the curve of the lines," he added; "the charcoal markin'
stands out strong, and any hungry man with a leaky cabin for his home
can sartinly study out the words, and that's the chief p'int, as I
understand it."

With this comforting reflection the Trapper made his preparations to
retire for the night. He placed the skins for the dogs in the
accustomed spot, lifted another huge log into the monstrous fireplace,
swept the great hearthstone, bolted the heavy door, and then stretched
himself upon his bed. But before he slept he gazed long and earnestly
at the writing on the bark, and murmured: "'Vagabonds included in this
invite.' Yis, the Book be right, Christmas be a day for forgivin' and
forgittin'. And even a vagabond, ef he needs vict'als or garments or a
right sperit, shall be welcome to my cabin." And then he slept.

In the vast and cheerless woods that night were some who were hungry
and cold and wicked. What were Christmas and its cheer to them? What
were gifts and giving, or who would spread for them a full table at
which as guests of honor they might eat and be merry? And above the
woods was a star leading men toward a manger, and a multitude of
angels and an Eye that seeth forever the hungry and the cold and the
wicked. On his bed slept the Trapper, with the look of the Christ on
his face, and as he slept he murmured:--

"Yis, the Book be right: '_Let him who hath, give to them that hath
not._'" And above the woods, above the wicked and the cold, above the
sleeping Trapper, and above the blessed words on the bark on his wall,
above the spot where the Christ had thus received a forest
incarnation, a great multitude of the heavenly host broke forth and
sang:--

"_Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men._"

[Illustration: "And above the woods was a star."]

II.

It was on the day before Christmas, and the sun was at its meridian.
It was a day of brilliance and prophecy, and the prophecy which the
Trapper read in the intense sky and vivid brightness of the sun's
light told him of coming storm.

"Yis," muttered the old man, as he stood just outside the doorway of
his cabin and carefully studied the signs of forest and sky, "yis,
this is a weather breeder for sartin. I smell it in the air. The light
is onnaterally bright and the woods onnaterally still. Snow will be
flyin' afore another sunrise, and the woods will roar like the great
lakes in a gale. I am sorry that it'