New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-27

with mingled curiosity and dread the snowfakes
as they beat noiselessly on the window panes
Away over the mountains in her tiny kingdom
Il the South, q garden. rather than realm, so
small and gay it was she had never seen II
NOV; and for the Queen earth's dazzling wind
ing sheet was but q symbol OF exile The first
tine her eyes beheld the white flakes fall was
on that night that she herself had fallen from
her royal state. That night, when hiding in her
breast the child whom God had made king.
Ehe had fed across the frontier of her realm,
speeding through strange lands on her own cher
khed courser, who, she thought, painted as he
ran with pride at the nobleness Of his burden.
That headlong flight in the darkling night TO
escape the hatred of a whole people seemed to
her al the time like some romantic caprice, like
sufferngs on the stage, which must needs come
right in the end. How could her people live
without her without the gracious sovereign and
her ready smile TO grace all their festivals, with
love in her eyes and her heart upon her lips?
Even those who clamored for blood had not
even they acclaimed her a hundred times-frst
when, IN her almost childish beauty like that
Of fresh spring blossom grated upon a gnarled
trunk she had welded the old King; then in
her grandeur a youthful widow. bearing alOft
IN her arms, as q flower spray bears a bird. the
baby King hope of his people and his race?
could she do more than initiate the sum- which
smiles upon all and forever? It is true the
breeds riches with its smile; and she. though she
DID no harm, made none the better by her smil-
ing But how can a monarch bring riches? she
wondered artlessly.
Perhaps, she thought If they had not driven
her forth, she and her child would not have been
free, and she could not have reared for the little
nation, smiling like Arcadia, a sweet pastoral
king beautiful like herself. and, like her, gay
and gentle
What more could she give to her people than
him?
Would they be happier now with the hard and
gloomy creed that had griPped like a wise the
garden realm?
And the grim bastard Of the old King, the
fierce soldier dropped as If from the clouds, with
his heart Of bronze and his mien Of stone whom
all folk had greeted as a new Messiah-what
could he give them to make UP for the gayety Of
their lost Queen?
Surely, surely she thought, they must call her
back when the first festival came and they
missed a monarch who would be merry when
they were merry. And so, she wended her
way into exile hopes still lowered around her
and she regarded the snOWfakes almost as
friends. But alas! when she came TO the for
eign city that gave her refuge in her trouble
S0rroWs came thick and fast and quenched the
hopes that still remained.
The people, the people, called her not ana
the snow EEL as before. But now II was
rodden under the footsteps OF the crowd, and
soon was suIIied into mire. And the sadness
Of il all grew and grew until IL covered as with
pan the heart OF the Queen; and it was Tor
this that she shrank behind the hang1ngs or the
EIndCW bay and listened with mingled curiosity
and dread 10 the light tap OF the flakes as they
Grove against the panes
Are they coming. mother?' the clear voice
Of the child KING nesting near her asked
Hhor inquired the Queen, wondering Ihe
Wise Kings from the East" said the child win
t2rlike eyes This is the twelfth day after
Christmas, when they come TO Us. Have you
io'gotten2" The Queen smiled wistfuly down
UPON the little King and shook her head
Well" be pleaded still, tell me. tell me. what
ne Wizard Kings IRE like"
she gathered him into her arms and tod him
tOch fancful stories as come alone to widowed
mothers when they speak TO only child There
were the Three Wise Kings from the glowing
Last lar away who came steeds. with spread
Ig Dinions. rushing through the air. Kings were
Iey, In gold and erInine, bearing precious gnts
L memory Of the offerings they brought long.
~ng ago 10 the Supremest Gift Of all
And Is one Of them blackr' whispered the
Slo, remembering some ancient picture he had
seen
Yes, yes 20 be sure +" answered the Queen