Tárogató, 1938-1939 (1. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1939-01-01 / 7-8. szám
16 TÁROGATÓ stars in the milky way. Following at a distance, yet dose enough to see them, came Madelon with Melampo at her heels. Over the hills they travelled on until Madelon lost sight of their own hillside. Farther and farther the shepherds went until they passed David’s well, and entered the city. Berachah led the way. “How shall we know?” whispered Simon. And the others answered, “Hush, we must await the sign.” When at last they had compassed the crescent of Bethlehem’s hills, they halted by an open doorway at a signal from their leader. “The manger,” they joyfully murmured, “the manger. We have found the new-born King!” One by one the shepherds entered. One by one they fell on their knees. Away in the shadow stood the little girl, her hand on Melampo’s head. In wonder she gazed while the shepherds presented their gifts, and were permitted each to hold for a moment the newborn Saviour. Melampo, the shepherd dog, crouched on the ground, as if he too, like the ox and the ass within, would worship the Child. Madelon turned toward the darkness weeping. Then, lifting her face to heaven, she prayed that God would bless Mother and Baby. Melampo moved closer to her, dumbly offering his companionship, and, raising his head, seemed to join in her petition. Once more she looked at the worshipping circle. “Alas,” she grieved, “no gift have I for the infant Saviour. Would that I had a flower to place in His hand.” Suddenly Melampo stirred by her side, and as he turned again from the manger she saw before her angel, the light from whose face illumined the darkness, and whose look of tenderness rested on her tear-stained eyes. “Why grievest thou, maiden?” asked the angel. “That I come empty-handed to the cradle of the Saviour, that I bring no gift to greet Him,” she murmured. “The gift of thine heart, that is the best of all,” answered the angel. “But that thou mayest carry something to the manger, see, I will strike with my staff upon the ground.” Wonderingly Madelon waited. From the dry earth wherever the angel’s staff had touched sprang fair, white roses. Timidly she stretched out her hand toward the nearest ones. In the light of the angel’s smile she gathered them, until her arms were filled with flowers. Again she turned toward the manger, and quietly slipped to the circle of kneeling shepherds. Closer she crept to the Child, longing, yet fearing, to offer-her gift. “How shall I know,” she pondered, “whether He will receive this gift as His own?” Berachah gazed in amazement at Madelon and the roses which she held. How came his child there, his child whom he had left safe on the hillside? And whence came such flowers? Truly this was a wonder night. Step by step she neared the manger, knelt and placed a rose in the Baby’s hand. As th shepherds watched in silence, Mary bent over her Child, and Madelon waited for a sign. “Will He accept them?” she questioned. “How, oh, how shall I know?” As she prayed in humble silence, the Baby’s eyes opened slowly, and over His face spread a smile. CHRISTMAS. A small lad, whose own birthday was a great event in his home, had been taught that Christmas was the birthday of the Christ Child. He awakened at dawn of Christmas Day with eyes like stars and a look of eager expectancy. Without a word he gazed upon the great tree glittering with soft lights and tinseled ornaments, heavily laden with gifts for each member of the family. He solemnly watched each package unwrapped, and piled his own up, untouched, in one corner of the room. After the tree had been stripped, he tiptoed around it, gazing up into its fragrant branches. Soon a shadow crossed his face, and going up to his mother he put his arms around her and sobbed, “You said this was Jesus’ birthday, and there isn’t a single present on the tree for Him. You must have forgotten all about it, for you haven’t even baked Him a birthday cake.” Out of the heart of a little child a great lesson is taught. Let us make sure that at the Christmas season we give gifts, worthy gifts, in His Name and for His honour and glory, to the One whose birthday we are really celebrating.
