Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 75, 21 December 1935, Page 31

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

(Prize Story by

“Ila”

(14) Johnsonville.)

SUSAN sat on the small brown rock and dug the toes of her little buckled shoes into the sand. A cold wind whistled across the quay and down to the beach. The Cornish Sea, usually so blue, was dull-grey and tossed into angry waves, but somehow the bleakness and dismal weather seemed to fit in with Susan’s thoughts. When you are only ten and have quarrelled with your best friend you naturally feel miserable Besides it was only two days before Christmas, and Susan and Charlotte usually had such fun at Christmas in the little Cornish village where they had lived all their young joyous lives. Now it would all be changed, for Charlotte had said she would not speak to Susan, and the latter had angrily retoi ted that she did not care. But Susan did care, and bitter were the thoughts that crowded through her small head. . After about ten minutes had passed in this dreary reflection she heaid a voice calling. “Susan, Susan, mama wants you,” and looking round she saw her five-year-old brother Philip running down the beach. ‘Tea is ready, Susan,” he said cheerily, as he came up to the little girl; ’ and there s chicken and a new kind of pudding for supper to-night.’ “I’m coming,” Susan responded, drawing her cloak close about hei shoulders. “I am so hungry, and I love chicken.” But it was a wane and heavy-hearted little girl who wended her way homeward, in spite of the chicken and the new kind of pudding for supper. It so happened that Sunday fell the day before Christmas, and the villagers arrayed themselves in their Sunday best, as their ancestors had done for hundreds of years before, and went to church. , . . Susan, Philip, their mother, and their father, the village physician, had just entered the churchyard gate when Susan saw Charlotte with Lady Mary, the mistress of the Manor. Charlotte was Lady Mary’s niece and quite the richest little girl in Treventhan. Susan noticed that to-day she had a new silk gown and her bonnet had new pink roses on it. Lady Mary was tall and handsome, and .the lace she wore was the finest in all the district, although it was slyly whispered that it formed part of certain contraband cargoes that were unloaded from a little French ship when the nights were darkest. , ~ Charlotte did not even look at Susan, but walked into the Manor pew with her head held high. Susan bit her lip and set her chin firmly as she took her seat beside the family just across the aisle. That Sunday the old vicar told again the old, old story of the first Christmas, and of the wise men guided by the star to where the Saviour lay. “And when they had opened their treasures," he read, “they presented unto Him gifts; gold and frankincense and myrrh.” "Those gifts,” said the old man, consisted of the wealth and treasure of the Wise Men. They thought they were the richest gifts they could give, but you, my people, can

also bring offerings, just as rich, just as handsome—by giving unto others ye give unto Him. Perhaps there are among you some who have acted coldly to others. I beg of you this Christmas to take as your offerings the gold of grace, the frankincense of forgiveness, and the myrrh—the precious myrrh of love.” Susan looked shyly across-the aisle, but Charlotte was looking steadfastly at the vicar. However, her look of pride had vanished and she looked ' quite sad, and a tiny bit ashamed. As for Susan, she did not.feel bitter or dismal any more—the old vicar had instilled the true meaning' of Christmas into her heart. In a few minutes everyone stood up to sing, and Susan let her gaze wander around the church. Then she espied Julian—Julian who was her best friend among the village children—Julian of the unruly golden curls and soft, teasing voice. .Susan had always liked Julian Trelawny, blit she liad heard rumours about, his father’s,dealings, with the strange gentlemen who brought brandy and lace and wine from France, Her own father had laughingly said that Trelawny knew a great deal about those rascally Frenchmen, but so did many other men of the village. Nobody in Treventhan looked on the smugglers -with great disapproval. “For,” as the villagers said, “’tis but a scant and uncertain living fishing brings in, but there is much profit in smuggling providing you don’t get caught.” Susan thought, too, that Julian, young as he was, knew a good deal about the cargoes landed near Treventhan. Anyway, he had said that he liked the doctor’s daughter better than any other little girl, so why worry about Frenchmen and contraband cargoes? So busy was the little girl thinking of these things that she forgot about the Christmas message and Charlotte and the quarrel, but when she was walking out of the church it all came back. When they were out in the churchyard again Susan found that she was quite close to Lady Mary, who was holding Charlotte’s hand. Lady Mary had seen that there was something wrong, and she had quickly guessed much of the truth. .Stretching out a slender mittened hand she took Susan’s little

hand in hers. Then she bent down to Charlotte. “Remember the gold and frankincense and myrrh, my dear,” she said—then hurried away in front to speak to someone else. Charlotte clasped hold of Susan's hand. “I’m sorry, Susan,” she said, “let’s be friends.” • ■ “Of course we shall,” replied Susan gladly. “I was very silly to quarrel with you, Charlotte. I—l’m so pleased that it’s all over now.” And it was two very happy little girls with the Christmas feeling in their hearts that walked home together the day before Christmas. Susan awakened very early next morning and realised with a joyous

little thrill that at last it was Christmas Day. Suddenly she heard a youthful, boyish, voice singing blythely, “Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel. Christ is born in Israel.” ■ Susan jumped out of bed and leaned out of the window. Below was Julian with an oblong package under his arm. When he saw Susan he stopped. , . _ „ „ “Merry Christinas,” be cried. ‘‘Here’s something for you, busan. -tie held up the package and Susan reached down for it. “Thank you, thank you, Julian,” she exclaimed as she hastily tore off the paper, disclosing an oblong box. Lifting the lid she gave a gasp of surprise, for there fay a doll—such a doll as Susan had never seen in her life before. “What beautiful clothes!” she breathed, “and what a lovely lace. “That’s how the line French ladies dress,” said Julian. "They have a. gown like that for every single day.” “It must have cost lots and lots,” said Susan. “Where did you get it, Julian?” t “Ask no questions,” teased Julian, “and you’ll hear no fibs. Bur, Susan.” he added, “are you and Charlotte friends again?” “Of course we are,” smiled Susan. ~ “I’m glad,” said Julian. “My mother is going to ask you both to tea, and I thought if you weren’t friends it would be a little awkward. Besides, Charlotte Is good fun—but not as nice as you, Susan,” he smiled shyly. “It was the gold and frankincense ami the rest, wasn't it?” he asked in a low voice. Then he blushed, for Julian, like most boys, was not a very eloquent speaker on such subjects. “I must be, going home to breakfast,” he said hastily as Susan nodded. “I’ll see you this afternoon.” “Good-bye, and thank you ever so much for the wonderful doll,” replied Susan. “A Merry Christmas, Julian.” Susan watched his golden head disappear along the lane, then, resting her elbows on the sill, she cupped her chin in her bands and looked out towards the sea. “Yes,” she said softly, “they were the best gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh.”