ery God
entering into and raising our human nature. My whole conception of the
meaning, the possibilities of our common human nature is transformed,
as I see that it can become a perfect reflection and manifestation of
the Divine nature. 'The Word became flesh, and lodged _in us_.' The
manger at Bethlehem reverses all our human conceptions of dignity and
greatness. 'The folly of God is wiser than men.' It is to the
humble--to babes--that God can reveal Himself. In them He can find His
home.

O Father, touch the East and light
The light that shone when Hope was born.

It is in Christmas that Tennyson found the birth of {154} Hope. It is
Christmas that, as life goes on, bids us never despair--of our own or
of human nature around us.

_To a friend at Cambridge._

Hotel Belvedere, St. Moritz: December 30, 1901.

I shall never forget this last Christmas Day, for your letter came in
the evening. I read it again and again, and wonder at it more each
time I read it. I can't tell you what I feel about it. I knew that
you more or less liked and respected me, but I didn't know that you
loved me. I've got what I wanted. When you merely respected me, I
dreaded the day when you would find that I was different to what you
thought I was. But now I feel I am safe _phobos ouk estin en te
agape_, however imperfect you find me. I know now that I can trust you
not to throw me off. And love is not extreme to mark what is amiss,
_hoti agape kaluptei plethos amartion_. I can't thank you for your
kindness, but I thank God for giving me the most precious gift in the
world, a human soul 'to love and be loved by for ever.' As I look at
your letter I feel a mere worm, and my one wonder is how on earth a man
like you can call me your friend. I can't thank you; but I'll do my
best to live up to the standard you expect of me, and to be a true
friend to you. And my idea of friendship is, as you know, prayer. I
can't, worse luck, do much for you, but I do pray for you, and
'whatever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.' It has been
truly said that the _how_, the _where_, and the _when_ are not told us,
but only the {155} _what_. And I am quite certain that every prayer I
offer for you is heard and answered, when I believe what I say; but the
manner, the place, and the occasion of the answer--of these things I
know nothing. I am sure that God loves to see us happy, and the pure
joy of the knowledge that s