The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1917, Page 90

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90 The Lutheran Pioneer.

hosts than did these peasant believers hasten to
worship Him who was to save them from their sins.
“Let us go,* they say to one another in their Joy,
“and waiting not to pen their flocks, they hasten to
the stable, and there find Joseph and Mary, and
the Babe lying in a manger.

Oh! the wonderful faith of these shepherds,
which taught them to ignore the stable and manger
and swaddling-clothes, and directed their adoring
gaze solely to the Child. They see the Messiah in
the manger, the incarnate Jehovah in the stable,

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Christmas Eve in the Luther Home.

It is Christmas Eve in the Black Cloister at
Wittenberg. Outside, the snow is driving down the
street and drifting into doorways and window-
openings. There will be work to-morrow for Wolf.
Within, in the great living-room above stairs, the
household is gathered. ‘There is the Herr Doktor
himself, lightly strumming on his lute, Frau Kaethe
with her baby Paul in arms, Mutme Lene, her aged
aunt, and a number of university students, boarders

Christmas in the Luther Home.

and such is their faith that all this poverty and
lowliness gives them no offense, but they go forth
with great rejoicing, and tell the people of all that
they have heard and seen.

Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Follow the shepherds, and draw near
To see the. wondrous gift of God,
Who hath His own dear Son bestowed.

And then let us gratefully and trustingly say:
Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest,
Through whom the sinful world is blest!

Ah! dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

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in the Luther house, and too poor to spend the holi-
days in their distant homes. There is also the great
Philip*Melanchthon, small in stature and “weazened
like St. Paul,” yet the teacher of all Germany;
Dr. Bugenhagen, the worthy pastor of the Luther
family; Justus Jonas with his wife; Nicholas
Amsdorf, the bachelor, and perhaps a few other
visitors and neighbors.

In one corner, opposite the great green-tiled
stove, stands the Christmas-tree, glowing in the
light of its candles. Underneath it is the tradi-
tional manger scene. In another corner the chil-
dren are crouching, hidden in the shadows, mak-
ing believe they are the shepherds watching in the