Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-12-25

II
and then upon the other. Then he
said: "Mr. Talmsge. I did want to
come and say goodby. You do not
know how much you have been to me
and my wife since the baby died. And.
SIR, as you are going away. wanted
to make you present to show our
love. As We are poor folks could not
give much, 20 me and my wife decided
we would give you two OF the biggest
| apples we have growed In our orchard.
And here they are, sir. Goodby. God
bless you, sir. Goodby." Well. nv
friends, am not sentimental. but as
that countryman turned and disap-
peared down the muddy road he left
me crying like child. I did not value
the apples for their intrinsic worth. I
valued the affection which was the In
centive or the couple who gave those
| apples TO me- And I valued those two
big apples 80 highly that carried them
home to Brooklyn to show them to MY
father and mother when L told them
the simple story Of that countrymau's
love. So 1t Is that the risen and glorf-
ned Christ. who once lay a helpless
babe In that Manager. values the gifts
you bring TO him. Below and beyond
the gift itself be sees the motive that
prompts It. Far more precious in his
sight than the most costly Offering is
the love OF the heart which the gift
symbolizes and expresses.
The Christisn's Mission.
Where did the wise men 20 after
they had seen the infant Christ and
rendered their homage at the manger?
Why, the Bible tells US explicitly they
went back home. God spoke to them
as he has spoken TO the hearts OF many
who have bowed at the manger, and
they went back to their own country.
History is client about their later lives.
but we cannot think that they would
ever forget that strange experience.
No man comes in contact with Christ
without resulta- They probably thought
of him as world conQuoxor and babe
their disciples expect to hear OF his
victories. Little could they have i'm
sEined the extent Of his empire or un-
derstapd how, through the cross, he
would attain his crown.
What IL the simple deduction OF this
thought and lesson2 Is 1t not tbisr
After you and I have worshiped at the
manger. In the fuller light OF our later
day. then we should everywhere, but
hrst among our own people, tell the
news, the glorious news, that Jesus.
the Son OF God. has been born. We
must tell 1t to our children. We must
tell II to our brothers and sisters. We
must tell II to our parents and to all our
friends and neighbors. Behold, Jesus
has been born! Jesus, our Saviour has
been born! He livesl He livesl Jesus,
the Son OK Mary. livesi Jesus, the Son
OF God. nvesr'
Thus our mhsiou on this Christmas
day ia to seek the manger and while ws
study Its lessons and mediate on its
humiliation to practice the sweet teach
ings OF Jesus Christ. which cannot bet
ter be summed up than by briefly re-
peeting one Of the most beautiful OF all
Christmas stories. II Is that written
by Henry Van Dyke. II Is Appropriate
~ called 1.-The Other Wise Man." DR..
Van Dyke wrote the story In great
pain.
II was the year his father died and a
year OF much physical suffering. One
L ~<-o'N "htO hWuhts undDie 10
sleep and tossing upon bis bed. he be-
gan to think OF the legends clustering
about the three wise men," Then
there came to him a vision OF fourth
wise man." who had the gentle name
or Arabian. The nbbreviat ton OF the
whole story is this: When the star sp-
pcared IN the east. four msgi felt that
they must put their household goods In
order before they took their Journey.
They decided TO meet at a certain place
at certain time upon the edge OF the
great desert Arabian made ready for
his Journey by selling his house and
worldly goods and buying three beau
tfful gems which he could carry-name-
ly, sapphire. ruby and a pearl. On
his way TO meet bis appointment Arta-
ban came across a poor oeggar who
was dying. bcggar who had no
friends, besgar who was dying alone.
After nursing the poor beggar until he
died Arabian hurried on to meet his
appointment, but the three magi had
already gone. The other wise man had
to retrace his steps, sell one Of his
gems, his sapphire, and buy a train OF
cameis to make the Journey alone.
How Artaban Found Christ.
The next scene IN the story of 1.-THE
Other Wise Man" IL found In the viii
lage OF Bethlehem. Jesus had been
born. and the three magi had disap-
psared. As Artabsu entered the vii
lage he heard the tramp OF bloody
Herod's troops. who had come to mas
sacre all the male children in Jadaa,
with the hope OF Staying the infant
Christ A poor woman rushes out.
pleading for the rescue OF her child.
Tho young mothers face grew white
with terror at the cryi 1.-THE soldiersl
The soldiers of Herodi They are kill
ipg our Children when a captain Of
Herods troops wanted TO enter this
wonaR's house to STAY her child Arta-
ban stood In the doorway and offered
to the murdsrous soldier his second
gem, the beautiful ruby, IL he would
save the child. Now two-thirds of Ar
taban's fortune was gone, and still he
had not found Christ.
Then Arabian started on a journey
to Egypt to find Jesus, He hunted for
him everywhere until he was a very
old man. One day, I'm his wanderings
to ind the Saviour. he headed back to
the city OF Jerusalem. The capital Of
David was In great excitement. There
was TO be a public cruciH xion Of three
eriminAls-two thieves and one q po-
hticai prisoner. Jesus by name. AS
Arabian entered the city he saw a
young, girl in great distress. She was
20 be sold as n slave for debt. Che
broke loose from her captors and flung
herself Mt his feet. begging for deliv-
erance. Artaban gave bis last gem. the
beautiful pearl. for her rescue. And
now all his money was gone. He was
now an old man. and still he had not
fond Christ.
Just then the darkness Of crucinx
began to gather around the cross and
to settle over the temple. When the
awful earthquake came, a heavy tile
slipped from one OF the house roofs
and fell upon the old mans head. But