Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-23

He was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
nineteen hundred and twenty-onee
vars ago. His father Joseph and
his mother Mary lived in Nazareth,
but they had to go to Bethlehem be-
cause the king was taking a census
according to their tribes and they be-
longed to the tribe of the descend
ants Of King David
When they arrived in Bethlehem
the inns and lodging houses were
full, so one inn keeper allowed them
to stay in his stable. 1t was on this
night that Jesus was born. His
mother dressed him in swaddling
clothes and laid him in a manager.
On this night some shepherds
were watching tht,r flocks in the
fields around the city and all at
once they saw bright light. It was
brighter than the moon, the sun. the
stars and even the light of day. Then
an angel said unto them, Gear not,
for behold. bring you good tidings
of great JOY, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born, in the
city of David. Savior who is Christ
| the Lord. He is new born baby,
lying in manager at the inn of Beth
lehem. Go, and you will find HIM"
Then these shepherds saw in the
sky a great number OF angels who
sang the angels cradle song. 1t was
this:
"Glory be to God in the highest
and on earth peace, goodwill toward
men,"
| After this the angels went back
to heaven and all was dark again.
The shepherds decided to go to
Bethlehem and see this newborn
baby. They did not even think of
waiting till morning but they started
right away. They found the inn and
went to the stable where they found
Joseph mad Mary, and the baby lying
in magner.
| On this same night the Wise Men
| of the East were looking at the sky
when they saw bright star and
| they knew by this that Christ was
born. So they decided to go to see
| him and carry him gifts. They
! started out for Jerusalem but when
| they got there they found no Savior.
| They asked where he was but the
| people had not heard of his birth.
They spoke Of him as the King of
the Jews King Herod, began to be
frightened because he thought that
perhaps this King would some day
take his throne. SO he called all the
| men who were wise in Hebrew Scrip
| lures. He asked them where their
writings said that Christ should be
born and thew. said that Christ should
| be born in Bethlehem Then. Herod
| sent for the Wise Men land told
them where Jesus was and told them
to come by Jerusalem and tell him
where they had found him. The Wise
Men went to Bethlehem and found
Jesus. They worshipped him and
presented him with gifts of gold:
frank incense and nyrrh. That night
Gold them them not to go to Jeru-
salem and tell Herod what they saw
but to return home by some other
Herod Waited and waited but the
Wise Men did not come back and
finally, he sent for, some Roman SOL
diers and tot dthem to go to Bethlc-
hem to kill. every child under two
years DID, for he, did not know which
one was Jesus They did not kill
Jesus though they killed many of the
children. God had come to joseph
in a dream and told him to- take
Mary and Jesus and flee into Egypt
Soon Herod died mad they went back
to their old home in Nazareth. Here
He spent most OF His childhood. His
father was carpenter. His mother
and father took him to Jerusalem to
the feast of the Passover when he
was twelve years old. When they
went back they found him talking
with the teachers of law. They asked
him why he STAYED behind and He
told them that He had to be about
His Fathers business. When about
thirty years old, He was baptized
and started to preach. Gods gift. to
us which is more valuable than any
other, was His Son, Jesus.
Little children believe in an old
man with long white beard whom
they call Santa Claus. He. sasup-
posed to come down the chimney
and fill stockings which 4he children
hang up with gifts, This means the
spirit of giving.
We ought to celebrate Christmas
by giving gifts and singing songs
:appropriate to the birth Of Christ.
Thomas Clarke.