He is a little boy like me! I know what to do now. He showed me. I must
find Bob; I must have him forgive me. I want to bring him home with me
into my bed for to-night."

He stopped. "Mother," he said solemnly, "to-morrow is His birthday."



A Nazareth Christmas



"Now, tell us, mother, again - as ever this night - the story of our
brother's birth."

"Yes, dear mother, and not forgetting the star; for us no story is like
this, not even the story of young King David, although in truth, that is
a goodly tale."

"Then sit, children; lend me your aid with the gifts; and now, as dark
comes on, while yet your father and brother are not returned from their
work, I will repeat again the oft-told story. I see not how I can forget
aught, for it seems ever before me.

"You must know it was between the wet time and the dry when your father
and I went up to Judea to be enrolled. Bethlehem was our city. There
were a great many journeying in our company to the House of Bread. I was
not strong in those days; and so your father obtained an ass for me to
ride, while he walked by my side. We traveled slowly, and the early
night had already set in when we passed where Rachel rests, and reached