Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-25
The Star of the East
Christmas Eve in Armenia.

In the doorway of hut peering through the dark s ness down the road which winds to the distant sea- little girl in tattered garments sits and dreams and dreams, and dreams
 Around her, likewise dreaming, are other little ehil dren. They know it is Christmas Eve They know what is means. Christ was born on the morrow they tell each other gravely.
 For these are children of Armenia, children of the faith children of Christ who died that the world might be saved.
 For their faith these little children have suffered, are suffering Some have their fathers because of faith fall at the hand of the brutal Turk Others have known the terror Ot that moment when their mothers were dragged away never to home again. Sorrow has set its daTkenng cloud on their childish faces.
 And yet their eyes are still aight with hope and their little hearts beat resoutey with the blood of faith
 They have been told the story the never-dying story of Jesus born in nanger in Bethlehen1-not so many miles away-and of the Three Wise Men who came out of the East, following the Sta and bearing gifts of frank incense and myrrh
 Star of the East, whither wanderes thou tonight!
 They gaze into the heavens, and there, even as it two thousand years before the Star still is shining beacon of love and hope, unchangng through the cent urieS.
 And the children peer again down the road towards the sea Ill the darkness, waiting, waiting. Where oh where, tonight are the Three Wise Men, bearing their precious gifts, and led by the shining Starr The road from the sea is long, and to him who iour- neys there the way weary one and the road across the sea- where travel the ships, is longer sti and the way ! there, too, is a weary one
 But across that sea- at the other end of that long weary road is Country, and that Country is great and E big, and warm of heart.
 America There, in this magic land, dwell now the "Three Wise Men," There too are other little children happy children thoughtful, kindly children. And these little children of America also know the story of the Star and of the Babe They know too that there in that saddened stricken land across the sea- peer ing down the road through the darkness the lonely little ! children of Armenia are waiting
 And they shall not wait in vain.
 From the Land of joy and plenty, from great gener- America bearing the gifts of the children the Wise Men, once more as they did when Christ was born follow ! the Star. The banner they hold aloft bears the words "Near East Relief It is banner of hope; symbol of service to the suffering peoples of the Bible Lands They know its magic message has saved them before it shall save them again It shall more than save hen by the help of the men, and children of America-it shall build ! them up into nation, strong and independent.
 And the little children of Arnena-the lonely little hungry, shverng orphans-wat hopefully, confidently. | They know that the Three Wise Men" will come. They know that the great and generous people of that stand by them they thenlselves through all the black reign of terror and oppression have stood firm in the faith of Him. whose Star the Wise Men follow