The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-12-16

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i8 II snow was gently falling Oil
49, the pine trees CT the Tor
<G9SSs est. These TALL stately
trees stood very straight
end still Gu this cold night. BY and
BY the tallest and tho Oldest OK theAl
said:
How happy shall be when at lest
I an strong enough and tall enough e
he cut down by the wood cutters.
hope whoa they do cut me down that
may be good enough that they vii!
want me to- some. great ship, and then
/ shall have chance to sail the Seas.
What 20 YOU know about SHIPS aud
the seas:' asked a little pine tree VIC
stood at the foot OF the tail one.
The ,1ately tree bent his branches a
very little and looked down at the
small tree, at his feet.
x have heard many stories OF the
seas, and the ships tia. sail on .len,
for the birua sit III my branches ana
sing to me all the time Oh he be ties
and wonders OF the world. Inell. TOO,
the star53anis, who ara raach II! =
than t..c birds. lave some truly "c,i-
derful tales 70 tell Of things that tney
have seen in their trips around the
world. There is the Starbeam OF TIE
Brightest Star, just peeping over the
hilltop. He can tell some truly woa-
derful tales
The little pine tree trenbled for
very joy. This vas LIS first winter in
toe forest. ard these things were AL
FetF to HIM: j>5t IS was the sncY t2lat
.saa covering his roots, and making
them all warm with its white blanket.
Wont you please ask the Starpeam
to tell rs a story asked the little
Pine.
Let US ask hirn 10 tell us again the
Christmas story" said another Of the
older pines. the one he told US las.
year"
So. when tire Starbeam came over
and rested errtiy on the tal'esE pi3i9,
he asked it to tell again tie Stcry CT
1he First Christine.
x love to tell this story best OF al,
stories that l know" said the little
z.acDeana.
Once upon g ti7lc :. long ti1nc ago,
1c'~- ''eEoT- eve, l;ie Oldest rine troe.
here ro.en &c grC !, 2, he.:t.tti;.: ,.I,r.i-
an, named AR. AID ie., husband, ~
gem, Htu. o. a. j1i:'I3; 10 g little city
caiiet Itethienein. All ,as people 4!
that country went 30 this SAME: city, to
PSI their tsSos, and when Mary ana
Joseph SGT thcfs, they found SO many
people, that there was NO ioon les
for than at TIA inn The Only pic %
where tncy could t;n, shelter was III y
Sta ble and here they Went. That nigh.
q little he.,e IA. born. and it's mother,
hery, laid i,., in d. manager on some
Aica clean STRAW
Away OF in the East, the Brightest
Star appeared. lie had never + zen
seen before. and scnre wise han " 40
knew that this was the time fer tilc
babe to be born. saw the Brightest
Star As they started our 70 find the
babe Ali tAeir long Journey the Bright
EST Star kept just in front OF them to
show them the way to go, ana when
thsy rested at night the BRIGHTEST
star Wohid rest too, ana wait for then
AZ last they re:ched the city ct Beth
lehe1n, and found the little babe IN The
manser with his mother by his side.
ihes2 wise men had brought sou,e
very costly gifts to this babe, and it
1s the birthday OF this babe that is
celebrated every Christmas. and it is
In his memory that gifts are given to
the poor.
THAT is all OF the story, end =; is
time for me to be going" and the Star
beam Went eayly on, dancing over the
tops OF the trees.