Transcriber’s Note
The punctuation and spelling from the original text have been faithfully preserved. Only obvioustypographical errors have been corrected.
"Make of this child, a Man"
Copyright, 1911–1915
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY
A Selection from
THE MEASURE OF A MAN
A Tale of the Big Woods
THE WISTFUL HEART
IT was long after noon in the far, big, white Northwest. Day was on thewing. Christmas Eve splendidly impended—thank God for unspoiledchildish faith and joys of children everywhere! Christmas Eve was fairlywithin view and welcoming hail, at last, in the thickening easternshadows. Long Day at its close. Day in a perturbation of blessedunselfishness. Day with its tasks of love not half accomplished. And Daynear done! Bedtime coming round the world on the jump. Nine o'clockleaping from longitude to longitude. Night, impatient and determined,chasing all the children of the world in drowsy expectation tosleep—making a clean sweep of 'em, every one, with her soft, wide broomof dusk. "Nine o'clock? Shoo! Off you go! To-morrow's on the way.Soon—oh, soon! To-morrow's here when you fall asleep. Said 'em already,have you? Not another word from either of you. Not a whisper, yegrinning rascals! Cuddle down, little people of Christ's heart andleading. Snuggle close—closer yet, my children—that your arms may grow[Pg 4]used to this loving. Another kiss from mother? Blessed Ones! A billionmore, for nights and mornings, for all day long of all the years,waiting here on mother's lips. And now to sleep. Christmas isto-morrow. Hush! To-morrow. Yes; to-morrow. Go t' sleep! Go t' sleep!"And upon the flying heels of Night—but still far over seas from theblustering white Northwest where Pattie Batch was waiting at Swamp's Endin the woods—the new Day, with jolly countenance, broad, rosy anddelighted, was somewhere approaching, in a gale of childish laughter,blithely calling in its westward sweep to all Christian children toawaken to their peculiar and eternal joy.
It was Christmas weather in the big woods: a Christmas temperature likefrozen steel—thirty below in the clearing of Swamp's End—and arollicking wind, careering over the pines, and the swirling dust of snowin the metallic air. A cold, crisp crackling world! A Christmas land,too: a vast expanse of Christmas colour, from the Ca