THE CHRISt-Child.

Once, a long, long time ago, there were no Christmas trees, no Christmas stockings, no Christmas gifts, no Christmas bells,

the whole wide world.

no Christmas in all

This did not seem strange to the children in those old days, for they had never known anything about Christmas, but it would seem very strange indeed to us.

I am going to tell you about the first Christmas Eve and the first Christmas Day.

Let us suppose that we are living, years and years ago, in the little town of Bethlehem.

There have been days and days of rain, but now, just before nightfall, there is sunshine on the hills, and the wet leaves of the olive-trees flash like silver. It is cold enough for frost. There may, even, be snow in a day or two.

The little town, usually so quiet and peaceful, is to-night full of people who speak a language which we cannot understand, and who wear strange clothing.

Some are rushing about on foot screaming to

each other, some are on horseback, others ride comfortably on the tall, queer-looking camels.

There are men driving sheep, men driving frightened cows, men peddling bread and wine, and boys chasing dogs in and out of the crowd and getting in everybody's way. All these strange people are looking for a place to stay. Some go to the hotels, some to the homes of friends.

Is it some big

But why have they all come? celebration, such as we have now-a-days? No, there is a strange custom in this old country.

When their king commands them to do so, all the people must travel to a certain city or town to register their names, and pay their taxes. So, all these people have come to the little town of Bethlehem, to pay their taxes to their cruel king.

Waiting before the door of one of the inns, are two people. They have been five days traveling to reach here, and are very tired. You see, they could not come and go quickly, as we do now on a railroad train, for no such thing had then been heard of. Neither could they drive their own horses for they had none. How had they come? The woman had

traveled all that long, rough way on a donkey's back, and the man had walked by her side, guiding the donkey.

The man's name is Joseph. He has a grave, honest face. He stands beside the donkey, upon which his young wife is still sitting. The woman has thrown back her veil, and is watching with tired eyes the people hurrying about her.

She is very beautiful. Her face is Her face is pale, but rounded like a child's. Her mouth, with its red lips, Her beautiful eyes are deep,

is tender and trustful.

dark blue, and the hair, which falls all around her, shines like gold in the late sunshine.

Little children would love her face, and would love to hear her low, sweet voice. Her name is Mary.

"There is no room for them at the inn!" Disappointed they turn away, and seek for shelter in place after place. There is but one spot in all the crowded town for these tired travelers. This is little better than a stable or manger. It is a kind of cave in the rock just back of the inn, where people often lodge.

There is straw on the floor of this cave, and Joseph and Mary are glad and thankful to rest even here.

Now in this same country, about two miles from little Bethlehem, was a plain. Here, all that night, shepherds kept watch over their flocks of sheep. And something very strange happened.

The night was clear and crisp, and the sky sparkled with stars. As these simple, hard-working men sat there on the hillside, talking among themselves, and looking after the sheep, whose bells tinkled softly through the wondrous silence, suddenly:

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The angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were afraid.

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people!

"For unto you is born this day, in Bethlehem, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord!”

Then the angel told them that they should find the little Babe lying in a manger at Bethlehem.

The shepherds were no longer afraid. They looked at the tall, beautiful angel in his robes of white, pure and spotless. As they looked at him, it seemed to them that the sky became full of angels, with wonderful white wings and voices sweet as the sweetest music, who sang together:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good-will toward men!"

Then the music ceased, the glorious light faded, and the shepherds spoke to each other. "Let us go

to Bethlehem," they said, "and see this wonderful Babe."

And

And they went with haste to Bethlehem. there in the manger, they found Joseph and Mary and the Babe of whom the angel had told them.

The shepherds were glad, and told everyone whom they met of the strange things which they had seen and heard, and of the wonderful Child who was born that night in the little town of Bethlehem.

The next morning, when the sun rose, red and clear, over Bethlehem, its brightest rays stole into the humble little cave, and touched with a blessing Joseph and Mary and the Child!