The #---SOSTEN
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1949.
9. BEGINNING TODAY ESHSENESSSESS
STORY
GREATEST
EVER TOLD
T the close of the day's
work, Joseph sat in the Imck of his shop and emptied a palmful of coins from a crock taken down from a tall shelf. Ever Reen Aince he had first
Mary, he had saved every mite against his wedding not be day, which would
long.
"Almost engagi
thing," he congratulated
ייו
Pl
selt. "And my wife won't have
be
to skind veet.
and wrope
Tenght, Wall Tefl T
$14
Now
lay
customer
Wan
-44
И shepherd,
with waf
pelastud every
meeting with 5
sense of peace
Completely dozen <!} festarils #x17
THE ETERNAL STORY THE BIRTH AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST -RETOLD FAITHFULLY AND WITH IM- PRESSIVE SIMPLICITY IN THE LANGUAGE OF TODAY. THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH IS PRIVILEGED TO PRESENT THE OPENING CHAPTER TODAY IN THIS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS NUMBER.
BY FULTON OURSLER
with
dunny,
pre-
"Behold the handmaid of the called me. And God will pro- Instant's Without one r¥t!°utoLe$
Be it done unto me be teet her," he added, his voice Bash enchanting paration she had walked into it. Lord. fandly that we do not have to
breaking that tender carding to your word," their wedding. Immediately after walt ony more.
As if by incantation the Joseph's falth was fully justi- that soft good night at the gate. Joachim It was
to step abroad they were oppressed good
As one under special eventog with no foreboding. and Anna had been chatting up angel vanished: one instant he fled. fter the long day's work
was there, gore the next. intr when they were
And protection, Mary traversed the It was
on the roof; they, too, had much and then the patenter
Wenry distance. She had walk- night, but
Mary swaying and murmuring, weary Rood
to talk about 1 any Taluletl
when a crossed the Bloor and sank to ed only a few miles They had vomer
a decision. lu a within
Feeling little chill, for the her knees and Iny upon her Brnali caravan overlook ber and three mouths they Joseph married.
Mary night was
hndf would
pallet and closed her eyes and offered her a donkey to ride to 1>
door inside wept and prayed. Too much to the next town, wild have liked it earlier, but crossed the lower
She there the house and mounted to the understand!
wanted
Brooding she 10
was, Mary pointed out that
Inner terthee, As she went up scream for Anna
and throw
The wayfarers why. still newing to do and a
to the platform she herself into those strong, stout struck by a feeling of special shekels
her father the steps
realised that she was not alone.
Arms and cry to her
that distinguished The
separateness mother separ accumulate.
and of the least of them, the but her modest A tall figure was slauding near what had just happened.
not bring herself. she could would the farther wall!
rukchell from the Damascus months
even in the first agony of that baznora
her a cup of hysteria. to rink certain dindavoured water late one alght belief. They would
she and whispered ·
u eurity.
Oh yes he knew now think its wphisticates looked
171
That ridi
WEN
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How Y
Jercarmaker27)
1 down
vokel with m Nazarene
heernt northern favourite jent on the Jerusalem Afterte was the queed Lurra wwwthor
Nazareth
strat
Hut Joseph with all fe
fely that Twitt people of Jerusalem were
Am natural and ovetriyillard Winy www pinunt of his te Jown hil expreed to be very
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: ist,"a*
et Jog hans
The authent
We
and Ana
Alary the
done ghoshake an
sude of it
The dish
that lef to the roof and b ing us there Josephi amw
Mary
ham! She bort lantern in her am aut she was bending over Incing dates and Bas that bts read out to dry
Knowing Inl
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Bias temel SAN she straightened up
waved her hand
Their Plans
HEN Josepha pannonend unto the The with the treedon
of
one who feel tinsel tedy a member of the inmits
fo
Au There
ter seem so long, now that the
wie Bwed
1
༤༥་ཐཱ་
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You early 10- Tw sant Joseph when t
An old and a A stranger together different strangert De
to stand Varuna he seemed
Exton bar to go home. Ught where there was no lamp. Elizabeth
When I
and a kind of silvery mist en- veloped h
lett if the were his cap and gown
Very early Joseph at to she well for the mersant
ste protsed Water
2
Something Amiss
how
TULEER Hands, a tapet at they 1-1 drukspots patie Catť buavels to his carprecej derp, aug tomself down ou bie sigh and pollet with a happy Feared hp busad in his arms and
how fortunate hr among Natione Tappy The WIEN and bow happen be wan KONE to The Sleeping be dreamed only Morys dream beden eve
ans, such as his No grand dreams.
14
Track prophets,
Nu fore has alden days seeing of what was on the way. wart hang in a mughty silence
the earth And
Low.
40
her mouth to Mary opened prak, to demanal who he was and what he wanted there, but be anticipated her with no expected greeting
(02) -
Hal, Mary
The voice WON kind and fathomlessly deep, such a volen
Mary ha
ver heard be- 1. bass and yet tender
"Pull of grace!" the Voer rontinued.
Hat),
of Mary. full
gracel She felt embarrassed and even mere frightened
*
"
Lord la with усна. Blessed
Are you among women. She folder
and her handя
she knew then how she was trembling in every muscle. The
ranger saw
"Fear not, Mary"
next morning SHE
fer know
thol
sher than Joseph did Herod ther Great and his kingdom of Judes with ham, oor Caesar Augustus Roma palace, dreain that night that the world was about to roll another way
strodie
Iwi me forward, the
Kantly the and the Joseph awake bawed AUTODESKINĖS
11 younger man kissed the father a something had gone thiss. beard
heart a pounding on the door Joseph seated himself beide
A s name belast shouted, not the older
and plungest at
Ar be opened his sle.y eyes he He had beheld Joachim standing. pole Once the h basicens
he hat and distrust.
hands distracted saved his money
vajaltstand
1.
proved the lying quartes bind the house, he was ready lus wife
The Message
THE bowed her head. She must nut be afraid. She knew she could trust this deep and tender voles. But she could her qunking. Sho closed her eyes and listened to the patounding words this stranger Whs speaking. Sho had found grace with God. She would conceive in her untu
you, an Joseph muttered, and bring forth
She too! That WOD akin to embracing hitn "What Is It?
the message that had come to Tell me, what is wrong?**
Zachary for Elizabeth. Cousin Lord be with
you, Elizabet
wun to huve father. Josep groaned the laying a beavy hand on Joseph's and his name must be John.
"And you shall call his name Justial
to buy a gont and hens and a Joachim,"
******* fer wanted Why should there be my de-
rooster.
lay
"Who makes
manded Joachim
The carpenter stly at Atina
"No, Joseph"
looking mother.
sirvalder AM
S$10
delays
giomed
dough "J will not
your way
You
1
Marys Master
Ter DVT pailed the stand in know to W
that she love Mary an
There is really rac waiting. fixed date in your mind""
"I want to marry her yester
jexted Joseph, and they all laughed. "But no, I have
joves you.
sense
in
Have
חודיי
shuilder
"Listen, Mary has disappeared."
my
おく
The Angel
a son,
womt
Sun
NOT
"Jesus!
He will be my Jesus! Jesus, BON of Mary I skull bring him forth and hold him in my arina and sometimes
fed had
Bald
Good night to her beloved, her Ufe. her body and soul, had undergone a change.
Bay
But ber
All the were
softly, she uttered the words of her Magnificat, ali unaware that the world would sing those words and, pray them for thou- sands of years, but pouring then out for the first time in the consolation of her
com- munion with Elizabeth:
"My soul doth magnity the Lord and my spirit hath re- joiced in God my Saviour. Be- Cause He hath regarded the for humility of is handmaid; 201 behold
henceforth
all from generations shall call me bless- Because He that is mighty th done great things to me; and holy
in His name. And
!. tath
His merey is from generation into generations, to them that fear film.
As at Inst Elizabeth led her into the house, she whispered: "Do you realise that you are pregnant already?"
Mary's eyes entreated her. " have not known a man." She trembled.
"Of course, brlaved!"
will
A Tender Note
You know,"
OR the first time tears rolled
down Mary's checka, "You belle me. the quavered, "But how can anyone else ever
belleve me? be Fure to not Joseph had imagined this thing because Where have you found such think
was having a child proce?**
"What would any man thlak and Zachary had said he saw There Was
mirror for
11 his place?" asked Elizabeth. an angel.
Mary to study: it would be days. "But God, Who has shown us
these things, with murely show tt how to talk with Joseph. Corpe in
in now. No
teep inore talk until you have rested."
The kindness with which she was received D ber arrival
onee wavered
in the mutha that followed. in her advancing pregnancy Elizabeth was not strong enough to do the housework, and so Mary remained to be a maid tu her until the child was delivered.
AL
she once home, explaining Intention.
There was
MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS
some newer
never
wrote
And sing a few time's anke."
Mary coming
THE AUTHOR - FULTON OURSLER
songs for old and singular dignity in her voice,
Mary with child Joseph stood, Joseph at the
unmoving: the Sunset found camp with his friend by a smail fingern stopped playing with the
They ate cap. Mary running off, Are of dried twigs.
roistering staying nway. Mary and listened to the voices
who back. Mary with child, of the minstrels, Voic
of whe sang to Dionysos, god of
"Joseph" she falicred, “Speak Pagan songs, to me." and the drama
you have not known me," yarns, about the gods of Rome and how they mated with mor- he spoke with a far-off whisper, tal women, breeding half-goxls who always stirred up a lot of trouble in the world.
"Now you're heartnit some- Samuel. "Not thing." gloated those sickening old praims. Did you hear that song of the god and the woman?"
"Yes.
gods But their reul mal
The singers them- selves inugh at them,“
Mary Returns
notes "OF
Rtc
"I have not known man," "Bu you y you are with child!" he cried, and in his wounded tone was the pain of a
Ban
who cannot belleve bis own mugulsh,
"Yes, Joseph,"
"Whose child?" he groaned "Not the child of any man," the answered, her pale face clear before him.
"What is this you say? And he mumbled her words, reptating them twice over, try- ing to grasp the incomprehen- sible.
came
F course, Joseph. And does that not have a personal this as her
meaning for you? Didn't you tell "Its from God," the Inaist- She
told her
"I in Biso
ed.
not from man hat me a year ago that you would mother that
she had passed not fight for the freedom of the from God. The angel Gabriel, through an experience of which people because
whu God promised
came to Zachary, for her to to Fend deliverer, It was impossible
ols to it. Elizabeth's child is wasn't write. When
she came back that 17"
born and he is a man child and the his name is John, just
now 1 angel declared. And am the handmaid of the Lord and thall be the mother of the Promised Onel"
to Nazareth she would confide
everything. To Joseph she sent a dutiful and lerder note. telling him that the time was soon coming when she would explain to him why she had to leave so suddenly.
Kend
"Right."
"Who was to be God's son, and born of a virgin? I not now quoting the phecies?"
"Yes Samuel." "Can't you
own
Axi рго-
that ser, Joseph, it is all just an old wives' tale
She remalued in Ain Karim until the great day when, AA -told In every language? the
non Every sily religion teaches the angel predicted, child was born to Elizabeth.
0
And, true even to the last pro-
phetic accent of the angel, Zachary Immediately found his voice againi
same thing. They all have the of gods having
same
story
''Mury! Do you know what you are saying?"
"Yes."
to
the
"If the eldern hear you, they will have you put to death."
Sul it is true, Joseph." He throw his cap children by mortal women. You ground and fung himself after on a pile of chips and saw- are making your decision on a dust. tale. You are believing fairy
"Tell me this strange thing." in a universal nonsense."
he invited atumly. " shall Us- A Change
and ten and no more interruptions," Joseph leaned forward, now the light was on his face. CUDDENLY Samuel, the trader,
"In universal truth," he to- the friend of Joseph, with plied with the same tranquli
whom he had
1:
"I
In
you."
Deep Thoughts
lalked of Mary conviction that always annoyed STEP by shop Mary rehearsed the past, returned from Samuel with its force. "Even for him the Incredible pro- Jerusalem and called on Joseph though some people worship ceedings. And then there was a "I think," the carpenter sold, these false gods, and believe in long silence. At last Могу Mary iny there quietly while later before the peasant girl
notice a change
you, myths, the
will not sold: Mesalah Jonchim and Anne tiptoed would notice for herself the
Samuel."
"You are thinking deep come just for our people, but down from the roof. But Mary pal.or that was coming to her
I am just the same." **No.
for all-for everybody!"
thoughts, Joseph," could not sleep,
neck, arms and the She stole up Ince and
"Let be, then."
muttered And then, before they could "I am thinking,** from her bed after two hours of backs of her hands, like cream
*Please Joseph, what kind of speak more, a hand was thrust Joseph, slowly crambling to restlessness;
she wrote her over strawberries; the blood- MAY, the blue-eyed, Jack, I shiell give him to Joseph la mother a note, made herself a red natural colour of strength change did you think you saw from the darkness behind him his feet, "It is a curious thing
in me?" hatred girl who loved Joseph hold loo" He: 11
the carpenter on that no angel came to me." and tapped mind was bundle, and set off alone down and youth was giving way to
"You look kunted. And fur-w heart
He exhaled a vast and hope- And and.
the shoulder,
he Startled, and within five place of wild, birdlike thoughts; the long road.
purer force
tive! And frightened!" Nazareth because
yet she must listen to all that
turned swiftly, looking up into lees sigh. became Instantly one other person taking porseSSION,
Samuel she had after
"Surely I have a right to be the face of Joachim. you minutes
the stranger continued to tell
in the world to whom she felt Without a mirror she realised her; her on Jesus was to have she must first confide the ex-
serious.
"Pence be with
the shown the truth of this mat- that something had taken hold
"There is never a moment the Throne of David, his father-
er and changed of her
her, She
to take this shocking story when I am not in fear of my Young man breathed, aware of ter" he cried. "Am I expected "And, of all his
kingdom
I have no wish to she were a new per te. The last time I talked to It was an experience shatter- there hall
walking to Cousin felt us
casually? end." be no
"And the Lord be with you. quarrel. The Lord knows that who-keeping I thought I knew all about Joseph. I came over here to ask I love you, Mary, with all my i want to ing to the
of her
sen, a stranger
you, not fixed any dale.
Then crune her instant need
all For hours after it hap- for reality. The very
previous
of Reb memories was the wickedness talk with Mary after supper to being.
mixed human
different; a nevertheless, would like it better pened she was unable to speak; impulse that had made Zachary night.
awareness of glory and humili- that way."
she could scarcely breathe. It
30 dazing question his angel and lost him Later, in the damp darkness was so inexplicable,
demanded 13. She felt small and weak 66%JELL, Joseph?"
W Joachim, for the his speech as penalty frightening that of the Nazareth road, Joseph and
sunething like Dnd yet powerfully protected.
This
had friend's car. was the way she and Mary strolled and talked time she could not force her- possessed Mary, too. Who this
"Now
Annuncia felt ever since the
"King They were full of their plans self to tell her mother or father stranger was she did not know; truculence in his voice.
yet the maiden who heard his you've heard. What
Angel. And of the tion words and tell a little nwed, by them, or even Joseph,
"How shall this be done?" and
ing know not a man?"
THE ANNUNCIATION.
very roots
Dow
perience.
She was Elizabeth.
Joseph Is Told
to you
Noa-
maan.
But now
"Who
inked
Joseph Samuel
Reb Naamaan?" innocently. whispered
this dore
of
sudilen fear,
his you at In
never
Herod. We mention his real nume
felt bound to question say?"
Joseph thook his head slowly was so, even while thoughts of when we talk. The sound of
reality persisted; they were
How
once. Alone."
I
to come you
to vou
the mind and all my heart and all Mary is there, waiting for you. She says she wants to talk with my soul. I have no eyes for But if other-only you. eny this thing has happened, why is it that no angel reassured Child of God me? Don't
count at all?" She wept. It had not occur- he had been MARY was standing before the red to her that
door and the Inmbent velfew neglected by the angel. But it that name turned to the washbasit. Aana and Joachim a little, and bring a spy to your elbow in showed for how much are word for what had happened.
In your mouth will
flames of the candles Inside was true. Joseph had only her From a jug that Mary had she asked in a whisper. "See- led with water for him only of Joseph a Httle more.
tell him? Cousin stantly; if they inisunderstand
you. It may cost you your life. ad changed: she looked i'ke a And that was a great deal to In the starry blaze of his the night before the carpenter could she
So we never mention him ex-
of the girl he remem- ask of any man. phantom
"Have
you told your eyes she read only compassion. poured a splash into the basin Elizabeth must advise her.
bered. his deeds cept in code. Joseph,
mother?" would shame a tiger,"
She was so pale now that sho "No, nor Father, either, "More beast than man, then?" might have been à spectre, not felt I must tell you first." asked Joseph in a sad tone. of the denti but the living. She whose checks had been ripe a moment's
A Man's Dream orchurd ret silence, and then Samuel came orchar
with the warmth of health; neater Joseph, towering above of hea
whose strong arma could
bas-
JOSEPHI went to her slowly, and she noticed how his
bowed, how
His voice lower and deeper
God."
To Her Cousin
the Son of God?
and dashed a handful on his
parents,
betrothed,"
were setting the
of course,
Joachim
the trust
ot
There
was
the household swing him, and clamped both palms kels, heavily burdened, and take
were
WO
There
croon to him.
Joseph."
And the Lord be unto you, Mary"
He took a step nearer and she
At Ain Karim sow the folded wings and knew face. him for what he was
"Mary had a good reason," TT was nearing sunset of the WAS his answer. "Be dure of
third day when she found her. that."
self back in the tiny suburb of Joachim's face softened, "The Holy Ghost shall come
Ain Karim; and there was her "She
must have had," he
big with upon you. The power of the
six months cousin, "But can you imagine agreed. High shall overshadow what it would be? Most
This is an child, sitting on the dooryard on his shoulders. you. and therefore ulso the
unheard-of thing. Joseph. A stoop. Holy which shall be born of
"Joseph," he cried, "hasn't pleasure in her own strength; shoulders were Now Mary had come all the the time come for you to change whose stride was young and free Lagging the line of his small you shall be called the Son of girl does not run off from har long distance to Elizabeth, not your mind? How goes it with and full of the energy of earth, Holden beard, how stricken hig eyes. A wave of mothering: pity and from her espoused one." because the doubted the angel you? The last time. I was here was now a wrath of her former went through her; she wanted
she believed In "And,
mooning about mar- self. Yet she had grown taller to gather him in her arms and you from her but because
him. Yet even
was a primrose pallor in rying
Borno girl you never met her skin, Especially the enlarged agreed.
still
"I must think." said Josep bachelor. + MARY felt stifled, suffocated "Why, only last night, you two Mary was startled at the con- But you're used you, than? glaw of her eyes alartled Joseph "Tomorrow we will talk
Arming greeting she received. Her father as she heard these incredible wedding. Do you suppose she happil
date for the fall, Mary!" cried Elizabeth Come with me to Jerusalem." it summed up the mystical, Then peace bo with you, words. She to be the mother
pleased
are you "She accepted mel" protested frightening change in her. of a son who would be called got a little giddy; over-excited, happily.
Mary!" Joseph, mean? She is a very young
among women!"
leaping te his feet.
"Joseph" The dusty Agure of Mary are to be married in Lew girl not Mary," The voice of the stranger was
declared stopped short in the road. Those days." lowered into an intimato whis- Jóseply
"Then whore is she? Where firmly. There
very words she had heard be-
is the excitement? Where ere peryour cousin Elizabeth never another so composed as fore-from the angel!
"And blessed in the fruit of the wedding proparations?" As cerene. And," he add- He paused until the nodded, ed with an eloquence of words you
your womb!" and then he went on:
ouryout
the angel's
At The Camp "She also conceived
repeat words to me, Cousin Elizabeth.
He stood, straight and tall, twisting his cop nervously and Mary had known, it was me. She is going to marry me.
JOSEPH looked distressed.
in men's dream in his sleep, but Elizabeth embraced her, her that Last night we made great plans,
"You see, Samuel," he ex-knotty fingers, his brow heavily called barten: Because with Something happened after I then whispered soon
plained, she has a cousin who creased. God nothing shall be impos- left her. I am sure of that; voice of your salutation rounded health. She
"For look, as as the has not been in the best of "Say it at once, Mary, beloved, went to see that whatever it is, I am listening." something good; we must be- was the reality she
"Then, Joseph, beloved.......... nm expecting her leve when we do not know. in my cars, the infant in my cousin. I spoken truth as she knew it. But the same thoughts were wo bid for use And you back any day,"
"You're Li
hard to guro
"I am with child." In both minds. The It was
great are blessed. because you have truo
Bolleved, because those things out," Samisel grumbled. "But Well, then...
about Elizaballouthern road was long and shall be accomplished that were look bere, Joseph. I'am with a two parte and dropped away intɑ een in truth conceived of the She looked up at him plain dimcult
spoken to you by the Lord. caravan that rests In Nazareth bottomless space, her words could Holy Spirit, that the name of tively, her eyes half closed, her - "IL" - alghed Joseph, answer. With a sob. of relict. Mary tonight. Come down with me not have rounded more, unlikely, the child was to be Jesus, and words coming so softly that she ing his own doubts, she had thing herself into the arms of this evening to the camp fire. She had spoken softly all her that he was to save the people could barely hear herself opean wanted me she would have Elizabeth, Then, speaking very Let's have upper together. laik was soft, but with a now, (Continued on Page 5) 410
+
shy.
was
"not 'unusual' In Jilm..."unshake-
à son able in her purposes. She loves How did you know?",
@
In her old agel,This is the, sixth -month with
This
needed For the. angel had
and'
"Peace be with you "And the Lord be with you." "Beloved, are you ill?" "Beloved, don't
cone negror:
· to me." Nob-just yet. Thero is something I have to tell you.”.
87
Like his great "Ancestor, Joseph, son of Jacob, the young carpenter of Nazarets dreamed a dream.
It was not d vivid, waking Zachary experience, such kis
it was so real, so complete that
T
en him it has all the effect of
reality. In the dream the an-
gel of the Lord came to Joseph
loo; spoke kindly to him, al- most paternally, and told himi not to be afraid to make, Mary · It, the world had broken: Into his wife; that the child had