o distribute blessings to those
who were worthy.

Perhaps they had trod upon the ice outside, and had wet the soles of
their slippers, so that they had been forced to set them up on end to
dry. She had no doubt they would be gone in the morning.

The tremulous voice had ceased some time ago, and now the organ was
sending forth deep, heavy chords that made the air thrill and vibrate.
The pew in which Nina sat quite shook with the sounds, and she shrank
away from the wooden back, and cuddled down upon the cushion in the
seat, feeling very mysterious and awestruck, but withal quite warm and
happily expectant.

"Ah, ah!" she thought, "they are coming,--the angels are coming. That
is why the seat trembles so. There are so many of them that though
they step very lightly it shakes the ground. He, up there, is playing
their march music for them. Oh, I know! I know! I have seen the
soldiers in the streets; and when they came one could feel the ground
tremble, and they had music, too,--they kept step to it. I 'll lie
very still and not move, and maybe I can even get a glimpse of the Gesu
Bambino himself, and if I should--ah! _if_ I should, then I know I 'd
never be tired nor cold nor sad-hearted any more."

Nina started suddenly to her feet. The place was filled with a soft,
white radiance. Faintly, as though from a distance, came the sounds of
delicious music, and a rare fragrance was in all the air. What was it?
Oh, what was it? She felt her heart beat louder and faster, and she
thought she must cry out for very pain of its throbbing. But she made
no sound, only waited and watched in breathless wonder and anticipation.

The light about her grew clearer and more lustrous; the faint strains
of melody more glorious, and the perfumed air sweeter still; and lo!
the whole place was thronged with white-winged spirits, clad all in
garments so pure and spotless that they glistered at every turn. Each
seemed to have in charge some precious treasure which she clasped
lovingly to her breast, and all were so beautiful and tender-eyed that
Nina could not be afraid. The dazzling forms flitted to and fro like
filmy clouds; and as one passed very near her, Nina stretched out her
hand to grasp her floating robe. But though she scarcely touched it,
it was enough to make the delicate fabric sag and droop as if some
strange weight had suddenly been attached to it. Its wearer paused in
her flight, and glanced down at her garmen