Towanda daily review. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1879-1921, 1879-12-24
A REAL CHRISTMAS STORY.


While Herod was king in Judea there
was priest named ZachariaS. His wife's
name was Elizabeth. Both Of them were
old, and righteous, and careful to obey
Gods commandments but God had new
er given them a child.
There were many priests among the
Jews, who served in the temple by cours.
es. There were twenty-four courses
each one had its name, and that which
Zacharias belonged to was called the
course Of Alba.
Very early every morning, before it was
light, the priests at the temple began the
work of the day. Some of them went to
the altar of burnt-ofering and cleaned it,
taking away the ashes that had been left
there from the day before, and putting
fresh wood on the fire which was never
allowed to go out. Other priests went
into the temple and trimmed the lamps
on the golden candleStick, and cleaned
the golden altar of incense. Afterward
one of the priests offered up lamb, and
another burned incense. Every dey be-
fore the priests began their work lots
were cast to determine what part of the
service each one was to take. On GER
tain day it fell to the lot of Zacharias to
burn incense on the golden altar; and
while he was in the temple he saw an
angel standing beside the golden altar
When he saw him he was afraid, but the
Angel said, Fear not, ZachariaS, for Ged
will give to thee and to thy wife son
and thou shalt call his name John. He
shall not drink wine nor any strong
drink, and shall be filled with Gods Holy
Spirit from the time he is born. Zacha-
rias said to the angel, How shall know
that these things will be? The angel an
SWered him, ! am the angel Gabriel who
live in heaven, and stand before God to
do whatever he commands me, and he
has sent me to tell this good news. And
noW because thou hast not believed it,
thou shalt be punished by being dumb
and unable to speak, until the words |
have spoken come true.
And the people who were waiting in
the courts of the temple for ZachariaS to
come out, wondered what kept him so
long. When he came they saw he could
not speak, but he made them understand
by signs that he had seen a vision.
And God gave to ZachariaS aud Eliza
beth the son he had promised. When
the child was eight days old their neigh
cate or give him to the Lord, and to de-
eide what name should be given him. and
they called him Zacharias after the name
of his father. But his mother said he
must be called John. They seid there be
none of your relations of this name; and
they made signs to his father, asking
what he would have him called; and he
asked for a writing table (for he was still
Speechless), and wrote saying, his name
is John. As soon as he hai written these
words God gave him power to speak
again. And all the people in those parts
heard of those things and they said
What manner of child shall this be? And
the boy grew, and the Lord blessed him,
and he went and lived in the wilderness
and became great preacher.
At this time the Jews were servants to
the Romans, and had to obey the Emper-
or; and he made a de, rec that all the
Jews should be taxed and commanded
each one Of them to go to the city where
his ancestors had lived so that his name