Has the sun at dawn caressed thee, That on Jordan's waters shone, Have the rough night-winds distressed thee As they swept o'er Lebanon? And while Solym's sons, brought low, Plaited thee for humble wages, Was it prayer they chanted slow, Or some song of ancient ages? As in childhood's first awaking Does thy parent-tree still stand, With its full-leaved branches making Shadows on the burning sand? Or when thou from it wert riven, Did it straightway droop and die, Till the desert dust was driven On its yellowing leaves to die? Say, what pilgrim's pious hand Cherished thee in hours of pain, When he to this northern land Brought thee, fed with tears like rain? Or perchance on some good knight, Pure in heart and calm of vision, Men bestowed thy garland bright-- Fit as he for realms Elysian! Now preserved with reverent care, At the _Ikon's_ gilded shrine, Faithful watch thou keepest there, Holy Palm of Palestine. Where the lamp burns faint and dim, Folded in a mystic calm, Near the Cross--the sign of Him-- Rest in safety, sacred Palm. --_Michael Yourievich Lermontov._ (_Translated by Mrs. Rosa Newmarch._) CHAPTER VI. [Illustration] YULE-TIDE IN FRANCE "I hear along our street Pass the minstrel throngs; Hark! they play so sweet, On their hautboys, Christmas songs!" --_Carol._ One would naturally imagine that such a pleasure-loving people as the French would make much of Christmas, but instead of this we find that with them, excepting in a few provinces and places remote from cities, it is the least observed of all the holidays. It was once a very gay season, but now Paris scarcely recognizes the day excepting in churches. The shops, as in most large cities, display elegant goods, pretty toys, a great variety of sweetmeats, and tastefully trimmed Christmas trees, for that wonderful tree is fast spreading over Europe, especially wherever the Anglo-Saxon and Teutonic races have settled. Confectioners offer a tempting supply of _naulets_--little delicate cakes--with a sugar figure of Christ on top, pretty boxes made of chocolate containing candy in the form of fruits, vegetables, musical instruments, and even boots and shoes, and all manner of quaint, artistic sugared devices, to be used as gifts or table decorations.