. The endless story, and other Oriental tales retold; . er and more brilliant than anyhe had ever seen before. It grewbrighter and brighter as the little lanibwatched it, and presently began to droplower in the sky until it seemed tohang directly over the roofs of Beth-lehem. Then the dogs began to notice thestrange light, which was making the fields 44 ORIENTAL TALES as bright as day, and they ran aboutexcitedly, whimpering and barking. Theshepherds on guard roused their sleep-ing companions, and all watched thestrange new star, not knowing whetherit boded good or evil. Suddenly on the still
. The endless story, and other Oriental tales retold; . er and more brilliant than anyhe had ever seen before. It grewbrighter and brighter as the little lanibwatched it, and presently began to droplower in the sky until it seemed tohang directly over the roofs of Beth-lehem. Then the dogs began to notice thestrange light, which was making the fields 44 ORIENTAL TALES as bright as day, and they ran aboutexcitedly, whimpering and barking. Theshepherds on guard roused their sleep-ing companions, and all watched thestrange new star, not knowing whetherit boded good or evil. Suddenly on the still night air camea chorus of angel voices, and at thatsound, the watching group fell on theirknees in awe. Peace on earth, theangels sang, good will to men. Thenthe voices told the joyful tidings of thebirth of a King, a Savior and Redeemerlong awaited by the people. He hadbeen born in Bethlehem, and would befound wrapped in swaddling clothes, lyingin a manger. Ahnost before the lastnotes of the heavenly song had diedaway, the shepherds were on their way. ALL WATCHED THE STRANGE NEW STAR 46 ORIENTAL TALES toward the town of Bethlehem. Catch-ing up their crooks, and flinging theirmantles hastily ahout them, they rushedaway, climbing over rocks and dodgingabout among the cypress trees, followingthe guiding light of the star. The patient sheep, trained to followwherever their protectors led, arose andhurried after, like dim ghosts in thestarlight. At the very end of the flocktrailed the ugly gray lamb, afraid to beleft behind, yet almost ashamed to gowith them. In the throne-room of aKing, where would there be room fora miserable gray lamb? he asked him-self. A sharp stone caught in one bleated piteously, but the shepherdswere too far ahead now to hear his THE LITTLE GRAY LAMB 47 feeble voice or to notice his a few steps he ran along on threelegs, then he stopped and pawed theground until he loosened the stone andit fell out. But the tender little foothad been cut,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectchildre, bookyear1916
