Christmas in Legend and Story | Page 3

literary form they seem
particularly suited for our reading at "the gracious time."

THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS
ST. LUKE, II, 1-16
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from
Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he
was of the house and lineage of David:
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished
that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them
in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the
Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord
hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger.

THE CHILD BORN AT BETHLEHEM
HORACE ELISHA SCUDDER
About six miles to the south of Jerusalem is the village of Bethlehem,
lying along the slope and on the top of a gray hill, from the steep
eastern end of which one looks over a broad plain, toward a range of
high hills beyond. At any time, as one drew near the place, coming
from Jerusalem, he would pass by rounded hills, and now and then

cross little ravines with brooks, sometimes full of water, sometimes
only beds of stone; and, if it were spring-time, he would see the hills
and valleys covered with their grass, and sprinkled abundantly with a
great variety of wild flowers, daisies, poppies, the Star of Bethlehem,
tulips and anemones--a broad sheet of color, of scarlet, white and green.
Perhaps, very long ago, there were trees also where now there are none;
and on those hills, gray with the stone that peeped out through the grass,
stood the mighty cedars of Lebanon, stretching out their sweeping
branches, and oaks, sturdy and rich with dark foliage, green the year
round. At any rate, then, as now, we may believe that there were
vineyards upon the sunny slopes, and we know that the wind blew over
corn-fields covering the plains that lay between the ranges of hills.
It is of the time long since that we are thinking, when there were no
massive buildings on Bethlehem hill, such as are to be seen in the town
as it now appears. Instead, there were low houses, many of mud and
sunburnt brick, some so poor, doubtless, that the cattle were stalled, if
not in the same room with the people of the house, yet so near that they
could be heard through the partition, stamping, and crunching their
food. There was an inn there, also; but we must not think of it as like
our modern public-houses, with a landlord and servants, where one
could have what he needed by paying for it. Rather, it was a collection
of buildings for the convenience and accommodation of travelers, who
brought with them whatever they required of food, and the means of
preparing it, finding there only shelter and the roughest conveniences.
The larger inns of this sort were built in the form of a great courtyard
surrounded by arcades, in which people stayed, and kept their goods, if
they were merchants.
The inn at Bethlehem was not probably one of these great
caravanserais,--as they are called now in the East, because caravans
stop at them; and it is even possible that the stables about the inn