'^^ .^« <^v ^^ oy^^^^* «? -^ '.W^.* . -^^ -^^ ^^^%^. v<^^ :- V c-v" **<(?^^'. 'e.. A^ /. ^4 o. "C^ V »• • v . -t.. A^ .>V/k^ '^.f^. ^ **fQ^'. '^^ A^ »: °-'^^%^° rO' ♦- o. Jl '•J ^ c3* tpe txiih J&a^ of QSetpfepem ^own J' %x^ (?ete tvete in t^e came count tg 0^e|>^etbfi aSibin^ in t^e ftefb, ftee^Jtn^ t»4tc| ot^er t§etr ffocfta 6g nig^t" >J< ^ rfj ^ vx'i'^ AppaiRition to the Shepherds B. Plockhorst "// was she who saidy *Fear not,'' and I looked up and did not fear. " ^ftgel Father of ^it^k^cm €own SCENE ONE Night on the hills above Bethlehem, Three shepherds are in a group; a fourth sits apart, father of the little lad who sits near him with one arm around a shaggy sheep-dog. : : : : : : eoME closer, lad. I like to feel you near. My little David— little moth- erless lamb — But six tonight, and she a year in heaven ! How near the stars are, father. Do ^■'''"' you think My mother can look down and see us here? Perhaps — it may be so — I cannot tell. Father <)fm 2 "t^ %{USt M^ of ^^^m t«*m Datid Fathkk Fathxk David And speak to us, because it is my birthday ? I do not think so. She would surely speak Seeing how sad we are with her away. David ^^j^^t does shc do In heaven? Praise God, and go His errands to and fro. O then she might perchance be sent this way, And we could see her as she passed along. Dost think my mother could forget to love us. Having so many joys in God's great heaven ? Not so! O never so! ^ yet the Rabbis Say it may be the soul goes back to God, Fathxr ©CU 1971 45 Cpe ^m ^}> of Qg^ef ^ee^em torn As the drop to the ocean,when the clay That held it crumbles to its native dust. My mother was not clay— What then, dear lad ? I cannot tell. Some soft, sweet, shin- ing stuiF That makes the flowers, and bird songs, and the sunshine — What are God's errands, father ? Do His angels Feed the wild birds, and paint the sunset clouds. And lead the stars out in a shining flock- And shake the dew down on the grass at night. And fill the little brooks brim full of ram 1 C^e $xt(U M of (g>c^lJCf$em totm Fatkex David For all the thirsty sheep to come and drink? It might be so. We know they do His will But no eye sees them as they come and go — How light it grows I almost as if the dawn Already had begun — Look, father! See the glory in the sky, As ifa door were opened into heaven! O look! look! €^t %xiiU Bab of ^d^i^m Cotton i ^^t SCENE TWO As the splendor deepens the shepherds fall on their faces and the lad stands gazing upward, silenty but not afraid. The voice cries, *^Fear not,** and tells of the wondrous birth, and the vision of angels sweeps by with the song of praise. The shepherds slowly rise and look at each other. ^^^ou heard it? you and you? and \ I I saw the angels? ^^ Surely no mortal eyes have seen such things Since Jacob slept at Bethel — Or such a song rang out since first the stars Together sang above a nev^-born v^orld. Come, let us go to Bethlehem, that our eyes May see ^^^^ Hope of Israel, born today, And spread the tidings. First Shephekd SrcoND Shkpherd t^ %\itU M of ^tt^^m torn Fatreb First Shephkkd David First Shepherd David Second Shepherd David Father But here's the lad, my David— Leave him: he'll sleep; the dog will guard him well. O father! take me with you — Or let him stay with Joseph in the lodge Down by the olive garden. Father, dear I I will not hinder; I will run so fast. We'll soon be back; nothing can harm you, lad. Father, you promised. 'Twas my birthday treat. To watch all night upon the hills with you. Well, come; and if you tire I'll carry you. You are no heavier than a yearling lamb; I've often borne one further. €^i M(2t M of ^d^^m torn gjoseT ( On the way — the lad in his father s arms.) Father, I saw her. It was she who said, "Fear not," and I looked up and did not fear. You said she went God's errands; might it be That she was sent to bring the little Christ Down to his mother in the Bethlehem town? Dear lad — She'd bear him well. Her hands are strong and soft. And when she strokes your cheek, or holds you close Against her breast — O David! hush, my lad; you break my heart. David Father David Father (J>»S»8 Z^ %iii!U M of g^^Pel^ Cotim David SCENE THREE In the stable: The shepherds kneeling in awe and wonder while one tells the story of the vision to 'Joseph, Mary, seeing the little lad*s wistful face, puts out her hand and draws him close to her. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : % e's such a little Christ — no bigger than The babe my mother took with her to heaven. Didst see the angel that brought the little Christ? That was my mother — for my father says She goes upon God's errands to and fro. I think she surely brought him, for tonight Upon the hills she came to tell us of him. C^e Mii^ ^b of ^d^it^m Co«m I saw her in a glory like the sun; She said: " Fear not," and all the an- gels sang. Upon the hills? Yes, where we watched the sheep. You heard the angels, lad ? What did I they sing? I cannot tell. I only saw my mother, And tried to keep her words fast in my heart. She said, " Good tidings of great joy," and then She smiled at me, the way she used to smile When she had kissed me in my bed at night. And I would shut my eyes so I might think Maky ! David Mary David ^(Je Bi^fe Ba^ of (gd^ii^ torn Mary David Mary She was still there, close by me in the dark. 'T is not so strange. I, too, have seen an angel; He spoke to me, and told me won- drous things. May I touch him, the little baby Christ? Yes, kiss his hand; see how the tiny fingers Cling around mine, like little perch- ing birds. So dear — so sweet — and yet my very own — Almost I w4sh that he were born like you A shepherd lad, to lead the harmless sheep, Sol mightfold him in my arms ^smile €^c ^Me ^i of ij§t(^^m torn Without a thought of Herod. Now my fear, An icy wind, blows through my new- born joy And chills it to the death, and makes me tremble. Yet God is strong— I will not be afraid — Sleep on, my little son. He'll keep you safe, He'll give His angels charge con- cerning you. [Mary draws the babe to her bosom and sings to him softly.) My soul doth magnify the Lord, for behold from henceforth all gener- ations shall call me blessed — [The shepherds go out in silence,) (^flei2 Z^t $!Mi M of ^d^ii^m Cot^n SCENE FOUR The shepherds linger a little in the courtyard of the inn, where groups of people are encamped and a fire burning, David, holding his father* s hand, looks at the strange night-scene with won- dering eyes, : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : fathm /Hj^p^HE dawn is near; we should be ^/ on our way. ^^ The sheep will soon be calling from the fold. The sheep! Well, let them call,— there's higher work For us tonight than watching by a sheep-fold. We must go spread the tidings of the Christ. The town is full, and both the inns Older 9 n * «""> o ernowing, And Roman soldiers here to speed the taxing. First SHXrHKKD Third Shepherd (An older €^t Miit ^b of Q^ef^fe^em Zo^n 9^^ If word were sent to Herod that a King Was born to Israel, and the Bethle- hem town In a wild tumult, needs no prophet's tongue To say what would befall. Let us go homeward, And praise God as we go. Aye, you are wise. God set me to keep sheep, but oft at night I speak with Him, as once King David did, A little shepherd lad on these same hills. I think He cares for all weak, help- less things His hand has made, and so I must believe Father C$e BMe BAt> of c^ti^tt^ torn Third Shepherd (muting) That I can please Him best by doing well The work He gave me, while I sing His praise. A babe — a babe — and I am nigh fourscore. When he is grown I shall sleep with my fathers, And shall not see his triumph, if in- deed This be the Hope of Israel, the Messiah. Well — God be praised for what my eyes have seen. ( Shepherds sing as they go a temple- song: Psalm 12.) He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river un- to the ends of the earth. Z^ %iiiU ^b of ^ti^^m ^m W15 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory — "All nations," that is what the angel said — "Good tidings to all people," and "great joy," And then she smiled, and went again to God. [half aileep nurmurt) Here endeth The Little Lad OF Bethlehem Town, being one more story of that miraculous time when a star shone to mark the way to a stable. Told by Emily Huntington Miller, who is already known as the writer of From Avalon, For the Beloved, Songs from the West, An Eastern Vision and others. Illustrated from paintings of Lerolle and Plock- horst. Published by Paul Elder & Company and seen through their Tomoye Press by John Henry Nash in the City of San Francisco during the month of June and year Nineteen Hundred & Eleven Copyright, 1911 by Paul Elder and Company San Francisco 'M ^gK ■St ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Bk^_ * W^ ^^^^ , ,,,*«4«i*E 1 '^ S :P ; 16' 19 Jr One copy del. to Cat. Div. CFP 18 \§M «.^'%. -. if* .0_« • W~" bV ^0^ r .^" .0' o > * ^0 ^^--^ . ^^ A^ /^W/k^ ■'^^. c-^"^ » '^^'f'"