When the parents went to their bed, Valentine and Marie lay down on the bench before the fire, and said one to the other:-- “The stranger Child is happy now, because he is so warm! Good-night!” Then they fell asleep. They had not slept many hours, when little Marie awoke, and touching her brother lightly, whispered:-- “Valentine, Valentine, wake up! wake up! Listen to the beautiful music at the window.” Valentine rubbed his eyes and listened. He heard the most wonderful singing and the sweet notes of many harps. “Blessed Child, Thee we greet, With sound of harp And singing sweet. “Sleep in peace, Child so bright, We have watched thee All the night. “Blest the home That holdeth Thee, Peace, and love, Its guardians be.” The children listened to the beautiful singing, and it seemed to fill them with unspeakable happiness. Then creeping to the window they looked out. They saw a rosy light in the east, and, before the house in the snow, stood a number of little children holding golden harps and lutes in their hands, and dressed in sparkling, silver robes. Full of wonder at this sight, Valentine and Marie continued to gaze out at the window, when they heard a sound behind them, and turning saw the stranger Child standing near. He was clad in a golden garment, and wore a glistening, golden crown upon his soft hair. Sweetly he spoke to the children:-- “I am the Christ Child, who wanders about the world seeking to bring joy and good things to loving children. Because you have lodged me this night I will leave with you my blessing.” As the Christ Child spoke He stepped from the door, and breaking off a bough from a fir tree that grew near, planted it in the ground, saying:-- “This bough shall grow into a tree, and every year it shall bear Christmas fruit for you.” Having said this He vanished from their sight, together with the silver-clad, singing children--the angels. And, as Valentine and Marie looked on in wonder, the fir bough grew, and grew, and grew, into a stately Christmas Tree laden with golden apples, silver nuts, and lovely toys. And after that, every year at Christmas time, the Tree bore the same wonderful fruit. And you, dear boys and girls, when you gather around your richly decorated trees, think of the two poor children who shared their bread with a stranger child, and be thankful. SAINT CHRISTOPHER A GOLDEN LEGEND ENGLISHED BY WILLIAM CAXTON (ADAPTED) Christopher was a Canaanite, and he was of a right great stature, twelve cubits in height, and had a terrible countenance. And it is said that as he served and dwelled with the King of Canaan, it came in his mind that he would seek the greatest prince that was in the world, and him would he serve and obey.