poor and humble,
Have part in heavenly plan,
For, born tonight, the Prince of Peace
Shall rule the heart of man.

Justin's heart melted within him like wax to the woman's vision and the
woman's touch.

"Oh, Nancy, Nancy!" he whispered. "If I had brought my bad luck to you
long, long ago, would you have taken me then, and have I lost years of
such happiness as this?"

"There are some things it is not best for a man to be certain about,"
said Nancy, with a wise smile and a last goodnight.

VIII. Ring out, sweet bells

Ring out, sweet bells,
O'er woods and dells
Your lovely strains repeat,
While happy throngs
With joyous songs
Each accent gladly greet.

Christmas morning in the old Tory Hill Meeting-House was felt by all
of the persons who were present in that particular year to be a most
exciting and memorable occasion.

The old sexton quite outdid himself, for although he had rung the bell
for more than thirty years, he had never felt greater pride or joy in
his task. Was not his son John home for Christmas, and John's wife,
and a grand-child newly named Nathaniel for himself? Were there not
spareribs and turkeys and cranberries and mince pies on the pantry
shelves, and barrels of rosy Baldwins in the cellar and bottles of
mother's root beer just waiting to give a holiday pop? The bell itself
forgot its age and the suspicion of a crack that dulled its voice on
a damp day, and, inspired by the bright, frosty air, the sexton's
inspiring pull, and the Christmas spirit, gave out nothing but joyous
tones.

_Ding-dong_! _Ding-dong_! It fired the ambitions of star scholars about
to recite hymns and sing solos. It thrilled little girls expecting dolls
before night. It excited beyond bearing dozens of little boys being
buttoned into refractory overcoats. _Ding-dong_! _Ding-dong_! Mothers'
fingers trembled when they heard it, and mothers' voices cried: "If that
is the second bell, the children will never be ready in time! Where
are the overshoes? Where are the mittens? Hurry, Jack! Hurry, Jennie!"
_Ding-dong_! _Ding-dong_! "Where's Sally's muff? Where's father's fur
cap? Is the sleigh at the door? Are the hot soapstones in? Have all of
you your money for the contribution box?" _Ding-dong_! _Ding-dong_! It
was a blithe bell, a sweet, true bell, a holy bell, and to Justin pacing
his tavern room, as to Nancy trembling in her maiden chamber, it rang a
Christmas message:--

Awake, glad heart! Arise