Part 1

Children of Christmas

_AND OTHERS_

BY

EDITH M. THOMAS

_Author of "The Dancers and Other Legends and Lyrics" "Cassia and Other Verse"_

BOSTON RICHARD G. BADGER The Gorham Press 1907

_Copyright, 1907, by Edith M. Thomas_

_All Rights Reserved_

_The Gorham Press, Boston_

I

_CHILDREN OF CHRISTMAS_

_CONTENTS_

I

_CHILDREN OF CHRISTMAS_

_Cradle Song_ _How Many_ _Her Christmas Present_ _A Christmas Spy_ _Refreshments for Santa Claus_ _How the Christmas Tree was brought to Nome_ _Holly and Mistletoe_ _The Firebrand_ _The Foundling_ _Meeting the Kings_ _The Procession of the Kings_ _Melchior's Ride_ _One of the Twelve_ _The Witch's Child_ _Babushka_ _A Christmas Offering_ _Christmas Post_ _The Christmas Sheaf_ _The Birds on the Christmas Sheaf_ _What the Pine Trees Said_ _Two Child Angels_ _The Old Doll_

II

_OTHER CHILDREN_

_The Apple-blossom Switch_ _The Indignant Baby_ _A Question of Spelling_ "_Yours Severely_" _A Lack of Attention_ "_I Ought to Mustn't_" _A Vain Regret_ _In the Dark Little Flat_ _The Little Girl from Town_ _For Every Day_ _The Day-Dreamer_ _Born Deaf, Dumb, and Blind_ _The Cradle-Child_ _Some Ladies of the Olden Time_ _A Water-Lily_ _The Kinderbank_ _Buonamico_ _The Prince and the Whipping-Boy_ _Master Corvus_ "_P. Abbott_" _The Giant's Daughter_ _Erotion and the Dove_ _The Homesick Soldier_ _The Cossack Mother_ _The Blossom-Child_ _The Clock of the Year_

III

_SOME OF THEIR FRIENDS_

_The Young of Spring_ _The Triumph of the Brown Thrush_ _Day--Wide Day!_ _The Blossoms of To-morrow_ _The Nest in the Heather_ _Lady Grove (Silver Birches)_ _Shadow Brook_ _The Brook and the Bird_ _The Birds of Soleure_ _The Prairie Nest_ _The Moving of the Nest_ _The Widowed Eagle_ _The Chicadee_ _The Earth-Mother and her Children_ "_When the Leaves are Gone_" _The First Thanksgiving_ "_Mascots_" _Mother Fur_ _What the Cat-Mother Said_ _What the Bird-Mother Said_ _What the Friends of Both Said_ _The Little Brown Bat_ _The Lost Charter_ _The Saving of Jack_ _Skye of Skye_ _Tip's Kitten_ _The King of Cats_ _Waifs_ _Frost-Flowers of the Pavement_ _Stars of the Snow_ _June in the Sky_ _Mother Earth_ _The Rain Rains Every Day_ _The Good By_

CRADLE SONG

_For one Born at Christmas_

Happy thou, a winter comer, Happier with the snows around thee Than if rosy-fingered summer In thy cradle-nest had crowned thee.

Tender is the night, and holy: Little clouds, like cherub faces, Up the moon path, drifting slowly, Vanish in the heavenly spaces.

Clothed in splendor, past our earth night, Sphere on sphere is chanting _Nowel_: Child, thy birthnight keeps a Birthnight Dearest in all Time's bestowal!

He who slept within a manger Guards the pillow thou art pressing-- Sent thee hither, little stranger, Blest--to be our Christmas Blessing!

HOW MANY

Resting her curly head on my knee, And slipping her small hand into mine, My baby girl asks how many there'll be On Christmas day when we dine.

Though I've told her before, and she knows very well, "There'll be grandpa and grandma," I repeat, And Uncle Charlie and Aunt Estelle And Cousin Marguerite.

And Uncle Philip and Cousin Kate, And mamma's old friend, Miss Madeline; And--let me see--ah, yes, that is eight, And Mr. Brownell makes nine!

As I close my story I hear a sigh, The curly head closer nestles, and then, In a sad little voice, "How many are I?" "My darling! At least you are ten!"

HER CHRISTMAS PRESENT

_A True Incident_

With doll in arms to court she came,-- A mite of tender years Between her sobs she put the case, Her eyes brimmed up with tears.

"They've put my mamma into jail-- And oh, I love her so! She's very good--my mamma is-- Please, won't you let her go?"

"Just look! She made this doll for me" (She held it up to view). The judge did look. "Don't cry," he said, "We'll see what we can do."

"What charge against the prisoner, clerk?" "Sold apples in the street. She had no license, and, when fined, The fine she could not meet."

"My mamma's good. Please, let her go." The judge looked down and smiled; "So well you've pleaded, she shall be Your Christmas Present, child."

"Now take this paper, little one, It sets your mother free. She should be very proud of you; Go, tell her so, from me."

With doll in arms away she went, And soon the prison gained; And when her mother clasped her close, The happy child explained:

"A kind, good man like Santa Claus, With hair as white as snow, He let you out because--because I asked him too, you know!"

A CHRISTMAS SPY

When Poebe brought the wood and coal; To lay the fire, what did she see But Baby--dropped upon one knee And peering up the chimney-hole!

She never turned her little head, With all its curly, yellow hair: I asked, "What are you doing there?" "Me look for Santa Taus!" she said.

REFRESHMENTS FOR SANTA CLAUS

"It may be late and stormy and cold When Santa Claus reaches our street; And Santa, you know, is very old, So I'll leave him something to eat."

"And what do you think he would like, dear heart," "Something nice and sweet," she said; "Jelly and jam, and a cranberry tart, And a _teenty_ piece of bread!"

So there on the sideboard is Santa's feast, Which her own small hands have spread; Jelly and jam,--three kinds at least, And a tart--but _where is the bread_?"

HOW THE CHRISTMAS TREE WAS BROUGHT TO NOME

Night of the winter--winter and night in the city of Nome, There where the many are dwelling, but no man yet has a home! Desolate league upon league, ice-pack and tundra and hill; And the dark of the year when the gold-hunter's rocker and dredge are still!

By the fire that is no man's hearth,--by the fire more precious than gold,-- They are passing the time as they may, encompassed by storm and by cold: And their talk is of pay-streak and bedrock, of claim by seashore or creek, Of the brigantine fast in the ice-pack this many and many a week; Wraiths of the mist and the snow encumber her canvas and deck,-- And the Eskimos swear that a crew out of ghostland are crowding the wreck!

Thus, in the indolent dark of the year, in the city of Nome, They were passing the time as they might, but ever their thoughts turned home. Said the Man from the East, "In God's country now (where we'd all like to be), You may bet your life there's a big boom on for the Christmas Tree; And we'd have one here, but there isn't a shrub as high as my hand, Nor the smell of spruce, for a hundred miles, in all this land!"

Then the Man from the South arose: "I allow, if the Tree could be found, I'd 'tend to the fruit myself, and stand ye a treat all round!" "Done!" said the Man from the West (the youngest of all was he). "I'll lose my claim in the ruby sand--or I'll find the Tree!"

The restless Aurora is waving her banners wide through the dome, And the Man from the West is off, while yet they are sleeping in Nome! Off, ere the low-browed dawn, with Eskimo, sledge, and team: He is leaving the tundra behind, he is climbing the source of the stream! On, beyond Sinrock--on, while the miles and the dim hours glide-- On, toward the evergreen belt that darkens the mountain side! 'Tis a hundred miles or more; but his team is strong, is swift, And brief are his slumbers at night, in the lee of the feathery drift!

* * * * *

There were watchful eyes, there were anxious hearts in the city of Nome; And they cheered with a will when the Man from the West with his prize came home! And they cheered again for the Christmas Tree that was brought from far, Chained to his sledge, like a king of old to the conqueror's car!

Said the Man from the South, "I'll 'tend to the fruit that grows on the Tree!" Said the Man from the East, "Leave the Christmas dinner and trimmings to me!"

HOLLY AND MISTLETOE

Said the Holly to the Mistletoe: "Of this holy-tide what canst know,-- Thou a pagan--thou Of the leafless bough? My leaves are green, my scarlet berries shine At thought of things divine!"

To the Holly spake the Mistletoe: "Matters not, my leafless boughs but show Berries pale as pearl-- Ask yon boy and girl! If human mirth and love be not some sign Of share in things divine!"

THE FIREBRAND (_Northern Ohio, Christmas Eve, 1804_)

Hark to a story of Christmas Eve In the lonely days of yore: 'Tis of the measureless, savage woods By the great lake's windy shore-- Of mother and child, in a firelit span, Where the wilderness bows to the toil of man!

"Christmas is coming, and father'll be here; Through the woods he is coming, I know! Over his shoulder his ax is laid, And his beard is white with snow! Yes, but look in the fire, my child, At the strange cities there, so bright and so wild!"

"Mother, what are those restless flames That close by the window pass?" "Only the firelight fairies, child, That dance on the window-glass! But look, how the sparks up the chimney fly, Up, and away, to the snowy sky!"

"Oh, listen, what are those shuddering cries,-- Mother, what can they be?" "Only the branches that grate on the roof, When the wind bends down the tree! Now sing me the song I've taught to you, That I, myself, as a little child knew!"

"But, mother, those flames dart back and forth-- Like balls of fire they play! And those shuddering cries are at the door; '_You must let us in_,' they say!"-- "My child! Your father's whistle I hear-- Say a prayer for him--he is coming near!"

She has seized the tongs, she has snatched a brand, And waved it abroad at the door! Through the drifting snow a form she sees-- He is safe, in a moment more; Safe--and afar are those shuddering cries, And the baleful lights of the _wolves' red eyes_!

Thus did it chance on a Christmas Eve, In the days that are long since fled; But a light so brave, and a gleam so true, Through the waste of the years is shed, As I think of that blazing, windblown brand, Waved at the door by a slim, white hand!

THE FOUNDLING

I

The good man sat before the fire, And oftentimes he sighed; The good wife softly wept the while Her evening work she plied: One year ago this happy time The little Marie died!

II

"And surely, now, if she had lived, She would have reached my knee!" "And surely, now, if she had lived, How cunning would she be!" In fancy each a darling face Beside their hearth could see.

III

The door swung wide--a gust of wind The fitful candle blew; 'Twas Franz, the awkward stable-boy, His clattering step they knew. "But Franz, speak up, speak up, and tell What thing has chanced to you!"

IV

His round blue eyes with wonder shone, His bashful fears had fled: "I saw--I saw the cattle kneel Upon their strawy bed; And in a manger lay the Child-- A light shone round His head!"

V

"He must have dreamed," the good man said, "A vision, it would seem." "Nay, master, for the light shone bright On stall and loft and beam." Then said the good wife, "I, perhaps, Might go and dream this dream!"

VI

No further words, but forth she fared, With Franz to lead the way. They reached the barn, whose sagging door Shot out a yellow ray; The kine did kneel upon the straw, As truthful Franz did say!

VII

And there--oh, lovely, lovely sight, Oh, pleading, tender sight! Within a manger, lapped in hay, A smiling, rosy mite The good wife saw, and nearer held The lantern's yellow light.

VIII

She took the foundling in her arms, And on its sleeping face Her tears and kisses fell in one: "How great is Heaven's grace! It is the Christ-Child's gift to me, To ease the aching place!"

MEETING THE KINGS

(_Suggested by "A Provençal Christmas Postscript," Thomas A. Janvier_)

Long, long ago, in dear Provence, we three! Three children, ruddy with the _midi_ sun (And blither none the all-seeing sun might see), How happy when the harvest-time was done, The last slow drop from out the winepress run; And when the frost at morn was thick like snow; And when Clotilde at evening sang and spun, And old folk, by the new fire's ruddy glow, Would tell, as I do now, the tales of long ago!

Those tales--ah, most of all, we begged to hear The tales our grandsires from their grandsires had-- How, in the darkening undertime of year, When with first-fallen snow the fields were clad, That blessèd time when nothing can be sad (Such peace through Christ's dear might encircles all), How, then, the sleeping hives made murmur glad-- The white ox knelt within his littered stall, And voices strange and sweet were heard through heaven to call!

We were three children--René, Pierre, Annette. The little sister listened, wonder-eyed; Each held her hand (that touch, I feel it yet!), And all three drank those tales of Christmas tide. The leaden-footed time how shall we bide? How many days and hours we know full well, Almost the little minutes that divide! Meanwhile, like music of a hidden bell, Our beating hearts keep up the chime, _Noël_, _Noël_!

One thing there was, desired above all things: "Say, will they come (as ever from of old)-- The wise, the good, the three great Eastern Kings, Who brought rich gifts,--frankincense, myrrh, and gold?" How often of their names had we been told-- Balthasar, Melchior, Gaspard,--splendid all, Wide-turbaned, sandal-shod, and purple-stoled, Perhaps upon white steeds, curbed-in, and tall, Or else on camels with the velvet-soft footfall!

"Will they at vespers be, on Holy Night? And will they stop and see the little shrine Where Jesus lies beneath the Star's true light, As when, at first, they found him by that sign?" "Hush, René, hush! and if the eve be fine, Thou--yes, all three--shall go to meet the Kings. But children--mark ye well these words of mine! Each way, of four, to town the traveler brings; So it may chance ye miss them in your wanderings."

Such sage replies our questions would receive. The Holy Time drew near, and yet more near; At last, it was the morning of the Eve, All day we swayed from lovely hope to fear. "'Too early?' Nay, 'tis twilight, mother dear-- At least, so very soon the sun will set!" "Your warmest coats--the air is sharp and clear. And in your hurry, children, don't forget That baby feet tire soon--remember p'tite Annette!"

"No, no! I do not tire, though fast I run!" Ah, how we laughed to see the red lips pout-- The small sweet pride that would not be outdone In such a race, by brothers big and stout! "Annette the first shall see the Kings, no doubt"-- It was our grandsire spake with twinkling eye. "Yes, yes; she shall," impatient to be out, We answered. Once beneath the deepening sky, We ever took the sunset way--as late birds thither fly!

For thus we reasoned with one grave consent: If yonder star above our mountain's crest Should be that Eastern star for guidance lent, Then must the Kings be journeying from the West. So on we ran, past harvest fields at rest, Past sheepfolds where the flock of summer dreamed (Full soon they would be kneeling, as we guessed!) And on, and on--and now, at times, it seemed Far down the twilight road rich banners waved and gleamed.

But ever of enchanted weft they proved, On sunset's pageant field emblazoned low; And caravans, still moving as we moved, At length, for straggling olive trees would show. Then, while less confident our pace would grow, Wiser than I--a twelvemonth and a day, Would René counsel: Might it not be so-- As we had heard our own dear mother say-- _The roads are four_--the Kings had come another way?

No time to lose. We took the homeward track, The Kings at vespers might be lingering still. Soon were we in the church. Alack, alack! The Kings had passed; for though they bore good will To our good parish, yet must they fulfil The prayers of all; and there were other folk Who, if unvisited, would take it ill. "'Tis said they must reach Arle by midnight stroke; Sweet spices they have left--judge by the censer's smoke!"

We boys took manfully this frown of Fate; But tears stood in petite Annette's blue eyes. "Another year, my precious,--thou canst wait; Besides, to-morrow morn a fine surprise There'll be for children who are sage and wise. Gifts--but I may not tell you now, my child."-- 'Twas mother-love that did such cure devise For bud-nipped hopes and hearts unreconciled; We slept, and dreamed, on this--and then, the morning smiled!

Time passed. We never saw the Kings. Ah, well-- At least the two of us saw not, I know. But how shall I the wonder of it tell? There came a winter wild and dim with snow. It seemed to us that sheeted ghosts did go Upon the wind, that never ceased to moan. And one of us with fever was laid low: Like leaves the little hands were tossed and thrown, And on her cheek the rose of fever was o'erblown!

The storm was done. The day threw off its shroud-- ('Twas Christmas Eve--till then by all forgot), And suddenly, across a scarp of cloud One crimson flame, a parting sunbeam shot. It reached Annette upon the low, white cot, It touched our mother's face, Madonna-mild. With dreaming eyes that saw us, yet saw not, Petite Annette threw out her hand and smiled: "Pierre! The Kings have come, and with them is a Child!"

Long, long ago in dear Provence was grief. In vain the troubadour may sing Noël! In vain the birds give thanks for Christmas sheaf, In vain I heard, "God loved Annette so well That He hath taken her to heaven to dwell." No comfort till René would whisper me: "O brother, think upon it--who can tell?-- Perhaps there was no other way, to _see_! And, Pierre, remember how she told the news to thee!"

THE PROCESSION OF THE KINGS

The little town is muffled all in snow; Yet there _Weihnachten_[1] love is burning clear. And on each door three letters[2] in a row Proclaim the Three Kings' Day is drawing near.

Oh, then will Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar Ride through the country on their horses white! And all the people, live they far or near, Will early rise and follow with delight.

And never will the great procession stop Till they Christkindlein and his mother greet: Then on their knees the turbaned kings will drop, And fill her lap with gifts, and kiss his feet;

For they will find her, sitting still and meek Upon a bench beside some stable-shed, Her soft hair brushing dear Christkindlein's cheek, And sunshine brightness all around each head!

Then, while the old folk smile through happy tears, Blame not the children if a shout they raise When little _Esel_,[3] with his pointed ears, Leans o'er the fence with puzzled, wistful gaze.

There, too, the gentle, great black ox will stand: Folk say he knelt at night in strawy stall; Perchance he knows these kings from Eastern land, For now he lifts his head with lowing call!

[1] _Weihnachten_--Christmas

[2] In many parts of Southern Germany it is a custom to place on the outer door the initials of the three kings--C. M. B.

[3] _Esel_--German for "donkey,"

MELCHIOR'S RIDE

Melchior rides from door to door, Large Christmas doles he seeks; A pannier wide receives the store, Yet never a word he speaks!

The _nougat_ bells so merrily ring Yet never a note he hears; He gathers the gifts the good folk bring, And onward still he steers.

The children laugh, and the children chaff, He sits so stiff and straight, And grandpère waves, with his thorn-tree staff, A greeting at the gate!

Olives and almonds, and cheese and bread, And the pack on his back grows stout! Let the hungry poor to their fill be fed, While the _nougat_ bells ring out.

Thus, Melchior rides from door to door, Seeking of all his fee; And their presents into his pannier pour, Yet never a whit cares he!

For a wicker-work man is Melchior droll, A wicker-work man, and no more; But the people love him, with heart and soul, As he rides from door to door!

ONE OF THE TWELVE

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

_From the Provençal of Roumanille_

"Great stir among the shepherd folk; To Bethlehem they go, To worship there a God whose head On straw is laid full low; Upon the lovely newborn Child Their gifts will they bestow.

"But I, who am as poor as Job-- A widowed mother I, Who for my little son's sweet sake For alms to all apply-- Ah, what have I that I can take The Child of Love most high?

"Thy cradle and thy pillow, too, My little lamb forlorn, Thou sorely needest them--no, no, I cannot leave thee shorn! I cannot take them to the God That in the straw was born."

Oh, miracle! The nursing babe-- The babe e'en as he fed-- Smiled in his tender mother's face, And, "Go, go quick!" he said; "To Jesus, to my Saviour, take My kisses and my bed."

The mother, all thrilled through and through, To heaven her hands did raise; She gave the babe her breast, then took The cradle--went her ways,... And now, at Bethlehem arrived, To Mary Mother says:

"O Mary, Pearl of Paradise, That heaven on earth hath shed, O Virgin Mother, hear the word My little babe hath said: To Jesus, to my Saviour, take My kisses and my bed.

"Here, Mary, here the cradle is; Thy need is more than mine; Receive, and in it lay thy Son, Messiah all-divine! And let me kiss, upon my knees, That darling Babe of thine!"

The blessed Virgin, then, at once, Right glad of heart, bent low, And in the cradle laid her Child, And kissed him, doing so. Then with his foot St. Joseph rocked The cradle to and fro.

"Now, thanks to thee, good woman, thanks, For this that thou hast done." Thus say they both, with friendly looks. "Of thanks I merit none; Yet, holy Mother, pity me, For sake of thy dear Son."

Since then a happy soul was hers; God's blessing on her fell; One of the Twelve her child became, That with our Lord did dwell. Thus was this story told to me, Which I afar would tell.

THE WITCH'S CHILD

'Tis Elfinell--a witch's child, From holy minster banned.... Again the old glad bells ring out Through all the Christmas land.