126 A DOG OF FLANDERS.

Noél was close at hand.

The weather was very wild and
cold. The snow was six feet deep,
and the ice was firm enough to bear
oxen and men upon it everywhere.
At this season the little village was
always gay and cheerful. At the
poorest dwelling there were pos-
sets and cakes, joking and dancing,
sugared saints, and gilded Jésus.
The merry Flemish bells jingled
everywhere on the horses; every-
where within doors some well-filled
soup-pot sang and smoked over the
stove ; and everywhere over the snow
without laughing maidens pattered
in bright kerchiefs and stout kirtles,
going to and from the mass. Only
in the little hut it was very dark and
very cold.