The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-03-04
CHRIST is BORN.

"Really take it unkindly Of our pastor
that he is continually speaking i'll of us thorns
in the church yonder," said the thorn-b bush.
standing by crumbling stable-wall among
the castle-ruins near the village church .s1t
is very unfair in him How can he know,
for instance, how the subject may affect me ?
On the bloody field Of Gclgotha, nearly two
thousand years ago, there stood my ancestor,
buckthorn, of whose branches they wove
our Saviour's crown. But the pastor yonder
little thinks that come of that same buck
thorn or that all its lneal descendants bear
red blossoms and weep tears Of blood on
Christmas night; or that we thorns are ever
renewed like Christ's teachings, being woven
in them2" 49, 4,
So spske the thorn-bush; and the wind
blew through its branches, and shook them
until the snow dropped of. a
positively this connection ought to be
known p sighed the thorn bush
But it was just then Christmas eve, and
midnight was drawing near. Therefore did
the thorn-bush make these pious reflections,
which should have been cherished on other
days too, if the lineage were really so won
derful as it fancied. Meantime the church
bells were ringing for the midnight mass, and
the good priest passed by, going to the service
of God. asst re- sS
"See, now, how indifferently he goes past
me" said the thorn BUSH "And no wonder,
since he knows nothing of my connections |!
And all the rest brush by me into the church !;
and if the Lord God could not see the things
that are hidden yet would he know his faith
full by the foot prints that lead from thehouses
to all the church. But he knows them all,
for he guides their steps, I know, though,
two in the village who have not been to
church to-day nor yet this whole year, for
they are right goddess men the gloomy lord
Of our castle and Wild Stephen, whom he
turned out Of his cottage yesterday because
the rent was not paid. Here lie the poor
wife and her half.naked children now in this
ruined stable before which I stand guard
Really must take peep and see how the
poor woman and her sick child are getting
or" said the thorn bush, and stretched up
its boughs to look in at the broken window.
But it was dark within, and the night
wind moaned through the damp walls and the
open window. 20 God the creature is SO
good and SO wretched. Here in the stable
are tears and chattering teeth on this day Of
Christmas gifts. Now, this is too grevious,
sighed the thorn bush.
And over the way the church organ poured
out its solemn tones. "Christ is born" sang
the people from the choir and benches, "Christ
is born, cried the watchman from the tower.
In that old, deserted stable a poor woman
knelt and prayed. Her tears ran down her
checks, her hands were eonvulsively clasped
and her eyes rested fxeaIy on the straw in
the old stone mangcr for in that mangcr lay
her youngest born half-year old child, sick,
and trembling with ague and cold. The MOOR
shone through the window opening upon this
group. Her rays fell sympathizingly on the
sick child, but they could not warm him nor
could the mothers breast dc it either, she was
herself 50 icy cold. And through TIE chinks
of the rottiDg roof, whose gaps were covered
with snow, fell by hundred thousands the lit.
tie glittering snow stars and played in the
moon beams, but they gave no light or
warmth either. ~ sse''i
eSaviour Of the world, thou who vert born
this night, who didst live and die for na all,
who didst lie to day in a man5cr, like this
poor helpless creature, save, oh save my
sick childW So prayed this poor woman,
and the baby stretched out his cold hands to
his mother and wept But her strength was
all gone She let her weary head sink On
the icy edge of the stone manager; her eyes
closed, and a heavy sigh burst from her breast
Days and nights Of bitter misery had she en-
dured but now she broke down, and sleep
took pity on her wretchedness.
"Poor wife, where is thy husband? Poor
baby, where is thy father :" whispered the
sthorn-bush pityingly, looking at the window.
Yes, where was the husband, where was
the father? Wild Stephen, for SO the villa
ger. called him, had bsea turned out IF his