the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第3节
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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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The Grey Brethren
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 went into the cave and sat down by the fire。
It was warm and restful after the biting air。 The cats purred pleasantly；
the Child sat with her chin in her hand watching the glowing wood burn
red and white on the great hearthstone。
〃The Recluse generally answers my questions by showing me
something I have seen for a long time but never beheld； or heard and never
lent ear。 I wonder what it will be this time；〃 she said to herself。
The grateful warmth made the Child sleepy； and she gave a start when
she found the Recluse standing by her with outstretched hand。
〃Come； dear Child；〃 he said； and leaving the sleeping cats she
followed him； her hand in his。
The air was full of wonderful sound； voices and song； and the cry of
the bells。
The Child wondered； and then remembered it was Christmas night。
The Recluse led her down a little passage and opened a door。 They
stepped out together； but not into the forest。
〃This is the front door of my house；〃 said the Recluse； with a little
smile。
They stood on a white road； on one side a stretch of limestone down；
on the other steep terraces with gardens and vineyard。 The air was soft
and warm； and sweet with the breath of lilies。 The heaven was ablaze
with stars； across the plain to the east the dawn was breaking。 A group of
strangely…clad men went down the road followed by a flock of sheep。
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〃Let us go with them；〃 said the Recluse； and hand in hand they went。
The road curved to the right； round the bend； cut in the living rock；
was a cave； the shepherds stopped and knelt； and there was no sound but
the soft rapid breathing of the flock。 Then the Child was filled with an
overmastering longing； a desire so great that the tears sprang hot to her
eyes。 She dropped the Recluse's hand and went forward where the
shepherds knelt。 Once again the air was full of wonderful sound； voices
and song； and the cry of the bells； but within all was silence。 The cave
was rough…hewn； and stabled an ox and an ass； close to the front a tall
strong man leaning on a staff kept watch and ward； within knelt a peasant
Maid； and on a heap of yellow straw lay a tiny new…born Babe loosely
wrapped in a linen cloth： around and above were wonderful figures of
fire and mist。
The infinite； visible and attainable。
The mystery which is the greatest possible wisdom。
* * * * *
〃Come； Child；〃 said th
