heir little homes in the hollow trees, to be
eaten during the many long days of winter.

Have you ever seen a squirrel? They love to play in the woods, and run
among the branches of the trees, and jump from one limb to another.

God made the squirrels to enjoy the woods, and he has provided the
nuts for them to eat.

[Illustration: FEEDING THE SQUIRRELS]

The Shepherds

A shepherd is a man who takes care of sheep. During the day he watches
them while they are eating grass, and in the evening he takes them to
their fold or barn.

Now, we read in the Bible that an angel of the Lord appeared to some
shepherds in the night. The shepherds were very much afraid, but the
angel said to 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 Savior, 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."

[Illustration: THE ANGEL'S APPEARANCE]

"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."

The babe's name was Jesus, who came as a Savior to all the world.

Jesus As a Child

[Illustration]

God, who is in heaven, was full of pity for the unhappy people of
earth. He loved them so much that he sent his Son to the earth in the
form of a child, a baby in his mother's arms. He came to earth to show
us how to obey God--how to live so as to do good in this life and be
happy both in this life and in the life to come.

He came as a child, so as to show children how to live. He came like
other children, and grew up as other children do, only better and
wiser.

When God sent his Son to the earth, he gave him into the care of two
good people who lived in a small town called Nazareth.

[Illustration: THE BOY CHRIST WITH THE WISE MEN]

When Jesus came to them, they were in Bethlehem. They had gone there
on a journey. There was no room for them in the inn; so they had to
stay in a place made for cattle. God was not ashamed to place his Son
in the care of poor people. He was not ashamed to have him born in a
stable and cradled in a manger.

A bright star appeared over the place where the young child lay, and
by this sign the wise men that came from the east seeking him were
enabled to find him.

The Good