"Where is my hat?" said Alfred, promptly, "I am going home." A shout of laughter drowned his voice; the crowd flocked round him, and linking hands, intimated that escape was impossible. His remonstrances and excuses were alike unheeded; the public were inexorable, and with a deep groan he was compelled to promise to try. "Now, then," said Mr. Leyden, pitying the blank expression of his countenance, "to give him inspiration strike up a Christmas carol. Mary, you begin." Mary glanced at Margaret, who nodded assent, and they immediately commenced a favorite passage in Handel which they had already sung together. Their voices blended gracefully in unison, but Alfred still looked uninspired. Miss Armadale caught a look of entreaty from the Vicar, in reply to which she suddenly broke into that exquisite piece, "How beautiful are the feet!"-pouring forth her rich and highly-cultivated voice in tones of such sweetness, the whole party became hushed with attention. Alfred's color rose, and his eye began to kindle: his fears became merged in excitement-his loftier self awoke superior,—and as the harmony gradually died away, he stood erect in the midst of the circle: and without check or hesitation commenced as follows: "Children of the earth-young and old-listen to the song of Christmas! "I am come among you again; with my fresh keen blast, and my holly-bough, and the snow crackling beneath my feet, and the hoar-frost dripping from my hair;—and I see around me again the sight I love to see-the bounding step, and the merry laugh, and the warm-pressing handand the lip that quivers with remembered blessing: and the heart that glows with good deeds done, kept there for God alone. I see the blazing log, and the plentiful board, and the throng of friendly faces: I hear my name echoed as a watchword of rejoicing, and I feel that I am loved as And is this all? ever. "Children of the earth-revellers at the feast-listen to the song of Christmas! "Was it only for this that I came among you first? only to crown your banquets with jubilee? Was it that the Yulee log might burn, and the wassail-bowl might foam, and the table be crowned with plenty-that they who feasted all the year round should feast still higher to-day? Is there nothing nobler in my cheering voice-nothing holier in my song of joy--than the mirth that blazes for an hour, or the dissipation that will weary you to-morrow? Children of the earth-triflers with reality-listen to the song of Christmas! "When I came among you first, ye were a sorrowing race: the winter came and went again, but brought no blessing with it—the sun looked down upon you with pity, but kindled you not to praise-ye had no Saviour-ye knew no God! I broke this chain of darkness-I let in this glorious light-I said to the Eastern shepherds, Rejoice!—to the wise men, Your King is waiting! I brought on the wings of my glorious message the blessings of the Father of spirits, and shed them down like dew upon your path, that ye might be glad in the joy of your salvation. I shed peace on your consciences-comfort in your tribulations-light on the way wherein ye should walk-hope on the bed whereon ye must die-all this I did—yea, and greater than this, when I told you your Saviour was born! "Children of the earth-ransomed of the Cross lister to the song of Christmas! "The wilderness and the solitary place are glad because of me; the desert has rejoiced, and blossomed as the rose : -fruit has sprung up in the wastee-places of the earth, and well-springs from the rock and stone! There has gone forth a voice like an angel's trump, from which sorrow and mourning flee away, and every note of its thrilling melody repeats the Redeemer's name! Well then may ye rejoice, for whom that name was given; fill up your cup with gladness-pour forth your voices in song-the utmost ye can give will fall short of the due amount, of the gratitude and praise He has deserved at your hands. Be glad, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God-he has crowned the year with goodness-He has glorified the earth with deliverance: if ye should rejoice in the Lord alway, above all should ye do so now; only take heed that ye rejoice aright-that Christmas drown not the name of Christ: that in the joy of the Savior's birth, ye neglect not His great salvation! "Children of the earth, probationers for eternity listen to the song of Christmas! "Shall the children of the bride-chamber feast, only when the Bridegroom is not with them? shall the sons of the heavenly inheritance shrink from their native air? Shall the Prince's birthday be kept as an universal jubilee, and the Prince Himself be banished from the gladness His birth has given? Will ye fill the bowl with merriment, and heap the board with hospitality, and in your eager gathering of the earthly blessings, the fallen leaves of the Tree of Life, given indeed for the healing of the nations, but not sufficient for their immortal sustenance,-pass over the fruit of holiness and grace, as though no tears had been shed, no blood been poured, to quench the flaming sword of the Cherubim ? "Children of the earth, exiles from Eden's bowers, listen to the song of Christmas! "Is it such a feast that I have chosen a day for a man to forget his soul? is it to choke up his gratitude with selfindulgence, and to shackle his religion with worldly bonds? Wilt thou call this a feast, and an acceptable day unto the Lord? Is not this the feast that I have chosen-to break off the yoke of sin; to crush the head of evil habits; to lay up comfort against the evil hour, and gather blessing and gladness that fade not away? To give with both hands liberally; to love with the whole heart fervently; to press onward, onward still, in the pathway of joyful obedience, bringing heart and soul and strength and intellect as offerings to the Bridegroom's table; and drinking here on earth of the cup of felicity, that shall crown the marriage supper of the Lamb? 66 "O Star of the glorious east-bright harbinger of salvation! first missionary of Gospel truth to the dark Gentile world; thou before whose meteor radiance the Persian's deity paled its ineffectual fire ;-shine forth among us again, but for one passing hour, to teach us by what mysterious eloquence thou didst reach the heart of man! Did the spheres lend thee music? all new-born as thou wast, and unknown to the Chaldean's records, did Heaven gift thee with a preacher's voice to call the heathen to their God: so that when night unto night showeth knowledge, it might show it with an angel's tongue? How didst thou pierce those triple folds of pride, superstition, and indolence, that girt each learned Magian's breast as with an adamantine shield, bidding them cease their sidereal visions, and quench their devotional and perverted fire; and gather up their gold and frankincense and myrrh, to bear over the hills and plains, to the homeless cradle of a new-born child? Speak but thus once more! not to Heathens, but to Christians, not to those who never heard the Saviour's name, but to those who in that name are sealed for hard are their hearts and dull are their ears, as though that name had never sounded at all! “Children of the earth, wild olives of the Gentile : listen to the song of Christmas! "Yes, there are hearts that love Him, and find their joy in His favor: a joy wherewith no stranger intermeddleth, and which no stranger can understand. Who are they that wake the Nativity morning with the loudest and sweetest carols that fill the Lord's courts with beaming faces, and bring the brightest smile and happiest laugh for the meeting of affection at home? Who but they to whom my annual return is a pledge of their purchased security, and who feel as each year glides away beneath my wing, that they are only so much nearer to heaven? Who but they that go from house to house, where the poor man is too desolate to smile; lighting up the empty hearth and covering the starving board, and giving the naked clothing, and finding the destitute a home: that every suffering member of the great redeemed family may be glad on the birthday of their Brother? Yes, to you I turn, ye sowers and reapers of mercy: your mirth shall not turn to heaviness, nor your sacrifice be counted a mockery for the joy of the Lord is your shield and strength, and the God of the poor man is a guest at your feast of love! "Children of the earth, heirs of immortality: listen to the song of Christmas!" CHAPTER IX. A letter forged! St. Jude to speed! SCOTT. It was late before Mrs. Crawford and her party returned home that night; and sadly did Miss Martin, to whom late hours were a penance, rue the assumed honors that inflicted them. The dinner was long and heavy; she felt completely out of her element, and not having Margaret at hand to prompt or encourage her, her spirits grew depressed, and she was altogether very uncomfortable. People would talk to her, and try to draw her out: would ask her to sing and play, and show her a hundred civilities she did not know what to do with; and Miss Martin resolved in her secret soul that come what might, she would talk to her young lady seriously, and deliver herself from her awkward position. The carriage was half through Welfield, when the gentle duenna was woke up from a doze by a sudden jolt, and a sharp cry, echoed by all the party. The carriage stopped, and the footman jumping down, discovered they had run over a man. It appeared he was lying in the middle of the road, and it being now very dark, the coachman was not in fault; but Mr. C., as gentlemen will do when they are frightened, scolded him just the same. "For goodness' sake, sir, don't speak so loud," interrupted Ferdinand, springing down from the box, and throwing away the cigar that had cheered his cold drive, "pray, sir, consider! you will alarm Miss Armadale." "Oh Mr. Ferdinand!" cried Miss Martin, much relieved by his appearance, "is the poor man much hurt?" "Oh dear, no!" said he, "pray do not agitate yourself; shut up the window, or you will take cold. Thomas will see after him." "Oh pray, Mr. Ferdinand, pray see to him yourself!" implored Miss Martin, "take him to the inn, and send for a doctor: I am afraid he is terribly hurt; do not leave him, I entreat you!" |