It
trembled before the Holy Babe.
And so from age to age, even unto this day, the
proud aspen shakes and shivers.
THE WONDER TREE
BY FRIEDRICH ADOLPH KRUMMACHER (ADAPTED)
One day in the springtime, Prince Solomon was
sitting under the palm trees in the royal gardens,
when he saw the Prophet Nathan walking near.
``Nathan,'' said the Prince, ``I would see a
wonder.''
The Prophet smiled. ``I had the same desire
in the days of my youth,'' he replied.
``And was it fulfilled?'' asked Solomon.
``A Man of God came to me,'' said Nathan,
``having a pomegranate seed in his hand.
`Behold,' he said, `what will become of this.' Then
he made a hole in the ground, and planted the
seed, and covered it over. When he withdrew his
hand the clods of earth opened, and I saw two
small leaves coming forth. But scarcely had I
beheld them, when they joined together and became
a small stem wrapped in bark; and the stem grew
before my eyes,--and it grew thicker and higher
and became covered with branches.
``I marveled, but the Man of God motioned me
to be silent. `Behold,' said he, `new creations
begin.'
``Then he took water in the palm of his hand,
and sprinkled the branches three times, and, lo!
the branches were covered with green leaves, so
that a cool shade spread above us, and the air
was fined with perfume.
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