Everywhere he had turned that day, he had been met with smiling faces, hearty hand clasps, and more than one fervent “God bless you, sir,” from hearts that could tell of burdens lifted or eased, and of lives turned from bitterness to sweetness. Truly, it had been a day of rejoicing.
At sunset he had sat with the little mother again, telling her about the day as together they watched from her window the ever changing glory of the sea. “No sorrowing one has knocked at our door to-day,” he said gently, “our Christmas candle has brought only joy.” And she had softly quoted:
“Then be ye glad, good people,
This night of all the year,
And light up all your candles,
For His star it shineth clear.”
Cuddling their baby close, she had looked with shining eyes from the child to him and said earnestly, “She is a little Christmas Star. Who knows what message of joy she brings, what midnight gloom she may dispel?”
Then he had gone, at her request, to light the Christmas tree, and the countless candles throughout the house, had given loving greetings and messages from her and baby to all the household gathered in the big hall and had stopped to sing one Christmas Carol that she might hear. It was as his voice soared upward to her,
“Peace on earth, good will to man,
From Heaven’s all gracious King,”