CHRISTMAS 195 



one thoughtful, to make one thankful, too, for 

 home and friends and country, and a future that 

 could be earned, where the white folds of useful- 

 ness and purity would cover man's inheritance 

 of selfishness and passion. 



For an hour I watched the big flakes fall ; 

 and, as I watched, I dreamed the dream of peace 

 for all the world. The" brazen trumpet of war 

 was a thing of the past. The white dove of 

 peace had built her nest in the cannon's mouth 

 and stopped its awful roar. The federation of 

 the world was secured by universal intelligence 

 and community of interest. Envy and selfish- 

 ness and hypocrisy, and evil doing and evil 

 speaking, were deeply covered by the snowy 

 mantle that brought " peace on earth and good 

 will to men." 



My dream was not dispelled by any rude 

 awakening. As the house threw off the fetters 

 of the night and gradually struggled into activity, 

 it was in such a fresh and loving manner arid 

 with such thoughtful solicitude for each member 

 of our world, that I walked in my dream all 

 day. 



The snow fell rapidly till noon, and then the 

 sun came forth from the veil of clouds and cast 

 its southern rays across the white expanse with 

 an effect that drew exclamations of delight from 

 all who had eyes to see. No wind stirred the 

 air, but ever and anon a bright avalanche would 

 slide from bough or bush, sparkle and gleam as 



