Down across the ages, from those exquisite days, fresh and beautiful as the summer dawn, there has come to us a poem of Brigid’s. It sets us in the midst of the preparations for a great Church Festival, where the Guest of Honour was to be One Who, indeed, was never absent from the midst of the white band of women whom the Oak Tree sheltered. For, was not every act of theirs a prayer? And were they not gathered together in His name? And hath He not made a promise? Nevertheless, it is fitting that, at Easter time His Resurrection be honoured, and the poor and the afflicted, His chosen representatives, be made joyful. So as the paschal moon gets nearer and nearer to its white perfecting in the East, the little hive beneath the Oak Tree grows busier. There is ale to be brewed for the faithful who shall attend the Celebration of the Passion in the neighbouring churches. There is corn to be ground in the querns, to be ready for baking into paschal cakes, or dealt out to the needy. There are candles for the altar to be made of virgin wax from the bee-hives in the nuns’ scented garden. There is store of meat to be salted and cooked for the banqueting table, spread for the poor. In the little wooden Church, blind Daria, the sacristan, is laying out her choicest vestments, taking from their places of safety the precious vessels. The altar linen, snowy from the brook, stands ready. Around His Throne are flowers and fragrant herbs. And little Darlugdacha is flitting, like a white bird, in the midst of it all, singing Brigid’s hymn—finding, in all this preparation, its mystic significance, learning the reading of the Riddle of Life:— I should like a great lake of ale For the King of the Kings; I should like the family of Heaven To be drinking it through time eternal. I should like the viands Of belief and pure piety; I should like flails Of penance at my house. I should like the men of Heaven In my own house. I should like kieves Of peace to be at their disposal. I should like vessels Of charity for distribution; I should like caves Of mercy for their company. I should like cheerfulness To be in their drinking; I should like Jesus Here to be among them. I should like the three Marys of illustrious renown; I should like the people Of Heaven, there from all parts. I should like that I should be A rent-payer to the Lord; That should I suffer distress, He would bestow upon me a good blessing. SAINT ELIZABETH A Little German Schoolgirl of the Middle Ages PART I.—“A STAR IN THE EAST.”