THE BRIGHTEST STAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 32, 14 December 1945, Page 15 (Supplement)

THE BRIGHTEST STAR

A CHRISTMAS ALLEGORY Once upon a time three children who lived in Happy Valley were getting ready lor Christmas Day. One morning they found a Christmas tree standing in the best room. It was not decorated and the three •5 children said '■'How .shall we make it beautiful and light and sparkling?" Their grandmother live'd with them and she said } "Only by keeping the Christmas Spirit can 3-011 make it beautiful and bright." So the children hastened to set the house In order for their mother. When every room was a star was shining on the lowest bough of the tree. They finished their gifts for father and mother and grandmother and when they ran to the tree, a row of stars hail blossomed on the lower boughs. Then they packed baskets to take to some neighbours who did not have much Christmas cheer and •5 when they came home ( all the middle branches were alight. "What now?" they asked "for we want it all shining!" "The birds and the beasts have not had their gifts," .said the mother. So they got ready the crumbs and sheaves of wheat" for the birds and prepared extra treats for the horse and coav and dog and cat ? which they gave to these friends with caresses and kind words. And now all the topmost branches were alight. By this time it was Christmas Eve, the stars were and it was time to go to bed. They arose in the early dawn, and under the shining tree they sang their and were glad over their own gifts and over the gifts of the others. No one said f "Is this all?" or "Sister's gifts are finer than mine." Each heart was full of Christmas joy and cheer. After breakfast they saw someone coming to their door. It was the boy from the great house on the hill. "We do not want him here " said J the oldest child. "He is a bad boy," "He is bringing us gifts } " said the second child. "We do not want

them. He thinks he is better than we are because he lives in a larger house and lias more money." "In summer he treads on our flowers, and frightens our birds " said the smallest child. But their kind mother let him in, "Oh," he said "your tree is shining, and mine is dark. Nurse said it was because 1 had been unkind and selfish all the year so I am going to trj- to be better this year. I've brought you some of my gifts ? for you do not get as many, as I do and I'd like to share with you." Then, because they were filled with the Christmas Spirit they did not send him away. "We want to thank you for your gifts } " they said. "We hope you will find your tree alight, and you may stay and play under our tree and see our gifts." "Oh look!" cried all the children as they r,an to the Christmas tree. "The Star!" And there, sure enough on the 9 topmost bough a great star had blossomed out ? the vei'y brightest star of them all, and the whole tree was beautiful and light and sparkling.