The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-24
(By CATHERINE ALBEI.TSON.)

I Then being warned in a dream not
to return to Herod, they made their
h~oIneward way in ships. And the star
guided them to the East, as it had
led them from it, and they reached
their ZONES in safety. In imitation OF
their new Sovereign, they abandoned
their former life Of luxury and Splen-
dor, bestowed their riches upon the
poor and went about preaching to
the world the gospel Of peace. In
their journeying they came to the IN
dies where st. Thomas met them and
/ baptized them. Then they went
among barbarians and were put to
death. Long after their remains were
found and moved to COnstantinople,
and during the ,crusadeS they were
carried to Milan. Later still, Frede-
rick Barbarossa placed them in the
Cathedral at Cologne. and there they
are today in a costly shrine. The
names OF these three Kings Of Col
ogne' are Caspar. Melchoir and Bait
hasar. In the picture Caspar Is repre-
scented az very old, Melchoir Of middle
afe, and Balthasar a youth. Sometimes
the latter is represented as a Moor or
black man, to signify that Christ came
to redeem all races.
Another beautiful legend connected
with the Christmas season. is that OF
which Joseph Of Arnmathea is the
subject. According to the old Monk
ish traditions. when st. Peter. one Of
twelve apostles ven into France, he
sent Joseph Of Aramathea with his
son and ten other disciples into Brit
ain to carry the Gospel to these dwell
ers in the far West. The beauty and
holiness Of the lives of these pious
men made such an impression pom
King Arviragus, Of Britain, that he
gave to Joseph and his companions
the beautiful island Of Avalon, for
their home. spot in those ancient
days was surrounded by flooded fen
lands: but today 1t has lost it's insular
character and the old city Of Glaston-
bury stands where Joseph and his dis
ciples made their home. This town.
according to the ancient Monkish
chronicles, was the birthplace Of the
Church Of England, INT there was
erected by those holy men the first
Christian temple in England. a simple,
lowly building made OF willow wands
entwined.
When Joseph of Aramathea reach
ed h Isle Of Avalon, which legend
| states was Is years after the death
OF the Virgin Mary. he planted nea
tho spot where he landed. the staff
On which he had leaned while jour-
neying from the Holy Lane And the
staff took root and became a tree and
lH0 next CuFlStIndS t1Oc, OcQOlQ. the
little tree burst into bloom. And to
this day, the tree still lives and to this
day when Christmas bells chime softly
upon h air, the ancient tree grows
young and lovely again, with leaf and
bud and bloom.
Throughout the ages since that
night Of the shepherds the Angel, the
star and the child, song and story
have been busy with the wonders
wrought for man bv heavenly visi-
l tants at the glad Christmas tide. and
3 even now.
; Same say that ever 'gainst tina sea
son comes.
Wherein our Savlor's birth is cele-
: brated,
: The bird Of dawning singeth all night
! long.
3 And then they say, no spirit dares sti1
abroad,
. The nights are wholesome, then nc
S planet strikes,
No fairy takes. no witch hath power
to harm,
SO hallowed and 50 gracious Is the
S time.
n Catharine Albertson, Elizabeth City
e |
y hove n,1n 6th ~ j~t y . &, n iro - ~ 49,