The Washington herald., 1910-12-25
BEST CHRISTMAS
TALES BY WORLDS
LEADING AUTHORS

II was Gen. Lew Wallace who, In the
most reverent spirit and with advantages
of knowledge as TO Eastern manners
and customs rivaling those Of the artist
Tissot reconstructed the scenes that at
tended the birth of the Saviour. in his
famous story, Ben Hur." After re-
counting the difficulties which Joseph
and Mary and their companions. the
family OF the Beth-Dagonite, experienced
until they reached the khan he pro-
ceeds:
The Nazarene went back joyfuly TO
Mary and the -Dagonite. In little
while the latter brought up his family
the women mounted on donkeys. The
wife was matronly. the daughters were
images Of what she must have been in
youth, and. as they drew nigh the door,
the people knew them 10 be Of the
humble class.
This is she Of whom / spoke, said
the Nazarene, "and these are our
friends"
Mary's veil was raised.
Blue eyes and hair of gold" muttered
$50 looked the young king when he
went 10 sing before Saul"
he took the leading strap from Joseph
and said 10 Mary. Peace TO you, o
daughter of David" Then to the others,
Peace TO you all Then TO Joseph.
rabbi, follow me-"
I'VE are going to the cave" said
Joseph laconioaIly
The guide fingered till Mary came 10 his
side.
The cave to which We are going" he
said Ia her must have been a resort of
your ancestor David. From the field be-
low us. and from the we'll down In the
valley. he used to drive his tiOcks to il
for safety, and afterWard. when he was
king. he came back 10 the old house here
for rest and health, bringing great trains
of animals, The managers yet remain as
they We're in his day. Better a bed upon
the ..oor where he has slept than one in
the courtyard, OF out by the roadside.
All, here is the house before the caver'
This speech must not be taken as an
apology for the lodging There was no
need OF apology. The place was the best
then at disposal. The guests were simple
folks. by habits of life easily satisfied
To the Jew of that period. moreover.
abode in caVerns was a familiar idea.
made so by everyday occurrences, and
by what he heard of Sabbaths in the
synagogues How much of Jewish his
tory, how many Of the most exciting in
cidents in that history had transpired in
caves! Yet further. these people were
Jews of Bethlehem. with whom the idea
was especially commonplace; for their
locality abOunded with caves great and
small some Of which had been dwelling
places from the time of the Emin and
HOrites. No more was there OfenSe 10
them in the fact that the cavern to which
they were being taken had been, or was,
a stable. They were the descendants of
a race of herdsmen, whose focks habitu-
ally shared both their habitations and
wanderings. In keeping with a custom
derived from Abraham. the tent of the
Bedawin yet shelters his horses and chill
dren alike. SO they Obeyed the keeper
cheerfully, and gazed at the house. feeling
only a natural curiosity Everything as
ISOLATED with the history OF David was
interesting to them. While the wooden
bolt of the lock was being pushed back.
the women were assisted from their pill
lions. Upon the opening Of the door. the
keeper called out:
'Coms@in!"
The guests entered, and stared about
them 1t became apparent Immediately
that the house was but a mask or cover
ing for the mouth o. a natural cave or
grotto probably forty feet long, nine or
ten high, and twelve or fifteen in width.
The light streamed through the doorway,
over an uneven flOOr falling upon piles
OF grain and fodder and earthenware and
household property, occupying the center
of the chamber. Along the sides were
hangers, low enough for sheep, and built
~ fu4I in
stalls or partitions OF any kind Dust and
chaff yellowed the floor. filed all the
crevices and hollows, and thickened the
spider webs. which dropped from the cell
Ing like bits Of dirty linen; otherwise the
place was clean, and, 70 appearance. as
comfortable as any of the arched lewens
of the khan proper. Ia fact, cave was
the model and first suggestion of the
lewen
Come inn said the guide. These piles
upon the floor are for travellers like
yourselves. Take what of them you
need"
Then he spoke to Mary.
Can you rest here?"
The place is sancthed," she an
swered.
Where is the MOTHER" asked the
Waterman.
Olle OF the women TOOK the BhD1t ana 1
went to Mary. lying near and put II in
her arms. Then the bystanders collected
about the Two
IT is the Christ" said a shepherd, at
last
THE Christ" they all repeated, falling
upon their knees in worship. One OF them
repeated several times over. 1T is the
Lord and His glory is above the earth
and heaven"
And the simple men. never doubling, !
kissed the hem Of the mothers robe, and !
with joyful faces departed. In the khan. !
to al the people aroused and pressing !
about them. they told their story.
Thackeray and the Tree.
There is, about the Christmas tree as
fhackeray pictures it in the Roundabout !
Papers" under the particular title OF /
Continued on Page 4, Column 4.