LEGENDS OF THE FIRST BIRTHDAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

LEGENDS OF THE FIRST BIRTHDAY

SALMI THE HORSE. Right down the age* there have been handed down to us many beautiful legends about the great haippeninga of the world. Some of the. loveliest have been about that Ant wonderful Christmas. There is the legend qf . King Herod's horse Salmi, a lovely animal who served his master faithfully.' .Ha would carry

him through the Air like th« wind, but he was as gentle and sweet-tempered as a little foal. But the time came when. Salmi was too old to work, and bo he was turned out into the fields to die. But he didn't die. A little girl called Naomi found him a.nd fed Mm, and they became great friends. One day three travellers passed Salmi. They were richly dressed, but very won rv and footsore. Each of them bore costly treasures—gifts for the Holy Child. Salmi trotted after them, neighing softly. And when they saw that he followed them, they laid their burdens on his back and he went with them t» the humble > little Bethlehem stable, over 7>hich a star slioae

The three kings went in to worship the Child, and Salmi stayed at the door, watching and waiting. When at length the kings were ready to depart they tried to persuade Salmi to accompany then), but the faithful crcature would not .leave the stable. No amount of coaxing would lure him away, and so they gave the innkeeper a ' sum of money, and asked him feed the horse and look after him. This was done, and Salmi stayed with the Holy Family and became a great pet.

SFVIS THE DOG. Andrew the shepherd looked down at the funny little 'ball of Huff. "Let me keep him!" pleaded 'his little soil. "But of what use is a puppy to me?" said Andrew, for the shepherds of the East do not use dogs to help look after their flocks. Still, Sivis stayed, and grew up to be the pet of Andrew and his family and the companion of his boy. In spite of Andrew's scom he proved very useful with the sheep also, "warding thein faithfully. One night as the and las son sav wwbctong otrt the flock Sivis soddmrty began to sniff itihe sir. Than to t a-ivwaiK camet

back, whining softly. He did this several times, and no petting could quiet Mm. Andrew grew uneasy. It was not like Sivis to behave so strangely; something must be happening, though all seemed well with the sheep. There was a sudden noise like a clap of thunder, and a great light tilled the place. Wonderingly , the shepherds heard the sound of singing, ami angel voiccs bade them hurry to Bethlehem. Sivis kept tugging at Andrew's cloak, and at last the shepherd and his son followed him. He led thorn straight to a stable at Bethlehem. They went in, and with tlrean Sivis. The dog went straight to the manger and lay down beside it. The Holy Infant smiled and stretched out a tiny hand to touch the dog's ear. The shepherds, frightened lest the Child should be hurt, tried to send him away, but the Ba-by cried piteously until Sivis came back, and would not be parted from him. So Sivis stayed, and a beautiful friendship grew ujp between the dog and the Holy Child.

SANTA CLAUS. Nicholas inherited rnucfh wealth, and with it he used to bestow gifts. He knew where they were most needed, but always his good work was done by srt«ajth. Once, it .is said, he dropped a bar of gold through a window, knowing that it would enable a family to lift themselves out of poverty. The poor people found the gold and were happy, but they never knew who sent it.

THE BABOUSKA. A story from Russia tells us of the babouska, the woman who missed her opportunity. One evening l as she worked in lier cabin, three strangers came to her door—three wise men from the East, who had. set out on a quest, following a star. The balboueka gave them food and shelter, and listened to their story. But she was a busy woman. She had her husband and her children to look after, and when they asked her to go with them she answered, "Yes, I will come, hut later." Then she watched them depart. For a long time after they had left she pondered over their strange news, and the urge to follow them grew and grew until she could resist it no longer. She called her eldest daughter and gave her instructions, and then she went out into the night. But it was dark. She did not know which way to go, conld find no trace of the wise men. But she went on searching and searching. And folk say she is still , searching. Every Christmas she fills stockings for little childrenj always hoping that one day ahe may find the Christ-Child.