“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks 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 Savior, 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 go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord had made known to us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
When he had read these words Bigbeard closed the book, laid it on the table, and said, “Let us pray.” And all bent reverently as he spoke:
“O Lord God, Heavenly Father, Thou great Shepherd of the sheep, Thou who never failest Thy people in their need, we thank Thee that on this night Thou didst send Jesus Thy Son to earth, that He might live and die to be our Savior and Helper forever. And we pray Thee that Thou, who dost temper the winds to the shorn lamb, wilt this night care for the lost and wandering who are in the storm. We thank Thee for this present safety. Graciously keep Sander’s father and mother from all harm. Keep us now and forever from any storm of evil and temptation, and, because we are the weak children of sin and death, bring us at last into the sweet safety, warmth, and joy of heaven, out of this world of cold and sorrow. As the shepherds went with gladness to the manger on the first Christmas Eve, lead our hearts with joy to Jesus this night. We ask all blessings in His name. Amen.” And we might add that Sander slept very sweetly that night for all his trouble.
Bang! Bang!!
It seems that even Bigbeard had nodded, as he sat by the fire, tending it from time to time. Certainly at the noise Sander opened his eyes out of a dream, sat up and rubbed them, to become aware of bright daylight. The noise at the door had awakened all. And they were on their feet stirring when the lad crept out of bed. Another thump or two, and thru the open door in came Sander’s mama and papa all frost—with the morning cold. Imagine their surprise and joy to find their little boy safe, and their sod hut a rescue home amid the broad prairie. The sun now beamed as tho he never had set with an angry frown, and all nature was still with the serene calm which comes after the terrific storm. The cold was nipping but the day was cheery. And as Sander’s mama bustled about for breakfast, all told their several stories. The night had been an awful one, and the papers were later to bring the sad tale of how more than a hundred school children had perished in the cold.
And when they had all eaten a good breakfast, and Papa and Mama had told how they had put up at a house on the way to save being lost, trusting to a higher help for the keeping of their little Sander, Bigbeard again read a lesson and prayed, and there were tears, not of fear but of thanksgiving. For Bigbeard was not only a good man with whiskers, black and long, but was a missionary, who had gone forth to seek the dwellers on the distant frontier and bring them the Gospel. Truly he could say with St. Paul “in perils oft.” We ought probably to give him something better than a nickname.
You may be sure that the lesson of his coming did not soon leave that household, nor did the memory of it leave the heart of the little boy in the sod hut in the distant valley of the Antelope. And who can tell to what higher and better things Sander came when he grew up, because of the night in the storm. There was indeed Christmas blessing for him, besides the present that his parents brought back from the town in the wagon.
No Christmas
“Why can’t we have Christmas, Mama?” begged little May, as she pulled her mama’s dress. Mama was very busy, and of a sudden she wiped her eyes, for a tear had come.