," thought Joseph, "noble ancestors are useless to a man of
no importance." For the future he would let David alone.

Mary now advised him to go outside the town again. Perhaps the very
poor or entire strangers would have pity on them. And as they
staggered along the stony road to the valley the woman sank down on the
grass.

Joseph looked at her searchingly. "Mary, Mary, what is it?"

A shepherd came along, looked at them, and listened to their request
for shelter.

"My wife is ill, and no one will take us in," complained Joseph.

"Then you must go to the beasts," said the shepherd cheerfully. "Come
with me. I'll gladly share my house with you. The earth is my bed,
the sky my roof, and a rocky cave my bedchamber."

And he led them to a hollow in the mossy rocks, and it had a roof woven
out of rushes. Inside an ox was chewing the hay it had eaten out of
the manger. A brown ass stood near by and licked the ox's big head.
There was still some hay left in the manger and in the corner was a bed
of dry leaves.

"Since you have nothing better, lie down here and rest as well as you
can. I will seek a bed at my neighbour's."

So saying the shepherd went away. It had now grown dark.

The young woman lay down on the bed of leaves and heaved a sigh from
her terrified heart. Joseph looked at her--and looked at her. Lightly
the angel's wings touched his face.

"Joseph, be not afraid. Lift up your heart and pray. It is the secret
of all eternities, and you are chosen to be the foster-father of Him
who comes from heaven."

He looked round him, not knowing whence came these thoughts, these
voices, this wondrous singing.

"You are tired, Joseph, you must sleep," said Mary. And when he
slumbered peacefully she prayed in her heart: "I am a poor handmaiden
of the Lord. The will of the Lord be done."

CHAPTER II

It is midnight and, wakeful shepherds see a bright star. A strange
star, too; they had never seen its like before. It sparkled so
brightly that the shepherds' shadows on the plain were long. And it is
said that they saw other stars approach it, and at length surround it.
And then the new star threw off white sparks, which flew down
earthwards and stopped in mid-air; and there were children with white
wings and golden hair. And they sang beautiful words to the honour of
God and the good-will of men.

In that selfsame hour a boy brought tidings that a tall, white-robed
youth stood in fro