Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-11
BY JUSTIN HUNTLY MCCARTHY

The girl shook her head. II must not leave TIE
serious business of my Christmas tree, she declared,
for idle sports and pastimes.'
Fooled in this attempt the Champion tried to nvegle
the Traveller from the Odd Room; but the Traveller
phatcaly declined golf
If you will allow me- he said to the girl, Il shall
stay here for little while and watch you work. 1t
long time since have seen Christmas tree painted
they say the Northern lands from which Christmas
trees come.
THE Champion, with difficulty swallowing the temp
taton to say that he supposed the Traveller had not
Christmas tree since he child strobe out OF
the Odd Room into the more even part of the house
with the air of superior being to whom golf the one
and only joy. Neither Brown Eyes nor the Traveller
seemed to notice his departure which pity, for
the Champion thought it impressive
The girl went with her work for awhile in silence,
neatly increasing the glory OF her tree with wonderful
festoons of lmy god and silver, with flowers and flags
and fantastic playthngs. The Traveller watched her
intenty.
II am glad you like Christmas trees" the girl said
after awhile, when she began to find the silence, which
first she had welcomed, begin to grow embarrassing
II think they beautiful symbols, he said ear
nestly Il think that almost the only thing for which
England has any to be grateful to the House of
Hanover is that fourth Williams Queen Adelaide
the first to introduce Christmas trees into England"
mo longer ago than that?" said surprised Brown
Eyes. why, / should have thought that they had
Christmas trees in medieval winters as they had May
poles in medieval summers.
"a Christmas tree" said the Traveller thoughtfully
lisa crystallized fairy tale, enchanted parable, v
ing dream 1t is of the few alegores that not
dull. l wonder if there will be toy for me your
Christmas tree?"
The girl turned eagerly toward him, with kindness
smiling in her eyes. Indeed there shall bel" she prom
sed. 'What do you think you would like. Here is
harlequin and there trumpet and yonder is blue
Bird
Each of those appeals" said the Traveller gravely
1.-THE harlequin is typical of the eternal pantomme OF
life and the trumpet is quick with brave messages for
bravemen and sfor the buebird-O Heaven and Earth
whittier might not one fly on the back of bluebird3
To the Fortunate Islands, the Land East of the Sun
%1,o Cool
anywhere. But will have of Them
what will you have, then" said the girl little du
biously. He had entered into the spirit of her whms
but she hoped he not laughing in his heart though
his face laughteress. Il don't quite know what to
pick upon as likely present for YOU. Her eyes roved
she spoke over the bewdeng s of the tree
denly. This is Christmastde this Christmas rite
and he pointed to the tree, land surely it the season
of a fairy story"
made if to sit in order to listen; but the Traveller
please go on with your pretty work. he pleaded.
"To see you employed will help me in the telling of
my tale, which is of the Oldest in the world and
yet it is always new"
Brown Eyes extracted Japanese doll from the box
at her side, and while she adjusting the little
Mousme to branch the Traveller began his story.
THERE lived long ago in Norway, in the days of
good King Alagnus, man that had wandered
much upon the surface of the world, and seen many
countries and kingdoms, and conversed with many
kinds of men, He did this for pleasure rather than tor
gain for his spirit yearned for wisdom and with the
years his wisdom such was grew and he was pulled
with pride, and thought that he knew all things. But
one night he dreamed dream, and in that dream he
wandered in wood and in open space in that wood.
beside running stream, he came upon young girl
dancing by herself The girl was fair, with fairness
such as he had never dreamed o. and IN moment MS
ewes and his heart and his brain washed Clean and
he knew that he had wisdom and wealth of all his
wanderings, and that there nothing in the wide
world he cared for but this maid and her love- He
paused for moment.