CONVERSATION X.. ADVENT OF SPIRIT. INFANCY. The Birth of Jesus, from the Sacred Text.- Ideas, Images, and Emblems of Mr. Alcott remarked on the taxing, and read . Birth. THE BIRTH OF JESUS. LUKE ii. 1-20. 1 And it came to pass in those days, that tus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Before the Vulgar Era, 6. Julian Period, 4709. Bethlehem. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. He read this twice (as they requested it a second time) and then asked for their thoughts. Ideas, Images, and Emblems of Birth. JOHN D. I saw the mother standing by a manger, with a little child in it. I have seen a picture of it. JOSEPH. I saw the angels coming to the shepherds. FRANKLIN. I saw the picture of the whole : - the people going up to be taxed all along the road; the manger and child and mother; the angels coming to the shepherds; and the angels going away. AUGUSTINE. Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, was dressed differently from the other angels. He had stars on his robe, which was blue. new kind of MR. ALCOTT. Why was he drest differently? AUGUSTINE. Because he brought a message. Blue is an emblem of faith. MR. ALCOTT. Is not green like faith? AUGUSTINE. No; green is more like fear. Mary was sitting on a pile of straw, and the baby, clothed in white, was in a stall. It had hazel eyes. There were cows in the other stalls. ALEXANDER. I saw the angel coming to the shepherds. The sky was black; but there was one red spot, out of which the angels came. The first angel had a crown on. The baby was in a manger, and there were cows each side of him. The WELLES. The sky seemed to me clear blue. first angel was the largest, and he had a crown on, and there was a long line of smaller angels, clothed in white, following. Then I saw the shepherds going and finding Jesus in a large place full of hay. He was lying high, and Joseph and Mary are standing near, and looking at him, and smiling because they are glad to have him. JOHN B. I see the manger. The baby was dressed in white, with stars all over his dress; the stars are a sign of love. The stable was not very large, and cattle are there. There was a building close by where there were a good many people some standing outside and trying to get in. But it is too full. LEMUEL. There was a large house and barn; Joseph and Mary are on the hay, and the baby is in the manger. There are angels coming down just in sight afar off, and the light about them shines into the barn and wakes up the cattle. The angels are dressed in satin with diamonds. GEORGE B. I saw the angels dressed in green. JOSIAH. I think it was rather a high part of the barn, and a child was lying in the midst of the crowd, and there was a ray of light on its forehead, that lighted up the whole barn. And an angel was sitting on a cloud above, dressed in purple, with a sceptre and with a hat and feathers of purple, and there were other angels flying in and out, singing goodwill; and far off on a hill were shepherds, and there were little bits of angels flying round, and there was music playing, as if it were all the flutes and all the harps in the whole world playing together. The chief light was on the barn and on the hill. MR. ALCOTT. Was there light on the barn outside? JOSIAH. Oh yes! and, Mr. Alcott, I can see the watchmen of the city sitting, and the battlements, and the travellers stopping and asking the watchmen, what all this light means. FRANK. barn. JOSIAH. I don't see how there could be a cloud in a Oh! the barn was as high as this room; and the cloud was as high as that stove funnel. It was a pink cloud, such as we often see at sunset. MR. ALCOTT. Why do you think this child was laid in a barn? JOSIAH. Oh! because he was so good, he could not be laid in a handsome bed like others! MR. ALCOTT. Why is it not, as it was with Jesus, when all babes are born? JOSIAH. Because he was wiser and better and gooder. MR. ALCOTT. What if there should be just such another child born? JOSIAH. Why, then something of the same kind would take place I suppose, though not exactly the same things. ANDREW. I see a little baby in a barn about as large as this room; and the baby is on a hayloft in one corner, and a crowd of people are at the door. The baby has a pink and purple robe, with a ring on his finger. MR. ALCOTT. Where did the ring come from? ANDREW. His heavenly father put it on because he was pleased with him. The angels came in a long curve line which reached from the sky to the place where the angel stood who spoke to the shepherds, and there seemed to be more angels still behind. (He described their dresses.) EDWARD J. I think the angels were dressed in sky. They had feathers and diamonds on their heads. Those angels who are singing are in a thing that keeps them all together, and have harps; and the angel of silence is there besides.* Jesus is dressed in sky too. Mr. Alcott, I made up some of this while I was telling it. I did not think it all when you were reading. HALES. I like to think of the shepherds going home from seeing the child. NATHAN. I think of the baby lying in the stall, and a lamp overhead, and a great many people looking at him and smiling, because they are glad he is come. FREDERIC. I thought of the hill and the angels coming down; the shepherds were great stout men. (I lost the rest of this picture, but remember it was quite unique for its rustic simplicity and good sense.) EDWARD C. I think of shepherds sitting with their crooks, and the lambs all about them in the grass. SAMUEL T. I think of the baby lying up there and his mother. EMMA. The reason of the light is, that goodness sheds light, *In Mr. Alcott's school-room is an " Angel of Silence" in a plaster cast. |