Zacharias never forgot what the angel told him John was intended to do; so he took him, when he was a little boy, into a desert place, away from the rest of the people, and had him brought up to fear God in his youth. John remained there till the time came when he was to preach to the people. He then taught them to be good, and told them that the Savior, God's own Son, was soon to come and teach them himself. He was called John the Baptist, for a reason which I will explain to you in another chapter.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

THE birth of John, the child of Zacharias, was only the forerunner of the more miraculous birth of a far greater person, the birth of our Savior. Six months had elapsed since the angel Gabriel left Zacharias, when he again came to earth on another message from God to man.

David, and it had been fore

This time, he was sent to a young woman of the name of Mary, a cousin of Elizabeth. Though now in humble life, she was of the house of king told, in ancient prophecies, that the Savior was to be born from one of his descendants. Mary led a quiet and holy life in the city of Nazareth, and was betrothed to Joseph, a

carpenter. Joseph was a very good man; but she was not yet his wife.

Mary was alone when the angel came to her. She was startled by his appearance and words; for, on his entrance, he said, Hail! I give you joy! you are highly favored by God, no woman was ever so blessed as you.' Now Mary, not understanding what he meant, began to consider how it was that she was so blessed; so the angel then told her that the Son of God was coming on earth, and that she should be his mother; and that when he was born, she was to call his name Jesus, which means 'the Savior.' The angel then, having delivered his message, went away.

Now Mary was not like Zacharias: she believed all that the angel had told her, and patiently waited till it pleased God to do what he said. But just before the Savior was porn, it happened that the emperor of Rome sent a command that every body should go to the town to which they belonged, to be taxed..

Now Joseph and Mary, being of the tribe of David, did not belong to the city of Nazareth, and they were obliged to go to Bethlehem, the town where their family had lived, to be taxed, according to the emperor's command; many others went also, and the little town of Bethlehem was so crowded when they arrived, that they could not get a room in the inn, and were at last obliged to take shelter in the stables adjoining.

It was here that the Holy Child was born; and Mary having wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, laid him down in the place out of which horses eat in the stable, called the manger.

The circumstances of our Savior's humble birth warn us against pride and vanity, and foolish or envious longings for fine clothes, and fine houses, and such other fine things as very few people can possess. Those who have not got them, should remember that their Savior had them not, and be contented; and those who have them, should think how many thousands are without them, and be doubly thankful. There is nothing so foolish as that pride which arises from wealth, or supposed superiority over others.

THE SHEPHERDS.

IN Judea, and other countries where there are wild beasts, and where the lands are not fenced, the shepherds-men who take care of sheep-are obliged to watch their flocks day and night. In America, this is not the custom; but in the country around Bethlehem, the shepherds used to keep watch every night.

Now, one night when all was dark and still, several shep

herds were thus keeping watch, when a very bright light shone round about, and at the same time an angel stood before them. Perhaps it was Gabriel, who had already twice appeared to announce the coming of the Son of God.

The shepherds were, as Zacharias had been before, surprised and frightened when they saw the angel; but he told them not to fear, for he brought them good news; 'for,' he said, 'unto you is born this day a Savior, and if you wish to worship him, you will know him by this sign,-he is wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger in the town of Bethlehem.'

When the angel had spoken these words, a great number of heavenly beings appeared, and they altogether joined their voices in praise to God for his great love and mercy to his creatures, in sending his own Son on earth to save them. The words of the hymn they sang were these: 'Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace and good will to man ;' and well may we, my dear children, join our voices, young and old, rich and poor, in that heavenly song; we should all unite together in thanking our God, who has given us such a gracious proof of his good will, as to send us the Prince of Peace to teach us the way to heaven.

When the company of holy angels had finished their song of praise, they returned to the kingdom of heaven, which they had for a short time left, to bring the joyful news of a

Savior's birth to the people on earth. As soon as they were gone, the shepherds, remembering the words of the angel, said one to another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem, and see this thing which the Lord has made known to us.' So, without loss of time, they set off, and soon arrived at Bethlehem. Here they found the Holy Child with his mother and Joseph, in the stable, as they had been told by the angel; and being desirous that all people should share in their joy, they told every one in the neighborhood about the visit of the angels, and the wonderful things they had been told concerning the child.

When they had worshipped and given praise at Bethlehem, the shepherds returned to the care of their flocks. They did not forget the glories they had seen, nor the honor they had received, in being the first to whom the Savior's birth was announced. But as they returned, they still praised and glorified God. I dare say, afterwards, many a long and weary night of watching was cheered by the remembrance of the visit of the angels, and the glad hope of better things to come, by the mercy of that Savior whom they had been the first to honor.

It is true, my dear children, that you cannot now go, like the shepherds, to see your Savior, but you may reverence him in your heart; and, though you do not see him, he sees you; and the Father of Him who was once a little child, always