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Page 31
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 garment anxiously, and then for an
instant appeared to be trying to remember something. In her eyes there
grew a troubled look, but she shook her head and murmured,--
"Alas! What have I done? What can I have done? I can think of no way
in which I have let the world touch me, and yet I must have, for my
robe is weighted, and--" But here she suddenly espied Nina.
"Ah!" she cried, her deep eyes clearing, "it was you, then, little
mortal. For a moment I was struck with fear. You see if a bit of the
world attaches to our garments it makes them heavy and weighs them
down, and it is a long time ere they regain their lightness. Such a
mishap seldom occurs, for generally we are only too glad to keep our
minds on perfect things. But once in a long, long while we may give a
thought to earth, and then it always hangs upon us like a clog; and if
we did not immediately try to shake it off, we should soon be quite
unable to rid ourselves of it, and it would grow and grow, and by and
by we should have lost the power to rise above the earth, and should
have to be poor worldlings like the rest; and, on the other hand, if
the worldlings would only throw off all the earth-thoughts that weigh
them down, they would become lighter and more spotless, and at last be
one of us. But if it was you who touched my robe and if I can help
you, I am not afraid. What do you wish, little one?"
For a moment Nina could find no voice in which to reply; but by and by
she gained courage to falter out,--
"I came in here because I heard most beautiful music, and I thought it
might be the Santa Maria singing to the Bambinetto, since it is his
birthday--or will be to-morrow; and I thought--I did not mean to do
wrong, but I thought maybe if I could see the Ges� Santissimo once,
only once, I should never be tired nor cold nor sad-hearted any more.
They say on the Festa del Ges� Bambino one gets most beautiful gifts.
I have never got any gifts; but perhaps he might give me one if I
promised to be very good and to take most excellent care of it and
never to lose it."
By this time the whole company of spirits, seeing their sister in
conversation with a little mortal, had crowded eagerly about; and as
Nina finished her sentence they all cried out in the sweetest, most
musical chorus imaginable,--
"She wants a gift,--the earth-child wants a gift; and she promises to
be very good, and to take excellent care of it and never lose it. The
little one shall have a gift."
But most gently they were silenced by a nod from the spirit to whom
Nina had first spoken.
"Dear child," she said, "we are the Christmas spirits,--Peace, Love,
Hope, Good-will, and all the rest. We come from above, and we are
laden with good gifts for mankind. To whomever is willing to receive
we give; but, alas! so few care for what we bring. They misuse it or
lose it; and that makes us very sad, for each gift we carry is most
good and perfect."
"Oh! how can they?" cried Nina. "I would be so careful of mine, dear
spirits. I would lock it away, and--"
But here the spirit interrupted her with a pitying smile and the
words,--
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