And when they opened the letter, Then the Burgomaster stammered, A drop, like a tear, from his cheek. Then up he spoke right gruffly, But when six rosy children That night about him pressed, Poor, trusting little Gottlieb Stood near him with the rest. And he heard his simple, touching prayer, A wise and learned man was he, But his wisdom seemed like foolishness, Now when the morn of Christmas came And hastened to his mother, But he scarce might speak for fear, When he saw her wondering look, and saw The Burgomaster near. He was n't afraid of the Holy Babe, Nor his mother, meek and mild; But he felt as if so great a man Had never been a child. Amazed the poor child looked, to find The hearth was piled with wood, And the table, never full before, Was heaped with dainty food. Then half to hide from himself the truth, The Burgomaster said, While the mother blessed him on her knees, And Gottlieb shook for dread : "Nay, give no thanks, my good dame, To such as me for aid; Be grateful to your little son, And the Lord to whom he prayed !" Then, turning round to Gottlieb : Your written prayer, you see, Came not to whom it was addressed, It only came to me! "T was but a foolish thing you did, For though the gifts are yours, you know, Then Gottlieb answered fearlessly, But the Christ-child sent them all the same, He put the thought in your heart!" Caroline A. Mason. 1823-1890. WAKING. I have done, at length, with dreaming; But, begone! regret, bewailing, To a knowledge strong and deep, Weakened not by fear or doubt. I can feel a throb electric, That I feel within me stirring, Standing in the place of strife. That has wellnigh come too late; Thomas Wentworth bigginson. 1823. VESTIS ANGELICA. [It was a custom of the early English Church for pious laymen to be carried in the hour of death to some monastery, that they might be clothed in the habit of the religious order and might die amid the prayers of the brotherhood. The garment thus assumed was known as the Vestis Angelica.-See Moroni: "Dizionario di Erudizione Storico-Ecclesiastica," ii., 78; xcvi., 212.] O gather, gather! Stand More pure than priest; |