A Tale Of Long Ago

Nicht in the Baron's cautie, Night on the wlndy moor, The best of nights lor tlic very rich And the worst for the very poor: For the dtfle-lOK blazed In tin; anoienUlold. Aud the beggar shrauk froiu the bitiug cold. Tho Baron's only daugliter, The littlo Lady (iraee. Wan bettor dressed tlian any guest And fairer in the Lnce; Iiut never a thought oL pride had she, As they gyly daneed ronnd the Christmas-tree. Wlien lo 1 an ill elad stransjer Stond in the arelight's glow; His head was bare. his golden hair AU wet with meltiiifc snow. ■ Wnence oomest thouV " the ehildren oned, But only a dim. sweet sniüe replied. '■ It is the littJe Clirist cbild." Low Bpoke the Lady Oran'. " I dreamed last nlght that a halo bright Shone round that very faee. And he said: ' Be sure yon have eyes to see, For I shall stand by your Christmas-tree.' " '■ Mo. wheti they spread the table, A chair I bade them set At ray riglit luiud fov a gmst more grand Than all assembled yet. And mt mother said. when the sarvant siniled: -ïia tho seoond sight. bey the ehild.' " Then all the noisy children Were silent for a spaee; Bnt no one heard him speak a word, Thouph the anule rew on his Cace, Till they suw a halo pure and faint, Ronnd the stranuer's head. like pictnivd saillt. In strides the stately Bavon, To view the ehildren's eheer. " Wlio has the plaee by the Lady Uraeei Éow eame a beggu liere? " Said the Lady Graee: (od pardon thee! The ifltle Christ-ehild dim-s with me." The Baron staggers haekward And smites apon hi breast. Before him stands, with elaaped hands, One more unbidden suest. " Hast thou eome back hert frora the dead. Grace, my sister Graee ï" he said. 'They told yon falsely. brother. Seven years atfo to-day. With a fathcr-s blame and a blighted name, l left this i istle gi'ay; But at Chrictmus-time of every year I hav' stood mitside. I have seen you here. ' My apn comes always with me. Or ellUí I eould not come. He will ever be like a babe to me, For he is dcaf and dumb. He slipped from sight when my head was bowed, And I saw him next in the yonthful crowd. " Among the happy children I left my smililiK boy, For Ught and heat and enough to eat Are all he can enjoy ; But I'll take htm now: I will go away. And will come no more on the Christmas day.'" Nay, then." replied the Baron, 'L Thou shall not go agajn. Thy seven years of toil and tears Ániid the" scoru of men Are enough, in sooth. for a lifetime long; And we've all done wrong- wo have all done wrong.'1 Then followcd hearty greetiDg. Where people wept and smiled; And the Lady Grace, with a warm embrace, Welcomed the silent child. But she wept that nlght on her mother's breast That the Christ-child had not been her guest. " Nay, grieve thee not, my daughter, The Christ of (jood has come; Bnt he chooses to speak thiough a woman weak Añil a ehild that is deaf and dumb, And ' as ye have done.' in the book saith He. To the ïeastof mine. ye havo done to me.' M