The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-12-25
The First Christ Night
(EXtract from Ben Hur. by
Lew NaEacc.)

One by one those Judean shepherds
had gone to sleep. each lying Nhcrc
he had sat. The night, Ike most Of
the nights. Of the winter season Of
the hill! country, vas clear. crisp and
sparkling With stars. There Was 10
wind. The atmosphere seemed never
SO pure, and the Stiffness was more
than silence. 1t was q holy hush, Il
warning that heaven was STOPPING low
to whisper some good thing to the
~list"ni1C earth.
BY the gate, huGging his mantle
close, the Waterman walked. Al
times II" stopped. attracted by 4 stir
among sleeping herds. The mid
night was slow coming to him; but
at last it came. His task was done.
now for the. drcamless sleep With
which labor blesseS its Wcarricd chill
drcn. He moved toWard the fire but
Paused: a light was breaking around
him soft and while like the moons.
II" waited brcathlesslS. The light
~decn"ned; things before invisible came
to view. He saw the whole field and
al it sheltered. \ chill. sharper thar
that Of the frosty air-a chill Of fear
smotc him. lie ooked up: the stars
were gone; the light was dropping as
from a window in the Sky. As he
lookcd it became a ~splendor: then in
terror he cried: awake! awake, Up
sprang the dogs and bowling ran
away. The herds rushed together be-
w;ldered. The men clambered to
their feet. Weapons in hand. What is
it? they asked in one voice. See.
cried the Waterman: the sky is on fire,
Suddenly the light became intolerably
bright and they covered their eyes
and dropped upon their knees; then
:ts their souls shrank with fear, they
fell upon thcir faces blind ana faint
ing. and would nave died had not Il
voice said to them, Fear not" And
they listened. Fear not. for behold
| bring YOU good tidings of great JOY
which shall be to all people"
h voice, in sweetness and sooth-
ing. penetrated all their gcing and
filled them with assurance. they
rose upon their knees and looking
Worshipfully. behold in the center Of
Il great glory. the appearance of a
man clad in a robe intensely white.
Above its shoulders toWcred the tops
Of wings. shining and folded. A star
over its forehead GloWod with steady
lustre, its hands were stretched to-
wards them in blessing: its face was
| serene and divinely beautiful. They
had often heard. and in the simple
way talked of the angels. and they
doubted not now. but said, in their
hearts. "The glory Of God is about US.
and this is He. who. of old came to
| the prophc by the river of Plat Df-
rectly the angel continued: For
unto YOU is born this day. in the City
Of David. Il Saviour, which IS Christ,
the Lord" Again there was a rest
while the words sank into their minds.
and this shall be a sign unto YOU
the A~nnunciator said next. Y shall
find the babe wrapped in sWaddlin@
clothes lying in Il Manager. Voices.
as of a multitude, chanted in unison.
GLORY to God in the highest. and on
earth peace. good Will TO men" Not
| once the praise. but many times.
Whom the standards came fully to
their senses they started at each other
stupidity. until one of them said: 1t
fas Gabriel. the Lords messenger unto
men" None answered. Christ.
the Lord. is born: said he not 500
Then another recovered his voice and
replied. THAT is what he said. And
did he not also say j. the CITY OF
| David. which is our Bethany yonder"
And that we should find him a babe
lying in the manGer?" The frst
speaker said. "Brethren. let US go see
this thing which has come to pass.
The priests and the doctors have been
a long time looking for the CHRIST
Now he is born, and the Lord mas
! given US q sign by which to know him.
Let us go up and Worship him. but
the hocks?' "The Lord will take care
Of them. Let US make haste. linen
they all arose aud left the murah.
Around the mountain and through N"
| town they passed and came to the
gate of the Khan where there was a
man on watch. Here said the
| Waterman. are people looking fO Z
Child born this night. whom they are
, to know by finding him IN sWaddlIls
clothes and laying in j Manager? For
, 4 moment the fact of the stolid Naz-
!. arcnc was moved. and turning away
!, he said. Tho child is here. lh'I
were led to one Of the manSers am
there Ii Child was. The lantern was