He was clad in
a golden garment, and wore a glistening, golden
crown upon his soft hair. Sweetly he spoke to the
children:--
``I am the Christ Child, who wanders about the
world seeking to bring joy and good things to loving
children. Because you have lodged me this
night I will leave with you my blessing.''
As the Christ Child spoke He stepped from the
door, and breaking off a bough from a fir tree that
grew near, planted it in the ground, saying:--
``This bough shall grow into a tree, and every
year it shall bear Christmas fruit for you.''
Having said this He vanished from their sight,
together with the silver-clad, singing children--
the angels.
And, as Valentine and Marie looked on in wonder,
the fir bough grew, and grew, and grew,
into a stately Christmas Tree laden with golden
apples, silver nuts, and lovely toys. And after
that, every year at Christmas time, the Tree bore
the same wonderful fruit.
And you, dear boys and girls, when you gather
around your richly decorated trees, think of the
two poor children who shared their bread with a
stranger child, and be thankful.
SAINT CHRISTOPHER
A GOLDEN LEGEND
ENGLISHED BY WILLIAM CAXTON (ADAPTED)
Christopher was a Canaanite, and he was of a
right great stature, twelve cubits in height, and
had a terrible countenance. And it is said that as
he served and dwelled with the King of Canaan,
it came in his mind that he would seek the
greatest prince that was in the world, and him would
he serve and obey.
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