ls' heads looked
unutterable things. On the right was the Virgin Mary, and on the left
one of the eastern Magi. Paper clouds, in which the paper heads of
numberless cherubs appeared, enveloped the whole; while from a
pasteboard cottage stalked a wooden monk, with dogs, and sheep, and
camels, goats, lions, and lambs; here walked a maiden upon a stratum
of sods and dried earth, and there a shepherd flourishing aloft his
pastoral staff. The construction of these august figures was chiefly
Dutch: they were intermixed with china images and miserable daubs on
paper. In the centre a real fountain, in miniature, squirted forth
water to the ineffable delight of crowds of prostrate worshippers."

CHRISTMAS IN ROME.

Hone[97] states that after Christmas Day, during the remainder of
December, there is a Presepio, or representation of the manger, in
which our Saviour was laid, to be seen in many of the churches at
Rome. That of the Ara Coeli is the best worth seeing, which church
occupies the site of the temple of Jupiter, and is adorned with some
of its beautiful pillars. On entering, we found daylight completely
excluded from the church; and until we advanced, we did not perceive
the artificial light, which was so managed as to stream in fluctuating
rays, from intervening silvery clouds, and shed a radiance over the
lovely babe and bending mother, who, in the most graceful attitude,
lightly holds up the drapery which half conceals her sleeping infant
from the bystanders. He lies in richly embroidered swaddling clothes,
and his person, as well as that of his virgin mother, is ornamented
with diamonds and other precious stones; for which purpose, we are
informed, the princesses and ladies of high rank lend their jewels.
Groups of cattle grazing, peasantry engaged in different occupations,
and other objects, enliven the picturesque scenery; every living
creature in the group, with eyes directed towards the Presepio, falls
prostrate in adoration. In the front of this theatrical representation
a little girl, about six or eight years old, stood on a bench,
preaching extempore, as it appeared, to the persons who filled the
church, with all the gesticulation of a little actress, probably in
commemoration of those words of the psalmist, quoted by our blessed
Lord--"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected
praise." In this manner the Scriptures are _acted_; not "read, marked,
and inwardly digested." The whole scene h