Milford chronicle., 1958-12-19
Stors Sang Together Over Juded

His pastures He tends the wondrous myster-
les above, as well as the new lamb crying be-
low in the valley.
The night was strange and uncommonly
silent. My watch did not come until later, and
lay on my back, gazing at the wakeful stars
No one spoke; no beasts howled and even the
insects were stilled.
whispering presence filled the air. I had
never known so still and sweet a night, and
yet one so swollen with portent What is it?
What is this tide of feeling, this rising premo-
milton? Wait wait -.
Perhaps 1 slept. But suddenly was awake,
in vivid awareness, and all the stars sang to-
gether, like tens of thousands of tiny bells,
and it seemed as if l were swept up into them,
myself unfurled like carpet across the glist-
tening velvet OF the heavens. very part of that
grandeur.
"This is wonderful" l said aloud
And the glory of the Lord shone all around,
and the heavenly singing rose in jubilance and
a voice proclaimed, Behold / bring you good
tidngs of great joy which shall be to all peo-
pie.
For unto you is born this day in the city
of David, Saviour. Which is Christ the Lord
And this shall be sign unto you: you shall
find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes
lying in a manger"
The singing waxed in beauty, and 1 could
hear the words, GLORY to God in the highest
and1o earth, peace, good will toward men,"
1t seemed was part of the music, and my
bliss surpassed more than l can tell.
Surely. this is heaven" l said and then
suddenly, l was back in my own body on the
earth. 1 jerked erect. And the singing still
hummed on the nights wings and fiery white
star looked down.
/ jumped up, happily. Then l saw the other
shepherds, huddled together and speaking in
low, quaking voices. l approached and saw
their faces. They were afraid
"We all saw, we all heard" the chief herds
cofd In 1nd hon
a dream" He gazed about at the shimmering
night. Let us now go even unto Bethlehem
and see this thing which is come to pass, which
-.Ie Lord hath made known to u.s."
" "Yea, let us go quickly" the other
shepherds said. LET us go to the city.
Let us 60"
zone must stay with the flock" the
chief herdsman said sternly, and looked
about at the others. One by one, they
W protested, mot 1. Not /. 1 cringe to be
alone this holy ground"
Who is not afraid to remain?" the
chief herdSman asked.
cent None spoke. l said to them, 81 shall
dent stay and tend the flock"
urer They looked at me in unaccustom-
ditor ed way, and said nothing. The chief
ditor herdsman clasped my shoulder, his eyes
darkly puzzled.
He turned, beckoning the others, and
they strode quickly away, keeping their
gazes from me. l smiled
- They will find the Babe, l thought
But few people will believe what has
come to pass. They will scoff that the
ents -o, - tt ~ I"i Is e - II
- -o~-' "-eNA eAA0 0uAAAoAo VI INC AOAN
1t is odd thing yet it reveals the
- vanities of mans cities. He, to Whom
Ae nations are as nothing, Who holds the
. mountains and the star in the palm of
His hand. also is like a shepherd; He
shall gather the lambs with His arm, and
ER carry them in His bosom
ekly Joel was not afraid as he sat watch
tied. ing the flock All was peaceful in the
pre- = ef valley. Perhaps the others would be
sue Knocked in the city for what they told,
- for people do not expect to find the Lord
in a stable, or dwelling with the focks |
me I of the field
No, Joel was not afraid, as the wolves
- rested in the dark hills and the flock lay
quietly "and little child shall lead
- them"