Evening star., 1939-12-23

around, hushing the rude speech of
the stable, that this fair young wife
Of the silent man from Nazareth had
come to her hour. We, who look
back upon that scene from the
standpoint of modern obstetrical
science, and from the lavish prepa-
rations which love and luxury make
for the expected advent of babe,
can with difficulty grasp the utter
prlmitiveness and simplicity of that
greatest birth. No trained nurse
was there, and no doctor OF anti
septic dressings there were none.
The elaborate multiplicity of little
garments for the expected stranger
were lacking. A sWaddling cloth,
ready by Mary's forethought, was
all the layette this baby knew.
For the mother, in her suffering,
bed OF straw was made ready in
corner, beside a rock-h -hewn manger.
Josephs cloak, or camels hair
abeyah, was her only covering. We
may be sure that some woman, per-
haps the innkeeper's wife, answered
the appeal of Mary's need, an ap-
peal which has never been made in
vain to woman heart. Tradition is
silent as to this nameless friend of
mother Mary. She should be the
patron saint of all that long line
OF friendly neighbor women who
had no other claim upon them than
the deep bond of common mother
hood. At this Christmas we have
a thought for that first earthly
friend OF the Bethlehem Babe.
When the first faint cry of the
newborn infant rose above the
munching and rustling of the weary
beasts, the horsemen, off at their
side OF the room. exchanged simple
greetings of relief that the girls
ordeal was over: and then to Joseph
they gave the Orients congratu-
latlons that the Baby was son. To
them the event meant nothing out
OF the ordinary. Babies had often
before been born in stables, and
like this one. laid in the convenient
manger as first cradle.
The present Child was just such
frall, soft infant as is every day
being born all over the world. HUI
manity Is never more alike than
when IN the cradle. Then the races
all have the same pink color. The
delicate baby hands. scarcely larger
than a mans thumb, with finger
nails SO curiously finished and long:
the wrinkled forehead, as if too
early concerned with this world S
cares: the dainty ears. so small. as
arttuly curved, so lovely, that the
mind searches nature in vain for an
adequate simile-all these with the
Christ Child. were like every other
babe that has made the time of its
birth holy night to some mother,
AS today, the mother saw more
beauty in her child than had ever
graced infant before. Who can
plumb the depths of the thoughts
OF this maiden mother, with her
knowledge of all the wonders that
had prepared the way of her Son?
Nor were those wonders at an end
Out on the neighboring hillside
huddllng around a little fire with
their cloaks drawn over their heads
and close around their bodies. a
little group of shepherds stolidly
endured the cold. with that capacity
Tor standing hardship which is the
mark OF the manhood of the out.
of-door workman everywhere. They
kept watch over their flocks
against marauding man and beast
Halt numb with the cold. hall
unconscious with sleepiness. the,
could scarcely credit the light O,
the celestial glory which burst upor
them. or the sound of the heavenl,
most that greeted them with the
nrst Christmas music. The people
OF the inn thought the Birth com.
monplace: Heaven knew its signi.
| hcance, and burst its immemoria
silence. The skies could not con.
tain the iov of Heaven over earth:
greatest event. Thus the shepherd.
were sent Fastening to the village
with the greatest news mankinc
has ever heard, their focks for.
gotten in this marvellous happening
When they arrived at the khar
with their incredible story, they
found only the drowsy beasts, thei1
attendants now asleep, and Mary
and the Babe, with Joseph standins
guard. Probably the helpful neigh.
Dor had returned to her own family
The Child the shepherds saw was
only such wee morsel of humanity
as they had welcomed into thei,
own homes. Even despite their an.
gelic commission, they had hardly
the insight to perceive in this Babe
the Savior-King proclaimed by
the heavenly host. The three Persian
philosophers-but they were to come
later, by weeks or months, after
Mother and Child had been made
welcome in a Bethlehem home, as
the gospel clearly shows-might see
the kingliness of the Infant: but
the shepherds could only wonder