“Ah, sweet Jesus! Didst Thou then deign to be born in a stable, in that far-off country, amongst filthy Jews and cruel heretics—and in such poverty—and in such wintry frost! O poor, poor Holy One, O sweet Child!”—Such were their thoughts, and their bosoms throbbed with pity, and their souls flew away like birds, over land and sea, to the place of the Nativity, to the Manger and the Crib over which the Angels sang—and to the Sacred Feet of the Child Jesus. There they fell, with all the might of their fiery faith and trust in Him; and they surrendered themselves to Him—His faithful servants for ever and ever. Amen! As Roch went on reading, Yuzka, who was a good, kind, impressionable girl, fell to weeping copiously over our Lord’s unhappy lot. Yagna, too, wept with her face in her hands and her head hidden behind Andrew, who was listening close by, with mouth wide open, and so greatly struck by what he heard, that he repeatedly pulled Simon by his sleeve, saying: “Lo! do you hear that, Simon?” When it was over, some remarks were dropped: “Poor Child! not even a cradle!” “I marvel that He did not freeze.” “And that our Lord was willing to bear so much pain.” “Because,” Roch answered, “it was only by His sufferings and sacrifice that He could save His people: which had He not done, Satan would assuredly have been master of the world and lord of every soul.” “Of this and these he is pretty much master and lord as it is,” Yagustynka muttered. “Sin is master, wickedness lord; and these are the helpers of Satan.” “Ah, well, whosoever it may be, one thing is sure: an ill fate has power over man.” “Speak not thus, lest ye sin: ye are blinded by wrath against your children.” The rebuke was stern, and she did not dispute its justice. The others also were silent, and Simon rose to withdraw; but his mother, attentive to everything, noticed him. “Wither away so fast?” she hissed. “Out—I feel too hot in here,” he faltered, taken aback. “Going to Nastka—to divert yourself, hey?” “Would ye forbid, or hold me back?” he growled, but threw his cap back on to the chest where it had been. “Return with Andrew to our hut: we have left the place to the care of Providence. See to the kine, and stay there for me; when I have rejoined you, we shall all go together to church.” These were her orders; but as the lads were slow to obey, she did not repeat them; rising at once, she took an altar-bread from the table. “Vitek, light the lantern; we are going to the kine. In this Yule-tide night, all the animals understand what men say, because our Lord was born in their midst. And whosoever shall, being without sin, speak unto them then, him will they answer with a human voice: this day they are the equals of man, and they are our fellows. And therefore we shall go and share the altar-bread with them.” All made for the byre, Vitek leading, lantern in hand.