Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-25
Tb. F,r.t ChrIstmas Eve.

The night, like most pights of the winter
season in the hill country Of Judea, was clear,
crisp and sparkling with stars There was
no wind. The atmosphere seemed never 80
pure, and the stiffness was more than silence
Il was a holy hush, a warning that heaven
was STOPPING low TO whisper some good
things to the listening earth.
BY the gate hugging his mantle close, the
watchman walked at times he stopped, at
tracted by a stir among the sleeping herds,
or by the cry of wild beast of on the noun
tain side
The midnight was slow coming to him, but
at last it came. His task was done now for
the dreamless sleep with which labor blesses
it's wearied children
He moved toward the Are, but paused a
light was breaking around him, soft and
white, like the moons. He waited breath
lessy. The light deepened things before
invisible came into view he saw the whole
field and all it sheltered A chill sharper than
that of the frosty air--a chill Of fear-smote
him. He looked up the stars were gone
the light was dropping as from window in
the sky as he looked, it became a splendor.
Then in terror he cried, Awake awake J"
The shepherds clambered to their feet,
| weapons in hand.
"What is it ?" they asked in one voice.
See" cried the watchman, "the sky is on
6re."
Suddenly the light became intolsrably
bright, and they covered their eyes aud drop
| ped upon their knees. Then, as their souls
shrank with fear, they fell upon their faces
blind and fainting, and would have died had
not voice said to them Fear notp And
they listened Fear not. for behold, bring
| you good tidings of great joy, which shall be
| for all people," The voice, in sweetness
aud soothing more than human and low and
clear, penetrated all their being, and filled
them with assurance. They rose upon their
knees and looking worshipfuly, beheld in
the centre of great glory. the appearance of
man clad in a robe intensely white above
it's shoulders lowered the tops of wings, shin
ing and folded. star over its forehead,
glowed with steady ustre, brilliant as Hes-
! perus; its hands were stretched toward them
in blessing its face was serene and dvinely
beautiful
They had often heard aud in their simple
way, talked of angels, and they doubted not
now, but said in their hearts, The glory Of
God is about u.s. and this is he who of old
came to the prophet by the river of Ulai. Di-
rectly the angel continued:
For unto you is born, this day, in the
City of David, Savior, which is Christ the
Lord"
Again there was rest while the words
sank into their minds. Suddenly the light,
of which tue herald seemed the centre, turn
ed roseate and began to tremble then mp,
far as the men could see there was flashing
of white wings, and coming and going of ra-
diant forms, and voices as a multitude chant
ing iu vision,
"Glory TO God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will to men,"
Not once the praise, but many times.
Then the herald raised his eyes seeking
approval of one far of his wings stirred,
and spread slowly and majestcally, on their
upper side white as snow, in the shadow va
riegatsd, like mother of pearls when they
expanded many cubits beyond his stature he
arose lightly, and without effort, foated out
Of view, taking the light up with him.
Long after he was gone, down from the
sky fell the refrain in measure mellowed by
distance: "Glory to God in the highest and
on earth, peace, good will toward mem
Gen. LelO Wallace in Ben Hur.