wonder! what was this? Had he lost
consciousness of the time in the fumes of the
debauch, and was it the golden summer that
the bells rang out so joyously to meet?
But no. The mill-stream wore its holiday
garb of ice. The snow harvest rose above
the silent fields. The frosty air was keen,
and where it breathed left winter jewels.
And yet! Hans rubbed his eyes. Where
yesterday only the bare brown twigs had
interlaced each other around the porch, now
clustered the shining green leaves, and
the red roses opened their hearts to the
day.

Then, as one who comes from darkness
into light, he stumbled and groped; and
it was as if some strong cruel grasp
held him back from his threshold; and he
would fain have turned and fled to hide
himself in the dim recesses of the forest, for
a vague terror fell upon him. Then, as he
put forth his hand as one who wards a
blow, his little maiden stood at the door,
and took hold of him and drew him in, as to
a city of refuge from the power of the soul
pursuer for ever: and she led him to the
table where the Guest Child had broken
bread at the midnight hour, and behold! the
lowly vessels ranged upon it were
transformed into pure gold, and the water within
the chalice was now generous wine that
might have been trodden out in the
vineyards of the sun.

And now the mists of the past, lifted for
so brief a space, gather again, and rise a
golden vapoury haze, through which, as in
some poet's dream, the people walk
transfigured in the glow. But always is little
Gretchen, as one of the pure shining ones,
whom some mysterious sign had set apart
from her fellows, just as in old time it
lingered on the three who had been up with
the Master on the Mount. The miller passes
under that marvellous transfiguration into
a staid, grave burgher in velvet raiment,
befitting his dignities, and with belt well
stored with broad pieces for the needy; for
he remembers now ever the saying, " The
bread that thou givest is sown above for
thee in the cornfields of God, and when thou
openest thy door to the poor, an angel
enters in."

So the benediction fell even upon Hans.
It touched the beams and rafters of the old
mill, and all prospered beneath its roof, as
the place which the Lord of all had blessed:
and presently upon the spot so honoured
was raised, by pious hands, that noble pile
which travellers come from far distant
lands reverently to visit. And as they are
led to our Lady's chapel, where stands the
shrine of the Child and his Mother,
devoutly removed from the old abbey church,
they see beneath, carved in the pure white
marble, a recumbent figure of a little
maiden, with meekly folded hands. And as
the light enters through the painted pane,
it seems as if saints and martyrs cast down
their purple and golden glories to enwrap
her in their pomp, and as if the shadow of
those outspread hands above, still fell and
rested in mystic benediction upon her
head. Then, as from distant aisles comes
the chanting of priest and chorister, and as
the great flood of harmony surges through
the space, and as the strong young life of the
mighty city of to-day is faintly heard in
a blent busy murmur from the walls without,
the sacristan tells the traveller in
hushed tones the Legend of Gretchen's
Guest.

Next week will be commenced a short Serial Story,
entitled
THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS.
A YACHTING STORY.

Now Ready,
THE EXTRA CHRISTMAS NUMBERS
OF
ALL THE YEAR ROUND.
CONDUCTED BY CHARLES DICKENS.
Handsomely bound in One Volume,
Price Five Shillings.
Single Numbers may be had, price Fourpence.
London: 26, Wellington-street, Strand, W.C., and
CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, Piccadilly, W.

Now Ready, price 5s. 6d., bound in green cloth,
THE SECOND VOLUME
OF THE NEW SERIES OF
ALL THE YEAR ROUND.
To be had of all Booksellers.

MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S FINAL READINGS.MESSRS.CHAPPELL AND CO. have great pleasure
in announcing that MR. CHARLES DICKENS will resume
and conclude his interrupted series of FAREWELL
READINGS at St. James's Hall, London, early in
the New Year.
The Readings will be TWELVE in NUMBER, and none
will take place out of London.
All communications to be addressed to Messrs.
CHAPPELL and Co., 50, New Bond-street, W.