Natalis Christi dies

The months were passing slowly. The winter was very severe and the chill pervaded the monastery. Paul was unable to see Lucia alone, because the girl was always walking with her mother or praying in the church. The poor fellow lay through the long cold nights in his cell gazing at the stars through his window.

Soon Christmas was celebrated by the monks. Charles, Egberta and Lucia came to the monastery to hear mass and afterwards departed home with the bishop and abbess. In the monastery Augustine and the other students were acting a play. Joseph and Mary find a stable after being rejected by the hostels. All the monks were cheered by Augustine’s play except the abbot who called it too flippant. Many jars of wine were consumed, many geese eaten. Thus for a few days all cares were lifted.

For many months the monks had been anxious, the people uncertain. In midwinter few people expected Danes on account of the cold and the rough sea; therefore they kept their possessions with them. However as spring approached their belongings and oxen were brought to the monastery. Initially the store in the church was small because the things belonging to the poor and the serfs were modest. But after a few days earthenware, brooches, shields, linen and other things were handed into the church; and so the store gradually grew.
 

Castellum Comitis Karoli

With the coming of summer Paul returned to the town. On a hot day he walked with the mule under blossoming trees along an unfamiliar track; for he wanted to see Lucia’s house. After three miles they came out of the woods and Paul could see the great castle in which Lucia lived with her mother Egberta and father Charles, a very rich nobleman. Count Charles ruled the entire area. Abbot Laurence and Count Charles were the two most powerful men in the district.

Paul watched a number of men working in the fields near the castle. Some were mowing the grass, others carried the hay into the barn. All of a sudden the mule saw other mules and began to bray. ‘Hey!’ shouted Paul, ‘Be quiet!’ He shook the reins and quickly led the mule into the wood. Paul saw a pool near the wood and went over to it, where the mule thirstily drank much water. Then, with the mule tied to a tree in the wood, Paul returned to the pool, took off his clothes and plunged into the cold water: he swam under the water and coming up to the surface he exhaled. ‘I wish I could stay here the whole day,’ sighed Paul, and lazily floated on the surface contemplating the sky. A few moments later he heard the mule braying. ‘What’s the matter with you, mule? Be quiet you troublesome creature!’