Christmas Stories And Legends   By: Phebe A. [Compiler] Curtiss

COMPILED BY PHEBE A. CURTISS

Author of "White Gifts for the King"

MEIGS PUBLISHING CO. INDIANAPOLIS, IND.

Copyright 1916

BY

MEIGS PUBLISHING CO. Indianapolis, Indiana

FOREWORD

No greater teaching force has ever been discovered than the story and no one has ever lived who used that force so skillfully as did our Great Teacher.

It is not strange, then, that among all the stories that have ever been written or told none are so dear to us as the stories and legends which center in His birth.

Young and old alike delight in them and never tire of hearing them.

Unusual care has been taken in compiling this little volume and each story has its own sweet lesson. Each one is from the pen of one who has imbibed the real spirit of Christmas. They were chosen as being particularly well adapted to use in connection with the Christmas Service "White Gifts for the King," but they will prove attractive and helpful at any time during the year.

It is our earnest wish that this little book may find its way into many homes and schools and Sunday Schools and that its contents may help to give a deeper appreciation of the true Christmas spirit.

CONTENTS

Page I. The Legend of the "White Gifts" Phebe A. Curtiss 9

II. Her Birthday Dream Nellie C. King 13

III. The Fir Tree Hans Andersen adapted by J. H. Stickney 25

IV. The Little Match Girl Hans Andersen 37

V. Little Piccola Nora A. Smith 41

VI. The Shepherd's Story Dr. Washington 47

VII. The Story of Christmas Nora A. Smith 63

VIII. The Legend of the Christmas Tree Lucy Wheelock 69

IX. Little Jean French of Francois Coppe. Translated by Nannie Lee Frayser 71

X. How the Fir Tree Became the Christmas Tree Aunt Hede in Kindergarten Magazine 77

XI. The Magi in the West and Their Search for the Christ Frederick E. Dewhurst 79

XII. Little Gretchen and the Wooden Shoe Elizabeth Harrison 93

XIII. The Little Shepherd Maud Lindsay 105

XIV. Babouscka Carolyn S. Bailey 109

XV. The Boy with the Box May Griggs Van Voorhis 113

XVI. The Worker in Sandal wood Marjorie L. C. Pickthall 125

XVII. The Shepherd Who Didn't Go Jay T. Stocking 135

XVIII. Paulina's Christmas Adapted from Anna Robinson's "Little Paulina" 145

XIX. Unto Us a Child Is Born Phebe A. Curtiss 153

XX. The Star Florence M. Kingsley 159

THE LEGEND OF THE "WHITE GIFTS"

As Told by Phebe A. Curtiss

A great many years ago in a land far away from us there was a certain king who was dearly beloved by all of his people. Men admired him because he was strong and just. In all of his dealings they knew they could depend upon him. Every matter that came to his consideration was carefully weighed in his mind and his decisions were always wise. Women trusted him because he was pure and true, with lofty thoughts and high ambitions, and the children loved him because of his gentleness and tenderness toward them. He was never so burdened with affairs of state that he could not stop to speak a pleasant word of greeting to the tiniest child, and the very poorest of his subjects knew they could count upon his interest in them.