The Christmas Rose
: CHRISTMAS DAY: Good Stories For Great Holidays
AN OLD LEGEND
BY LIZZIE DEAS (ADAPTED)
When the Magi laid their rich offerings of myrrh, frankincense, and
gold, by the bed of the sleeping Christ Child, legend says that a
shepherd maiden stood outside the door quietly weeping.
She, too, had sought the Christ Child. She, too, desired to bring him
gifts. But she had nothing to offer, for she was very poor indeed. In
bring Him, but she could find neither bloom nor leaf, for the winter had
been cold.
And as she stood there weeping, an angel passing saw her sorrow, and
stooping he brushed aside the snow at her feet. And there sprang up on
the spot a cluster of beautiful winter roses,--waxen white with pink
tipped petals.
"Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor gold," said the angel, "is offering
more meet for the Christ Child than these pure Christmas Roses."
Joyfully the shepherd maiden gathered the flowers and made her offering
to the Holy Child.
More
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