The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1943-12-23

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M Many hundreds of years ago there was a place called
Sf3@ Shepherds Field. It was east Of the little town of Beth
RVw lehem and was a fertile district. There were many
small hills and valleys. In some places orchards and vines
had been planted in the past, perhaps when David had watched
and fed his sheep. There were Aocks of sheep about this coun-
try and the shepherds who tended them were gentle and kind.
They never drove them, just led the way and the sheep fol-
lowed. A shepherd would always stay with his flock, even
through the coolest nights, protecting them from wolves and
wild animals and watching that they did not 60 astray.
At that time little lambs were brought to the church on special
holy days, to give to God. The people brought the best lambs in
the flock, because they were for God. The shepherds who raised
the church lambs were always good men; men who loved God.
During the night, when the focks would be sleeping in the fields,
the shepherds would talk together and tell stories. They knew
the mysteries of the sky, where stars large and small binked
over their heads and lighted the way until morning brought the
sun. They loved the life, out in the open, under the blanket OF
the blue sky, where they could hear Nature breathing freely; out
there in the fields with the stars, the dew and the perfume.
As they watched their focks they sang the Shepherds Psalm,
1.-THE Lord Is My Shepherd, :" for they were men Of faith, humble
men, dressed in coarse clothes, with big crooks in their hands.
They talked of the King of Glory, who would come on earth some
time. Surely the King would come to fulfill the promise! Had
not the prophet Micah told them in the Bible that the Ruler
would spring from Bethlehem! And thus they talked, wondering
II the Saviour would really come to their humble little town; and
if they, just poor shepherds, would see the King of Glory for
whom all the people had been watching.
yxN A One night the fields were white with frost. The sheep
ssITEasEE@ were asleep and little woody lambkins were Struggled in
~ their mothers Aeecy coats. A hush had settled over the
Aock, broken only by the voices of shepherds, talking and medi-
Eating, as was their way. Suddenly a wondrous light came out of
the heavens. Gloriously it beamed down upon them. AT that
moment an Angel of the Lord appeared.
The shepherds fell upon their knees and bowed their heads,
for they were afraid. Then the angel said, Fear not: for, behold
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in Bethlehem, a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find
the Babe wrapped in ~swaddling clothes, lying in a manager"
Then the sky became brighter still. as if the gates of heaven
had opened wide. Many many angels came in their ever-gorious
flight, heralding the birth Of the Babe with their joyous music,
singing the hymn which the world has ever loved: "Glory to God
in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, Good Will Toward Men" To
all mankind they were telling the story of their glad tidings: "He
that shall lead His flock is BORN The angels sang of the glory
Of the SaviourKing and of the star that God had placed above
the manger in the east.
Slowly the great light faded away and the voices of angels
became hushed in the quiet of the night. For a moment the shep-
herds could not speak. They still felt the presence of that great
heavenly host, which had disappeared into the blue of the sky.
Then as if awakened to an intense joy, they cried out to one an
other, "The King has come! Let us go at once to Bethlehem"
And away they eagerly hurried over the frosty road; their sheep.
now all awakened, followed them.
rs In great haste they arrived in Bethlehem. There they
ssHT4xS found the little Child, with Mary and Joseph, in an old
TV@1 stable where they had taken shelter. The Christ Child,
whose cradle was a nanger, lay on the hay warmed by the
breath of cows and donkeys. He was wrapped in soft pieces
Of cloth called s~waddlng clothes, which Mary, His mother, had
nut on Him. This was the sign the Angel of the Lord had given
to the shepherds, SO they knew He was the King.
The shepherds fell upon their knees in the stable and wor-
shipped the little Child in the manger, who had come into ths
world to make everybody good and happy. The Shepherd of all
Mankind, Jesus our Saviour.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.