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THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS

[Illustration]

    PUBLISHED BY
    DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING COMPANY

    Factory and Shipping Rooms, Elgin, Illinois




Try to be like Jesus.


    The Bible tells of Jesus,
        So gentle and so meek;
    I’ll try to be like Jesus
        In ev’ry word I speak.

    For Jesus, too, was loving,
        His words were always kind;
    I’ll try to be like Jesus
        In thought and word and mind.

    I long to be like Jesus,
        Who said “I am the Truth;”
    Then I will give my heart to him,
        Now, in my early youth.
                     —_Lillian Payson._




    COPYRIGHT, 1905,
    BY DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING COMPANY.

[Illustration: THE BABY JESUS.]




The Little Lord Jesus.


    Away in a manger,
        No crib for a bed,
    The little Lord Jesus
        Laid down his sweet head.
    The stars in the sky
        Looked down where he lay—
    The little Lord Jesus
        Asleep on the hay.
    The cattle are lowing,
        The poor baby wakes,
    But little Lord Jesus
        No crying he makes.
    I love thee, Lord Jesus;
        Look down from the sky,
    And stay by my cradle
        To watch Lullaby.
               —_Luther’s Cradle Hymn._




The Child Promised.


[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THERE was once a time when there was no Christmas at all. There were
no beautiful Christmas trees and happy songs and stockings filled with
presents. No one shouted “Merry Christmas!” or “Christmas Gift!” No
one told the sweet story of Jesus, because Jesus had not come into
the world and so there was no Christmas. You see Christmas is Jesus’
birthday, and before he came, of course people could not keep his
birthday. You have heard of how wicked and unhappy the people were long
ago. Although God loved them and tried to make them do right, they
forgot about him and did so many naughty, disobedient things that they
were very miserable. Then God sent a wonderful message to them. He told
them that some day he would send them his own Son, who should be their
King and teach them how to do right. He said that his Son would come as
a little child to grow up among them to love and help them. God even
told them what they should call this baby who was to be their King. God
said that Christ would be like a beautiful light showing them where to
go. It would be as though some people stumbling sorrowfully along a
dark street should suddenly see a bright light shining ahead of them,
making everything cheerful and pleasant. They would be joyful like
people who gather in the harvest. Jesus makes his children happy, and
he wants them to shine out and make others happy. These people who were
so unhappy before Jesus came, were very glad to know that some day he
would come. They talked about him and waited a long, long time before
he came and brought Christmas light into the world.

[Illustration: THE BABE IN BETHLEHEM.]




The Coming of Jesus.


LONG ago there lived a good man named Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth,
who built houses and made many useful things for people. He also loved
to read God’s Gift Book, and tried to obey its rules. One day the king
of the land where Joseph lived ordered everyone to write his name in a
book, and pay a tax, in his own city. So Joseph and Mary his wife got
ready to take a long journey to their old home, Bethlehem. There were
no cars for them to ride in, so they must either walk or ride a donkey.
As the fashion was there, Mary wore a long, white veil which covered
her beautiful face.

The streets were full of people, walking, or traveling on mules,
donkeys, or camels—all going to be taxed. It was winter, but in a warm
country, and they went through valleys of figs, olives, dates, oranges
and other good things.

[Illustration]

They must have been very tired when they reached Bethlehem’s gates,
for they had come a long distance, and the dust of the road, the
bustle of traveling, and the strangeness of it all, seemed to add
to their trials. The people of Bethlehem had opened their homes and
welcomed the strangers, until every house was full, and still the
people kept coming. They could scarcely go up the steep hill, they were
so weary, and Joseph tried to get a place to rest, but there was no
kind invitation, no welcome in any house for them, and the inns were
crowded. The inns were not like our hotels for travelers; they were
flat-roofed stone buildings, without windows. There were no warm rooms
with carpets, and soft beds for tired travelers to lie on. There were
only bare floors, and everyone had to bring his own bed and food. The
courtyard was full of animals—donkeys, mules, camels, sheep and cows.

After Joseph had tried and failed to get a resting place, as there
was no room anywhere, some kind friend told him of a cave on the
hillside which was used as a stable, and to this they gladly went.
Sweet-smelling hay was all around, and the floor was covered with
straw; possibly mild-eyed cows and gentle sheep were sleeping in their
stalls. Along the walls were mangers, or boxes to hold the grain and
hay when the animals were fed. Here Mary and Joseph found a shelter
and a sleeping place; indeed, they were thankful to be led there to
rest upon the hay. In the night a wonderful thing took place: God sent
the baby Gift Child into the world. This gift had been promised long
before to Adam and Eve, and now it had come—the most beautiful and
dearest Baby ever held in a mother’s arms. The night grew dark, the
house-lights went out one by one, and the people in Bethlehem slept.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: THE ANGELS’ SONG.]




The Angels’ Joy.


THE happiest song that was ever sung was sung on the first and best
Christmas of all. There was a time when there was no Christmas. Can you
think how glad you would be if you had no Christmas, and then one day
all at once you had the first and best one of all?

This song was sung and the first Christmas came one night long years
ago, far over the sea, near a little town called Bethlehem. It did not
come first to kings and great people, but to some shepherds who were
sitting up all night watching their sheep.

Outside of the city were beautiful sloping green fields where the
shepherds let their sheep run about and eat the grass. The weather
there is very pleasant at Christmas time; not at all like our weather.
The shepherds can sit out on the grass all night, watching their sheep.

[Illustration]

Did you ever see a sheep or a lamb? Do you know that your mittens and
jackets and nice warm dresses are made of the wool which the sheep have
to spare for us? The shepherds have to stay out with the sheep all
night because they are very gentle and timid animals. They cannot fight
for themselves, and if they were left alone the wolves would catch them.

One night about 1900 years ago some shepherds were watching their sheep
in those fields. Very likely the shepherds were some of the people who
were hoping that Jesus would soon come; perhaps they were talking about
him, and wondering how they would know if he did come.

All at once a bright light shone about them, and they saw an angel and
heard him speak to them. Very kind and beautiful the angel looked, but
the shepherds were frightened.

The angel said to 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.”

[Illustration]

As the angel was speaking, the shepherds saw with him a great number of
beautiful, shining angels. Then was sung for the first time this grand
song, for Christmas had come. I do not know the tune, but the very
words are in the Bible: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good-will toward men.” Glory to God, for the greatest gift that
ever came; peace on earth, for all who love this Savior.

As soon as the angels finished the song they went back to heaven, and
left the shepherds alone.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: THE SHEPHERDS VISIT JESUS.]




The Shepherds Visit Jesus.


WHAT would you do if you had been one of those shepherds to whom the
angels