English Translation

the sign that the small congregation was gathered together for supper. Now he too had to hurry. When he entered the blacksmith's court, he found the camp crew already gathered in the dining room. The atmosphere of joy was at his side. The last hour before the celebration had come: was it a miracle that his hearts pleased him? All the desires and hopes and expectations that slumbered in secret seemed to shine out of his eyes. Festively decorated he found the small room. On the walls hung fresh fir green, and also on the beautifully grained white table tops lay, joined to ornaments sensibly, small green branches. The usual order of everyday life had now given way to a festive embossment. Already the kitchen service put on the food. Was that a haste and haste! And yet it was still much too slow for everyone. Just as Wilhelm came through the door with full bowls, Peter rushed out excitedly. Bowls and plates broke into pieces and the beautiful food covered the floor. That was now a fatal story that had to happen this evening. However, they consoled themselves with the fact that shards bring happiness, and so the thing was finally interpreted by everyone as a good omen. Too bad it was only about the beautiful sausages that lay trampled on the ground. When Peter then said the table saying, one soon noticed by the trembling of his voice that shadows had laid themselves over his soul. Mr. Cornelius rose up. Like shining stars the eyes were on him. Everyone expected something special, something joyful from his mouth. But he stood there with a serious face, choked at the words and finally said deeply grieved: "Just for a little while, then we will celebrate Christmas here in this room. But when I see the suspense that lies in books for the readers' breaths, beautiful painting boxes for the prospective artists, mouths for your faces, and remember the expectation that fills you, then harmonikas becomes for the musicians, albums for photo lovers, craft tools, letter- it is difficult for me to mix bitterness in the sparkling wine of your joy. More stands, writing paper, pictures, games, skates, pure things, after which one as a pencil or a writing book or any other little thing will no one wear to boy soul desire, came to light. Although Mr. Cornelius had expected. For modesty I would like to advise you!" every piece knew exactly, he looked at it again and considered whether silence followed, serious silence, when he had ended, although he had also met the right Wahi and had not sought in the desires of his, to reach the more educated pill tasty. Boys were mistaken. "Then I will not get my harmonica after all," said after When the camp crew returned from the march of silence, with a while Peter pushed to his neighbor, "we just heard it." Disappointed faces, could be started with the celebration immediately. Three "What did we just hear?" he asked, as if from dull brooding massive ambo-slots called the impatient waiting from the parlors into the waking. Dayroom. In the corner stood the fir tree. His flickering bundles of light, "Well, we won't get much tonight." Gotically striving up, illumining, devouring themselves, the roum "Then I won' t get my painting box and my crayons, and now also chase away the dim shadows from the souls of the boys. I had already looked forward to it." They grouped around the tables in cross form. On each When after dinner the little column to a silent march place stood a plate with all sorts of exquisite sweets and got under the winter landscape, a cloudy mood accompanied them and to this lay the gifts. An artistically crafted card, however, showed who was paralyzing like a dark shadow beside him, all the joy. Deeper than the gifts were wicked. Now movement came into the young company, which Mr. Cornelius had intended, had worked his words. The wind rushed eyes widened, everyone searched for the place where his card was lying. As through the fir trees. The cold evening of December suddenly engulfed Mr. Cornelius. Everyone had to stop where he stood and tame his curiosity. This was again such a stupid idea and valley. "Such a Christmas", it went whispering from mouth to mouth, "we would be of Mr. Kornelius. But so much had already been perceived, that it was better to stay at home.' with the pencil and the notebook and the poor little things, of which Mr. Cornelius used the time during the absence of the children, he had spoken, did not agree. The old song of the fir tree opened the celebration. Then followed song on song from glad throats and called all bitterness to decorate the fir tree and cover the gift table. All the many things that he had brought together with love for weeks were now made out of silence. It sounded so bright, so hopeful, as joy singing from cheering out of the hiding place and distributed to the individual places. Thus, Mr. Cornelius wished himself this evening, His mood grew and found expression in stirring words. It was a short speech that 4 5