uld occur. At first Joseph
was greatly troubled and resolved that the marriage should not take
place lest a great disgrace should come upon him. He loved the young
woman, and did not want to harm her in the eyes of the world, yet there
seemed no alternative but to refuse a consummation of the betrothal. It
was at this time that there came to him, as there had come to her, an
angelic visitation, in which was confirmed what she had told him, and in
which he was commanded to marry her. He was told this in a dream, and
believed, and did as he was commanded, though as yet he has been the
husband of Mary but in name.

After their marriage came the recent order from Rome for the census of
all the Jews, and as it was accompanied by the direction that all should
be enumerated, not where they might be living, but where they were
registered at birth, Joseph, who was originally from Bethlehem, was
compelled to make the journey. He was accompanied by his young wife, who
rode upon a donkey, her husband walking all the way from Nazareth beside
her. Upon their arrival in Bethlehem they found the place so full of
those called in by the census that there was no place for them to lodge.
The owner of the inn, though, who knew of Joseph's family, did all he
could to relieve them, and they were so given lodging in the stable.
There to the patient Mary came a woman's great trial, and the Child was
born. Then came the shepherds, with their wonderful tale of what they
had seen, followed, as related, by their adoration.

It was learned by inquiry in Bethlehem that Joseph, the carpenter,
though a poor man, is a direct descendant of David, the famous Jewish
king, and, strangely enough, too, that the beautiful Mary belongs to the
same princely family. The Hebrew records of this great race are most
complete, and there is no doubt as to the blood of the man and woman.
Mary, so it is said, is the daughter of a gentlewoman named Anna and of
a Hebrew who was held in great respect. There is another most singular
fact to be related in this connection. It will be remembered that some
months ago, when it came the turn of the venerable priest Zacharias to
offer the sacrifice in the Jewish temple--a privilege which comes to a
priest but once in his lifetime--he returned before the people from the
inner sanctuary stricken dumb, and manifesting by signs that he had seen
a vision, the event creating great excitement among the members of his
faith. Later he made