the winter ghosts of old ride just beyond the
circle of his firelight, within it he is in the magic ring of
comfort and safety. Around the Yule logs of centuries the race has
warmed its heart as well as its hands, its soul as well as its
body, and the old gods of terror have become the saints of good
will. Out of the winter night Wotan steps into the light of the
Yule fire, transformed into St. Nicholas, the very spirit of
genial generosity. If we will go from our forest vigil to the
hearth in any home we will find the world-ash, no longer weird and
awesome with the fates sitting silent at its foot, but transformed
into the very symbol of light and happiness and cheer, the
Christmas tree. In the light of twenty centuries around the Yule
log we have forgotten to be afraid and have made out of our weird
dreams friendly fancies. Where once the fearsome dragon twined
about the sun-tree we simulate his folds with strings of pop-corn.
The unquenchable lights that flamed upon its twigs are now
twinkling candles. The sun, moon and stars that once were the
symbolic fruit grow again in tinsel ornament and, where we follow
the legend closely, Eikthyner the stag, Heidrun the goat, Freyer's
boar and Wotan's ravens and wolves, are hung in tiny effigy as
confectioner's sweets. Thus with the Christmas tree alight and
with the Yule log on the hearth we symbolize the old worship of
the sun-tree and of fire through which we have grown to the better
faith of which Christmas is one great commemorative festival.

THE END

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