The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-24

room in which their enemies lay, n
Fleming believed that they, too, had been
listening to the old mans words. Then
he grew angry at himself and sought to
shake off the spell.
ssDid you hear that9p asked the old
man.
Yes, l heard it, said Fleming, land
I heard nothing but a cicck striking mid
night"
But what a midnightr' exclaimed the
cther. and co you not know what morn
ing has begun?p
Without waiting for an answer, he seized
a rope which hung by the wall and as he
pulled with strong and practiced hand a
bell far above them began to ring. Its
mellow note, steady and strong. echoed
through the night, which heard no other
sound now, and rose and fell in a song Of
joy. Listening TO its music, Fleming for
got for a moment the wildness of the win
ter night and the lust of battle which had
burned so iiercely in his veins.
Listen, listen, l tell you!'' exclaimed
the old man, his face transfigured By the
ecstasy which possessed him. rs not that
a better sound thar the crack of rifles and
sAS SASHAo osAAS AASht 9SoRAi = AsA
you do you not know what morning has
begun?"
How should I know?'' asked Fleming.
"How can any man who has been march
ing and fighting and skirmishing for
weeks keep track Of timesn
ssIhis is the night of the gath of De-
eember. and its Christmas morning now, 2
cried the old man, 1.-THE night when Christ
was horn and came into the world to
preach forgiveness and to teach men to
love n anotheri I've rung that morning
in with this bell every year for the last so
years, and I ceme here tonight to do it
again, though you've followed me and
fought in the arch itself. Stand back,
! tell you! You sknn not fight here with
the bells of CHRISTMAS morning ringing in
your ears. God would strike you dead for
it"
It seemed to Fleming that the mans
manngr now had the dignity and force
that we ascribe to the Hebrew prophets Of
cid His Uttleness had disappeared, he
showed no semblanoe OF fear, and his eyes
blazsd with the force OF the spirit that
was in him.
The notes Of the bell rose far above the
whistle CT the wind, and ever in the pres
ence Of those who carried arms in their
hands to kill told of peace on earth and
good win to men. The saneuinary scenes
OF the night passed out Of E~lefxing's mind
for Z moment, and in their place he saw
the peaceful Christmas morning Of his
childhood. Then he looked weakly at
Evans, as if ne would seek counsel from
his second in command.
Lower your weapons!i cried the old
man, who never ceased his ringing. II
tell YOU again that God will strike you
dead if you fight in his house at such a
tine. What a saerilege, and you but
boysi'
The fever in Fleming's veins was dying.
He looked at his men and saw that the
lust of combat was passing from them.
In his ears rang the joyful note of the bell
telling him that Christ was born and had
come on earth to teach peace and good
will among men. He turned his eyes
from his men to those Of the sexton, who
pulled the rope with regular and rhythmic
stroke, and they fell beIore the gaze of the
old man.
ssAnd you purpose to fight herel' fam
ed out the old man. ''You should be
down on your knees and thank God that
you are alive this Christmas morning.
Listen to my bS 1t is declaring peace,
and no other voice shall be heard in this
The last touch Of the battle fever passed
from Fleming's veins, but he looked ques-
tioningly at the deer behind which his
enemies had fortified themselves. The
mans eyes followed his.
sThsy, too, shall put down their guns
while the Christina. bell is ringing, he
cried. ."Come outl These men give their
promise that they viii not fire upon YOU"
Eyes, We promise, = said Fleming me-
chanicslly, his mind still wandering back
with the notes of the bell to other Christ
mornings.
There Is nothing to fight for here, .
way" said Evans in a low voice.
Not row at least, " replied Fleming in
the same tene.
The door in front of them was opened,
their enemies, gun muzzles down,
slowly out. Fleming and Evans
them with military courtesy.
.sAbous facslu said Fleming to his men.
Then with their lieutenants at their
head the little band marched down the
stairway and through tho church and cut
INTO the snow aud past the smolderiag
of the houses to their camp. And
lboye them and around them the clear
totes of the bell were proclaiming that
Christ was born on earth ana peace and
rood win should reign among men.
.-r. - .~r..~,..a-