Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-12-23
The Story The starbeam Told.


One cold winter night the snow was
gently falling on the pine trees OF the tor
est. These tall, stately trees stood very
straight and still on this cold night. BY
and by the tallest and the Oldest OF them
said:
"How happy shall be when at last |
am strong enough and tall enough to be
cut down by the wood cutters. hope
when they do cut me down that may be
good enough that they will want me for
some great ship, and then shall have a
chance to sail the seas"
"What do you know about ships and
the seas ?" asked little pine tree who
stood at the loot OF the tall one.
The stately tree bent his branches a
very little and looked down at the small
tree at his feet.
81 have heard many stories OF the seas,
and the ships that sail on them, for the
birds sit in my branches and sing to me
all the time of the beauties and wonders
of the world. Then, loo, the starbeams,
who are much older than the birds, have
some truly wonderful tales TO tell OF
things that they have seen in their trips
around the world. There is the Star
beam OF the Brightest Star, just peeping
over the hilltop. He can tell some truly
wonderful tales
The little pine tree trembIed for very
10Y. This was his first winter in the
forest, and these things were all new to
him, Just as was the snow that was cover
ing his roots, and making them all warm
with its white blanket.
won't you please ask The Starbeam
to tell us story ?" asked the little pine.
"Let us ask him 10 tell us again the
Christmas story" said another OF the
older pines, "the one he told us last
year."
So, when the Starbeam came over and
rested gently on the talest pine, he asked
it to tell again the Story OF the First
Christmas.
81 love TO tell this story best OF all
stories that know" said the little Star
beam.
"Once upon time long time ago,
long before even the Oldest pine trees
here began TO grow, beautiful woman,
named Mary, and her husband, Joseph,
went on a journey to little city called
Bethlehem. All the people in that coun-
try went to this same city, to pay their
taxes, and when Mary and Joseph got
there they found so many people that
there was no room left for them at the
inn. The only place where they could
find shelter was in a stable, and here they
went. That night little babe was born,
and its mother, Mary, laid him in a
manger on some nice clean straw.
"Away off in the East, the Brightest
Star appeared. He had never been seen
before, and some wise men who knew
that this was the time for the babe TO be
born, saw the Brightest Star as they
started out to find the babe. All their
long journey the Brightest Star kept just
in front OF them TO show them the way TO
go, and when they rested at night the
Brightest Star would rest, too, and wait
for them. AT last they reached the city Of
Bethlehem, and found the little babe in
the manger with his mother by his side.
"These wise men had brought some
very costly gifts to this babe, and if is
the birthday Of this bate that is cele-
brated every Christmas, and il is in his
memory that gifts are given to the poor.
"That is all OF the story, and it is time
for me TO be going" and the Starbeam
went gayIY on, dancing over the tops OF
the trees.