wore on, his words were more and more of the crucified and risen Lord,
and he dwelt in a great peace. At length, when the flocks were led
forth to the midwinter pasturage, he begged to go with me. It was on
this very day that we came, the same day of the year on which the Lord
was born. He was feeble and tottered as he walked; but he leaned on
my arm and we came slowly. In the evening he said: 'Let me go, my son,
and sit once more under the great rock.' I wrapped him in my coat of
skins, and sat here where I sit now and where he was sitting when the
angel came. We talked here long, under the stars, that night, of Him
whom we had learned to love as Master and Lord, of the works that He
had done and the words that He had spoken, as His disciples had told
of them. We had been silent for a few moments, when I looked up, and
saw that his head had fallen backward against the rock wall. I sprang
to him. His eyes were shut, but his lips were moving. I put my ear to
his mouth, and heard him say only: 'Peace--on--earth--good
will'--they were his last words. He had gone beyond our starlight,
into the country where the light always shines--the glory that fell
that night, fifty years ago, upon these hills of Bethlehem."

Stephanus was silent and Joseph's eyes were full of tears. At length
the old man rose.

"Come, my son," he said. "Cesil is in the south; it is midnight; let
us call your father and his brother. The old man and the boy have kept
their watch, and it is now time for rest."

[*] Used by permission of the Author.