Christmas. But before me was an unfinished news article that even a hungry and insistent stomach did not seem able to push to a conclusion. Beyond my desk out of the window I looke

ist and an Irishman rain. I think that any one looking out that night would have found it hard to see in the gray v

and I wondered as I tore it open if anything had happened to Harbor Jim. It was

an answer no how biggest an best

rk upon a Christmas that would eclipse anything New York had ever had. He had taken the idea out of a city paper that

g into St. John's Harbor. Our boat was sheathed with ice and as in the morning we came thru the Narrows there were knobs of

fellow agreed to drive me out to Jim's for two dollars and a half and I went in his slei

in his arms and outdid himself i

he first greetings were over and I h

fishin'. There ain't but one thing on my mind an' t

f half grown candles had been recently finished. O

Palestine and hereabouts is as fittin' a place as Bethlehem. Look out there at the snow! Makes you think o' a baby's blankets, it's so white and clean and pretty. Our nights man't have stars as brilliant as that one greater star of the first Christmas mornin', but I don't believe they have flyin' l

d and Bob McCa

got your good behavior[6] on fur

the biggest Christmas the Landers ever hed; and I'd like to know

istmas, Jim?" I asked, ta

se. Aunt Saray Bailey is a' comin' from Nancy Jobble.[7] It's such a general invitation that they ain't no definite countin' no

nt I had sent him of the illuminated tree in Madison Square, and had resolved to have the trees on a neighboring hil

s up very early and when I came down

this morning fur the Decoratin'

a carryin' out Christmas. Up your way they fetch it in, but

ught the full contagion of Jim's spir

as he ushered in his guest. "Di

he workers, Jim,"

seed, and it's a good thing fur those who are a takin' His place to be up in the front row o' workers. Here's a bag o' candles and here's a coil o' wire. You can take 'em up

their own donation of candles, and each time that Jim saw more candles

knew what to expect and we were not disappointed, when with keen appetites, we crowded the little house and waited our turn for a hot plate

h our work in the aft

corating has no tall spruce on top. The trees are well arranged o

r the Candles of the Lord," answered Jim. "There on the top is where the Light o' the

t least, and it was carefully erected in the centre of the open place on the

ill find plenty at my house. Be back every one of you an hour before sunset. The sun won't wait for any o'

ubidoux in California on an Easter morning. A little in advance of the larger contingent I stood and watched them coming up out of the darkness of the roads below into the growing light of the mountain top and the new day. I thought of t

tickles and nudging one another as things happened to meet their fancy. Women in black were in the crowd who had been before along a sorrowful way and turned to make

e manner of English soldiers who feel their importance when on furlough. Littl

e ships com

Day, on Chr

r drown their childish voices and they rose like

he Newfoundlanders call the spectacle of a snow and icegirt earth. During the day many of our hands had been nearly frozen because of the ice on the trees and they were festooned and sh

ree put on a garland of jewels and stood forth resplendent for the feast. Parson Curtis had lit the first torch

more trees and the deepening of the night shadows. It was now quite dusky, but

nding beside the Candle

lad you have come to celebrate the birth of the Lord

ready to announce the singing of the first of the Christmas hymns, when some one I didn't know ma

and the Missus wants you to come over right now to sit up w

rare flower that blossoms only in the night it had unfolded petal by petal before his delighted eyes. I thought, too, of Rascal Moore, who had so long been living up to his nam

all he said to the messenger,

and without these words I think I must have doubted it. "It would

ittle church, started the Christmas hymn "Holy Night, Peaceful Night," and the crowd sang. The female voices seemed in preponderan

from the trees that were a little beyond and decorating those that were in the direct line toward the Moore house. There were so many hundreds the work was speedily performed. The candles were re-lit and by sev

onderful beauty of that night for which Jim had worked and prayed. For now the northern li

ome to earth, they have, for

and he stood bare-headed looking up the wonderful avenue of light to the top of the

uld hear his words. "Mebbe little Peter is here tonight playing in the

s for, Jim?" some one

s answer. It was a hush of expectan

slowly, measu

r calling and I w