also

DEACON PITKIN'S FARM

and

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS OF NEW ENGLAND

BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.

With Illustrations.

1875.

BETTY'S BRIGHT IDEA.

Some say that ever, 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrate,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long.
And then, they say, no evil spirit walks;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm,—
So hallowed and so gracious is the time.

And this holy time, so hallowed and so gracious, was settling down overthe great roaring, rattling, seething life-world of New York in the goodyear 1875. Who does not feel its on-coming in the shops and streets, inthe festive air of trade and business, in the thousand garnitures bywhich every store hangs out triumphal banners and solicits you to buysomething for a Christmas gift? For it is the peculiarity of all thisarray of prints, confectionery, dry goods, and manufactures of all kinds,that their bravery and splendor at Christmas tide is all to seduce youinto generosity, and importune you to give something to others. It saysto you, "The dear God gave you an unspeakable gift; give you a lessergift to your brother!"

Do we ever think, when we walk those busy, bustling streets, all alivewith Christmas shoppers, and mingle with the rushing tides that throngand jostle through the stores, that unseen spirits may be hastening toand fro along those same ways bearing Christ's Christmas gifts to men—giftswhose value no earthly gold or gems can represent?

Yet, on this morning of the day before Christmas, were these ShiningOnes, moving to and fro with the crowd, whose faces were loving andserene as the invisible stars, whose robes took no defilement from thespatter and the rush of earth, whose coming and going was still as thefalling snow-flakes. They entered houses without ringing door-bells, theypassed through apartments without opening doors, and everywhere they werebearing Christ's Christmas presents, and silently offering them towhoever would open their souls to receive. Like themselves, their giftswere invisible—incapable of weight and measurement in gross earthlyscales. To mourners they carried joy; to weary and perplexed hearts,peace; to souls stifling in luxury and self-indulgence they carried thatnoble discontent that rises to aspiration for higher things. Sometimesthey took away an earthly treasure to make room for a heavenly one. Theytook health, but left resignation and cheerful faith. They took the babefrom the dear cradle, but left in its place a heart full of pity for thesuffering on earth and a

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