St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-02-19
THE CANDLES OF CANDLEMAS.
A Legend OF the Black Forest. How Pine Knots
Came TO be Burned on the Hearth on the
Feast Of the Publication Of the Virgin.

1t was Candlemas eve in the Black
forest OF Germany, many and many
a year ago. On the edge OF the Tor
est at the foot Of a huge mountain
peak, where the noon day sun lay
warm on cloudess days, was little
church, and near by was a huge stone
castle, where dwelt lords and ladies
and such troops OF servants that 1t
was a wonder what they found TO
do unless it might he TO wait upon
each other, but they had very merry
time on week days and on Sundays
as well, for they were never seen at
the church and all the poor folks
round about spoke OF them as THE
happy servants OF the castle"
Back in the forest were many wood
choppers, who went Away to church
services, Sabbath days and feast
DAYS, following revrently the ritual,
delighting in the sweet music and
gazing as admiringIy at the great
people from the castle, who never
failed to be present, as il they were
people OF another world.
In summer to 90 through thesweet
fragrant woodland, where the shad
ows lay cool and dark, was a delight,
but in winter. when the snow lay
deep upon the ground and the inter
woven branches OF the huge trees
were loaded until they bent with
their cold white burden, and it seemed
as it they were living in a cavern OF
perpetual winter, it took good will
and resolution to start out for the
long toilsome walk. But the wood
men and their families were Gods
children, and knew not that it was
possible for them to neglect a duty.
One part OF tbeir work was to
carry wood to the church and to the
castle to keep the many fires always
aglow. Sometimes Peter, the Oldest
OF all the woodmen, on account OF
lamcncss and the inhrmities OF age,
would be very late in laying down
the huge pile OF dry fagots that it
was always his duty TO bring, in the
corner of the wide fireplace in the
great banqueting hall These were
called Peters fagots, and the ladies
delighted as they stood about the
hearth to pick them out and throw
them upon the fire with their own
fair hands, to make a brighter blaze,
and they had always kind word or
a cake for the old woodman.
One Candlemas eve, as he came in
even later than usual, CONSERVATION
rested upon every face, and there
was silence instead OF the merry tu-
multi he was wont TO find, and the
mistress of the castle herself, the
beautiful princess said, plaintively:-
peter, thou art the oluest OF our
retainers; thou art wise, not alone
with the wisdom of years, but also
with that OF virtue. 1t is for thee to
direct us, now that all the many can.
dies prepared for the illumination at
the church and at the castle as well
have been turned to wood by the
witches that lurk in every corner and
Granny OF the courtyard, and we
have neither wax nor tallow to
make more. The servants whose
duty it was to keep the horseshoes
above the doors and branches of
holly in the windows, to keep the
witches out, are missing. The witches
are in, and if the illumination is
passed over, they will stay in for a
year and every bad luck will follow"
1--WE have, your ladyship, at the
hut a few candles" said Peter re-
specially. al will fetch them, and
the Lord who is good will accept
your intent and bless you for doing
your best Meantime you can keep
a blaze on every hearth with my
fagots, There will be enough to last
until my return"
SO old Peter hobbled away, draw
ing the folds of his ragged cloak
about him to keep away the cold,
for the wind was roaring through
the great trees with a tumult that
was almost enough to make his
brave heart quail, and the snow was
falling fast.
Once within the vast arches of the
forest the way was hard to find but,
said Peter to himself, for that was
his habit TO talk aloud as he walked =
II shall not lose myself for the
Lord will keep me in plain path
just so long as my thoughts are upon
him and he has work for me to do.
hope my daughter Gretchen will
have the porridee hot and ready and