sing to
our Lord Jesu Christ, whom thou desirest to serve, and I hope he shall
show himself to thee."

Then said Christopher: "Certes, this service may I well do, and I
promise Him to do it."

Then went Christopher to this river, and built himself there a hut. He
carried a great pole in his hand, to support himself in the water, and
bore over on his shoulders all manner of people to the other side. And
there he abode, thus doing many days.

And on a time, as he slept in his hut, he heard the voice of a child
which called him:--

"Christopher, Christopher, come out and bear me over."

Then he awoke and went out, but he found no man. And when he was again
in his house he heard the same voice, crying:--

"Christopher, Christopher, come out and bear me over."

And he ran out and found nobody.

And the third time he was called and ran thither, and he found a Child
by the brink of the river, which prayed him goodly to bear him over the
water.

And then Christopher lifted up the Child on his shoulders, and took his
staff, and entered into the river for to pass over. And the water of the
river arose and swelled more and more; and the Child was heavy as lead,
and always as Christopher went farther the water increased and grew
more, and the Child more and more waxed heavy, insomuch that Christopher
suffered great anguish and was afeared to be drowned.

And when he was escaped with great pain, and passed over the water, and
set the Child aground, he said:--

"Child, thou hast put me in great peril. Thou weighest almost as I had
all the world upon me. I might bear no greater burden."

And the Child answered: "Christopher, marvel thee nothing, for thou hast
not only borne all the world upon thee, but thou hast borne Him that
created and made all the world, upon thy shoulders. I am Jesu Christ the
King whom thou servest. And that thou mayest know that I say the truth,
set thy staff in the earth by thy house, and thou shalt see to-morn that
it shall bear flowers and fruit."

And anon the Child vanished from his eyes.

And then Christopher set his staff in the earth, and when he arose on
the morn, he found his staff bearing flowers, leaves, and dates.

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,