The Somerset reporter., 1896-12-15

| OSlCDt MUM vi ADTiHIIIJdh QOL OILY at
home, but also at church. on the ground
that the poor creatures having partici-
| pated in the JOY Of mankind at the
/ birth of Christ should participate in the
annual commemoration of the event.
/ Thus in Brittany cattle and sheep may
/ be said to form part Of the congrc CATION
that attends the quaint yet thoroughly
reverent mass performed in most Of the
/ churches of the seacoast villages OF
Christmas eve. On the right side Of the
altar a bower Is constructed Of fragrant
pine and fir branches, with great bunch
es of crimson berried hollics and mistIe-
toe gllstening among the vcrdure. Tn.
der this canopy there sits tie most
beautiful maiden Of the village, her
hair falling on her laoso white gar
ments wilhelm her arms there rcp poses a
young infant Brs l1e her stands "a Young
man wearing gold embroidered robe
and leaning GA staff, while am OK,
donkey and ioar sheep quiefly MUNICH
corn from - couple OF mar ycrs As
soon rs TIE gospel has been rad a
small cheri.ter contested IN the ~ard-
board figure q Il rooster lreins tochant
the verses, "fer Ia a. chIId Is born.
initiating clcYerly at the close of each
strophe tie crew Of a chatelter The
deep bass volceet another grown up Choir
ister hidden somewhere IN fine fir iYr,,,cI,
bower above described lows" tire r.
Spouse OF h. GHhcre). which sounds
as if it proceeds from the * \ teuaf
choristor concealed noar the sbceu baas
the word "Befn1ehrm and iii.n 3,
baritone voice, apparently preceding
from the donkey, tr"Ns "iamus lIet
us 20 inthtrD. Ihercupon the rector.
his aenlyteS and thc en1e cUngrega=
non 1clm a prn'tsslru and n=.tah from
III" altm 70 t. bower Whyre tnc repre-
sehtatiml 81 tine nativity l. arranged.
Inc priest having 5pHh!'d lnc mother
ana chaa as MtiI a. ihe ANIMALS viii
hoiY water, theirHron make his Way 10
Vnnr foclfs r,.st ,ne
The sheplz ri and raft1a bard .rs tia
EooIn Tn drive the 4u,4.43. ,.,.t o.b5#a
fine tsjast d54Tiao tI4,4 ,rr5,,l.f4, i,f.
tbe eilyer r,,4r,f l,4 We. shower
tbo Is,t,r p,on the horses tbe;.ses t6c
oxen thu re,vs and fBa searn Tb.
clang of The bells around ter pccks.
their lowing. tEriI laang, tAcir bray
lns and ncighine, Is we'll as the cries
and words of command of their drivers.
create tremendous din. abovs which
eve. and anon rise the solemn words Of
the priest, "Beuedicat vos omulnotens
Deus, Pater ct l1ilius ct Spiritits Sane.
tus!" the choristors bringing the bless.
ings to close with resembling
flo ,b;af a,,+,.r.a 70 IT,, ,h,,roh t,o
-. ,f ,,.,,;ol, NV, ID, -, 1..I.;,.,,
nsnallv ont ~, IN tho soa An tba. cnttIo
o,,a tLo ao,l.. 90 ~, ILL, INV, ,,,,,,.,,
Will hon,, d,,,,o,, i,,+o tho oh,roh,,a,l
a,,a sta,,a ,.ra,,.,,,,a ta,,otlar j., ~ ii
va,.v E,ht IF tho ,,oo,, .ro,,,d +,o no.,
tai. Taking up his position on the top
most step of the porch the rector ex-
claims: "God in his mercy. my dear
children. has sent me on this radiant
night of the nativity to bless your cat
tie and your f1ocks. because it is only
right that the animals which constitute
your greatest help and source of pros.
peritv should participate in the iov
which fills all our hearts Now lead
"Amenn
Every one who has wiutered in Spain
will recall ia mind tbn "Nissn dol
Gallo, l." or "cock : mass. " celebrated in
all tho churches ON Christmas eve or
rather Christmas morning. The chant
clee, hoing the b,rd thar * FIRST IN her.
aid in tbn advent of the morning light.
fine Standards Inv a bapnv and ouaint
coneoit like to imagine thar he is apx-
ions ON tbjs niybt of nights to call uuol
Them even AT midnight to be awake and
to salute the happv morning. In the
nrinciual churches If Madrid and Seville
this midnight mass IN honor of the
.,Dios N,no', j. rendered. with axouisit.
nastoral Dlusir. ra@fanpts and tanbonr.
ines playing an important part III the
orchestra "hlIe no" ana again, ny
= means Oh spec'ai instrument, p"'iie'i'
Z and hlraiiKe notes s"eli up WIN peeul,