
tree。 By Cobham Hall； I came to the village； and the churchyard
where the dead had been quietly buried； 〃in the sure and certain
hope〃 which Christmas time inspired。 What children could I see at
play； and not be loving of； recalling who had loved them！ No garden
that I passed was out of unison with the day； for I remembered that
the tomb was in a garden； and that 〃she； supposing him to be the
gardener；〃 had said； 〃Sir； if thou have borne him hence； tell me
where thou hast laid him； and I will take him away。〃 In time； the
distant river with the ships came full in view； and with it pictures
of the poor fishermen； mending their nets； who arose and followed
him；of the teaching of the people from a ship pushed off a little
way from shore； by reason of the multitude；of a majestic figure
walking on the water； in the loneliness of night。 My very shadow on
the ground was eloquent of Christmas； for did not the people lay
their sick where the more shadows of the men who had heard and seen
him might fall as they passed along？
Thus Christmas begirt me； far and near； until I had come to
Blackheath； and had walked down the long vista of gnarled old trees
in Greenwich Park； and was being steam…rattled through the mists now
closing in once more； towards the lights of London。 Brightly they
shone； but not so brightly as my own fire； and the brighter faces
around it； when we came together to celebrate the day。 And there I
told of worthy Master Richard Watts； and of my supper with the Six
Poor Travellers who were neither Rogues nor Proctors； and from that
hour to this I have never seen one of them again。
End