Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
black king, and his armed attendants with camels ! How 
tiresome the Camels were ! I shall never forget, losing their 
heads, which we had the utmost difficulty in sticking on 
again with sealing-wax, and a host of little dear shepherds 
with big shady hats, and villagers each bearing an offering 
for the Child. There was the old woman and her basket 
of eggs, the man with the giant pumpkin or melon, the 
little boy with the black cock under his arm, and others. 
These all were set in procession among the rocks and 
trees, and sheep were cunningly disposed on the miniature 
heights and in the valleys, and by the side of the looking- 
glass lake. Then the silver Star was fixed above the shed, 
and how proud we were of the two tiny waxen angels, with 
outspread wings, who hovered (at the end of the two black 
threads) above the thatch ! By the door was St. JosephTn 
a dark purple robe, and St. Anne within, a kneeling figure 
with a white cap, and Mother Mary in her invariable sky- 
blue dress. How we cherished the little Bambino ! he 
was so small he was easily lost, and then where would our 
Creche have been? In Germany they make what are 
called “ Christgartens,” and whole little villages are set 
forth, and churches, and even churchyards, the white 
tombstones being represented in one case I know of by 
Almonds ! 
By rights the music of pipes and carol-singing should 
be the accompaniment to a Creche, but, in default of these 
accessories, Boy insisted upon setting an ancient music-box 
a-going, which reeled forth “ La Grande Duchesse,” “Romeo 
and Juliet,” and “ Vie Parisienne,” winding up with “ Scots 
wha hae wi’ Wallace bled ” as the most appropriate finale , 
somewhat to the amusement of the elders present, but 
entirely to the juvenile contentment. The following carol 
from the Spanish is such as is often sung at a Nacimiento , 
and is a favourite one with Boy : 
See, the Redeemer of all Souls 
Is born to-night in a stable shed ; 
He lies between the ox and ass, 
With hanging cobwebs overhead. 
60 
