"Yes," answered mamma, "only not so nice and comfortable, for this stable was a cave, cut out of the rock. That night, in the stable, the little baby Jesus was born, and his dear mother Mary wrapped him all warmly up, and laid him in one of the cattle mangers for a cradle."
"Was he a little tiny, tiny baby, like Grace"s little brother?" asked Margaret.
"Yes, my dear," said mamma, "and the sweetest little tiny baby you ever saw.
"And in the fields near by there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night, and while they watched they saw suddenly a great light, and an angel stood before them and said, "Be not afraid, for I bring you good tidings of great joy for all the people. For there is born in Bethlehem a little child Jesus, who is to be the Saviour of the world." And when the angel had finished speaking, they heard voices, singing like a great chorus in the sky, and this was the song they sang,--
""Glory to G.o.d in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased."
"Then the shepherds went to Bethlehem, and found the little child Jesus lying in the manger, and loved him, and told everyone what they had seen and heard.
"And later, wise men from the East came on their three white camels, guided by the star of Bethlehem, which shone in the sky. And as they came near to Bethlehem, they {250} said to everyone, "Where is he which is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
"And the star led them at last to the stable where Jesus was, and they brought beautiful gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh, and they worshiped him."
"And that is how Christmas came!" said Margaret.
"I am very glad that the little child Jesus was born."
"You must love him very much," said mamma, "for he was born, and grew up, and died at last, for our sakes. And now I want to read you a sweet little poem, which a very good man, named Phillips Brooks, once wrote about Bethlehem. I want you both to learn it to say to papa. Now listen while I read."
"O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep.
The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night.
"O holy child of Bethlehem, Descend to us we pray, Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; Oh, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel."
[Footnote: By courtesy of E. P. Dutton & Co.]
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THE STORY OF PALM SUNDAY
One Sunday Harold noticed that all the people who came from one of the churches wore a little piece of palm, or evergreen.
"What does that mean?" said Harold.
"Oh, this is Palm Sunday," said mamma. "This was one of the glad days in Jesus" life. To-night I will tell you all about it."
When it grew dark mamma called Margaret and Harold, and began
THE STORY OF PALM SUNDAY.
"You know that Jesus was poor and homeless, yet he was very rich in the love of his friends. He was never honored but once as his friends liked. That was on Palm Sunday, and the children helped to do it.
"It happened at the great city of Jerusalem. Jesus did not go to the city very often. He liked to live in the villages and in the country better. At this time there was a great feast in the city, and Jesus was going to the feast with his friends."
"What sort of a feast was it, mamma?" asked Harold.
"It was not exactly what we call a feast," mamma replied. "It was more like a great celebration. It recalled a great event in the nation"s history, the escape of the Jews from captivity. It was called the "Feast of the Pa.s.sover." {252} The Jewish people from all over the world came to Jerusalem to celebrate it."
"Why, it must have been the Fourth of July of the Jews," said Harold.
"Something like that," replied mamma, smiling. "Only the little Jewish boys did not make as much noise as my small son makes on his country"s birthday.
"Well, the friends of Jesus who came with him to this feast wanted to show how much they loved him. They often wanted to treat him as though he were a king. Once they did treat him in this way, and Jesus did not forbid it. It does people good to show their friends how much they love them.
"Jesus stayed at night with his friends, in a village not far from the city, and every morning he came into the city. One morning he came over the hill, on the road which leads into the city, riding on an a.s.s. It was a beautiful morning, and all his friends who were with him were filled with gladness. They shouted and sang as they marched along. They shouted "Hosanna!" just as you shout "Hurrah!" when you are marching in your processions. "This man is going to be our king!"
they called. "Praise G.o.d for our king!" People from the city saw them coming and went out to meet them, so that there was a great mult.i.tude.
They broke off branches of the palm trees along the way, and waved them in the air, just as the soldiers wave the royal banners of the king. Some of the people took off their cloaks and laid them on the ground for him to ride over, just as if he were a great king. They placed their palm branches on the ground, too, so that they seemed like a beautiful green carpet."
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
JESUS ENTERING JERUSALEM IN TRIUMPH By Bernard Plockhorst (1825- )
"And as he went, they spread their garments in the way. And as he was now drawing nigh, even at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole mult.i.tude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise G.o.d with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen; saying, Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."--_Luke 19:36-38_ [End ill.u.s.tration]
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"Oh," said Margaret, "how pleased Jesus must have been!"
"Yes," said mamma, "Jesus was pleased to know that the people loved him. And he was a king, you know, though he never sat upon a throne.
The Bible sometimes calls him, "King of kings, and Lord of lords."
"When they reached the city, there were many little children in the streets and about the temple. Now the children always loved Jesus, and when they saw him coming in this procession they all ran to meet him.
They all joined in the procession, and sang songs, and shouted "Hosanna!" and waved their hands for the children"s king. Some of those people who did not like Jesus tried to stop the children. But Jesus would not tell them to stop."
"If I had been there, I would have shouted for Jesus," said Harold.
"That is my brave boy," said mamma. "But you must remember that there is just as much chance to let people know that you stand up for Jesus now, as then. You must never be afraid to let it be known that you are Jesus" friend.
"Now we will sing that hymn that you like so much. It is a good hymn for Palm Sunday."
So they sang,--
"Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before. {256} Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle, See, His banners go.
"Like a mighty army Moves the church of G.o.d; Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod; We are not divided, All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.
"Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the church of Jesus Constant will remain; Gates of h.e.l.l can never "Gainst that church prevail; We have Christ"s own promise, And that cannot fail.
"Onward, then, ye people, Join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song; Glory, laud, and honor Unto Christ the King; This through countless ages Men and angels sing."
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