The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-12-22
THE WORLDS CHRISTMAS
BY FRANCES MILLER, 1921 NEBRASKA ST, SIOUX CITY.

by side, while the beauty and peace of the
night crept over them and silenced them.
At last the sentinel turned and looked
to the east, out over the barren plain
that stretched up to the city's gates.
Look, he cried, ''iouk!"
a single great star hung over tho hori-
ION, hung there for a moment only, and
then slowly, majestically Mounted the
heavens. Speechless, breathless, the two
watched. Up and Up, until the very arch
of the heavens was reached, until the
whole city was flooded with light, until
the sleepers Weakened with a cry, and then
gazed speli-bound in silence.
A majestic peace pervaded everything,
the very breath of the multitude already
gathered in the streets was hushed. The
marvel grew, the wonder spread, and
meanwhile the glorious star continued to
shine down upon a rude and low-roofed
stable. Suddenly a great clamor arose at
the gates, and the Waterman was recalled
to his duty. A motley crowd was with
out, shepherds and goatherds demanding
entrance.
you cannot enter" cried the guard.
Know you not the rules OF the province?
You cannot enter!"
Messiah has come. The Messiah has
come! The star has led us! Open the
gates.
There was a low cry of triumph. and an
eager face pressed Close TO the wondering
sentinel. "Jufiust" a happy voice cried,
"let them In! 10 you not hear? The king
has come. The King has Gomez His
voice rose HE the cry of a prophet, "The
star, thy start The sentinel turned and
gazed. An tnarticulate cry escaped his
fps: he threw his arm before his face and,
dazed, stumbled down the stairs and
opened the gates.
With one accord the rnultitude took up
the cry: The Messiah! The Messiah!' 1t
rang from the housetops; it echoed from
the streets. Then once more silence
reigned as the shepherds pressed forward
90 the stable and, STOPPING, passed through
the doorway. Then a loud voice exclaimed
sneeringly and s%cornfully: "A king in a
stable! BY the Hercules, that is stranger
Startled, the people gaSad at one another,
then aughed and shrugged their Shout
ders. The Messiah" they said. Then
laughed again and shook their heads, and
shortly once more restored a quiet broken
only by the labored breathing of men and
beasts.
On the parapet of the wall a.lonely fig
ure knelt, and a boys rapt face was
turned toward the l~ow-hanging star. a
touch aroused MIN ana he turned to Snd
a dark, grave man standing beside him.
Come the man said. Trustingly The
boy rose and followed him down the
stairs, across the crowded court ward
through o low door into a dimly-lighted
stable. Gone were the Shepherds, gone
the curious ones. but IN one of the stalls
lay a woman, pale and smiling, a look on
her face not OF earth. but of heaven.
Slowly the youth advanced and then
with a glad cry he dropped to his knees
and bowed his head as before a shrine.
=
One by one the stars ~paied-went out.
One alone remained shining peacefully
down upon a lowly stable, transfsuring
1T. Shone peacefully down until the first
sunbeams of the dawning day crept
through a cross-shaped chink in a stable
wall. touched the dark curls of a kneel-
ing lad. and formed a halo about the head
OF a sleeping babe.