Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-12-21

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events surrounded the birth Of her son.
Jesus 1t seemed 10 her sometimes
that ii must all be dream, but as she
watched him grow day by day, inereas-
ing in wisdom and stature. and saw
how the grace OF God rested upon him.
she could but marvel and ponder all
those things In her heart.
In the evenings as he had sat at her
knee and she had talked to him OF
God 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
his 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 She felt
he would not understand: that sh.
must wait until maturer young mzn-
hood.
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
home she heard his voice. and she
paused 20 listen. lie had the baby in
his arms and his brother and sister
were standing before him listening in
tently while he told them OF a nest Of
little birdiinss which he had found that
afternoon. Their helplessness had ap-
peaied 10 him so strongly and ts
memory 81 how the summer before
some % the bad boys of the village
hal taken the little birds out OF a nest
and then destroyed IL. was so fresh
hat he bad resolved that he would be
the protector Of the little ones he had
found. and he concluded his story by
saying:
I'm not going to tell the other boys
anything about IL, and don't you.
James" he added. appealing to his
brother. Wen keep Il for our secret.
and some day will take you and let
you have a peak al 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 AZ once and
tell her the story OF the little birds.
That evening. after the other chill
dren had been put 10 sleep. Jesus came
and sat by his mothers side. as was
hts custom. 10 have a quiet talk with
her before going TO bed His mind was
still upon the nest OF little birdling-.
aud he was wondering how they Jared
in the darkness. Looking up into his
mothers face with great, earnest eyes.
be asked:
Mother. does God care for the
birfss VIII He care for the little birds
found this afternoon"
Yes. I am sure He wiz respond
ed Mary. smiling down upon him with
tender thoughtfulness. even as lie
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 il
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Yes. my son. and I want TO tell Won
a beautiful story about your birth.
II shall be a secret between thee and
me. just as the nest OF little brides IL
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.
1T 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. we're
forced to find shelter in the great cav
ern on the hillside where the cattle
were housed. And there il was that
God gave you into my arms. In the
dim light of the feeble lamp burning
in the place. could see that thou
vast 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.
II was as though He set his seal upon
thee then and there, my SON."
She paused. and both instinctively
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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 OF her boy. 'for with the morning
light came the shepherds from the hill
side outside the village seeking for
thee, and saying that vision of angels
had appeared unto them and the heav-
ems were filed 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 God, saying:
Glory to God in the highest. and
on earth peace. good will towards
men,"
"0h. mother" burst out the boy,
his 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
me? Why did He do them?- And then
without giving his mother time to an
swer. had it been in her heart to have
done so. he went on, while his great
serious eyes giowed with the inexpres-
slble yearning that stirred within him:
do You know. mother. want to be
good. Just like God. | want the angels
always to be glad and sing because l
was born"
The mother patted his head fond
ly, but said nothing, but as they sat
there. in reverent silence, each busy
with the thoughts within, new con-
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