Everything was drawn into the same woof; the rites of their religion and the daily routine of existence so woven together that they could not distinguish the devout emotion possessing them from the mute love of each for each.
Little Alma Rose heard praises in the air and hastened to demand her portion.

"I have been a good girl too, haven't I, father ?" "Certainly ...

Certainly.

A black sin indeed if one were naughty on the day when the little Jesus was born." To the children, Jesus of Nazareth was ever "the little Jesus," the curly-headed babe of the sacred picture; and in truth, for the parents as well, such was the image oftenest brought to mind by the Name.

Not the sad enigmatic Christ of the Protestant, but a being more familiar and less august, a newborn infant in his mother's arms, or at least a tiny child who might be loved without great effort of the mind or any thought of the coming sacrifice.
"Would you like me to rock you ?" "Yes." He took the little girl on his knees and began to swing her back and forth.
"And are we going to sing too ?" "Yes." "Very well; now sing with me:" Dans son etable, Que Jesus est charmant! Qu'il est aimable Dans son abaissement He began in quiet tones that he might not drown the other slender voice; but soon emotion carried him away and he sang with all his might, his gaze dreamy and remote.