Off they set at last; one on the pony, with the dog bounding and barking before him, and the others holding John’s hands; both talking at once, and overpowering him by questions about home, and with school anecdotes. I looked after them with a feeling in which I do not know whether pleasure or melancholy predominated; for I was reminded of those days when, like them, I had neither known care nor sorrow, and a holiday was the summit of earthly felicity. We stopped a few moments afterwards to water the horses, and on resuming our route, a turn of the road brought us in sight of a neat country-seat. I could just distinguish the forms of a lady and two young girls in the portico, and I saw my little comrades, with Bantam, Carlo, and old John, trooping along the carriage road. I leaned out of the coach window, in hopes of witnessing the happy meeting, but a grove of trees shut it from my sight. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Was born upon this day; To save us all from Satan’s power, When we were gone astray. _O tidings of comfort and joy, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day._ In Bethlehem in Jewry This blessed babe was born, And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn; The which His mother Mary Nothing did take in scorn. From God, our Heavenly Father, A blessed Angel came, And, unto certain shepherds, Brought tidings of the same; How, that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name. The Shepherds at those tidings, Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm, and wind, And went to Bethlehem straightway, This blessed Babe to find. But when to Bethlehem they came, Where as this Infant lay, They found him in a manger Where oxen feed on hay, His mother Mary kneeling Unto the Lord did pray. Now to the Lord sing praises All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace, This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface. _O tidings of comfort and joy, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day._ [Illustration: _Correggio_ THE HOLY NIGHT] The Date of Russia’s Christmastide Real winter in Russia is supposed to start on the feast of St. Nicholas of which the date, written in Russian style, is December 6/19. The first figure gives the date of the month as it is known in Russia and Greece, the second the date according to the calendar in use in all other civilized countries.