t was a dream, my child."

"Mother, it was a vision. I saw Him, when He was a little boy in His own
town, Nazareth. And, mother, I even told Him it wasn't much of a place
to live in. He talked to me about Bob. He said you knew Him. I saw him
cure a little bird. And oh, mother, He said He would be with me always.
He is a little boy like me! I know what to do now. He showed me. I must
find Bob; I must have him forgive me. I want to bring him home with me
into my bed for to-night."

He stopped. "Mother," he said solemnly, "to-morrow is His birthday."

A Nazareth Christmas

"Now, tell us, mother, again--as ever this night--the story of our
brother's birth."

"Yes, dear mother, and not forgetting the star; for us no story is like
this, not even the story of young King David, although in truth, that is
a goodly tale."

"Then sit, children; lend me your aid with the gifts; and now, as dark
comes on, while yet your father and brother are not returned from their
work, I will repeat again the oft-told story. I see not how I can forget
aught, for it seems ever before me.

"You must know it was between the wet time and the dry when your father
and I went up to Judea to be enrolled. Bethlehem was our city. There
were a great many journeying in our company to the House of Bread. I was
not strong in those days; and so your father obtained an ass for me
to ride, while he walked by my side. We traveled slowly, and the early
night had already set in when we passed where Rachel rests, and reached
the village. In front of the inn at which your father intended stopping,
he left my side a moment, while he went to arrange for our stay; but
he straightway returned, saying there was no room for us. So we were
compelled to go farther; and it was late,--how late I know not,--before
we found rest; for at every inn where your father knocked the answer was
the same: 'No room!' 'No room!' Your father bore up bravely, though he
had the harder part; while, in my childishness, I was fain to kneel in
the chalk-dust of the road, and seek what rest I could. But he upheld
me, until, at last, one inn-keeper, seeing what a child I was in truth
took pity on me and said:

"I am able to do no more for you than for my poor cattle; but I can give
you shelter with them in the cavern stable and a bed if only straw."

"And, children, I was very thankful for this. I had been told before
that to me a Prince should be born; that, girl as I was, as mo