Part 2

“How delightful it must be to have such a character, to be so good, and so humble, Mamma,” said Howard. “Yes, my child, and all may be so if they endeavour to keep the commandments of God, and ask his blessing on the endeavour. Howard, it is now your turn to answer. Can you tell me the object of our Saviour’s birth?” “He came to save all mankind from their sins, all that would repent, and believe.” “Were the parents of Jesus living at Bethlehem, at the time of his birth?” “No, mamma, they were living at Nazareth, a town in Galilee, but Augustus the Roman Emperor, made a decree, that all the world should be taxed, and that every one must go to his own city for this purpose. Now Joseph and Mary, the parents of Jesus, the Scriptures say, belonged to the lineage of David, and Bethlehem was the city of David, and they went there to be taxed, just before our Saviour’s birth.” “Do you understand, my dear Howard, what is meant by the word _lineage_, and what was understood by their being taxed at this time?” “Not perfectly, will you explain it to me, mamma?” “The lineage, or _line of David_, which is the common expression, as applied to Joseph and Mary, mean that they belonged to his family. Many hundred years before Christ was born, the Prophet Isaiah, a man who was inspired by God, predicted in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, that Christ would be born of one of the descendants of this family, that is of the _line_ or family of David, and that he would be born in Bethlehem, the city to which David’s family belonged, and here it was they came to be taxed, although they had been living at Nazareth, a distance of sixty or seventy miles from Bethlehem. Augustus had issued a decree, or law, that an account should be taken of the number, and situations, of all the subjects, or persons, in his vast empire, which from ostentation he called _all the world_, because it contained the best, and most civilized, and cultivated countries then known, this was the second decree he had sent out, and so many persons had they to number, and register or put down in a book, that they were three years before they came to Bethlehem. At this time, only their names were taken; they were not required to pay any thing till twelve years after: when they did pay, it was for the support of the kingdom, to enrich it, and enable its monarchs to live in splendour. Taxing is lawful, when the money, or other things required, is not so much as to bear heavily on the poor, who are not able to bear it. Our Saviour sanctions it, when he says, ‘render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s.’ But it has been carried so far, under despotic governments, and even in countries, which at this day we have constant intercourse with, that it is melancholy even to think of the distress it has occasioned the poor; who at some seasons, have scarce been able to get bread enough to keep them from starving.” “Thank you, mamma, I shall endeavour to remember what you have told me.”

“George, can you tell me how the birth of our Saviour became known?”――“Did not the shepherds tell it to all they met, mamma.”

“Yes, my dear, but how did they know it?” “Angels,” said Howard, “told it to them:――they were watching their flocks, at night, to keep them from the wolves.” “Would you not think it hard to be out on a winter’s night, Howard?” “I should not have suffered so much there, as here; the climate is so much warmer.” “But, I think,” said Mrs. B. “you said the shepherds were watching their flocks?”――“Yes, mamma, and while they were watching, an angel appeared to them: they were frightened at first, but the angel told them not to be afraid.” “Cannot you repeat the passage of Scripture?” “Yes, mamma, it is in the 2nd chapter of St. Luke, and the 10th and 11th verses:――‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: for unto you is born, this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’” “Do you recollect what took place after this?” “The shepherds exceedingly rejoiced, and went to Bethlehem where they found the Babe, with his father and mother; precisely in the situation which had been foretold; the shepherds then told the great news to all they knew.” “Do you recollect, Howard, what is said of Simeon, a devout man, who is spoken of, in the 2nd chapter of Luke, which records the nativity, or birth of our Saviour?” “When the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, and offer a sacrifice for him, which the law required, Simeon was dwelling at Jerusalem,――but, mamma, I would rather hear you relate this.”

“You were right, so far, my dear: Simeon was a believer in Christ when he was yet unborn;――he had studied the prophets of the old Testament, and as the Scripture says, ‘he was waiting for _the consolation of Israel_,’ that meant, to _see Christ_; for it had been revealed to him that he should not see death, until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

“When the young child was brought into the temple, Simeon, it is said, was led by the Spirit to go there. George, do you repeat what the good old man said, when his eyes beheld the Babe of Bethlehem, as our infant Saviour was called.”

“I will try, mamma: he took him up in his arms, and blessed God, saying, ‘Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.’” “The Scriptures have said that when Jesus was taken into the temple, the law required that a sacrifice or offering should be made for him,――what was this offering?” “A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.” “Yes, my dear, the Jewish law made it necessary to bring an offering for every male child. The more wealthy among them, gave a lamb of the first year, and it shows how poor the parents of Jesus were, that they were able to offer only a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. When you are a little older, my dear children, you will be better able to comprehend the full meaning: of a sacrifice or offering, and the connexion they had with the great sacrifice of himself, which our blessed Saviour made for sinful creatures such as we are.

“What do you know, Howard, of the wise men who came from the east in search of the Babe of Bethlehem?” “They came to Jerusalem first.” “Did they remain there?” “No:――they told Herod, the king of Judea, that Christ was born, for they had seen his star in the east.” “Do you know what they meant by that?” “Do you tell us, mamma.” “It was at that time believed throughout all the _East_, that some very extraordinary person was to arise in Judea. The belief was founded on their having some knowledge of the writings of the ancient prophets; and from the Jews themselves, who were scattered over all the eastern countries. Many persons suppose these _wise men_ lived in Persia, a country a great deal further to the east than Jerusalem. About the time they expected this great personage to appear, they saw a very shining, or luminous appearance in the sky, which induced them to take this very long journey. They thought by going to Jerusalem first, they should certainly hear every thing which had occurred.” “But, mamma,” said George, “I thought Herod did not know that Jesus was born.” “You are right:――he was kept in ignorance of it, because God knew that he was a wicked king, and would destroy the young child, in order to keep him from reigning as a temporal king, as they supposed he would do, and by this means overturn the Roman empire: the wise men were warned of this, and seeing the same light or star, which they saw in their own country, they followed it, till it stood just over the house where the young child lay; for, by this time, his parents had found better accommodations for him, than the poor stable in which he was born. The scriptural relation is so beautiful, I will turn to it, and read it to you, or, George, you may find the place in the 2nd chapter of the gospel of Matthew. ‘When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child, and Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.’” “Was not Herod very angry when he found the wise men did not return through Jerusalem, as he expected they would?” “Yes, he was indeed: and, in consequence of this, and that he might certainly destroy the infant Saviour, he caused all the young children, of two years of age, and all under this age, to be destroyed. But God did not allow him to succeed; for he sent the parents of Jesus, with the young child, into another country, out of Herod’s reach; so that he escaped, when many other poor children were cut off. A beautiful account is given of this blessed child, in the 2nd chapter of Luke, and the 2nd chapter of Matthew.

“His parents were in the habit of going up to Jerusalem once a year, to the feast of the passover, an ordinance which I will explain to you when you are older. It was customary for children to go with their parents to this feast; and Jesus went with Joseph, and Mary his mother, for he was, at that time, twelve years old. A very interesting incident occurred, when his father and mother left the temple. But I wish each of you to read one of the chapters I have mentioned. I have been endeavouring to explain them to you, and I hope you will now understand them.”

After they had read these scriptures, the children all joined in a hymn, which their mother had composed for the day, and then retired with her blessing.

The joyful hour again returns, Let mortals prostrate fall; For lo! this day the angel bands Have crown’d thee Lord of all.

From morning light, till evening shade, Thy glorious name we’ll sing; And nations shall proclaim the birth Of our exalted king.

Let meek devotion’s sacred power Shed round her sweet perfume; While in thy consecrated courts We hail the blessing come.

Then let our hearts be tuned to praise; Let purest incense rise From altars builded by thine hands, Our hearts the sacrifice.

Loud hallelujahs let us raise; While at thy feet we fall: This day, behold! the angel band Have crown’d thee Lord of all.

Every day of the following week was passed among their relatives, till the last day of the old year arrived. The boys had then but one day to remain at home; and on this day the rain poured down in torrents. To a reflecting mind, there is something in this period, which fills the heart with a tender sorrow; the youthful party, however, were as yet strangers to any great concern either for the past or future. Howard alone began to feel; his mind was unusually matured, for one of his age; and his character resembled his mother’s in many respects; an extreme delicacy of sentiment marked all his thoughts――and an intuitive sense of pain his actions: he never witnessed the dejection of another, but he was sure to imbibe a portion of their grief. The indigent widows who were his mother’s pensioners, had always a ready friend in him; and from quite a little child, he never beheld a poor ragged boy or girl, that he did not wish to give them some of his little clothes:――and one day, seeing a poor beggar come into the hall, he ran before any one was aware of it, and took from the side-board, a loaf of bread, and carrying it in his little apron, threw it into the beggar’s lap. This disposition continued, and now in his twelfth year, he is constantly doing little acts of kindness to all within his reach. Is it to be wondered at, that such a boy, ensures to himself the good will of all who know him?

At length _New Year’s_ day came: this was passed at home, with uncles, and aunts, and cousins, a goodly number. After the day was over, and the guests had all returned to their homes, Howard and George lingered round the fire, and their mother took the opportunity to give them directions for their conduct during the _New Year_, upon which they had entered. It was such advice, as every pious, and judicious parent, should give to her sons, when on the eve of parting from them. She bade them call to mind the past year, and think how often they had offended against God; how many times they had broken his commandments; how often they had acted contrary to the advice of their parents, and teachers, by breaking the Sabbath, and by other acts of folly; which, however trivial _in their eyes_, would not be overlooked by God, “who is the searcher of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

In this manner the hours wore away, and bed time arrived; the trunks were already packed to be ready for the morning stage, which was to convey the boys back to the school, twelve miles distant from town: next morning, a loud rap at the door of their sleeping apartment, aroused Howard and George, from most delicious slumbers; and the bright sun darting his beams into the windows, admonished them to arise.

Breakfast being over, and the trunks in readiness in the hall, Harry was summoned: after loitering, and holding mamma by the hand as long as she would permit them, the boys gave her a hasty kiss, and ran out of the parlour into Dr. Barrington’s office――and embracing him, were off. Harry followed with the trunks, and they were shortly seated in the very same _stage-coach_, which, the week before, had brought them to town. Howard’s eyes were suffused with tears, and George looked grave. They however began to think of all the pleasures they had enjoyed. George pleased himself with the thought of how much he would have to tell the boys at school; and Howard thought, if the next day should be clear, he would walk over to old Squire Hobson’s farm, and see his poor tenant, William Jones, who was in a deep decline. He had his pocket full of medicines for him, that the Doctor had recommended, but which he was too poor to purchase. These his father had allowed him to take from his own stock that he always kept for the indigent. Howard had beside, a large roll of flannel in his trunk, which his mamma had placed there for William Jones’s two youngest children; and Howard also thought to himself, how sweet it will be to carry my nice _New Testament_ to the farmer’s, and read to poor William.

The stage now stopped at the door of the village pastor’s house; and the next morning the boys entered upon their studies, in the school-room adjoining: nor were they unmindful of that God to whom their mother had directed their thoughts, _as the source of all their blessings for time and eternity_.

THE END.

Transcriber’s Notes:

――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).

――Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.

――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.

――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.