file which includes the original illustrations4 ,see #adfjf-;h4htm or #adfjf-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/dirs_/#a_/ d_/f_/j_/adfjf_/adfjf-;h_/#adfjf-;h4htm7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/dirs_/#a_/ d_/f_/j_/adfjf_/adfjf-;h4zip7 ,,and ,,thus ,,he ,,came ,a ,christmas ,fantasy by ,,cyrus ,,townsend ,,brady ,pictures by ,walter ,b4 ,everett ,g4,p4 ,putnam's ,sons ,new ,york and ,london ,the ,knickerbocker ,press #aiaf ,illustration3 ,no1 ,no1 said the woman1 ,i can't go with you now4 ,to the ,beloved ,memory of ,little ,betty ,contents ,i4--,,the ,,baby ,,ii4--,,the ,,child ,,iii4--,,the ,,friend ,,iv4--,,the ,,workman ,v4--,,the ,,comforter ,,vi4--,,the ,,burden ,,bearer ,,vii4--,,the ,,thorn ,,crowned ,,viii4--,,the ,,broken-,,hearted ,,ix4--,,the ,,forgiver ,,of ,,sins ,x4--,,the ,,giver ,,of ,,life ,,xi4--,,the ,,stiller ,,of ,,the ,,storm ,illustrations ,,no1 ,,no1 ,,said ,,the ,,woman1 ,i ,,can',t ,,go ,,with ,,you ,,now 7,frontispiece7 ,,after ,a ,,time ,,she ,,fell ,,down ,,on ,,her ,,knees4 ,,she ,,pressed ,,them ,,against ,,her ,,face ,,she ,,laid ,,her ,,hand ,,upon ,,the ,,knob ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,door ,,it ,,is ,,he1 ,,whispered ,,the ,,priest2 ,,his ,,sorrow ,,was ,,greater ,,than ,,mine ,,absolvo ,,te ,,the ,,cry ,,for ,,bread ,i ,the ,baby ,a ,,little ,,child ,,shall ,,lead ,,them ,i ,the ,baby ,the heavy perfume of rare blossoms1 the wild strains of mad music1 the patter of flying feet1 the murmur of speech1 the ring of laughter1 filled the great hall4 ,now and again a pair of dancers1 peculiarly graceful and particularly daring1 held the center of the floor for a moment while the room rang with applause4 ,into alcoves1 screened and flower-decked1 couples wandered4 ,in the dancing-space hands were clasped1 bosoms rose and fell1 hearts throbbed1 pulses beat1 and moving bodies kept time to rhythmic sound4 ,suddenly the music stopped1 the conversation ceased1 the laughter died away4 ,almost1 as it were1 poised in the air1 the dancers stood amazed4 ,one looked to another in surprise4 ,something stole throughout the room which was neither music1 nor lights1 nor fragrance1 but which was life--a presence6 ,do you see that child8 asked the wildest of the dancers of her escort4 ,there1 she pointed4 ,he looks like a very little boy4 ,i see nothing1 said the man1 who still held her in the clasp of his arm4 ,he is strangely dressed1 although ,i see him indistinctly1 vaguely1 whispered the woman4 ,he wears a long white robe and there is a kind of light about his face4 ,see1 he is looking at us4 ,i see nothing1 repeated the man in low tones4 ,the heat1 the light1 the music1 have disturbed you2 let me get you-- ,i want nothing1 interposed the woman1 waving the man aside and drawing away from his arm4 ,don't you see him1 there8 ,she made a step toward the center of the room4 ,she stopped1 put her hand to her head4 ,why1 he is gone1 she exclaimed4 ,good1 said the man1 while at that instant the room suddenly rang with cries3 ,go on with the music1 the dance is not half over4 ,he extended his arm to the woman again4 ,our dance is not finished4 ,yes1 it is1 she said as the flying feet once more twinkled across the polished floor1 as everybody took a long breath and a new start apparently unconscious of the pause4 ,it is over for me4 ,what ,i saw6 ,what did you see8 ,i don't know1 but ,i'm going back home to my child4 ,good-night4 99 99 99 99 99 ,yes1 the music had stopped suddenly4 ,the man in the farthest alcove turned to his companion4 ,they were hidden by a group of palms4 ,i wonder why8 queried the woman4 ,she was deathly pale4 ,her eyes were dark with fear1 yet alight with passionate determination4 ,when it begins1 said the man tenderly1 we will slip away4 ,my car is outside4 ,everything is ready4 ,that is my husband over there1 said the woman4 ,yes1 said the man1 he won't trouble you any more4 ,that woman with him is leaving him1 she said4 ,i wonder why4 ,she turned suddenly with a great start4 ,there is somebody here1 she whispered1 staring into the back of the alcove4 ,nonsense1 said the man1 throwing a glance around the recess4 ,there's nobody here but you and ,i4 ,we are alone together1 as we shall be hereafter1 when we have taken the step4 ,but that child1 whispered the woman1 with his strange vesture and his wonderful face4 ,his eyes look at me so4 ,there is no child there1 my dear1 urged the man2 you are overwrought1 excited1 nervous4 ,the music starts4 ,let us go4 ,he stretched out his hand to the woman1 but as he came nearer she shrank back with her own hand on her heart4 ,oh1 she said faintly1 he's gone4 ,of course he's gone1 he answered soothingly4 ,now is our time to get away4 ,let me-- ,no1 no1 said the woman4 ,i can't go with you now4 ,it wouldn't be right4 ,but you knew that before1 pleaded the man4 ,besides-- ,yes1 but ,i can't do it4 ,he was there6 ,his eyes spoke--,i--don't touch me1 she said2 ,i'm going back to my husband4 ,don't follow4 ,,ii ,the ,child ,,suffer ,,the ,,little ,,children ,,to ,,come ,,unto ,,me ,,ii ,the ,child ,the employees had all gone home1 carrying with them ,christmas checks and hearty greetings from the great man whose beck and nod they followed4 ,he sat in his private office absolutely alone4 ,he had some serious matters to consider and did not want any interruptions4 ,his balance-sheet for the year had been made up according to the custom of the firm before ,christmas instead of on ,new ,year's ,day4 ,he examined it again4 ,it showed tremendous profit4 ,the mills were turning out quantities of material1 the demand for which was greater and the cost of production less than ever before4 ,i tell you1 said the man to himself1 it was a master-stroke to displace the men with children in the mills4 ,they have reduced the cost by four fifths4 ,war has made the prices go up4 ,this is not wealth1 it is riches beyond calculation4 ,he picked up a letter1 read it over4 ,it was a proposal from the superintendent to clear more land1 to build more buildings1 to install more machines1 to employ more children and increase the profits greatly4 ,i'll do it1 said the man4 ,we can crush opposition absolutely4 ,i'll control the markets of the world4 ,i'll build a fortune upon this foundation so great that no one can comprehend it4 ,he stopped1 leaned back in his chair1 lifted his eyes up toward the ceiling of the room and saw beyond it the kingdoms of this world and the means unlimited to make him lord and master4 ,he gave no thought to the foundations1 only to the structure erected by his fancy4 ,how long he indulged in dreams he scarcely realized1 but presently he put his hands on the arms of the chair and started to rise1 saying1 ,i'll telegraph the superintendent to go ahead4 ,he had scarcely formulated the words when right in front of him1 seated on his desk1 he saw a young lad regarding him intently4 ,he stopped1 petrified1 in the position he had assumed4 ,how did you get in8 ,what are you doing here8 he asked4 ,there was no answer4 ,come1 said the man1 shrinking back4 ,i can't imagine how you got in here4 ,if my people had not all gone ,i should hold them to strict account4 ,as it is1 you-- ,the room was suddenly filled with people4 ,they came crowding through the walls from every side and pressed close to him4 ,such people he had never seen3 wan1 worn1 stunted1 pinched1 starved1 joyless4 ,they were all children1 meagerly clothed1 badly nourished1 ill developed4 ,they were quite silent4 ,they did not cry4 ,they did not protest4 ,they did not argue4 ,they did not plead4 ,they did not laugh4 ,they just looked at him4 ,they made no sound of any sort4 ,he had children of his own and he had known many children4 ,he had never known so many gathered together without a smile or a laugh4 ,his eye wandered around the room4 ,they were very close to him and yet they did not touch him4 ,he turned to the desk where the lad had sat1 but he was no longer there and yet he well remembered his face4 ,he knew exactly how he looked4 ,he turned to the nearest child and in some strange way1 although the poor1 wretched face had not changed1 his look suggested the lad who had been his first visitor4 ,he turned to another and another4 ,they all looked back at him in the same way with the same eyes4 ,he threw his head up again and saw the castle of success of which he had dreamed4 ,he looked down again4 ,this was the foundation4 ,slowly his hand went to the desk4 ,the little crowding figures drew back to give him freedom of movement as he stretched his hand out for a telegraph-blank4 ,he drew it to him4 ,he seized a pen and wrote rapidly3 ,build no more mills1 take the children out of those already in operation1 put men in their places4 ,we will be content with less profit in the future4 ,he read over the telegram4 ,the telephone was close at hand4 ,he called up the telegraph-office1 dictated it and directed it to be sent immediately4 ,he had been so engrossed in this task that he had noticed nothing else4 ,now he looked up4 ,the room was still filled with children1 but they were all laughing4 ,it was a soundless laugh1 and yet he heard it4 ,and then the room was empty save for the child he had seen first and vaguely4 ,he had just time to catch a smile from his lips and then he1 too1 was gone as silently and as strangely as he had appeared4 ,was it a dream8 ,no1 there was the telegram in his hand6 ,had he sent it8 ,again he called up the office on the telephone4 ,did you get a message from me just a minute ago8 ,yes1 do you want to recall it8 ,the man thought a second4 ,no1 he said quietly--was it to himself or to his vanished visitors8--let it go4 ,merry ,christmas4 ,,iii ,the ,friend ,,inasmuch ,,as ,,ye ,,have ,,done ,,it ,,unto ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,least ,,of ,,these1 ,,my ,,brethren ,,iii ,the ,friend ,is the story of the ,christ ,child true1 ,mommy8 quivered one little1 thin voice4 ,yes1 they told us it was over at the mission ,sunday-school1 said the littlest child4 ,i don't believe it1 answered the mother4 ,god ain't never done much for me4 ,it's ,christmas eve1 ain't it8 asked the boy1 climbing up on the thin knees of the threadbare woman and nestling his thin face against a thinner breast which the rags scarcely covered decently4 ,yes1 it's ,christmas eve4 ,and that's the day ,he came1 ain't it8 urged the oldest girl4 ,they say so4 ,don't you believe it1 ,mommy8 ,i used to believe it when ,i was a girl4 ,i believed it before your father died1 but now-- ,don't you believe it now8 repeated the first child4 ,how can ,i believe it8 ,you're old enough to understand4 ,that's the last scuttle of coal we got4 ,we ate the last bit of bread for supper to-night4 ,they say1 put in the little boy1 that if you hang up your stockings1 ,santa ,claus'll fill 'em1 'cause of the ,christ ,child4 ,don't you believe it1 ,sonny1 said the mother desperately4 ,i'm going to hang up mine and see1 said the littlest girl4 ,he's got too many other children to look after1 said the woman1 to care for the likes of us1 ,i'm afraid1 and-- ,but my ,sunday-school teacher said ,he came to poor people special4 ,he was awful poor ,himself4 ,why1 ,he was born in a stable4 ,that's awful poor1 ain't it8 asked the boy4 ,when ,i was a girl1 answered the mother1 ,i lived on a farm and we had a stable there that was a palace to this hole we live in now4 ,no1 you'd better not hang up your stockings1 none of you4 ,and you don't believe in ,him1 ,mommy8 ,no4 ,what would be the use if you hung 'em up and didn't find anything in 'em in the morning8 ,it'd be awful1 but ,i believe in ,him1 said the littlest girl4 ,i don't think ,god has forgot us1 really4 ,i'm going to try4 ,i tell you 'tain't no use4 ,oh1 yes1 it is4 ,i'm sure it ain't4 ,but have it your own way1 said the woman4 ,if someone would fill your stockings with milk and bread and-- ,i want a turkey1 said the oldest girl4 ,and cranberry sauce1 added the boy4 ,i want a doll-baby in mine1 said the littlest girl4 ,the mother hid her face and groaned aloud4 ,you ain't sick1 are you1 ,mommy8 ,i guess so4 ,come1 you'd better say your prayers and go to bed4 ,we don't have to keep the fire going so hard when you're all covered up4 ,it did not take long for the three little youngsters to divest themselves of the rags of clothing they wore4 ,they slept in what passed for their underclothes1 so there was no donning of white gowns for the night4 ,here are our stockings1 ,mommy1 said the oldest1 handing three ragged1 almost footless1 black stockings to the woman4 ,it's no use1 ,i tell you4 ,i can't do it4 ,it won't do any harm1 ,mommy1 urged the girl4 ,do you believe in it1 too8 asked the mother1 and the girl shook her head4 ,you won't be disappointed in the morning if there's nothing in 'em8 ,no1 ,i suppose it will be because ,santa ,claus was too busy4 ,with nervous fingers the woman hung the three stockings near the window4 ,she was hungry1 she was cold1 she was broken1 she was a mother4 ,she could scarcely keep from crying4 ,maybe you'll be glad you did it1 said the littlest girl drowsily4 ,ain't you comin' to bed1 too1 ,mommy8 asked the oldest1 beneath the covers over the mattress on the floor4 ,in a little while4 ,and you won't forget to say your prayers8 ,i ain't said 'em for months1 ever since your father was killed1 and we got so poor4 ,but you'll say 'em to-night 'cause it's ,christmas eve8 ,yes1 to-night1 said the mother2 now you go to sleep4 ,are you waitin' for him to come1 ,mommy8 asked the littlest girl1 who was very sleepy4 ,yes1 said the mother4 ,presently1 as she sat in the dark1 having turned out the light1 the deep breathing of the children told her they were asleep4 ,she rose quietly1 stepped to the window1 and stood looking at the three shapeless1 tattered stockings4 ,she was high up in the tenement and the moonlight came softly over the house roofs of the city into the bare1 cold1 cheerless room4 ,she stared at the stockings and tears streamed down her wasted cheeks4 ,she had hung them low at the suggestion of the littlest girl so the children could easily get at them in the morning4 ,illustration3 ,she pressed them against her face4 ,after a time she fell down on her knees4 ,she pressed them against her face4 ,she did not say anything4 ,she could scarcely think anything4 ,she just knelt there until something gently drew her head around4 ,she dropped the stockings4 ,she put her right hand on the window-ledge to steady herself and looked backward4 ,no sound save the breathing of the children and her own stifled sobs had broken the silence2 the door was shut1 but a man was there1 a man of strange vesture seen dimly in the moon's radiance1 yet there was a kind of light about his face4 ,she could see his features4 ,they were those of a man in middle years4 ,they were lined with care4 ,he had seen life on its seamy side4 ,the woman felt that he had known poverty and loneliness4 ,she stared up at him4 ,i didn't believe1 she whispered2 it cannot be4 ,i thought we were forgotten4 ,the man slowly raised his hand4 ,the moonlight struck fair upon it4 ,she saw that it was calloused1 the hand of a man who toiled4 ,it was extended over her head4 ,there was no bodily touch1 but her head bent low down until she rested it upon her hands upon the floor4 ,when she looked up1 the room was empty4 ,there was no sound save the breathing of the children and the throb of her own heart which beat wildly in the fearful hollow of her ear4 ,she heard a sound of strange footsteps outside the door4 ,there was a crackle as of paper1 the soft sound of things laid upon the floor1 a gentle rapping on the panels1 a light laugh1 a rustle of draperies1 footsteps moving away4 ,as in a dream she got to her feet1 she knew not how4 ,she opened the door4 ,the hall was dimly illuminated4 ,her feet struck a little heap of joy-bringing parcels4 ,she leaned back against the door-jamb1 her hand to her heart1 trembling4 ,what could it mean8 ,a tiny voice broke the silence4 ,it was the littlest girl turning over in her sleep1 murmuring incoherently and then clearly3 ,if you only believe1 that's enough2 if you only believe4 ,,iv ,the ,workman ,,is ,,not ,,this ,,the ,,carpenter8 ,,iv ,the ,workman ,in the mean squalid room back of the saloon half a score of men were assembled4 ,they were all young in years1 in other things not youthful4 ,some of them lounged against the wall4 ,some sat at tables4 ,all were drinking4 ,the air was foul with smoke and reeked with the odor of vile liquor4 ,we've got two jobs on hand to-night1 said the leader of the gang4 ,there's a crib to be cracked an' a guy to be croaked4 ,red1 you an' ,gypsie an' the ,gunney will crack the crib4 ,it's dead easy4 ,only an old man an' his wife4 ,the servants are out except one an' he's fixed4 ,i'll give you the layout presently4 ,the other job's harder4 ,kid1 ,i'll put you in charge1 an' as it's got to be done early to-night ,i'll give you the orders now4 ,he'll be at ,the ,montmorency at ten o'clock4 ,someone will call him out to the street4 ,who8 ,never mind who4 ,you'll be there in the car4 ,whose car8 ,never mind whose4 ,why're you askin' so many questions8 ,it'll take you an' the four to ,the ,montmorency at ten o'clock4 ,when he comes out every one of you let go1 the whole bunch1 understand4 ,if they don't find five bullets in him there'll be trouble to-morrow4 ,what do we get out of it8 ,a hundred apiece fer you an' a hundred an' fifty fer me fer engineerin' the job4 ,christmas money6 ,you get me8 ,of course4 ,how'll we know who we've got to shoot8 ,i'll be there myself on the sidewalk4 ,i'll point him out to you4 ,the police8 ,they're fixed4 ,easy enough1 said the ,kid1 the youngest of the gang4 ,well1 you guys1 said the leader pointing out four of the men1 will go with the ,kid4 ,the car'll be at the door in half an hour4 ,now1 gimme my orders1 said ,red4 ,the gang leader scribbled something on a bit of paper4 ,you go to that number with these two guys between midnight an' two in the mornin'4 ,you'll find a back winder open4 ,here's the combination of the safe4 ,the silver'll be in that4 ,jewels8 ,in a wall cabinet upstairs4 ,it'll be unlocked4 ,an' if they make any noise8 ,croak 'em1 of course4 ,but don't make no noise doin' it4 ,better use a blackjack4 ,we're not sure about the cop on that beat4 ,i understand4 ,well1 git your gats and make ready4 ,before we go1 the drinks'll be on me4 ,fill up1 men1 he added1 first pouring himself a liberal glassful1 an' here's to bringin' it off easy4 ,with deep relish the toast was drunk by all save ,red and the ,kid4 ,red set his glass down on the table4 ,the ,kid dropped his to the floor4 ,there's somebody else in the room1 whispered ,red4 ,yes1 yonder by the door1 said the ,kid4 ,you c'n jest see him4 ,don't be a fool1 said the gang leader4 ,there's nobody here but us4 ,he's wearin' strange clothes1 said ,red4 ,he looks like a carpenter by his kit o' tools1 said the ,kid4 ,here1 pull yourselves together1 men1 said the gang leader2 you're dippy1 there's nobody here4 ,where's your nerve8 ,but ,red made no move to obey4 ,he thrust his glass from him and rose and leaned over the table staring4 ,the other men shrank back glancing at the two figures1 for the ,kid had also dashed the proffered glass aside4 ,i see him1 he said1 he's lookin' at me1 he's lookin' through me4 ,in his excitement he took a step forward and the table went over with a crash4 ,the two men passed their hands over their eyes in bewilderment4 ,why1 there ain't nobody here1 said the ,kid4 ,but ,i seen him ,i tell you1 persisted ,red4 ,and so did ,i4 ,well1 he's gone1 whoever he was1 accordin' to your own showin'1 said the gang leader contemptuously4 ,now brace up4 ,take your liquor4 ,get a move on youse4 ,not me1 exclaimed ,red suddenly4 ,nor me1 said the ,kid4 ,what d'ye mean8 ,i won't do it4 ,neither will ,i4 ,both men moved to the door4 ,the gang leader sprang to intercept them1 his arms upraised1 his hands clenched4 ,lemme pass1 said ,red4 ,are you goin' to give us away8 ,no1 answered ,red4 ,but you don't rob no house1 an' you don't kill no man to-night4 ,you all know what that means1 cried the leader4 ,here you men grab 'em4 ,but the rest of the gang hung back4 ,mebbe they did see somethin'1 said one4 ,you cowardly dogs1 cried the leader4 ,we won't mention no names to nobody1 said the ,kid1 but you can't pull them jobs off4 ,we'll jest warn 'em4 ,you swore you'd be true to the gang1 that you'd obey orders an' follow directions4 ,we won't give ye away but ,i'm goin' to quit the gang an' go to work1 said ,red4 ,me too1 said the ,kid4 ,work6 ,hell6 exclaimed the gang leader1 but they shoved him out of the way and went out of the door4 ,v ,comforter ,,neither ,,do ,i ,,condemn ,,thee ,v ,the ,comforter ,she was a daughter of shame4 ,even inexperience could see that as she wandered up and down the streets of the town1 desperate1 impelled to go on by a force too strong for her to resist4 ,she trod the pavement1 yet loathed the necessity and hated herself for her compliance4 ,she had only to look forward to the jail or the hospital2 yet there was always the river4 ,had it come to that8 ,was there nothing else8 ,she lifted her eyes from the stone walk as hard as the heart of the world1 and found herself opposite a brightly lighted building4 ,she leaned against the door4 ,from within came the sound of music1 the strains of a hymn1 words of prayer4 ,the light streamed about her face from the stained window4 ,this was a ,church of ,god4 ,stained window1 stained woman1 confronting each other in the night6 ,there was no ,god for her4 ,there might have been once1 but she had committed the unpardonable sin against society and society was ,god4 ,there was no place for her anywhere1 save the jail or the hospital or the river4 ,that last was the best4 ,the street was deserted4 ,she had thought it not a good place in which to ply her trade6 ,she made a step forward and stopped4 ,in her pathway stood a figure seen dimly in the darkness4 ,it stood in the shadow beyond the broad light from the painted window4 ,there was something strangely familiar about it4 ,she glanced up at that window4 ,had the figure there stepped down and embodied itself vaguely on the walk before her8 ,illustration3 ,she laid her hand upon the knob of the church door4 ,what was this strange figure8 ,who was he8 ,as she stared1 the outline drew nearer4 ,a man vested in long white draperies confronted her4 ,he was bareheaded and appeared insensible to the cold in which she shivered4 ,she put out her hand and something folded it back upon her breast4 ,she opened her lips and something sealed them4 ,as she watched1 the figure slowly moved4 ,it bent forward and went slowly down on its knees on the sidewalk4 ,the white hand began to trace strange1 mysterious1 unknown1 incomprehensible characters upon the pavement4 ,she watched with bated breath1 some memory of another sinful woman of whom she had heard in childhood coming back to her prostrate mind4 ,yes1 and there behind the figure stood others1 hateful and hating1 very violent1 passionate men4 ,she stared from the handwriting in the dust to these others and they faded away4 ,she was alone with the kneeling figure and1 as she looked1 it too vanished in the chill air4 ,she bent over the pavement4 ,there was nothing there1 yet she had received a message4 ,after a last glance she turned away1 new courage1 new life1 new hope in her heart4 ,she mounted the steps1 she laid her hand upon the knob of the church door1 she turned it and went bravely within4 ,,vi ,the ,burden ,bearer ,,he1 ,,bearing ,,his ,,cross1 ,,went ,,forth ,,vi ,the ,burden ,bearer ,the sound of the running feet of the man smashing through the burned stubble ceased abruptly4 ,he stopped at the threshold of the door4 ,no friendly bark of dog welcomed him4 ,from the barn there came no gentle lowing of cattle1 no homely clucking of chickens4 ,like the house the byre too had been ruined1 gutted with flame4 ,the soldier whose march had brought him back to his own village that night stood in the entrance of what had been his home and stared at the smoking walls1 the charred roof gaping to the sky1 the empty casements4 ,the enemy had been there4 ,he whispered his young wife's name1 he called softly to the baby1 as if they might be sleeping somewhere within the devastated house4 ,he listened for a reply but none came4 ,perhaps he would have been thankful even for a groan or a cry of agony1 anything that meant life4 ,but all was silence within1 without4 ,yonder on the winding road at the foot of the hill he could hear the trampling of men1 the groaning of wheels1 the clank of iron cavalrymen1 the jingling of bits and swords1 sharp words of command4 ,the army was advancing4 ,he could delay no longer4 ,he must get back to his place in the ranks4 ,summoning his courage he crossed the threshold and stepped into the vacant emptiness of the house4 ,everything was gone but the four stone walls4 ,there were unrecognizable heaps of ashes here and there4 ,he bent over them fearfully in the twilight wondering whether the shapeless1 formless masses were-- ,something caught his eye4 ,the one thing intact apparently4 ,he stooped over it4 ,it was the baby's shoe--white1 it had been originally4 ,he remembered it4 ,now it was stained with blood4 ,that was all that was left--a little baby's shoe1 blood spotted4 ,he pressed it to his heart and groaned aloud4 ,a spasm of mortal anguish shook his frame4 ,he lifted his clenched hand toward the sky overshadowing the roofless walls4 ,now he suddenly became aware that he was not alone4 ,there was someone else in the room4 ,he saw vaguely1 indistinctly1 a figure strangely clad1 staggering on with bended back as if under some crushing load4 ,he stared in the twilight striving to concentrate his faculties4 ,the figure passed by4 ,on its back was a shadowy something--beams of wood roughly crossed1 he decided4 ,it raised its head and looked at him4 ,the face was somehow lighter than the rest4 ,the man's arm fell4 ,the room was empty after all4 ,he stared at the little shoe4 ,was it somewhere well with the child1 with its mother8 ,unbuttoning his tunic he thrust the little shoe within1 over his heart4 ,he straightened up4 ,away off on the road a bugle call rang out above the tumult4 ,he turned away1 seized his rifle1 shouldered it1 stepped rapidly toward his regiment and his duty4 ,,vii ,the ,thorn ,crowned ,,the ,,soldiers ,,platted ,a ,,crown ,,of ,,thorns ,,and ,,put ,,it ,,on ,,his ,,head ,,vii ,the ,thorn ,crowned ,it was ghastly cold in the ruined church4 ,it had been warm enough there during the day1 but the fire that had gutted it had died like the young acolyte1 like the aged sacristan1 the venerable mother1 the sweet young novice1 the women who had sought shelter there in vain4 ,neither the dignity of age nor the sweetness of maidenhood nor the innocence of youth nor the sanctity of profession had availed4 ,the old priest was glad they were dead4 ,life after what they had suffered had been unthinkable4 ,he thanked ,god for that oblivion4 ,he wished that he1 too1 might die in that violated shrine where he had peacefully ministered for so long a time4 ,they had taken the flock1 the shepherd must follow4 ,he should have led4 ,he had fought1 oh1 he had played the man for the honor of the poor lambs committed to him4 ,had he done right8 ,should he not have stood dumb before the shearers8 ,they had shot him and stabbed him and beaten him into insensibility4 ,the last thing he had heard was the shriek of one woman1 the piteous appeal of another4 ,they thought he was dead1 but he was living4 ,why had he not died8 ,how could ,god be so cruel8 ,this was war4 ,this ruined sanctuary1 these broken men and women who had sought only to serve ,him6 ,was there a ,god indeed8 ,faith1 hope1 what were they8 ,assurance1 trust8 ,words1 words6 ,ah1 how he suffered4 ,illustration3 ,it is ,he1 whispered the priest4 ,his sorrow was greater than mine4 ,it was bitter cold and yet he burned with fever4 ,the tremors of pain so exquisite that they might almost be counted pleasure shot through his ruined1 torn1 broken figure1 yet he recked little of these4 ,it was the shame1 the shame4 ,he had been zealous for the ,lord of ,hosts4 ,there was no ,god4 ,men were not made in any image save that of hell4 ,he could not move hand or foot1 but he could see4 ,he could speak4 ,he could curse ,god and die4 ,as his lips framed that anathema he saw vaguely the figure of a stranger2 a slender1 wasted body1 dark stains upon it in the moonlight4 ,it wore some kind of curious headgear4 ,the man stared4 ,the light was reflected from the sharp points of long thorns4 ,a cloth was fastened about the loins4 ,the figure stood very straight in the desecrated ,holy of ,holies4 ,a light seemed to come from its face4 ,its eyes looked at the man with great pity4 ,slowly the figure raised its arms4 ,slowly the arms extended themselves2 there were blood-stains in the palms of the hands4 ,it is ,he1 whispered the priest4 ,his sorrow was greater than mine4 ,lord1 ,i believe4 ,he knew nothing more save that a great peace had suddenly stolen around him4 ,,viii ,the ,broken ,hearted ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,soldiers ,,with ,a ,,spear ,,pierced ,,his ,,side ,,viii ,the ,broken ,hearted ,i'll get that man if ,i die for it1 said the soldier4 ,he's found the one position in the lines from which he can fire into our trenches4 ,it's easier said than done1 remarked his comrade1 and the minute you cross that spot you come within his range4 ,he'll put a bullet through you before you can level a rifle or press a trigger4 ,i'll not go that way1 said the man4 ,what is your plan8 ,you know that salient yonder on the right8 ,i'm going out of the trench there4 ,when8 ,now4 ,i'll wrap myself in white4 ,that little run of coppice will cover me until ,i get within a few feet of him1 then ,i'll have to chance it4 ,wish ,i could help you1 old man4 ,i'd like to get that man4 ,he's shot six of the best fellows in the company and-- ,you can help me by making a diversion to attract his attention4 ,keep him looking at that alley4 ,a few moments later the soldier shrouded in white crept out of the trench and noiselessly rolled down the slope to the bushes4 ,the snow was deep on the ground4 ,there was no touch of color about the soldier4 ,he even thrust his rifle under the linen in which he had wrapped himself4 ,outside the shelter of the trenches the wind blew with terrific force4 ,it was terribly cold4 ,he had discarded his overcoat for freedom of motion4 ,only his indomitable resolution kept him alive4 ,he locked his jaws together to keep his teeth from chattering4 ,the ice-covered snow under his bare hands almost blistered the flesh as he crept along4 ,he intended to use the bayonet4 ,if he shot the man he was stalking alarm would be given and he would be riddled with bullets before he got back4 ,he was willing to give a life for a life if it were necessary1 but he was reluctant to do so if it could be avoided4 ,cold steel would be better4 ,cold steel6 ,he smiled grimly4 ,it would need some hot blood to take the chill off the bayonet at the end of his rifle4 ,slowly1 almost holding his breath lest he be noticed1 he edged his way along4 ,he had plenty of time for thought4 ,this was not so easy a job as he had fancied1 not the physical part1 but the mental strain4 ,he could shoot a man who was shooting at him1 he could batter a man over the head who was trying to do the same to him1 but this stalking a man in cold blood was different somehow4 ,cold blood6 ,he laughed soundlessly at his recurrent fancy4 ,he went a little more slowly4 ,finally he stopped to consider4 ,from the nook ahead of him in which the enemy had ensconced himself came a sudden rapid rattle of rifle-shots4 ,his friend back in the trench was doing his part4 ,the man was awake--on the alert4 ,it would be something of a fair fight1 he thought with some little satisfaction4 ,he surveyed the intervening space beyond the coppice4 ,the men in the trenches on both sides would be awake1 too4 ,it would take him a few seconds to cross that space and get at the man he was stalking4 ,could they shoot him before that8 ,there was some shelter where the enemy was4 ,if the stalker could get to that spot he would be protected for a moment from fire from the enemy's trench4 ,it would take him a second or two to cross that space4 ,in a second or two what might happen8 ,well1 he would have to risk that4 ,at the very end of the coppice he gathered himself together and rose slowly to a crouching position4 ,another rain of shots came from the nook2 the man's rifle would be empty1 he must give him no chance to reload4 ,now it would be a fair fight with the bayonet4 ,he threw aside the white draperies that impeded his legs and in half a dozen bounds the two men were face to face4 ,no shot had been fired4 ,yes1 the magazine of the man's rifle was empty4 ,he heard the crunch of his enemy's feet on the snow4 ,he rose to his feet1 his bayoneted rifle extended4 ,the two barrels struck with terrific force4 ,the men swayed1 drew back for another thrust1 and they were suddenly aware of a mist-like figure between them1 a figure draped in white1 lightly1 diaphanously4 ,they stood arrested1 guns drawn back1 and stared4 ,the figure slowly extended its arm1 carrying drapery with it4 ,a man's breast was bared4 ,there1 over the heart1 was a great gaping wound1 fresh1 as if a broad1 heavy blade had pierced it4 ,there was a clatter on the ice as a gun dropped and another clatter as a similar weapon struck the stone opposite4 ,the two men bent forward1 their hands outstretched4 ,they took a step as if to touch the figure and there was nothing there6 ,the hands met4 ,they clasped warmly in the cold against each other4 ,my ,god1 what was that8 said the stalker4 ,i don't know1 answered the other4 ,a pierced side6 ,was it-- ,no4 ,it couldn't be4 ,well1 we worship the same ,god and-- ,ah1 they were seen4 ,there were quick words of command from the trenches1 a staccato of rifle-shots1 and two bodies lay side by side1 hands still clasped1 while the snow reddened and reddened beneath them4 ,and it was ,christmas eve4 ,,ix ,the ,forgiver of ,sins ,i ,,say ,,unto ,,thee ,,until ,,seventy ,,times ,,seven ,,ix ,the ,forgiver of ,sins ,a ,priest1 for ,christ's sake1 a priest1 moaned the man4 ,a white-faced sister of charity upon whom had developed the appalling task of caring for the long rows of wounded at the dressing station before they were entrained and sent south to the hospital1 hovered over the stretcher4 ,my poor man1 she whispered1 there is no priest here4 ,i can't die without confession--absolution1 was the answer4 ,a priest1 get me a priest4 ,next to and almost touching the cot on which the speaker writhed in his death agony lay another man apparently in a profound stupor4 ,he wore the uniform of a private soldier and his eyes were bandaged4 ,his face had been torn to pieces by shrapnel1 fragments of which had blinded him4 ,at that instant he came out of that stupor4 ,perhaps the familiar words recalled him to himself4 ,he moved his hand slightly4 ,the sister saw his lips tremble4 ,she bent low4 ,who seeks confession1 absolution8 he whispered4 ,i am a priest4 ,you are wounded1 dying1 father4 ,how can ,i die better than shriving a fellow sinner8 ,that was true4 ,the heroic woman turned to the man who still kept up his monotonous appeal4 ,the man next to you1 she said1 dying like you1 is a priest4 ,father1 cried the first man with sudden strength4 ,i must confess before ,i die4 ,lift me up1 said the priest4 ,the woman slipped her arm about his shoulders and raised him4 ,the sister8 began the other4 ,i shall be blind and deaf1 said the woman4 ,speak on1 whispered the priest4 ,i have been a great sinner--there isn't time to confess all4 ,what is heaviest upon your soul1 my son8 ,a woman's fate4 ,ah4 ,there were two who loved her--a dozen years ago--she preferred me--,i took her away4 ,did you marry her8 ,no4 ,and then we quarreled--,i deserted her4 ,when ,i came to seek her she was gone--young1 innocent1 penniless1 alone in ,paris--,i have sought her and never found her4 ,what is your name8 asked the priest suddenly with a fierce note in his quivering voice4 ,father1 can ,i be forgiven8 answered the man giving his name4 ,the dying soldier stared anxiously up at his bandaged comrade1 at the nun who had hid her face behind the shoulder of the priest4 ,he noticed that her body was shaking4 ,and the woman's name8 ,the priest suddenly sat upright4 ,he shook off the sister's restraining hand4 ,he tore the bandage from his own face4 ,he bent over the dying man as he murmured the woman's name4 ,wretch1 he cried1 look at me4 ,his face was gashed and cut and torn but something remained by which the other recognized him4 ,you6 he cried shrinking away4 ,i loved her1 too1 said the priest4 ,i would have married her4 ,when she went away with you ,holy ,church received me4 ,mercy1 cried the soldier uplifting his hand4 ,what mercy did you show her8 ,the priest could not see but he could feel4 ,his hand seized the other's throat4 ,my father1 interposed the nun4 ,he has confessed4 ,god will forgive1 even as ,i4 ,who are you8 asked the blind priest1 fearfully4 ,the woman6 cried the dying man shaking off the other's hand and lifting himself up4 ,the sight came back to the priest on the instant4 ,the fierce agony that filled his blinded eyes seemed to give place to the gentle touch of a hand upon them4 ,he seemed to hear a mighty word--,ephphatha--that meant be opened4 ,light flooded his soul4 ,looking up he was aware of two figures4 ,one of the twain1 an old man1 gray bearded1 was appealing to the other1 clad in white raiment and youthful4 ,and the priest suddenly recalled an old and well-known story of a fellow servant who would not have mercy4 ,father1 forgive-- whispered the man before him4 ,as the voice of the dying sinner died away in the silence all was dark again4 ,the priest saw no more1 but the horrible pain in his eyes did not return4 ,over his torn features came a look of calm4 ,he lifted his arm4 ,his wavering hand cut the air in the sign of the cross4 ,absolvo te1 he murmured as he pitched forward dead upon the breast of the dying4 ,and the woman tenderly covered them over4 ,illustration3 ,absolvo te4 ,x ,the ,giver of ,life ,,he ,,that ,,eateth ,,of ,,this ,,bread ,,shall ,,live ,,forever ,x ,the ,giver of ,life ,of the five specters in the boat three were without life4 ,those whose faint breathing indicated that they had not yet reached the point of death were too weak and indifferent to rid the boat of the bodies of the others4 ,ever since the homeward-bound whaler had struck a derelict in a gale of wind north of the ,falklands and foundered1 this little boat1 surviving the shipwreck as by a miracle1 had drifted on4 ,for three weeks in vain they had scanned the horizon for a sail4 ,their scanty supply of bread and water had been consumed in ten days4 ,thereafter they had nothing4 ,the baby had died first1 next a man whose arm had been broken by a falling spar in the disaster1 and then the ship's cabin boy4 ,the survivors were a man and a woman4 ,they were both far gone4 ,the woman was plainly dying4 ,the man kept himself up by sheer exercise of will4 ,their drifting had been northward toward warmer seas4 ,it was winter in their home land and1 though they knew it not1 ,christmas day4 ,there the tropic sun blazed overhead from an absolutely cloudless sky4 ,there was no vestige of breeze to stir the canvas of the solitary sail or ripple the glassy surface of the smoothed out ocean4 ,the boat lay still4 ,not even the iron man at the helm could have lifted an oar4 ,it had been dead calm for days4 ,speech there was none except in the gravest necessity4 ,to talk connectedly was impossible4 ,after scanning the horizon for the thousandth time the man's burning eyes sought those of the woman at his feet4 ,he was astonished to find them open4 ,her mouth was working1 her parched lips strove to form words4 ,he dropped the tiller which his hand had grasped mechanically1 and which was useless since there was no way on the boat1 and bent his head lower4 ,some sudden recrudescence of strength which the dying sometimes receive came to the woman4 ,death1 she whispered4 ,glad4 ,she turned her head slightly and saw the form of the child4 ,the ,baby--and--,i--together4 ,the man nodded4 ,tenderly he laid his hot wasted hand on the woman's fevered brow4 ,a priest1 she said1 looking up at him uncomprehendingly4 ,she was evidently going fast yet she knew what she wanted although she was not conscious that she craved the impossible4 ,it would appear that she had been a good churchwoman4 ,the man could only stare4 ,he was no priest1 only a rough sailor4 ,a priest1 said the woman more clearly4 ,i want--a priest--the sacrament4 ,by some nervous convulsive effort she lifted her arms up toward him beseeching1 appealing4 ,there was another kind of agony in her voice that had not been present when she had moaned for water in the days before4 ,the sacrament1 she insisted1 ,i die4 ,the man looked away4 ,hard by the boat where there had been but a waste of sea rose a green island4 ,a stretch of pleasant meadow met his eyes4 ,it was so close to him that if he had leaned over the gunwale of the boat he could have laid his hand on the lush grass4 ,dumbly he wondered where it had been before1 how he had come upon it so suddenly1 why he had not seen it hours ago4 ,in front of him were hundreds of people1 men1 women1 and children1 plain people in strange simple garb1 the like of which he had never seen4 ,in front of these people and with their backs toward him stood a little group of men1 in the center a figure in white garments4 ,a lad offered something in a basket4 ,the man watched1 amazed1 awe-stricken1 yet with a strange peace in his soul4 ,he made no movement to gain the shore4 ,he only looked and looked4 ,the white-robed figure bent over the basket4 ,he lifted from it a crude rough loaf of bread4 ,he raised his eyes to heaven1 his lips moved4 ,he broke the bread and gave it4 ,as the sailor watched the island disappeared as suddenly as it had come4 ,the scene changed4 ,now he looked into a low room1 dimly lighted with strange lamps4 ,through an open window he saw the stars4 ,the few men that had stood about the man in the grassy meadow were alone with him in that upper chamber reclining about a table4 ,the man lifted from the board a cup of silver4 ,he blessed it and gave it4 ,the fragrance of wine came to the watcher4 ,he rubbed his eyes and looked again and before him spread the smooth unbroken surface of the monotonous sea4 ,the woman's voice smote his ear again1 higher1 shriller1 with more painful entreaty4 ,a priest--for the love of ,god--the sacrament1 she whispered4 ,the man tore open the last canvas bread-bag4 ,it was tough material but it yielded to his insistence4 ,in the corner there was a single tiny crumb they had overlooked4 ,he lifted it gently with his great hand4 ,he held it up in the air a moment striving to think4 ,he was an ,english sailor and in his boyhood had been a chorister in a great ,cathedral4 ,the mighty words came back to him4 ,he bent over the woman4 ,illustration3 ,the cry for bread4 ,bread1 he whispered4 ,the body-- ,he shattered the water breaker with his fist4 ,there was a suggestion of moisture on the inside of the staves of the cask4 ,he drew his finger across them and touched it to the woman's lips4 ,water1 he said hoarsely4 ,the blood-- ,the terror1 the yearning1 disappeared from the woman's eyes4 ,she looked at the man sanely1 gratefully4 ,god bless-- she faltered and then her lips stiffened4 ,some tag of quaint old ,scripture that had impressed him when he first heard it because of its very strangeness1 but of which he had never thought in all the years of his rough life since boyhood1 came into the man's mind now4 ,he lifted his head as if to see again that figure4 ,a priest forever1 he gasped1 after the order of ,melchis-- ,he did not finish the word4 ,the woman was dead4 ,he knew now for what he had been kept alive4 ,his task had been performed4 ,he bowed his head in his hands and entered into life eternal with the others4 ,presently a little cloud flecked the sky4 ,out of the south the wind blew softly4 ,the smooth sea rippled blue and white in the gentle breeze4 ,the little boat1 cradling its dead1 rocked gently as it drifted on4 ,,xi ,the ,stiller of the ,storm ,,be ,,of ,,good ,,cheer2 ,,it ,,is ,i2 ,,be ,,not ,,afraid ,,xi ,the ,stiller of the ,storm ,it's ,christmas eve at home1 murmured the young lad after he had said his prayers and tumbled into his narrow berth on the great ship4 ,i suppose they're trimming the ,christmas tree now and hanging up the stockings4 ,i wish ,i were there4 ,he was very young to serve his country1 but not too young according to the standards of mankind to be a midshipman on the great steel monster keeping the leaden deep4 ,it was the first time he had ever been away from home on ,christmas day1 too4 ,the youngsters had all laughed and joked about it in the steerage mess4 ,they had promised themselves some kind of a celebration in the morning1 but in his own cot with no one to see1 a few tears which he fondly deemed unmanly would come4 ,he had the midnight watch and he knew that he must get some sleep1 but it was a long time before he closed his eyes and drifted off to dream of home and his mother4 ,athwart that dream came a sudden1 frightful1 heart-stilling roar of destruction2 a hideous crash followed1 a terrible rending1 breaking1 smashing1 concatenation of noises1 succeeded by frightful detonations1 as through the gaping hole torn in the great battleship by the deadly torpedo1 the water rushed upon the heated boilers1 the explosion of which in turn ignited the magazines4 ,by that deadly underwater thrust of the enemy the battleship was reduced in a few moments to a disjointed1 disorganized1 sinking mass of shapeless1 formless1 splintered steel4 ,as the explosions ceased1 from every point rose shrieks and groans and cries of men in the death-agony hurled into eternity and torn like the steel4 ,and then the boy heard the surviving officers coolly1 resolutely calling the men to their stations4 ,he had been thrown from his berth by the violence of the explosion4 ,his face was cut and bleeding where he had struck a near-by stanchion4 ,his left arm hung useless4 ,he had lain dazed on the deck for a few moments until he heard the orders of his lieutenant4 ,he was one of the signal midshipmen stationed on the signal bridge4 ,whatever happened that was the place to which to go2 he still had a duty to perform4 ,picking himself up as best he could1 he hurried to report to the lieutenant4 ,with such means as were available signals were made4 ,calls for help8 ,oh1 never6 ,warnings that the enemy's submarines were in the near vicinity and that other ships should keep away4 ,the captain was on the half wrecked bridge above4 ,the boy noticed how quiet he was1 yet his voice rang over the tumult4 ,steady1 men1 steady4 ,keep your stations4 ,stand by4 ,be ready4 ,the old quartermaster whose business it was to tell the hours saluted the captain4 ,eight bells1 sir1 he said1 midnight4 ,christmas day1 he added4 ,strike them1 said the captain4 ,and1 as clear as ever1 the four couplets rang out over the chaos and the disaster4 ,christmas day1 the boy murmured4 ,she's going1 men1 said the captain1 as the cadences died away4 ,save yourselves4 ,abandon the ship4 ,christmas morning1 said the boy4 ,i wonder what they're doing at home4 ,overboard with you1 youngster1 said the signal lieutenant2 ,i wish ,i had a life-preserver for you1 but-- ,merry ,christmas1 sir1 said the lad suddenly4 ,good ,god6 said the man4 ,merry ,christmas6 ,they will think of us at home4 ,what was left of the ship gave a mighty reel4 ,quick or she'll suck you down1 the officer roared1 as he fairly flung the boy into the water1--and how he hurt that broken arm6 ,you can swim4 ,strike out4 ,good-by4 ,the boy had caught a glimpse of the captain standing on the bridge as the wreck went down and then the wild waters closed over his head4 ,it was frightfully cold4 ,a hard gale was blowing4 ,the waves ran terribly high4 ,his left arm was helpless4 ,his head ached fiercely4 ,what was the use8 ,still the boy struck out bravely with his free hand4 ,the instinct of life6 ,it was too dark to see4 ,the sky was covered with drifting clouds4 ,only here and there a little rift of moonlight came through4 ,christmas morning1 he sobbed out as the waves rolled him over4 ,oh1 my ,god6 ,he felt himself going down4 ,all at once the waters seemed to grow still4 ,it was suddenly calm4 ,he was no longer cold4 ,he threw his head up for one last look at the sky and life and then he hung1 as it were1 suspended in some strange way4 ,he saw a figure walking across the smooth of the seas as it had been solid ground4 ,the figure drew nearer1 the wind seemed to have died away1 but the draperies that shrouded it swung gently as they would while a man walked along4 ,the face he saw dimly1 vaguely1 but there was light in it somehow4 ,it came slowly nearer4 ,christmas morning1 whispered the boy4 ,the hand of the figure reached down4 ,it caught the boy's right arm4 ,he was lifted up4 ,home and ,christmas morning1 whispered the boy1 closing his eyes4 ,the moonlight broke through a cloud and fell upon him4 ,a wave rolled over him and the sea was empty as before4 99 99 99 99 99 ,he that hath eyes to see1 let him see6