The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-12-24

and leaning ON n staff. while an OK, 4
donkey and four sheep quietly MUNICH
corn from o couple Of manRerA A.
soon as the gospel has been read .
small chorister concealed in the card.
board figure Of . rooster begins to chant
the verses, For to NJ child is born"
initiating cleverly at the close Of each
strophe the crow Of q chanticleer. The
deep bass voice Of another grown up chor.
lister hidden somewhere in the fir branch
bower above described flows" the r.
sponse Of "Ubi?" (where). which sounds
as il it proceeds from the OK. A tenor
chotister concealed near the sheep baas
the word Bethlehem" aud then .
baritone voice. apparently proceeding
from the donkey, brays "Eamus" (let
us 60 thither). Thereupon the rector,
his acolytes aud the entire congrega-
tion form q procession and march from
the altar to the bower where the repre-
sentation Of the nativity is arranged.
The priest. having sprinkled the mother
and child as we'll a. the animals with
holy water. thereupon makes his way 10
the chief entrance to the church. the
doors Of which are wide open. looking
usually out on to the sea- All the cattle
and the flocks CT the village have mean.
while been driven into tho churchyard
and stand crowded together in the sill
very light Of the moon around the por.
tai. Taking up his position OH tho top
most step Of the porch. the rector e.
claims: God in his mercy. my dear
children, has sent me Oh this radiant
night Of the nativity to bless your cat.
tie and your flocks, because it is only
right that the animals which constitute
your greatest help and source Of pros.
perity should participate in the Joy
which fills all our hearts. Now lead
your flocks past me-"
The shepherd and cattle herders then
begin to drive the animals past, while
the priest, dipping the sprinkler into
the silver ever Of holy water, showers
the latter upon the horses, the asses, the
oxen, the COWS and the sheep. The
clang of the bells around their necks,
their lowing, their baaing. their bray
ing and neighing. rs well as the cries
aud words of command of their drivers,
create o tremendous din, above which
ever and anon rise the solemn words Of
the priest, "Benedicat vos omnipotens
Deus, Pater ct Filius OF Spiritus Sano-
tus!' the choristers bringing the bless
ings to close with resounding
''Amenp'
Every one who has wintered in Spain
will recall to mind the "Missa del
~ - l.,
all the churches on Christmas eve. or
rather Christmas morning The chanti-
cleer being the bird that Is hrst to her.
aid in the advent of the morning light,
the Spaniards, by q happy and quaint
conceit. like to imagine that be is anx-
ious on this night of nights to call upon
them even at midnight to he awake and
to salute the happy morning. In the
principal churches of Madrid and Seville
this midnight mass in honor Of the
"Dios Nino" is rendered with exquisite
pastoral music. castanets and tam bour.
ines playing an important part In tho
orchestra. while now and again, BY
means Of special instrument, pathetic
and birdl; ;ke notes swell up with pecul-
had lent its voice to mingle with the
angelic psalms to herald in the mystic
coming Of the babe of Bethlehem. In
the churches of the small provincial
towns and villages the instrumental
bird notes arc replaced by those of an
ordinary rooster, which by some device
known to the peasants is made to crow
at the appointed period during tho oele-
bration.
Not only on the continent Of Europe,
but also in the southwestern counties
Of England asupersrition prevails to the
! effect that animals possess the power Of
speech at 10 O'Clock on Christmas eva.
Inasmuch. however. as only those per-
Sons who are entirely free from mortal
sin are supposed to possess the privilege
of understanding their utterances, there
! is no authentic record extant as to The
character OF their remarks ON these 90.
| caaioDs. EX-ArTACHE