The strangers at the door : a Christmas story . of ancientTyre and Sidon, from among the foothillsof the cedar-crowned Lebanon Mountains,forth from the densely populated cities andvillages in the valley of Jezreel and en-3 ^ ^ THE STRANGERS circling the little Sea of Galilee, and farsouthward to the shores of the Great Sea,moved a steady stream of humanity, im-pelled by a common impulse. For a moment these diverging streamsmet and mingled upon the great Romanhighways, and then moved on to their ap-p<Mnted goal. Among those who came under the powerof the ELmperors unalterable decree weretwo
The strangers at the door : a Christmas story . of ancientTyre and Sidon, from among the foothillsof the cedar-crowned Lebanon Mountains,forth from the densely populated cities andvillages in the valley of Jezreel and en-3 ^ ^ THE STRANGERS circling the little Sea of Galilee, and farsouthward to the shores of the Great Sea,moved a steady stream of humanity, im-pelled by a common impulse. For a moment these diverging streamsmet and mingled upon the great Romanhighways, and then moved on to their ap-p<Mnted goal. Among those who came under the powerof the ELmperors unalterable decree weretwo peasants whose home was hiddenamong the hills of Galilee in the obscurevillage of Nazareth. They, too, mustobey, and so, in company with multitudesof others, they had turned their faces south-ward. It was a wearisome journey, notonly on account of the many miles to betraveled, but especially because of the gen-eral irritation and vexation occasioned bythe new law. Galling as was the Romanyoke at any time, it seemed thrice burden-4 AT THE DOOR. THE DECREE HAD GONE FORTH. THE STRANGERS some in this hour, when every family mustforego present and future plans for the timebeing, and seek the place of its nativity. But, despite it all, in the eyes of thesetwo peasants who moved ever southward,there shone a light which no darkness couldquench. Singularly calm and confidentwere they. Simple as were their garments,hardened by toil as were their hands, andbronzed as were their faces, still there wasabout them such a fineness of manner,gentleness of spirit, and nobility of soul, asto make all who knew them show themmarked deference. They commanded re-spect without seeking it. In their veinsflowed the blood of a long line of Hebrewkings. They were lineal descendants of King David, who first sprang into prominence in the nations history when he slew the giant Goliath. Then it was that the women of 6 AT THE DOOR Israel sang, Saul hath slciin his thousandsand David his ten thousands. But this
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