Hansei opened his eyes wide. The glorious Christmas morning was beaming full upon him through the great window, and he saw the light of the new day touching the bent old woman, the lame boy, the mother with her child, the beautiful woman beyond, and the pictured Christ.
He heard clear voices, "Peace on earth!"
But the dream—the dream!
"I have found the real Christ-child," he whispered.[Contents]
Ay, to save and redeem and restore him, ... snatch Saul the mistake,
Saul the failure, the ruin he seems now,—and bid him awake
From the dream, the probation, the prelude, to find himself set
Clear and safe in new light and new life,—a new harmony, yet
To be run, and continued, and ended—who knows?—or endure!
—From Browning's "Saul."