lives, fighting bravely
side by side for their Fatherland--on that morning the sun fell upon
your sad face, and bleeding hands pierced by the nails, and then I
reflected how bitterly you had suffered, though innocent, that you might
redeem us, and how your mother must have felt to lose such a child. Then
a voice asked me if I had any right to complain, when the Son of God
himself had willingly endured such torments for our sake, and I felt
compelled to answer no, and determined then to bear patiently whatever
might be laid upon me, a poor, sinful woman. Thenceforth, my Lord, was
your image my consolation and, since the wood of which it was made came
from the tree planted by Hannele near the Fresh Spring, I owe beyond
doubt the better years that followed, and the joy of being with you in
Paradise, my Saviour, to the nuts which that condemned woman gave to the
child.'

"Humbly she bowed her head again. The Son of God turned to St. Peter,
saying: 'Well, Peter?'

"The latter called to the guardians of Hell: 'Let her go free, the gates
of Heaven are open to her. How rich and manifold, O Lord! is the fruit
that springs from the smallest gift offered in true love!'

"'You are right,' answered the Saviour, gently, and turned away."

The colonel had talked for a longer time than was allowed him by his
doctor, and he needed rest. When he appeared again at supper time, in
order to help us eat our Christmas carps, he found little Hermy standing
with Karl and Kurt before the fire, and he noticed how his favourite's
eyes rested with pleasure on the nuts which he had bought for his
grandmother; and how the older boys, who were only too prone to tease
their younger brother, treated him with a certain tenderness, as if they
had something to make up for.

At table we overheard Kurt say to Karl: "Little Hermy's present for
grandmother was not a bad idea," to which Karl answered quickly: "I
am going to put away some of my nuts to-morrow, and plant them in the
spring."

"To make a pair of crutches for me, or in order that you may go to
Heaven?" asked the colonel.

The boy blushed, and could find no answer; but I came to his rescue,
and replied: "No, his trees shall remind us of you, Colonel, and of your
stories. When we give, we will, in remembrance of you, give in all love
and willingness, and when we receive, even the smallest gift, we will
only ask in what spirit it was offered."

THE END

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