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.
She, too, had sought the Christ Child. She, too,
desired to bring him gifts. But she had nothing to
offer, for she was very poor indeed. In vain she
had searched the countryside over for one little
flower to bring Him, but she could find neither
bloom nor leaf, for the winter had been cold.
And as she stood there weeping, an angel
passing saw her sorrow, and stooping he brushed
aside the snow at her feet. And there sprang up
on the spot a cluster of beautiful winter roses,--
waxen white with pink tipped petals.
``Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor gold,'' said
the angel, ``is offering more meet for the Christ
Child than these pure Christmas Roses.''
Joyfully the shepherd maiden gathered the
flowers and made her offering to the Holy Child. |