of God is born of a woman. So I must fly
quickly, before the sun rises, to bring the good news to those happy
men who have been chosen to receive them."

As he said this, the young angel rose, with arms outspread, from the
green meadow of Peacefield and, passing over the bounds of Heaven,
dropped swiftly as a shooting-star toward the night shadow of the
Earth. The other angels followed him--a throng of dazzling forms,
beautiful as a rain of jewels falling from the dark-blue sky. But
the child-angel went more swiftly than the others, because of the
certainty of gladness in his heart.

And as the others followed him they wondered who had been favoured
and chosen to receive the glad tidings.

"It must be the Emperor of the World and his counsellors," they
thought. But the flight passed over Rome.

"It may be the philosophers and the masters of learning," they
thought. But the flight passed over Athens.

"Can it be the High Priest of the Jews, and the elders and the
scribes?" they thought. But the flight passed over Jerusalem.

It floated out over the hill country of Bethlehem; the throng of
silent angels holding close together, as if perplexed and doubtful;
the child-angel darting on far in advance, as one who knew the way
through the darkness.

The villages were all still: the very houses seemed asleep; but in one
place there was a low sound of talking in a stable, near to an inn--a
sound as of a mother soothing her baby to rest.

All over the pastures on the hillsides a light film of snow had
fallen, delicate as the veil of a bride adorned for the marriage; and
as the child-angel passed over them, alone in the swiftness of his
flight, the pure fields sparkled round him, giving back his radiance.

And there were in that country shepherds abiding in the fields,
keeping watch over their flocks 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 glad tidings of great joy which shall be to
all nations. 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, lying 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 t