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Page 77
_Mrs. B_. Come sit by the fire. Tommy placed the chair for you. It is
cold outside.
_Minstrel_. Thank you kindly, ma'am. So Tommy set the chair for the old
man? Where is Master Tommy? Ah, there's my little man! Come here,
Tommy. That's right. So, up, on my knee. Why, that's a bright face now!
And it ought to be bright, too; for this is Christmas Eve, merry
Christmas Eve, the children's happy time. Tommy, I remember when I was
as young as you are. I had a little sister.
_Tommy_. I have a little sister, too.
_Minstrel_. Oh, you have a little sister, eh! Where is she, then?
_Tommy [pointing]._ Over there, in the corner.
_Minstrel_. Bless my old eyes, so she is! Run and bring her, Tommy.
[TOMMY _runs, and returns leading and coaxing_ MAY.]
_Minstrel_ [_setting one on each knee_]. Now, good folks, if you'll let
me, I'll tell these little people a story of Jesus when he was a little
boy. It is called "The Holy Well."
[_They group themselves about the minstrel_.]
Early one bright May morning, Jesus, then a little boy of ten or twelve
years, awoke, and at once remembered that it was a holiday. His eyes,
bright with the morning light, sparkled yet more brightly at the
thought. There would be no school, no work. All the people would keep
the feast. He knew, too, that on that day, the boys of his age would
assemble betimes to play together at The Holy Well. So, brimful of
joyful expectation, he ran to ask his mother's leave to go and join in
the merry games. Soon he was on his way, and he quickened his steps
when he came in sight of the troops of happy children running hither
and thither in their sports. Drawing nearer, he stood still a little
while, watching the games with pleased and eager eyes. Then he called
out: "Little children, shall I play with you, and will you play with
me?" Now, these boys and girls were the children of rich parents, and
lived in much finer houses than the one Jesus had for a home. They had
handsome clothes, too, and everything of the best. So they looked on
the plainly dressed stranger, the son of a poor carpenter, and bade him
begone, saying: "We will not play with you, or with any such as you!"
What a rebuff was that! The poor, sensitive little lad had not expected
it, and his tender feelings were hurt. His eyes filled with tears; and
running home as fast as he could, he laid his head in his mother's lap,
and sobbed out to her the whole story. Then Mary was angry with the
ill-natured children, and told her son to go back and destroy them all
by his word; for she believed that her beautiful boy could do such
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.
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