DECEMBER 209 



into the still starlight. The night was 

 clear and cold and the little one must 

 have his fur hood, and the warm cloak 

 must be closely wrapped round him. And 

 they went down the steps into the garden 

 and so across the lawn through the narrow 

 gate into the wild dark wood. And the 

 child's eyes were full of wonder as he saw 

 the great golden stars above the trees, and 

 knew not they were God's eternal word 

 written in the heavens. 



Silently we went on our way. The 

 green moss under our feet, the bare black 

 stems of ancient forest trees rising up on 

 either hand, till we came where two paths 

 crossed, and there, at the entering in of 

 the wood where the fir trees began stood 

 three Angels. They were clad in moon- 

 white raiment, and crowned with roses, 

 pure roses of Paradise, whose far off fra- 

 grance stirred our very heart. 



The countenance of the angels was but 

 dimly seen, by reason of a dazzling glory 

 round their heads yet, it seemed as though 

 they smiled, and beckoned to us with the 

 hand. A gentle wind arose and swayed 



o 



