THE STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.
"Once upon a time, there was a little town called Bethlehem of Judea, and late one afternoon in winter, a man named Joseph, and his wife named Mary, came to this [{246}] town. They were very glad to reach the village, for they were cold and hungry. But they were disappointed. No one would take them in. There is an old song which tells about it:--
| "'O, dark was the night, And cold blew the wind, But Joseph and Mary No shelter could find. "'In all the fair city Of Bethlehem, In cottage or inn, Was no room for them.'" |
"Wouldn't anyone let them in?" said Margaret.
"No," said mamma. "They went to the inn, or hotel, of Bethlehem, and the keeper of the inn said, 'No room for you here, go away.' They went to each one of the houses, and the people who lived in them said crossly, 'No room for you here, go away.'"
"I would have let them in if I had been there," said Harold, earnestly.
"I would, too," said Margaret. "Were they very cold, dear mamma?"
"Yes, my dears," said mamma, smiling, "I know that you would have been kind to them. But you see this was before Jesus had taught people to be good and kind to others. Well, they were very cold and very sad, but at last the keeper of the inn let them go into his stable, and there were oxen there, and hay, and stalls for the cattle, and mangers."