Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-12-31
CHRISTMAS SlO2Y.
Dedicated to Pupils of St Joseph's s
 Academy by Rev. Alfred Quetu.

selves and their families. A large gray camel was liasurely chewing some dry hay at one of the back re- cessems of the tent, while a little white "burro'' was eagerly endeavor- ing to steal small share of the pit tance whenever the attention of the camel was diverted.
 It was already late - about 10 o'clock. The moon was radiantly bright and thousands of brilliant satars were shining in the blue east ern sky. Three men clad in heavy Arabian "burnoozes'' and holding in their hands the traditional shepherds staffs, were coming slowly from the hill and directing their steps towards the tent. They passed by the huge camel and the little "burro" without noticing them and raising the canvass curtain at the other end of the tent, entered.
 Let us follow them: "'The peace of the Lord be with you" said they as they deposited their staffs at the lower end of the tent; 'and with you, Twas the answer, coming from a group of persons seated on the ground in the center of the room. Then turn ing toward the spot from where heavy breathing was repeatedly heard, one of the new corners said:
 
 ''Our brothers are asleep yet. l see. but our watch time is over; we have left the sheep under the care of our faithful dogs. It is time for them to relieve us. So saying he awoke the three men and, after few words exchanged between the six in regard to their fiocks, the new watchmen gathered up their small camping out fit and went out with the usual salutations.
 The others respectfully kissed the hand of an aged man they called
 'father" and sat around a small fire that was burning brightly on hearth of stone, sending a light column of smoke through an aperture in the top of the tent.
 The old man was reclining upon a heap of white wool; he had lost his sight, for he was nearly hundred years old, but his lofty brow. which was uncovered, showed intelligence and wisdom. At his feet was a little girl about twelve years old as beauti- ressing the long, gray beard of her great grandfather, her great black eyes full of love innocently fixed on his sweet face. She was talking to him in a low tone of voice while he tenderly rested his hand on her sil1en hair that was black as the ravens wing.
 woman. young yet, her head GOV cred with thick. blue veil, was the last inhabitant of the movable dwell ing. She got up and met the three men at their entrance. One of them was her husband, the younger a tall, dark lad of eighteen, her son, while the little black-eyed girl, nestling on the old mans bosom, was her daugh- ter
 They all sat down now near the meager fire, which was throwing a dim light in the tent-all silently and anxiously looking at the little Mi riam who was still whispering to her great grandfather and sometimes sigh ing and sobbing heavily, as though some great misfortune or distress had befallen her. The old man, by way of consolation, took her little head into his hands, kissed it, and at the same time, slowly raising his lifeless eyes addressed the three shepherds in these words:
 "What kind of a watch did my children have? How are the sheep do- ing? Is the water plentiful? Is the fiowery grass tender and green? Blessed be the Lord the God of Abra- ham, Isaac and Jacob who takes care of his faithful onesr'
 His questions, pronounced in a grave tone of voice, remained unan- swered for a short while. At last Ezechiel. his grandson. little Mariam's father, spoke:
 Thanks be to Jehovah the God of our fathers and our GOd!'' he said Although it be late in December never was the water more plentiful. never the grass more tender and green. But will our Father tell us why the sheep today did not once go near the clear water? Why they did not touch one of the fragrant blades! Our dogs even did not play nor run sportively to and fro as usual. but with ears erect. they, like the sheep. | seemed to listen to some far away sound which we could not hear The | birds did not sing. An awful still | ness seemed to pervade all nature as though in expectation of some great | event. Will my Father, who is versed in the Holy Writ and the | words of all the prophets whose wis | dom and prudence are admired in all | the surrounding country. will he | explain to us the meaning of all | this?''
 A short pause ensued. then the old man said:
 ''This is very strange indeed. very strange But is not the time | very near at hand when the Promised | One is to come? And Is not this one !. little village blessed among all the towns of earth, the one that is to see this so-much- longed event?" And | the old Patriarch repeated to himself | the words of the prophecy: And | thou Bethlehem though thou be lit- tie among the thousands of Jehovah. | yet out of these shall He come the | Ruler of Israel And for this thou shalt be great and abide unto the ends of the earth.'' And then he added ''Is il not to the simple and innocent | ones that our God takes pleasure in manifesting Himself? Marian. daugh- ter of my Son. thou as tender and as pure as the lily of the valley, go be- loved one and tell thy Father what thou hast been asking me about to- day"
 And he gently pushed away from him the afflicted child who ran to her