What could poor Mary do? Must she sleep in the street? Mary said she would sleep in the stable, if the master would let her.
So Mary and Joseph went into the stable. There were cows and asses in the stable.
While Mary was in the stable, God sent her the little baby he had promised her. She knew he was the Son of God, though he looked like other little babies.
She wrapped him in some long clothes, called swaddling clothes; but she had no cradle for him to sleep in, and she could not lay him on the ground, lest the beasts should tread upon him; so she put him in the manger, and she sat by him to take care of him.
How dearly Mary loved this sweet babe!
This baby had not a naughty heart, as other babies have. Jesus had no sin, but was quite meek and lowly. Yet other babies have cradles and soft pillows, while Jesus lay in a manger.
I will tell you a verse to say to your little baby brother when you rock his cradle:
Soft and easy is thy cradle;—
Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay
When his birthplace was a stable,