All the angels rose and turned to look at him with wondering eyes.
Multitudes of others came flying swiftly to the place from which the
strange, new song was sounding. Rank within rank, like a garden of
living flowers, they stood along the sloping banks of the brook while
the child-angel floated into the midst of them, singing:

"I know it, I know it, I know it! Man shall be made like God because
the Son of God shall become a man."

At this all the angels looked at one another with amazement, and
gathered more closely about the child-angel, as those who hear
wonderful news.

"How can this be?" they asked. "How is it possible that the Son of God
should be a man?"

"I do not know," said the young angel. "I only know that it is to be."

"But if he becomes a man," said Raphael, "he will be at the mercy
of men; the cruel and the wicked will have power upon him; he will
suffer."

"I know it," answered the young angel, "and by suffering he will
understand the meaning of all sorrow and pain; and he will be able to
comfort every one who cries; and his own tears will be for the healing
of sad hearts; and those who are healed by him will learn for his sake
to be kind to each other."

"But if the Son of God is a true man," said Uriel, "he must first be