An Ancient Toast
“I drink to one.” he said, “whose image never may depart. Deep graven on a grateful heart till memory is dead.” To one whose love, for me shall last. When lighter passions shall have passed. So holy tis, and true, to one whose love hath longer dwelt. More deeply fixed, more keenly felt, than any pledged by you. Each guest upstarted at the word, and laid a hand upon his sword. With fiery flashing eye, and Stanley said; “We crave the name, Proud Knight, of this most peerless dame, whose love you count so high.” St. Leon paused, as if he would not breathe her name in careless mood, thus lightly to another. Then bent his noble head as though to give that name the reverence due, and gently said, “My mother!”
In the Manger of Bethlehem
Why did he choose the little town of Bethlehem? Why choose a manger? (To fulfill the scripture). “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isa. 7:14 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2. The historians even wrote of the expectancy of a great and mighty King that was to be born. Virgil the Latin poet wrote of the coming King, of the East were expecting him to appear and followed the star to Bethlehem. The Chief priest and Scribes believed that the Scriptures taught that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Herod...