The Shepherd Bog's Wish

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21970, 19 December 1936, Page 6 (Supplement)

The Shepherd Bog's Wish

The light from the fire in the little Jhelter of twigs and branches cast ■ fitful radiance over the faces of the shepherds gathered round. There were four of them, and three were big men, grey with the burden of many years and bronzed to a uniform brown by the -suns of those many years. They were old men and wise.- Of sheen and their care there was little they did not know. The fourth was a boy— a slender youth with eager black eyes and a furrowed brow. He was staring into the fire with an anxious look on his face, taking no heed of the muttered talk of the old shepherds. It was close upon midnight, and the sky was radiantly clear, while the stars were twinkling with a frosty coldness. One of the old Aepherds— the oldest and most loved •—turned suddenly towards his companions. "See," he said in an excited tone, "there is a star which I have never seen and I know which stars should be shining now." He raised his arm and pointed. The young boy turned from the fire and gazed in the direction indicated. There, indeed, was a new star—a Bright silvery one with a certain softness about which marked it out wan the others. The youth—his name was Timoteoo— watched the sky for an instant and then with a frown turned to the fire again. He could not be excited over new stars. What were «*w stars to him when his little sisw", the only sister he had, lay sick Mra dying at his home village, many mles away? It was only this mornUMJ that news had been brought to "w of her illness and he had been WKnpetted to stay and look after his sneep, for his mother was very poor and needed the money he earned.

With a start he realised that it was time for him to go'and watch the sheep in the pastures below. He picked up his crook and began to make his way to the door. There he paused and as he did so, a sudden shaft of white light struck him. He uttered a cry and looked up. There before him, bathed in such a pure radiance that he was almost blinded, was an angel—an angel with the calmest, kindest, and yet sternest face Timoleon had ever seen. Timoleon shrank back and fell upon his face, so frightened that he could hardly breathe. Vaguely he knew that his three companions were also lying upon their faces. He waited and heard the angel speak, "Fear not, for behold, for I bring you tidings of great joy.' ? Timoleon felt, his heart grow light and he lifted up his head. Somehow the radiance of the angel had dimmed and so Timoleon could see that its face had a look of infinite kindness and love upon it. He waited and soon the voice like the pealing of trumpets went on, "Unto you this day is born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. This shall be a sign to you—Ye shall find the babe in swadding clothes, lying in a manger." Then suddenly the angel was not alone. With him was a multitude of white forms as tall and as wonderful as he was, and Timoleon could hear them praising God. The sound of their voices was like the pealing of many trumpets and ringing of many bells. Then just as suddenly they were gone and all was silent. With a singing heart Timoleon stood up, and without a word, set out for Bethlehem, that city which lays