The Potato Child and Others | Page 8

follow him.
But was it the boy? And was that a bag of tools on his back? It had
grown strangely longer and heavier now, so that it dragged on the
ground, and the face was the face of the Picture, and lo, it turned
toward him, and the hand was raised in benediction and farewell, "I am
with you always," and he was gone.
"Oh! come back, come back," sobbed Tommy, reaching out his arms
and struggling to run after him.
"Poor boy," said his mother, wiping the blinding tears from his eyes,
"your sleep didn't do you much good."
"I've not been asleep," said Tommy; "I've been talking with - with -
Him," and he spoke low with a longing reverence and pointed to the
Picture.
"It was a dream, my child."
"Mother, it was a vision. I saw Him, when He was a little boy in His
own town, Nazareth. And, mother, I even told Him it wasn't much of a
place to live in. He talked to me about Bob. He said you knew Him. I
saw him cure a little bird. And oh, mother, He said He would be with
me always. 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 the village. In front of the inn at which your father
intended stopping, he left my side a moment, while he went to arrange
for our stay; but he straightway returned, saying there was no room for
us. So we were compelled to go farther; and it was late, - how late I
know not, - before we found rest; for at every inn where your father
knocked the answer was the same: 'No room!' 'No room!' Your father
bore up bravely, though he had the harder part; while, in my
childishness, I was fain to kneel in the chalk-dust of the road, and seek
what rest I could. But he upheld me, until, at last, one inn-keeper,
seeing what a child I was in truth took pity on me and said:
"I am able to do no more for you than for my poor cattle; but I can give
you shelter with them in the cavern stable and a bed if only straw."
"And, children, I was very thankful for this. I had been told before that
to me a Prince should be born; that, girl as I was, as mother, should
clasp in my arms a Savior-child. I believed the words of the angel, - for
was I not of the house of David? - and ever treasured them in my heart.
Now, how strange should it be that not in my peaceful Nazareth, not in
this, our own home, but: there, and that weary night of all nights,
beside me on the straw should be laid my infant son!
"I knew immediately what to call him, for, as I have often told you, the
angel had named him 'Jesus.' 'Even so,' the angel had said; 'for he shall
save his people from their sins.' I have wondered much what that means

for your brother."
"Watch well your work, children! Burn not the cakes. Fold with care
the mantles and the coats. This garment we will lay aside for patches. It
repays not labor to put new to old; and, James, test well the skins
before you fill them with the wine. We know not to whom your brother
bears the gifts of his handiwork to-night, but he