Imperial the edict the subjects obeying,
The dwellings in Bethlehem are crowded within;
The lineage of David in numbers assembling,
For Joseph and Mary no room in the inn;
No room, but the stable may shelter a stranger;
No treasures or lofty pretension they bring
The Shepherd of Israel found room in a manger,
The promised Messiah, a Babe and a King.

No room in the ear to receive invitation,
No room in the eye to be moist with a tear,
No room in the heart to cherish contrition,
No room for the stern admonition of fear.
Room for forgetfulness, room for self-pleasure,
Room for indulgence, and room for all sin,
Room for base passions, and room for the tempter;
No room for the great Benefactor within.
Hazleton, Pa.

J. J.

No room, O mother! midst the busy throng
Within, for thee to lay thy newborn child;
Not unto Him, the Holy One, belong

Comfort and rest and ease; the night wind wild Pierces the humble roof beneath whose shade, On lowly couch, the Child of God is laid.

No room for thee amid the angry strife, Ambition's arm, pride's wild desire; but still Though dreary be the darksome night of life, And overhead the wild winds whistle shrill, Thou liest cradled in the loving breast,

That, like to Bethlehem's manger gives thee rest. ALFRED C. JEWITT

Wrapped in His swaddling bands,
And in His manger laid,

The Hope and Glory of all lands
Is come to the world's aid:

No peaceful home upon His cradle smiled,

Guests rudely went and came where slept the royal

Child.

JOHN KIBLE

Full at the inn; the birthplace of our King
More lowly yet must be than that rude inn;
More humble sacrifice be made for sin
By Him who will to all salvation bring.

In swaddling clothes among the stalled kine,
His royal bed a manger; but His crown
Supernal light, which from God's throne shone
down,

They found the King of kings, the Child divine.
H. C. HAYDEN

Were earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.

For velvets soft and silken stuff
Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
Whereon thou King, so rich and great,
As 't were thy heaven, art throned in state.
MARTIN LUTHER

IX

THE STAR

We (the wise men) have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

young

And lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.-Matt. II: 2, 9, 10.