Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1911)

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HEROD AXD THE NEW BORN KING 79 are yet as they were in David's day. Better a bed in a stable than the cold and damp of the roadside." "Blessings be upon yon/' spoke Joseph, joyfully: "may the Lord be ever gracions to yon and yours." Thru long courts and rough passage ways the keeper led the travelers to the cave, used as a stable, but filled now with many wanderers, grateful for the place of shelter. Close to the young wife's side walked the dark-eyed maiden, her eyes fixed adoringly on the radiant face. Deftly she helped to make a bed from fresh, clean straw and prepare the simple supper. "Blessings be upon you, my child," said Mary, laying a hand on the dark head; "most kind have you been to us." And the maid's face, as she went to her own bed in the inn, glowed as if an angel had touched it. Long she lay wakeful, fancying that the lovely, gracious face of the guest in the cave smiled thru the darkness. Sleeping, she dreamed of myriads of flashing angels, and wakened to find a flood of silvery light pouring into the narrow room. Half blinded by the radiance, the maid crept to the window and beheld, hanging just above the kahn, like some roseate, scintillating jewel suspended from the skies, a star of marvelous size and splendor. Wrapping herself in a mantle, the maid threw open the window and leaned upon the casement, and in that moment came plainly to her ears a rapping at the outer gates. "The watchman sleeps. It may be that some one is suffering. I will go and see." Out under the light of the star she ran to the gates, and stood astonished at thestrange visitants, — men clothed in the skins of young kids, shod with rude sandals, with scrips hanging from their shoulders, and curved staffs, symbols of their calling. — shepherds from the hills of Judea. "Peace be unto you." spoke the maiden, fearlessly; "what is your desire?" "Peace be unto vou and unto all within these gates," they returned, with one voice. Then the youngest shepherd, a ruddy, fair-haired lad, stood forth from the rest and spake in the rapt, hushed tone of one who sees visions. "We are shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over our flocks by night. And an angel stood by us ' and the glory of the Lord shone around us, and we were sore afraid. But the angel said unto us, Tear not, for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a stranger, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you : ye shall find a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And, as we gazed, suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and singing, 'Glory to God in the highest; on earth peace, good will towards men.' And when the angels had gone away into heaven we said one to another, 'let us go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass.' '' "It is my lady," breathed the maiden in ecstasy, "my gracious, radiant lady. Come." Thru the court yard, illumined by the steady luster of the star, she led them to the cave. A lantern burned dimly, and beside a manger Joseph bent over a tiny infant cradled upon the arm of .Mary. "The Christ is born !" breathed the voungest shepherd. "The Christ is born!" they all echoed, falling upon their knees. The people of the kahn had awakened. To them the shepherds told their tale and, awed by the unearthly splendor of the star, they listened reverently. Then the shepherds returned to their flocks on the hillsides, and back to the watchers in the kahn floated the refrain which they chanted as they went, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will towards men." But the dark-eyed maiden remained, ministering unto Mary and the babe with love and great joy.