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from his long sleep, rose in their midst, beckoned them 

 to follow him, and, all to meet round the cemetery- 

 cross, to join in reciting the prayers of the nativity. 

 This over, each one indulged in a glance at the hamlet 

 of which he was once an inmate, surveyed his former 

 dwelling, then all vanished ; the silent grave reclaimed 

 its tenants. " I was then too young, " he adds, " to 

 attempt climbing the mountain-brow to witness such 

 thrilling spectacles. My father owned no stables ; the 

 only domestic animal we possessed was a tortoise-shell 

 cat which had not a word to say. " 



" I can recollect the Swedish Christmas ; it is named 

 Julnat, that is, the night of the wheel, because at 

 that season of the year the sun's wheel turns towards 

 the winter solstice. This name is an old Scandinavian 

 designation, dating as far back as the pagan era ; but 

 at present the Christian holiday is observed in a Chris- 

 tian-like way, and recalls many pleasant memories. 

 Julnat is an idle time for the diet; the law courts are 

 closed ; business ceases, to allow families to re-unite 

 from afar. The thoroughfares resound with the tinkle 

 of sleigh-bells and noise of vehicles bringing home 

 youths and maidens to the paternal roof. It is a brisk 

 time for match-making, family re- unions and pleasant 

 surprises ; an aged couple will be deploring the absence 

 of a cherished son from the family group, when possibly 

 a jingle of bells is heard at the house door, and joyful 

 accents proclaim the arrival of the looked-for guest, 

 who possibly has braved the wintry blast to take his 

 share at the Julnat. 



Then is the time of the verdant Christmas tree 

 exposed to view on a lofty table, bright with flaming 

 tapers, typefying the celestial light, which has spread 

 from the manger, at Bethlehem, to the whole world. It 

 is studded with the offerings selected by the good 

 house-wife for her guests ; the eve of the Julnat the 

 dwellings in cities and villages are aglow with lighted 

 tapers, hung on the Christmas tree. The poorest Swede 



