the lonely pastures, the shepherds watching their flocks by night heard
angels' songs in the sky. And the children in the cities, as they were
going to sleep, felt the waving of angel wings in the dark. It was a
time of wonders. The very birds and beasts could speak and understand
what was said. And in the poorest children in the streets might be
found princes and princesses in disguise."

They remembered also how often, in the mornings, when they went down to
school, their teacher chose lessons which seemed to tell of a Golden
Age. They recalled the lessons about the city of pure gold that was
one day to come down from heaven for men to dwell in; and other lessons
that told of happy times, when nations should learn the art of war no
more, and there should be nothing to hurt or destroy in all the earth.

"Yes, my dear children," their mother would say, in the afternoon, when
they told her of the teacher's lessons and the nurse's stories. "Yes,
there is indeed a happy age for the children of men, which is all that
your nurse and teacher say. It is a happy time and a time of wonders.
In that time wars cease and there is nothing to hurt or destroy.
Princes and princesses in poor clothing are met in the streets, because
in that Age the poorest child who is good is a child of the King of
Heaven. And heaven and good angels are near because Christ is near.
It is Christ's presence that works the wonders. When He is living on
the earth, and His life is in the lives of men, everything is changed
for the better. There is a new heaven and a new earth. And the Golden
Age has come."


II.