The Portland daily press., 1897-12-18

the cause of his unhappiness, which he
himself did not dare admit. The castle
ard the pleasures which were about had
no charms for him, and much as he had
longed to enjoy them his thoughts were
ever wandering back to the sunny ~@south,
where, under the hot. dep blue sky, he
had led a free life.
''He felt ashamed of his feelings and
the sad thought that his good wife was
not his only love, but, as time went on,
he became more and more morose. He
thought, before the great big burning log
in his sitting room. His wife, through
all this, assumed cheerful Inien, and
showered upon him her abundance of ten
derness and love. Still her husband
seemed unhappy, and even toward her he
finally became reserved and cold.
"They were seated together one cold
but clear December night, he musing and
she endeavoring to win him to good
spirits. Suddenly she arose and went to
window from which could be seen the
whole Necker Valley. There, stretched
at her feet it lay snow covered and glis-
tening as though millions of diamond
splinters had been cast over it. The sight
charmed and awed her. Looking back
tenderly to her husband, she invited him
to partake with her of the joys of that
beautiful landscape, but he did not even
condos end to arise, but morosely blurted
out:
" He who has never seen anything else
but the country five miles around here
will be satisfied with what you see.'
This was too much for the young wife,
who burst into tears, and Immediately
sought her chnnb Der. That night she
could not sleep, for she was fearful that
her husband, who no longer could love
his own homestead, would soon lose his
love for her. Her mind went sadly back
to the time when Heinz first met her at
the ducal court, the wedding day, and the
unalloyed love he showered upon her be-
fore his departure for the East, and before
she fell asleep she prayed the Lord to help
her to win back her husband to a love for
his fatherland and home
Next day the Knight was entertaining
several of his friends at q banquet at
which they alone participated. The good
wife would now and then enter the room
to minister to their wants, and on one
| such occasion overheard her husband say:
Only those who have been there
know the beauties of the southern coun-
try. Italy is inspiring. The constant blue
sky, the clear air, and the celestial flowers
and fruit. Only in such cline can man
be cheerful. Only there are beautiful
songs sung, and only there is joy to be
found Here with us, few months of
for months nothing but fog and darkness
Here the bright spirits must succumb to
dark and gloomy nature. Even our holi-
days are sombre. In the South the
Christmas time is beautiful and gay with
us 1T Is given over to eating and drinking,
and more prayers than usual.
" L do not remember just where it was
we rested on the night of the Gath of last
Decem Der, but can recall the church of
the little place. Thousands of candles lit
it up SO that night was transformed into
day and hundreds of candles surrounded
a picture of Christ which pee ped out:of
wreath of roses and branches of theslaurel
tree. Outside there seemed to be sum
mer, and the songs Of the pious were
mingled with the notes of the nightin-
gale. There l prayed more passionately
than ever did before, and my heart
bounded with joy and Christian feeling
"Only this was needed to break entirely
the spirit of his wife, but still she felt
that there was some truth in her hus-
bands statements. How to make their
Christmas as much like the Christmas of
his.heart was now her constant care and
thought, but nothing she could think of
appeared sufficient.
lone day while on visit to the sick,
she was walking through the pine woods
around the castle. The giant trees, snow
covered, were glistening in the sunset
Here and there peeped cut bit IF pure
real green, and the trees haughtily rear
ing their heads toward heaven, inspired
and delighted her, and she cried out
aloud:
" Fir Tree, you shall adorn our
church at the next Christmas. You shall
win back my husbands love to his father
land and home. Italy, with all it's glories,
cannot claim you. I will load you with
candles ansapples and nuts, and hundreds
0f liChtS Gha11 m q of hoo,
full than you now are
"Immediately1upon reaching home she
sent for the good Father AdoIph and told
him of her plans, and ordered him to
paint nuts with gold and to gather the
snow roses SO that her husband might
know that Christmas in Germany can
also produce fresh flowers. From this
time on the good wife regained her joyful
spirits. The holy priest had told her that
it was right to glorify the sacred feast of
the Lords birth as she contemplated do
ing, and laying his fatherly hand upon
her head he snid.
" To reclaim a soul to his home and
land is work of God, and may the ever
green of the fir tree be symbol of Gods
interchangeable love-
The evening of Dec. "a came and the
castle was astir with work and prepara-
tions. 1nsthe kitchen there was broiling
and baking; the winekeeper was busy
filling pitchers and bottles, for there was
to be joy and feasting that night. Every
face was bright, excepting only that of
the master of the house, who early in the
evening retired to his sitting room, like
an owl stunning the light. He stayed
there until late in the evening, when his
wife entered the room and invited him
as had always been her custom, to attend
with her the reading of the mass at the
church.
"The decoration of the Christmas tree
and many cares of the household had
kept the wife from her husband for sew
eral days before Christmas eve, and he
knew nothing of her plans. The Christ
mas tree had been raised in the church,
wreaths hal been made of fir branches
and hung upon it, and snow roses and
lighted candles and apples and painted
nuts were also depended from it. No
such sight had ever before been seen in
that country.
"Heinz gave unwilling assent to his
wifes invitation. She, dressed in blue
festival gown, was as radiant as an angel.
She looked especially happy that night.
Together the man and wife went to the
door of the church, and as it was throw n
open they were greeted by the feryent