St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-02-19

! the SHOW
They all gathered around as they
had done in the hut 20 gaze upon the
wonderful baby; their eyes were
almost dazzled by the CLEANS OF
light that flashed up from the snow
where the humble bark cradle had
lain.
Faith reached down quickly and
caught up "A diamond necklace and
there were jewels enough besides to
fill all their hands.
AS they moved on once more, little
Thanktuness looked over her shout
der a, old Peter, who under the spell
OF Gods kindness and his many
responsibilities was striking along,
upright and stalwart, carrying his
burdens with all the vigor Of youth;
and said How lucky that YOU for
got your staff, dear grandpa" and
the old woodman replied with a wise
nod: THAT, too, was Gods provi.
dence."
Arrived at the castle they found
everything in confusion. The prin-
cess baby born on Christmas day
could not be found, and all the family
Jewels were missing. The servants,
too, for fear of the witches, had every
one left the castle.
"They themselves were the
witches" said old Peter. "They
robbed you and fled, but becoming
confused in the storm were obliged
to leave their plumber, and the Lord
has returned your treasures"
Gretchen placed the child in the
arms of the princess, the children
poured her jewels in her lap, and the
old man said
"See thou, that hereafter thou
honorest God with all thine house"
The pincess clasped the child weep
ing for joy. She embraced Gretchen,
exclaiming:-
Thou art happy woman with
such a father, with such children and
with so KIND heart in thy own
bosom. To show my thankfulness
YOU snail hereafter be my sister, and
thy daughters shall be the children
Of the castle together with my own
children And all shall help me in
honoring the kind Father who has
this day showed us of his loving
kindness"
And how can we further show
our thanktulness ?" asked her hus
band, the prince, who had just come
in from the hunt.
go forward always and do the
next thing said Peter, land now
let us set out the candle mass"
at is a wonderful day said the
prince. Such as come to us all now
and then to show us that we each
have a work to do in the world. We
will all help now if these good people
will direct
SO old lame Peter, who had been
the most humble of the princes
retainers, because of his faithfuness
found himself looked up to for orders
by the very prince himself as lords
and ladies all set themselves to work.
The beautiful candles of wax all
went to the church. The pine fagots
made almost summer light and
warmth in all the 6replaces in the
castle, and the candles of wood that
the wicked servants had made were
dipped in the kettle of pitch and
when lighted in the court yard
hlazed as if the very snow itself
had taken upon itself to burn in
celebration of Candle-mass.
At the church service were all the
woodmen and their families from
the depths of the forest as usual ;
and from every hut came the same
story. AS they were about starting
there came in servants from the
castle endeavoring to keep them at
home and trying to persuade them
to join in driving the prince and his
friends from the castle that they
might take possession themselves.
There shall be new order OF
things said the prince. "The old
castle servants shall stay in the
forest and the woodmen shall all
dwell hereafter in the castle, and il
they fulfil their duty as faithfully as
they have done in the wood, the
castle and the estate and farms will
present very different appearance
from what they have done during
the years of my reign
That was the result. The church
services were all faithfully kept up
there were no more charms needed