“’How beautiful upon the mountains
      Are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings,
      That publisheth peace,
      That bringeth good tidings of good,
      That publisheth salvation.’

“It was midnight when we climbed the hill to the little city of Bethlehem; the constellation Cesil, called by the Greeks Orion, was just setting in the west.  We knew not whither to go.  We had only the sign of the angel by which we should know the infant Messiah.  He was a babe of one day.  He was lying in a manger.

“‘Let us go to the inn Chimham,’ said my father.  ’It stands on the very spot where King David was born.  Peradvanture we shall find him there.’

“Over the entrance to the court of the inn a lantern was swinging from a rope stretched across from post to post.  Guided by its light, we entered, and found the courtyard full of beasts of burden, showing that the inn was crowded with travelers.  In the arched shelter of the hostelry as many as could find room were lying; some who could not sleep were sitting up and waiting drearily for the morning.  Two aged women near the entrance, were talking in a low tone.

“‘Peace be unto you!’ said my father.

“‘The Lord be gracious unto thee,’ answered the oldest woman, in a solemn voice, as she looked upon my father’s white beard; ‘but,’ she quickly added, ‘there is scanty cheer in this place for late comers.’

“‘We seek not lodging,’ said my father; ’but know you whether among these guests is an infant born this day?’

“‘Verily there is,’ answered the aged dame; ’a man-child more beautiful than any my eyes have ever beheld.  He is lying in a manger there in the cave that serves for stable.’

“We hastened to the mouth of the cave, and there beheld our King.  The oxen and the asses were lying near, and a strong man, with a grave and benignant face, was leaning on his staff above the manger.  A beautiful young mother lay close beside it, her cheek resting on her hands, that were clasped over the edge of the rock-hewn crib.  Into this a little straw had been thrown, and over it a purple robe had been cast, whereon the infant lay.  A lamp, set upon a projection of the wall of the cave, burned brightly near.  The great eyes of the wonderful child were wandering about the room; his hand touched his mother’s lips.  I waited to hear him open his mouth and speak.

“There was a moment of silence after we entered the cave.  My father broke it with his salutation: 

“‘Hail, thou blessed among women!’ he cried.  ’This child of thine is a Prince and a Savior.’

“And then we all bowed low upon our faces before him and worshipped him with praise and gladness.

“The two aged women, with whom we had spoken, had followed us to the door of the stable, and, seeing us worshipping there, had run to call others who were awake in the inn, so that when we arose quite a company were standing at the door, or just within, gazing upon the King in his beauty and listening to our thanksgiving with great wonder.