St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-24
UNDER WINTER STARS.
A Prairie Idyl of Christmas Eve, by Hanllin
Garland.
JACOB A. RIIS.

His chores done, his supper eaten, the farm
hand starts on his lonely walk to the Christmas
tree at the grove school house, miles away
across the snowy prairie.
The winter night is clear and cold and still
The moon a crescent, low in the west, soon to set
The poplar trees creak in the wind, the snow
cries out under the youths foot, the sound of
faint voices can be heard as he enters the wood,
the wide air is full of a misty radiance.
The way is long, but the wind is in his back
and his limbs are strong. His feet slip and slide
in the deep worn sleigh path where the moon
light shines back from its track of smooth
heavy runners.
His feet move in rhythm to his heart. He has
left the monotony and toll of the farm-yard
behind him-before him is q crowded school
house, the sound of bells, the sight of girlish
faces half concealed, yet with magical flash of
eyes from shadowy hoods.
She will be there! The one he had worshiped
afar off-she will be therel
His eyes lose their hold upon the stars and
become filed with the soft lines of girls head.
Large, demure, Of eyes, with hidden depths of
mirth, shining teeth, pink ears-she was worth
walking twice ten miles to see.
He had looked forward to this evening for
days. 1t had nerved his heart to swing the
axe and to drive the hay knife. It had built a
fire in his blood against the cold winds. Her
face illumined life.
He leaped the fence and struck across the
fields beloved with drifts. wolf eyed him
from distance in meditative silence. a white
owl flew by close to the stubble.
The sound of bells thickened; the warm light
of the school house shone out and his heart beat
breathlessly fast.
| The light of the room brought back his awk-
wardness and shyness. His eyes fell as he crept
| down the WALL hearing the low rumble of
voices. He sat obscurely in the crowd, his
hair tumbled by his cap, his hands swollen and
| chapped with cold and toll.
| The tree stood there loaded with gifts. All
about gay voices rang out, and the hustle OF
preparation went On. Young girls in shining
dresses went about greeting each other and
confding secrets. Boys shouted and scuff1ed,
and men with great coats on their arms stood
! all about the room talking in hearty voices.
In the midst of it the lonely farmland sat
| with wistful eyes.
| Then came the voice of chairman, then
prayer, then the voice of child reciting a
! verse about Jesus, then she came down through
| the aisle to the organ. She came like queen, q
lofty look on her face, lofty but sweet. All
made way for her.
The young mans heart beat with sufocating
power, the blood swelled in his throat. He
looked at her with the bowed head of worship
full, scared, innocent animal. Suddenly the
light of her eyes fell into his like rays of pure
June sunshine Blinded and shrinking, his
head fell and his face famed and throbbed.
| She brushed past him. He seemed to feel he1
dress but he could not lift his eyes again. AS
she sang the room darkened and the floor
seemed far away. Hehardly dared breathe fol-
fear Of losing something of the sweetness Of
her voice. AS she moved past him again amid
the applause. he dared not clap his hands. but
he raised his eyes again to bee rounded cheek