uch
things. But, surely, if he could have harbored that thought, he would
not have been beautiful; and so, when his mother spoke, her words drew
away his thoughts from himself to the children who had grieved him. He
knew that they had never really known him, and so could not have
understood what they were doing. Therefore he said to his mother that
he must be helpful and gentle to people, and not destroy them. And that
was the way with him to the very end. For when, years after, the people
(perhaps among them some of those same children grown-up) were putting
him to death on a cross, he bethought him again that they did not
really know him, and prayed: "Father, forgive them; they know not what
they do." And, even before then, he had told all people to love their
enemies, and forgive and be good to one another. If he had not done all
that, Christmas would not be so happy a time for us.

_Mrs. B._ [_approaching her husband and laying her hand on his
shoulder_]. John, is not he right?

_Mr. B._ [_who has been lost in thought, starting and abruptly walking
aside_]. He is right! So are they all. [_Turning about_.] Dear wife,
Lucy, Tommy, May, you shall be happy! We'll have the Remsens! I say,
we'll have our dear old friends. Patrick shall harness the horse at
once, and--[_The Minstrel suddenly strips off his disguise and reveals
himself as_ MR. REMSEN.] What! Remsen! Is that you?

_Mr. R_. No need to harness up, old friend. Here I am! Ah! I knew how
it would be.

_Tommy_ [_capering about_]. Hi! Hi! Ho! Isn't it great, May? I shall
have Harry to play with.

_May_ [_clapping_]. And I shall have Sadie.

_Lucy_. Oh, what a delightful surprise! Oh, Mr. Remsen, I am glad, so
very glad, that you have come. We will send for the others at once.

_Mr. R_. Why, they're all here, too. You may be sure we all came
together. [_Opening the door._] Come! come in! It's all right, as we
knew it would be.

[_Enter_ MRS. REMSEN _and her children_, HARRY _and_ SADIE, _who
immediately run to_ TOMMY _and_ MAY.]

_Mrs. B. [to Mrs. R_.] Welcome, welcome, dear friend! This _is_ kind.

_Lucy_. Now Christmas Eve is what it ought to be.

_Mrs. R_. Oh, Mrs. Burton, I am happy again now. I was afraid that
Christmas would not bring love and joy for us this year. We could not
help coming. Old memories were too strong for us.

_Mr. R. to Mr. B_. Ah! neighbor, it's a sad thing to interrupt that
"peace on earth" of which the angels sung. There's