And the hermit said: “Seest thou yonder deep and wide river, in which many people have perished? Because thou art noble, and of high stature and strong of limb, so shalt thou live by the river and thou shalt bear over all people who pass that way. And this thing will be pleasing to our Lord Jesu Christ, whom thou desirest to serve, and I hope he shall show himself to thee.” Then said Christopher: “Certes, this service may I well do, and I promise Him to do it.” Then went Christopher to this river, and built himself there a hut. He carried a great pole in his hand, to support himself in the water, and bore over on his shoulders all manner of people to the other side. And there he abode, thus doing many days. And on a time, as he slept in his hut, he heard the voice of a child which called him:-- “Christopher, Christopher, come out and bear me over.” Then he awoke and went out, but he found no man. And when he was again in his house he heard the same voice, crying:-- “Christopher, Christopher, come out and bear me over.” And he ran out and found nobody. And the third time he was called and ran thither, and he found a Child by the brink of the river, which prayed him goodly to bear him over the water. And then Christopher lifted up the Child on his shoulders, and took his staff, and entered into the river for to pass over. And the water of the river arose and swelled more and more; and the Child was heavy as lead, and always as Christopher went farther the water increased and grew more, and the Child more and more waxed heavy, insomuch that Christopher suffered great anguish and was afeared to be drowned. And when he was escaped with great pain, and passed over the water, and set the Child aground, he said:-- “Child, thou hast put me in great peril. Thou weighest almost as I had all the world upon me. I might bear no greater burden.” And the Child answered: “Christopher, marvel thee nothing, for thou hast not only borne all the world upon thee, but thou hast borne Him that created and made all the world, upon thy shoulders. I am Jesu Christ the King whom thou servest. And that thou mayest know that I say the truth, set thy staff in the earth by thy house, and thou shalt see to-morn that it shall bear flowers and fruit.” And anon the Child vanished from his eyes. And then Christopher set his staff in the earth, and when he arose on the morn, he found his staff bearing flowers, leaves, and dates. THE CHRISTMAS ROSE AN OLD LEGEND BY LIZZIE DEAS (ADAPTED) When the Magi laid their rich offerings of myrrh, frankincense, and gold, by the bed of the sleeping Christ Child, legend says that a shepherd maiden stood outside the door quietly weeping. She, too, had sought the Christ Child. She, too, desired to bring him gifts. But she had nothing to offer, for she was very poor indeed. In vain she had searched the countryside over for one little flower to bring Him, but she could find neither bloom nor leaf, for the winter had been cold.