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t I could not screw my courage to the sticking point。 How I envied Peter his easy； insouciant manner！ I could not emulate him； so Dan and Felix and Cecily and the Story Girl and I all walked hand in hand； huddling a little closer together as we went through James Frewen's woodsfor there are strange harps in a fir grove； and who shall say what fingers sweep them？ Mighty and sonorous was the music above our heads as the winds of the night stirred the great boughs tossing athwart the starlit sky。 Perhaps it was that aeolian harmony which recalled to the Story Girl a legend of elder days。
〃I read such a pretty story in one of Aunt Olivia's books last night；〃 she said。 〃It was called 'The Christmas Harp。' Would you like to hear it？ It seems to me it would just suit this part of the road。〃
〃There isn't anything aboutabout ghosts in it； is there？〃 said Cecily timidly。
〃Oh； no； I wouldn't tell a ghost story here for anything。 I'd frighten myself too much。 This story is about one of the shepherds who saw the angels on the first Christmas night。 He was just a youth； and he loved music with all his heart； and he longed to be able to express the melody that was in his soul。 But he could not； he had a harp and he often tried to play on it； but his clumsy fingers only made such discord that his companions laughed at him and mocked him； and called him a madman because he would not give it up； but would rather sit apart by himself； with his arms about his harp； looking up into the sky； while they gathered around their fire and told tales to wile away their long night vigils as they watched their sheep on the hills。 But to him the thoughts that came out of the great silence were far sweeter than their mirth； and he never gave up the hope； which sometimes left his lips as a prayer； that some day he might be able to express those thoughts in music to the tired； weary； forgetful world。 On the first Christmas night he was out with his fellow shepherds on the hills。 It was chill and dark； and all； except him； were glad to gather around the fire。 He sat； as usual； by himself； with his harp on his knee and a great longing in his heart。 And there came a marvellous light in the sky and over the hills； as if the darkness of the night had suddenly blossomed into a wonderful meadow of flowery flame； and all the shepherds saw the angels and heard them sing。 And as they sang； the harp that the young shepherd held began to play softly by itself； and as he listened to it he realized that it was playing the same music that the angels sang and that all his secret longings and aspirations and strivings were expressed in it。 From that night； whenever he took the harp in his hands； it played the same music； and he wandered all over the world carrying it； wherever the sound of its music was heard hate and discord fled away and peace and good…will reigned。 No one who heard it could think an evil thought； no one could feel hopeless or despairing or bitter or angry。 When a man had once heard that music it entered into his soul and heart and life and became a part of him for ever。 Years went by； the shepherd grew old and bent and feeble； but still he roamed over land and sea； that his harp might carry the message of the Christmas night and the angel song to all mankind。 At last his strength failed him and he fell by the wayside in the darkness； but his harp played as his spirit passed； and it seemed to him that a Shining One stood by him； with wonderful starry eyes； and said to him； 'Lo； the music thy harp has played for so many years has been but the echo of the love and sympathy and purity and beauty in thine own soul； and if at any time in the wanderings thou hadst opened the door of that soul to evil or envy or selfishness thy harp would have ceased to play。 Now thy life is ended； but what thou hast given to mankind has no end； and as long as the world lasts； so long will the heavenly music of the Christmas harp ring in the ears of men。' When the sun rose the old shepherd lay dead by the roadside； with a smile on his face； and in his hands was a harp with all its strings broken。〃
We left the fir woods as the tale was ended； and on the opposite hill was home。 A dim light in the kitchen window betokened that Aunt Janet had no idea of going to bed until all her young fry were safely housed for the night。
〃Ma's waiting up for us；〃 said Dan。 〃I'd laugh if she happened to go to the door just as Felicity and Peter were strutting up。 I guess she'll be cross。 It's nearly twelve。〃
〃Christmas will soon be over；〃 said Cecily； with a sigh。 〃Hasn't it been a nice one？ It's the first we've all spent together。 Do you suppose we'll ever spend another together？〃
〃Lots of 'em；〃 said Dan cheerily。 〃Why not？〃
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 answered Cecily； her footsteps lagging somewhat。 〃Only things seem just a little too pleasant to last。〃
〃If Willy Fraser had had as much spunk as Peter； Miss Cecily King mightn't be so low spirited；〃 quoth Dan； significantly。
Cecily tossed her head and disdained reply。 There are really some remarks a self…respecting young lady must ignore。
CHAPTER IV
NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
If we did not have a white Christmas we had a white New Year。 Midway between the two came a heavy snowfall。 It was winter in our orchard of old delights then；so truly winter that it was hard to believe summer had ever dwelt in it； or that spring would ever return to it。 There were no birds to sing the music of the moon； and the path where the apple blossoms had fallen were heaped with less fragrant drifts。 But it was a place of wonder on a moonlight night； when the snowy arcades shone like avenues of ivory and crystal； and the bare trees cast fairy…like traceries upon them。 Over Uncle Stephen's Walk； where the snow had fallen smoothly； a spell of white magic had been woven。 Taintless and wonderful it seemed； like a street of pearl in the new Jerusalem。
On New Year's Eve we were all together in Uncle Alec's kitchen； which was tacitly given over to our revels during the winter evenings。 The Story Girl and Peter were there； of course； and Sara Ray's mother had allowed her to come up on condition that she should be home by eight sharp。 Cecily was glad to see her； but the boys never hailed her arrival with over…much delight； because； since the dark began to come down early； Aunt Janet always made one of us walk down home with her。 We hated this； because Sara Ray was always so maddeningly self…conscious of having an escort。 We knew perfectly well that next day in school she would tell her chums as a 〃dead〃 secret that 〃So…and…So King saw her home〃 from the hill farm the night before。 Now； seeing a young lady home from choice； and being sent home with her by your aunt or mother are two entirely different things； and we thought Sara Ray ought to have sense enough to know it。
Outside there was a vivid rose of sunset behind the cold hills of fir； and the long reaches of snowy fields glowed fairily pink in the western light。 The drifts along the edges of the meadows and down the lane looked as if a series of breaking waves had； by the lifting of a magician's wand； been suddenly transformed into marble； even to their toppling curls of foam。
Slowly the splendour died； giving place to the mystic beauty of a winter twilight when the moon is rising。 The hollow sky was a cup of blue。 The stars came out over the white glens and the earth was covered with a kingly carpet for the feet of the young year to press。
〃I'm so glad the snow came；〃 said the Story Girl。 〃If it hadn't the New Year would have seemed just as dingy and worn out as the old。 There's something very solemn about the idea of a New Year； isn't there？ Just think of three hundred and sixty…five whole days； with not a thing happened in them yet。〃
〃I don't suppose anything very wonderful will happen in them；〃 said Felix pessimistically。 To Felix； just then； life was flat； stale and unprofitable because it was his turn to go home with Sara Ray。
〃It makes me a little frightened to think of all that may happen in them；〃 said Cecily。 〃Miss Marwood says it is what we put into a year； not what we get out of it； that counts at last。〃
〃I'm always glad to see a New Year；〃 said the Story Girl。 〃I wish we could do as they do in Norway。 The whole family sits up until midnight； and then； just as the clock is striking twelve； the father opens the door and welcomes the New Year in。 Isn't it a pretty custom？〃
〃If ma would let us stay up till twelve we might do that too；〃 said Dan； 〃but she never will。 I call it mean。〃
〃If I ever have children I'll let them stay up to watch the New Year in；〃 said the Story Girl decidedly。
〃So will I；〃 said Peter； 〃but other nights they'll have to go to bed at seven。〃
〃You ought to be ashamed； speaking of such things；〃 said Felicity； with a scandalized face。
Peter shrank into the background abashed； no doubt believing that he had broken some Family Guide precept all to pieces。
〃I didn't know it wasn't proper to mention children；〃 he muttered apologetically。
〃We ought to make some New Year resolutions；〃 suggested the Story Girl。 〃New Year's Eve is the time to make them。〃
〃I can't think of any resolutions I w