Why, Mike’s a child to him ... a chrism child. 
  Jean Ingelow, Brothers and a Sermon.

CHRIS’TABEL (ch = k), the heroine of a fragmentary poem of the same title by Coleridge.

Christabel, the heroine of an ancient romance entitled Sir Eglamour of Artois.

CHRISTABELLE [Kris.’ta.bel], daughter of “a bonnie king of Ireland,” beloved by sir Cauline (2 syl.).  When the king knew of their loves he banished sir Cauline from the kingdom.  Then as Christabelle drooped the king held a tournament for her amusement, every prize of which was carried off by an unknown knight in black.  On the last day came a giant with two “goggling eyes, and mouthe from ear to ear,” called the Soldain, and defied all comers.  No one would accept his challenge save the knight in black, who succeeded in killing his adversary, but died himself of the wounds he had received.  When it was discovered that the knight was sir Cauline, the lady “fette a sighe, that burst her gentle hearte in twayne.”—­Percy, Reliques ("Sir Cauline,” I. i. 4).

CHRISTIAN, the hero of Bunyan’s allegory called The Pilgrim’s Progress.  He flees from the City of Destruction and journeys to the Celestial City.  At starting he has a heavy pack upon his shoulders, which falls off immediately he reaches the foot of the cross. (The pack, of course, is the bundle of sin, which is removed by the blood of the cross. 1678.)

Christian, a follower of Christ.  So called first at Antioch.—­Acts xi. 26.

Christian, captain of the patrol in a small German town in which Mathis is burgomaster.  He marries Annette, the burgomaster’s daughter.—­J.  R. Ware, The Polish Jew.

Christian, synonym of “Peasant” in Russia.  This has arisen from the abundant legislation under czar Alexis and czar Peter the Great, to prevent Christian serfs from entering the service of Mohammedan masters.  No Christian is allowed to belong to a Mohammedan master, and no Mohammedan master is allowed to employ a Christian on his estate.

Christian II. (or Christiern), king of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.  When the Dalecarlians rose in rebellion against him and chose Gustavus Vasa for their leader, a great battle was fought, in which the Swedes were victorious; but Gustavus allowed the Danes to return to their country.  Christian then abdicated, and Sweden became an independent kingdom.—­H.  Brooke, Gustavus Vasa (1730).

Chris’tian (Edward), a conspirator.  He has two aliases, “Richard Gan’lesse” (2 syl.) and “Simon Can’ter.”

Colonel William Christian, Edward’s brother.  Shot for insurrection.

Fenella alias Zarah Christian, daughter of Edward Christian.—­Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, George II.).