Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

bronze lamps with crimson glowing flame,
casting ruddy lights upon the dark marbles of
the walls Before the brown old bass reliefs
of Virgin and Child straight and slender, with
golden halos about their heads, hang silver
lamps heavy with chains
The manifold rays of flame penetrate deep
into the dusk of the arches, glow mellow in
the pale gold of the domes, transfgure the
faces of the prophets and saints and evangel-
lists, and converge toward the lamp of dark
bronze that hangs from the great dome where
the apostles gaze down from among the olive
trees to form n glory about the bronze Christ
on the cross that rises from the pavement be-
low
At the prayer desks and on the pale mosa-
licked floor kneol dark veiled figures, like stat
ues, against the chancel flame. The people
stand with faces raised to the throne above
the altar glory. where the great pale Christ
sits with His hands uplfted in blessing. The
symbols of the evangelist stand about Him
mighty monsters praisng God for the many
Christmas-eves they have known since the
old Greek workers called them into life.
peace not of earth lies upon their grotesque
features, aud on the faces of the worshippers
standing with hushed alteration about the
shadowy columns. There are old men whose
guns hang by the side of the brown Madonna
in token Of gratitude for their preservation in
the time of the revolution young girls with
rapt faces: young men with dark brave eyes
mothers with their babes crying ont for JOY at
the brightness The glory of Immortality
has dawned upon their earth laden hearts.
silence fills the luminous space as of the
midnight Stiffness of the plain whore the shep-
herds wandered. low soft murmur of
chords arises from the gallery above the altar
lights-the scattered voices of those who be-
held the great bright star-increasing in depth
and strength and clearness rs the wonder
grows louder in the mouths of the watchers.
There is n faint pale light in the heavens that
brightens note by note with the strength of
the sweet chords, and bursts forth in great
golden glory.
Tender notes are heard afar off, young hu-
man voices. sweet and pure and holy, like the
music of celestial tlroats. 1t grows deeper,
louder. clearer. The warm human love is
struggling through the beatitude of the trans
figured souls. With II glad rush, the voices
and the instruments sweep forth III n shout of
triumph-"H "Hosanna! hosanna Peace on
earth. good will toward mem" The sound
rolls along the nave and under the arches,
echoes from the mouths of the worshippers,
is caught up by the sentinel angels behind the
tapers. and mingles with the mighty voices of
the pale prophets on their thrones
A murmur full of sublime humility. The
| holy Babe is laid low in the manger with the
| tender tones of the Virgin Mother keeping
| watch above Him. Low and scanty and un-
adorned are the notes that follow. Then
| comes II burst of love and awe, as the shep-
herds troop in and kneel by the side of the
| Child with the altar glory about his head.
With shouts and triumphant noise of drums
and trumpets come the gorgeous shows of the
Eastern caravan, with gifts of myrrh and
| frankincense and precious stuffs like the
| cleaning draperies that hang from the pulpit.
| Then come the low brooding notes Of the
| mother love, deepening with the sad forebod-
| ing of the agony to follow. The faces of the
mother worshippers grow sorrowful with SYM
pathy. The pure. noble simple chords fill the
arches with lingering awe. The loud fierce
shrieks of the instruments and the despairing
! human voices foreshadow the agony to come
Then one loud, sad, confused death-cry cch
oes through the arches. and dies away in q
| sob which seems to come from the throat OF
the bronze Christ in the nave and quivers fal
into the shadows, until it is caught up again
into the great final shout of heavenly gladnes,
which sounds from where all human passion
is forever lost-the celestial glory of the gold
en- dome.
81. ..s and half moans of relief that the paiI
and sorrow of life have forever vanished
break from the lips of the worshippers 4
light lies on the wonIen's faces that viii
brighten the work-day round of the coming
year. The figure on the throne spreads on
his arms in blessing. The people crowd abou
the bronze shape on the cross, and touch it
feet with their lips. The pale prophets gaz
down with smiles on their lips. From unde
the arches, where the angels stand like celes
tal guardians, wanders back and forth amonj
the dim-ghted chapels and the golden GLOW
of the domes, the old heavenly watch-word
Peace on earth goodwill toward men,"
-Harper's MonhlyJ1r Jdaudrg