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December 1943
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F AR AWAY on a hillside grew a forest of trees: little ones and big ones, ole ones and young together. When the summer days came, they laughed in the warm sunlight, and found life good; when the spring rains splashed on their shining leaves they laughed too, for the rain was cool and silver and lovely; when the first autumn days caused their leaves to' turn to red and gold, they rejoiced in the gorgeous display of color; and when winter wrapped a blanket of snow a b o u t their bare limbs, they found life •more beautiful than ever in the white, glistening stillness. The trees were very happy with life just as it was on the hillside, but some times, too, they spoke of changes that would come; They talked of the things they would like to do and be when they grew up—just as children do. One little tree said, “You know, I should like to be a baby’s cradle. I have seen people come into this, for est. Sometimes they come carrying babies in their arms.. I think a baby is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. When I am older I should like to be made into a bed for a baby.” Then a second tree spoke. “That would not please me at all. I want to be something more important than that. I think I should like to be a great ship and cross many waters. I should like to be large and strong and stately. I should like to be loaded with c a r g o e s of gold and silver and precious jewels.” The Mother Tree grew troubled, “ P r i d e,” she said, “is a dangerous thing. I hope your wish will not bring you sorrow.” One little tree stood off by himself, apparently in deep reflection, but he did not speak. “And what would you like to be?” asked the Mother Tree. “Have you no dreams for the future?” “No dreams,” he answered, “except to stand on a hillside and point to God. What could a tree do that is better than that?” The Mother Tree l o o k e d at him fondly. “What, indeed?” she said. jP•-• ' # # * Years passed, and the trees grew up. One day men came to the forest and cut down the first little tree. “I wonder whether I shall be made into a baby’s cradle now. I hope so. I have waited so long,” he whispered,
ones, tall ones and short ones, all grew
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And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” Yes, children, it was our little man ger. In the stillness of the night God had come down to lay His,Very own little Baby there. This Baby was the Son of God. The manger quivered with delight. “Oh, this is wonderful," he' whispered. “ In all my dreams I never thought to hold a Baby like this. This is better than all my plan ning. Why, I am part of a miracle!” And out on the hillside, all the trees of the forest clapped their hands be cause their brother, the little manger, had seen his wish come true. Months passed by, and again men came to the forest to cut down the second little tree. “I wonder whether I shall be made into a great vessel now,” this one thought. “I h a v e waited so long. Now, perhaps I shall do great t h i n g s of which I have dreamed.” But the little tree did not do grekt things. He was not made into a large vessel at all. He was made, instead, into a tiny fishing boat and fell into the hands o f a simple Galilean fisher man named Peter. The little boat was most unhappy. One day he stood by the shores, of lake Gennesaret and pondered, while Peter washed his nets. “To think that my life has come to this,” he said. “ Just a fishing boat! And Peter is not' even a very good fisherman. He has toiled all the night and he has taken nothing. This is stupid. It would be better to have re mained in the forest than to come to this.” But God,- who loves little trees, said, “Wait, I will show you something.” Ahd He did. For: Out. from the crowd came a Per son, called Jesus, who entered into
But the little tree was not made into a cradle. Instead, it was hewn into rough pieces and carelessly ■put to gether to form a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. The little tree Was heartbroken. “I do not like this at all,” he wailed. “This is not what I planned—to be shoved into this dark cave [for-that is what the stable really was], with no one to see me but the cattle.” But God, who loves little trees, whispered, “Wait, I will show you something.” And He did. For: “There were in the same coun try shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,'which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, ly ing in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, • Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to'pass, as the an gels were gone away from them i n t o heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
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Junior King's Business By M ARTHA S . HOOKER Member of Faculty, Bible Institute of Los Angeles
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