the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第2章
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for it； and for days we had lived to the merry jangle and clang of
innumerable sleigh bells； in a white and frost…bound world。 As I passed
through the streets； crowded with stolidly admiring peasants from the
villages round； I caught the dear remembered 'Gruss Gott！' and 'All' Heil！'
of the countryside； which town life quickly stamps out along with many
other gentle observances。
〃Gelobt sei Jesu Christ！〃 cried little Sister Hilarius； coming on me
suddenly at a corner； her round face aglow with the sharp air； her arms
filled with queer…shaped bundles。 She begs for her sick poor as she goes
along … meat here； some bread there； a bottle of good red wine： I fancy
few refuse her。 She nursed me once； the good little sister； with unceasing
care and devotion； and all the dignity of a scant five feet。 〃Ach； Du
lieber Gott； such gifts！〃 she added； with a radiant smile； and vanished up a
dirty stairway。
In the Quergasse a jay fell dead at my feet … one of the many birds
which perished thus … he had flown townwards too late。 Up at the
Jagdschloss the wild creatures； crying a common truce of hunger； trooped
each day to the clearing by the Jager's cottage for the food spread for them。
The great tusked boar of the Taunus with his brother of Westphalia； the
timid roe deer with her scarcely braver mate； foxes； hares； rabbits；
feathered game； and tiny songbirds of the woods； gathered fearlessly
together and fed at the hand of their common enemy … a millennial banquet
truly。
The market…place was crowded； and there were Christmas trees
everywhere； crying aloud in bushy nakedness for their rightful fruit。 The
old peasant women； rolled in shawls； with large handkerchiefs tied over
their caps； warmed their numb and withered hands over little braziers
while they guarded the gaily decked treasure…laden booths； from whose
pent…roofs Father Winter had hung a fringe of glittering icicles。
Many of the stalls were entirely given over to Christmas…tree
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splendours。 Long trails of gold and silver ENGELSHAAR； piles of
candles … red； yellow； blue； green； violet； and white … a rainbow of the
Christian virtues and the Church's Year； boxes of frost and snow； festoons
of coloured beads； fishes with gleaming scales； glass…winged birds； Santa
Klaus in frost…bedecked mantle and scarlet cap； angels with trumpets set to
their waxen lips； and everywhere and above all the image of the Holy
Child。 Sometimes it was the tiny waxen Bambino； in its pathetic
helplessness； sometimes the Babe Miraculous； standing with outstretched
arms awaiting the world's embrace … Mary's Son； held up in loving hands
to bless； or the Heavenly Child…King with crown and lily sceptre； borne
high by Joseph； that gentle； faithful servitor。 It was the festival of
Bethlehem； feast of never…ending keeping； which has its crowning
splendour on Christmas Day。
A Sister passed with a fat； rosy little girl in either hand； they were
chattering merrily of the gift they were to buy for the dear Christkind； the
gift which Sister said He would send some ragged child to receive for Him。
They came back to the poor booth close to where I was standing。 It was
piled with warm garments； and after much consultation a little white vest
was chosen … the elder child rejected pink； she knew the Christkind would
like white best … then they trotted off down a narrow turning to the church；
and I followed。
The Creche stood without the chancel； between the High Altar and that
of Our Lady of Sorrows。 It was very simple。 A blue paper background
spangled with stars； a roughly thatched roof supported on four rude posts；
at the back； ox and ass lying among the straw with which the ground was
strewn。 The figures were life…size； of carved and painted wood： Joseph；
tall and dignified； stood as guardian； leaning on his staff； Mary knelt with
hands slightly uplifted in loving adoration； and the Babe lay in front on a
truss of straw disposed as a halo。 It was the World's Child； and the
position emphasised it。 Two or three hard…featured peasants knelt telling
their beads； and a group of children with round； blue eyes and stiff； flaxen
pigtails； had gathered in front； and were pointing and softly whispering。
My little friends trotted up； crossed themselves； it was evidently the little
one's first visit。
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〃Guck！ guck mal an；〃 she cried； clapping her fat gloved hands； 〃sieh
mal an das Wickelkind！〃
〃Dass ist unser Jesu；〃 said the elder； and the little one echoed 〃Unser
Jesu； unser Jesu！〃
Then the vest was brought out and shown … why not； it was the
Christchild's own？ … and the pair trotted away again followed by the bright；
patient Sister。 Presently everyone clattered out； and I was left alone at
the crib of Bethlehem； the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven。
It was my family； my only family； but like the ever…widening circle on
the surface of a lake into which a stone has been flung； here； from this
great centre； spread the wonderful ever…widening relationship … the real
brotherhood of the world。 It is at the Crib that everything has its
beginning； not at the Cross； and it is only as little children that we can
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven。
When I went out again into the streets it was nearly dark。 Anxious
mothers hurried past on late； mysterious errands； papas who were not
wanted until the last moment chatted gaily to each other at street corners；
and exchanged recollections； maidservants hastened from shop to shop
with large baskets already heavily laden； and the children were
everywhere； important with secrets； comfortably secure in the knowledge
of a tree behind the parlour doors； and a kindly； generous Saint who knew
all their wants； and needed no rod THIS year。
One little lad； with a pinched white face； and with only an empty
certainty to look forward to； was singing shrilly in the sharp； still air； 〃Zu
Bethlehem geboren； ist uns ein Kindelein；〃 as he gazed wistfully at a shop
window piled high with crisp gingerbread； marzipan； chocolate under
every guise； and tempting cakes。 A great rough peasant coming out； saw
him； turned back； and a moment later thrust a gingerbread Santa Klaus；
with currant eyes and sugar trimming to his coat and cap； into the half…
fearful little hands。 〃Hab' ebenso ein Kerlchen zu Haus'；〃 he said to me
apologetically as he passed。
I waited to see Santa Klaus disappear； but no； the child looked at the
cake； sighed deeply with the cruel effort of resistance； and refrained。 It
was all his Christmas and he would keep it。 He gazed and gazed； then a
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smile rippled across the wan little face and he broke out in another carol；
〃Es kam ein Engel hell und klar vom Himmel zu der Hirten Schaar；〃 and
hugging his Santa Klaus carefully； wandered away down the now brilliant
streets： he did not know he was hungry any more； the angel had come
with good tidings。
As I passed along the streets I could see through the uncurtained
windows that in some houses Christmas had begun already for the little
ones。 Then the bells rang out deep…mouthed； carrying the call of the
eager Church to her children； far up the valley and across the frozen river。
And they answered； the great church was packed from end to end； and
from my place by the door I saw that two tiny Christmas trees bright with
coloured candles burnt either side of the Holy Child。
A blue…black sky ablaze with stars for His glory； a fresh white robe for
stained and tired earth； so we went to Bethlehem in the rare stillness of the
early morning。 The Church； having no stars； had lighted candles； and we
poor sinful men having no white robes of our own had craved them of the
Great King at her hands。
And so in the stillness； with tapers within and stars alight without； with
a white…clad earth； and souls forgiven； the Christ Child came to those who
looked for His appearing。
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A Christmas Idyll
THE Child with the wondering eyes sat on the doorstep； on either side
of her a tramp cat in process of becoming a recognised member of society。
On the flagged path in front the brown brethren were picking up crumbs。
The cats' whiskers trembled； but they sat still； proudly virtuous； and
conscious each of a large saucer of warm milk within。
〃What；〃 said the Child； 〃is a symbol？〃
The cats looked grave。
The Child rose； went into the house； and returned with a well…
thumbed brown book。 She turned the pages thoughtfully； and read aloud；
presumably for the benefit of the cats： 〃In a symbol there is concealment
yet revelation； the infinite is made to blend with the finite； to stand visible；
and as it were attainable there。〃 The Child sighed； 〃We had better go to the
Recluse；〃 she said。 So the three went。
It was a cold； clear； bright day； a typical Christmas Eve。 There was a
carpet of crisp snow on the ground； and a fringe of icicles hung from every
vantage…point。 The cats； not having been accustomed to the deli
