HUES OF WINTER 



not attempt to show anything more than the one image. 

 Want of space prevents it. Our ambition, however, finds 

 larger scope in the village Chapel. There Juvenal has built 

 a very noble stable, thatched with heather/ and all the 

 figures of those first scenes of the Greatest Story in the 

 World will take their place this year. 

 Last year the tragedy happened that the St. Joseph and 

 Our Lady/ the Ox and the Ass / the Kings and Shepherds, 

 which had been ordered in secret to surprise every one, 

 remained on the high seas detained by December gales, 

 until too late. But our coming Noel will be the richer for 

 the enforced postponement of the Holy Picture. 



At the last Yuletide the Mistress of Villino was unable, 

 after a long year's illness, to join the family party at 

 Midnight Mass in the village below the hill. (Midnight 

 Mass, be it noted in parenthesis, has an extraordinary 

 charm for the household and indeed for the neighbourhood. 

 And, when all is said and done, it certainly is as picturesque 

 and touching a ceremony as ever men of goodwill are 

 happy to join in. It seems to bring one in direct touch 

 with the simplicity of the shepherds of those far-off hills.) 

 But as the excluded padrona was lying quietly in bed 

 waiting for the sounds of departure, she was touched and 

 charmed to hear the strains of a carol rising softly from 

 the terrace beneath her windows : 



See ami d the winter's snou), 

 Born for us on earth below, 

 See, the tender Lamb appears, 

 Promised from eternal years ! 



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