The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-12-22

knee and she had talked to him Of
Goa and repeated the stories OF Gods
word and taught him the portions Of
scripture familiar to her. she had been
surprised at his readiness Of mind and
MS understanding. But she had never
told him the wonderful story of events
which surrounded his birth. save to
mention that Gods special favor and
blessing had been about him.
But tonight a new feeling possessed
her. The stories which the rabbi had
brought from Jerusalem should not
reach his ears until her own lips had
told him the sweet sacred story.
AS she neared the doorway Of her
nome she heard his voice, and she
paused to listen. He had the baby in
ms arms and his brother and sister
were standing before him listening in
tently while he told them of a nest OF
niue Dlrdlings which he had found that
afternoon. Their helplesgness had an
pealed to him so strongly and the
memory of how the summer before
some of the bad boys of the village
had taken the little birds out of a nest
and then destroyed it, was so fresh
that he had resolved that he would be
the protector of the little mes he had
FOUND, and he concluded his story by
saying:
I'm not going to tell the other boys
anything about It, and don't YOU,
James, he added, appealing to his
brother. Wen keep it for our secret,
and some day l will take you and let
you have a peak at them"
Me go, too?" broke in the little sis.
ter, as she danced about the floor in
her excitement. And then catching
sight of her mother through the open
doorway she ran towards her with a
happy cry, followed by the other chill,
dren, who all tried to talk at once and
tell her the story Of the little birds.
That evening, after the other chill.
dren had been put to sleep, Jesus came
and sat by his mothers side, as was
his custom, TO have a quiet talk with
her before going to bed, His mind was
still upon the nest of little b%irdlings,
n he was wondering how they Jared
in the darkness. Looking up into his
mothers face with great, earnest eyes.
he asked:
Mother, does God care for the
birds? viii He care for the little birds
| found this afternoon?"
Eyes, | am sure He will" respond.
ed Mary, smiling down upon him with
tender thoughtfulness, even as He
cared for thee when thou vast a babe"
WAS | once a baby like sister,
there?' pointing towards the little
cradle standing in the shadow, and
his eyes opened wide in wonder, for it
was a new thought to him.
Yes, my son, and | want to tell you
a beautiful story about your birth.
1t shall be a secret between thee and
me, just as the nest OF little brides Is
to be a secret between thee and thy
brother and sister," and as she gazed
into his deep eyes and caught the respon-
sive soul-gleam there, she knew she
was making no mistake in telling him.
He made no reply, but waited expect,
antly for her to begin,
at was in Bethlehem, the home Of
the great and good king David, about
whom we have talked SO often, and to
whose house and lineage thou dost be-
long. Joseph and | had made the long
journey from Nazareth and were weary,
and finding no room in the kahn, were
forced to find shelter in the great cav
ern on the hillside where the cattle
were housed, And there it was that
God gave you into my arms. In the
dim light Of the feeble lamp burning
in the place. I could see that thou
vast a goodly child, and as | pressed
thee to my bosom suddenly a glorious
light broke through the opening in the
roof and rested upon thy head. And
as | followed the light upward I saw
a beautiful and wondrous star which
God had set above thy resting place,
1t was as though He set his seal upon
thee then and there, my SON"
She paused, and both instinctiyely
looked upward with reyerent gaze and
caught the bursting light of the even
ing star.
But that was not all" continued
the mother, as she slowly lowered her
eyes until they again rested upon the
face other boy, for with the morning
light came the shepherds from the hill.
side outside the village seeking for
thee, and saying that a vision Of angels
had appeared unto them and the heav'
ems were filled with light and music
from above. And the angel Of the
Lord told them of thy birth and com
manded them to come and seek thee,
and then the angelic host sang praises
to CO, ~~av'r"'
"Glory to God in the highest, and
IN ea.'h peace. good will towards
ooh. mother" burst out the boy,
face radiant with the light which
was breaking in upon his soul, and
with the thought which was struggling
for expression, did God do all those
beautiful and wonderful things for
ne? Why did He do them?" And then
without giving his mother time to an
;wer, had ii been in her heart to have
lone so, he went on, while his great
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