"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good-will toward men!'
"Oh, the sound of the rejoicing that filled that upper air! Ever since in my heart have I carried that foretaste of heaven!"
The old shepherd paused, with such a light on his upturned face that he seemed to his awestruck listeners to be hearing again that same angelic chorus,—the chorus that rang down from the watch-towers of heaven, across earth's lowly sheep-fold, on that first Christmas night.
There was a solemn hush. Then he said, "And when they were gone away, and the light and the song were no more with us, we spake one to another, and rose in haste and went to Bethlehem. And we found the Babe lying in a manger with Mary its mother; and we fell down and worshipped Him.
"Thirty years has it been since the birth of Israel's Messiah; and I sit and wonder all the day,—wonder when He will appear once more to His people. Surely the time must be well nigh here when He may claim His kingdom. O Lord, let not Thy servant depart until these eyes that beheld the Child shall have seen the King in His beauty!"
Joel remained kneeling beside old Heber, perfectly motionless. He was fitting together the links that he had lately found. A child, heralded by angels, proclaimed by a star worshipped by the Magi! A man changing water into wine at only a word!
"I shall yet see Him!" exclaimed the voice of old Heber, with such sublime assurance of faith that it found a response in every heart.
There was another solemn stillness, so deep that the soft fluttering of a night-moth around the lamp startled them.
Then the child's voice rang out, eager and shrill, but triumphant as if inspired: "Rabbi Phineas, He it was who changed the water into wine!—This friend of Nazareth and the babe of Bethlehem are the same!"
The heart of the carpenter was strangely stirred, but it was full of doubt. Not that the Christ had been born,—the teachings of all his lifetime led him to expect that; but that the chosen One could be a friend of his,—the thought was too wonderful for him.