A CHRISTMAS LEGEND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 6 (Supplement)

A CHRISTMAS LEGEND.

All around the wondrous story of Bethlehem and the first Christmas night have grown many quaint legends, most ©f them with a charm of their own and all containing some interesting thought. in some parts of Russia the peasants have a legend of a woman whom they call the Jiaboushka. The story runs that the Three Wise Men passed her house on their journey to hud the place where the Child lay. They stopped at her cottage door and begged her to accompany them in their search. “We have seen His star in the East.” they said. “ Come with us for we are going to worship Him.” But the liaboushka was busy and would not join them. “I will come some time,” she said. “ but not now.” And the Wise Men went on without her. Then she was filled with a great longing to be with them, hut it was too late, and though she followed them she never saw the • Christ-child. But, the legend says, she is still living and still searching, and it is she, in those Russian houses, who fills the children's stockings, and hangs the lights and the presents on the Christmas trees. and on Christmas morning the children cry. “Behold the Baboushka,” and rush ortt hoping they may see her. For she is always hoping that some day, in some home, she may find amongst the children, the Christchild she missed all those hundreds of years ago. In another part of Russia a young girl is believed to bring the presents for the children on Christmas EveShe is a white-clad maiden known as Kolyada, and she drives in a sledge from house to house distributing presents in the manner of our Santa Claus. So do the legends grow in ©very country and of every kind, for out of every great event come stories, and it is small wonder that the stupendous event of Christmas should be decked with garlands of story and song.