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THE STAR…CHILD
＇TO MISS MARGOT TENNANT … MRS。 ASQUITH＇
Once upon a time two poor Woodcutters were making their way home
through a great pine…forest。 It was winter； and a night of bitter
cold。 The snow lay thick upon the ground； and upon the branches of
the trees： the frost kept snapping the little twigs on either side
of them； as they passed： and when they came to the Mountain…
Torrent she was hanging motionless in air； for the Ice…King had
kissed her。
So cold was it that even the animals and the birds did not know
what to make of it。
'Ugh！' snarled the Wolf； as he limped through the brushwood with
his tail between his legs； 'this is perfectly monstrous weather。
Why doesn't the Government look to it？'
'Weet！ weet！ weet！' twittered the green Linnets； 'the old Earth is
dead and they have laid her out in her white shroud。'
'The Earth is going to be married； and this is her bridal dress；'
whispered the Turtle…doves to each other。 Their little pink feet
were quite frost…bitten； but they felt that it was their duty to
take a romantic view of the situation。
'Nonsense！' growled the Wolf。 'I tell you that it is all the fault
of the Government； and if you don't believe me I shall eat you。'
The Wolf had a thoroughly practical mind； and was never at a loss
for a good argument。
'Well； for my own part；' said the Woodpecker； who was a born
philosopher； 'I don't care an atomic theory for explanations。 If a
thing is so； it is so； and at present it is terribly cold。'
Terribly cold it certainly was。 The little Squirrels； who lived
inside the tall fir…tree； kept rubbing each other's noses to keep
themselves warm； and the Rabbits curled themselves up in their
holes； and did not venture even to look out of doors。 The only
people who seemed to enjoy it were the great horned Owls。 Their
feathers were quite stiff with rime； but they did not mind； and
they rolled their large yellow eyes； and called out to each other
across the forest； 'Tu…whit！ Tu…whoo！ Tu…whit！ Tu…whoo！ what
delightful weather we are having！'
On and on went the two Woodcutters； blowing lustily upon their
fingers； and stamping with their huge iron…shod boots upon the
caked snow。 Once they sank into a deep drift； and came out as
white as millers are； when the stones are grinding； and once they
slipped on the hard smooth ice where the marsh…water was frozen；
and their faggots fell out of their bundles； and they had to pick
them up and bind them together again； and once they thought that
they had lost their way； and a great terror seized on them； for
they knew that the Snow is cruel to those who sleep in her arms。
But they put their trust in the good Saint Martin； who watches over
all travellers； and retraced their steps； and went warily； and at
last they reached the outskirts of the forest； and saw； far down in
the valley beneath them； the lights of the village in which they
dwelt。
So overjoyed were they at their deliverance that they laughed
aloud； and the Earth seemed to them like a flower of silver； and
the Moon like a flower of gold。
Yet； after that they had laughed they became sad； for they
remembered their poverty； and one of them said to the other； 'Why
did we make merry； seeing that life is for the rich； and not for
such as we are？ Better that we had died of cold in the forest； or
that some wild beast had fallen upon us and slain us。'
'Truly；' answered his companion； 'much is given to some； and little
is given to others。 Injustice has parcelled out the world； nor is
there equal division of aught save of sorrow。'
But as they were bewailing their misery to each other this strange
thing happened。 There fell from heaven a very bright and beautiful
star。 It slipped down the side of the sky； passing by the other
stars in its course； and； as they watched it wondering； it seemed
to them to sink behind a clump of willow…trees that stood hard by a
little sheepfold no more than a stone's…throw away。
'Why！ there is a crook of gold for whoever finds it；' they cried；
and they set to and ran； so eager were they for the gold。
And one of them ran faster than his mate； and outstripped him； and
forced his way through the willows； and came out on the other side；
and lo！ there was indeed a thing of gold lying on the white snow。
So he hastened towards it； and stooping down placed his hands upon
it； and it was a cloak of golden tissue； curiously wrought with
stars； and wrapped in many folds。 And he cried out to his comrade
that he had found the treasure that had fallen from the sky； and
when his comrade had come up； they sat them down in the snow； and
loosened the folds of the cloak that they might divide the pieces
of gold。 But； alas！ no gold was in it； nor silver； nor； indeed；
treasure of any kind； but only a little child who was asleep。
And one of them said to the other： 'This is a bitter ending to our
hope； nor have we any good fortune； for what doth a child profit to
a man？ Let us leave it here； and go our way； seeing that we are
poor men； and have children of our own whose bread we may not give
to another。'
But his companion answered him： 'Nay； but it were an evil thing to
leave the child to perish here in the snow； and though I am as poor
as thou art； and have many mouths to feed； and but little in the
pot； yet will I bring it home with me； and my wife shall have care
of it。'
So very tenderly he took up the child； and wrapped the cloak around
it to shield it from the harsh cold； and made his way down the hill
to the village； his comrade marvelling much at his foolishness and
softness of heart。
And when they came to the village； his comrade said to him； 'Thou
hast the child； therefore give me the cloak； for it is meet that we
should share。'
But he answered him： 'Nay； for the cloak is neither mine nor
thine； but the child's only；' and he bade him Godspeed； and went to
his own house and knocked。
And when his wife opened the door and saw that her husband had
returned safe to her； she put her arms round his neck and kissed
him； and took from his back the bundle of faggots； and brushed the
snow off his boots； and bade him come in。
But he said to her； 'I have found something in the forest； and I
have brought it to thee to have care of it；' and he stirred not
from the threshold。
'What is it？' she cried。 'Show it to me； for the house is bare；
and we have need of many things。' And he drew the cloak back； and
showed her the sleeping child。
'Alack； goodman！' she murmured； 'have we not children of our own；
that thou must needs bring a changeling to sit by the hearth？ And
who knows if it will not bring us bad fortune？ And how shall we
tend it？' And she was wroth against him。
'Nay； but it is a Star…Child；' he answered； and he told her the
strange manner of the finding of it。
But she would not be appeased； but mocked at him； and