WHEN BIRDS AND BEASTS TALKED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 308, 28 December 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHEN BIRDS AND BEASTS TALKED

In olden days it was said that op Piristpias EAeall birds and beasts wpje endowed with the wonderful gift of {Speech that they plight PJ"g praises :p the Christ Child who loved thpnj all so dearly. Wjld creatpres apd tajpe creatines collected together jn thp mightv junglps or in stables apd whilp they were waitipg for the peat day to dawp they would talk a-bput. the Child Jesus. Jn the poor stables pn thp ljttfe homely tarips they would talk \n tfiis fashion*: "He always Joyed pip," clipped' the robin. "You jknpw Piy breast is red because I plucked a thorn from His brow when He was wearing the"proVn of thorns, and spine of the blood stainpd me for ever. That is why I api called the Chrisffpas bird." "In Sweden I am the Christmas bird," said the stork. "You sep, the Christ Child always fed me, and J loved Hinv The last tiipe I saw Him He was on the cross, and when I flew round apd round, calling 'Strength! Strength,!' He saniled at me." Cppsolation. "Tljpre ajp many Christmas birds,'' remarked the swallow, "f am one of fchepi. I Jpid piy pest outside the stable where He was" born, and J used to fly ip when I liked 4nd cjiifp to Him. When |}e was pldpr He was spa'ictimes sad, and then I would P r y 'Consolation! Cppsolation!' and that would make Him happy again. That's why I'm callpd the bird pf consolation, ypp knpw." "How He loved me when He was little," said the donkey. ' f Hp sat op His niother's lap and I carrie 4 both pf thepi jpto Egypt. It was a Ipng journey, bpt He fell asleep op piy neck. Many years later He rode pn my bapk to Jerpsalein, and the people shouted for joy and threw flowers by the way, and whpp we reached Jerusalem He thanked me apd made the sigrn of the Cross on my back. It is there still for everybody to see," Tl?e yellow hammer looked at the two dark stripes on the donkey's back and said, "I used to play with the Christ Child, too. And do you remember the haddock? Christ once pulled a v haddock opt of the sea and the marks of His fingers are to be sepn on the haddock's neck to this day. So down in the sea the haddock leads the rejoicipgs on •Christpias Day." ■ * b ? 'That reminds me that we must listen tor the bells," remarked the cow. "goon all the feells will be ringing in the cities

that ar* buried under the sea, and all the old belU on the sunken ships, too, because everything rejoices on His birthday." The cow opened J:he stable door. Suddenly all the bells under the sea burst a joyful ring;iii;i. and. wif:Jf one accord, the hirds and the lieasts the WOild over lifted up their vojces and sail;* itj great gladness: 'Peace on earth, good wil| towards nieii!" Th<*n. knowing t),ey would sopn be dUM'I> apa in. they looked at one another iijpiijlv. saying, 'A Happy Christmas to you. friend,' aud went on their ways rejpiping. T • «