And then Christopher lifted up the Child on his
shoulders, and took his staff, and entered into the
river for to pass over. And the water of the river
arose and swelled more and more; and the Child
was heavy as lead, and always as Christopher
went farther the water increased and grew more,
and the Child more and more waxed heavy, insomuch
that Christopher suffered great anguish and
was afeared to be drowned.
And when he was escaped with great pain, and
passed over the water, and set the Child aground,
he said:--
``Child, thou hast put me in great peril. Thou
weighest almost as I had all the world upon me.
I might bear no greater burden.''
And the Child answered: ``Christopher, marvel
thee nothing, for thou hast not only borne all the
world upon thee, but thou hast borne Him that
created and made all the world, upon thy
shoulders. I am Jesu Christ the King whom thou
servest. And that thou mayest know that I say
the truth, set thy staff in the earth by thy house,
and thou shalt see to-morn that it shall bear
flowers and fruit.''
And anon the Child vanished from his eyes.
And then Christopher set his staff in the earth,
and when he arose on the morn, he found his staff
bearing flowers, leaves, and dates.
THE CHRISTMAS ROSE
AN OLD LEGEND
BY LIZZIE DEAS (ADAPTED)
When the Magi laid their rich offerings of myrrh,
frankincense, and gold, by the bed of the sleeping
Christ Child, legend says that a shepherd maiden
stood outside the door quietly weeping.
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