the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第3章
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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 delights of
domesticity； trotted along cheerfully despite the chill to their toes； and they
soon came to the forest which all three knew very well indeed。 It was a
beautiful forest like a great cathedral； with long aisles cut between the
splendid upstanding pine trees。 The green…fringed boughs were heavy
with snow； the straight strong stems caught and reflected the stray sun rays；
and looking up through the arches and delicate tracery and interlaced
branches the eye caught the wonderful blue of the great domed roof
overhead。 The cats walked delicately； fearful of temptation in the way of
rabbits or frost…tamed birds； and the Child lilted a quaint German hymn to
a strange old tune：…
〃Ein Kind gebor'n zu Bethlehem。 Alleluja！ Dess freuet sich Jerusalem；
Alleluja！ Alleluja！〃
The Recluse was sitting on a bench outside his cave。 He was
dressed in a brown robe； his eyes were like stars wrapped in brown velvet；
his face was strong and gentle； his hair white although he looked quite
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young。 He greeted the Child very kindly and stroked the cats。
〃You have come to ask me a question； Child？〃
〃If you please；〃 said the Child； 〃what is a symbol？〃
〃Ah；〃 said the Recluse； 〃I might have known you would ask me that。〃
〃The Sage says；〃 went on the Child； 〃that it is concealment yet
revelation。〃
The Recluse nodded。
〃Just as a mystery that we cannot understand is the greatest possible
wisdom。 Go in and sit by my fire； Child； there are chestnuts on the
hearth； and you will find milk in the brown jug。 I will show you a symbol
presently。〃
The Child and the two cats w
