Chapter II: Prologue

The earth has grown old with its burden of care,
But at Christmas it always is young,
The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair,
And its soul, full of music, bursts forth on the air,
When the song of the angels is sung.

It is coming, Old Earth, it is coming tonight!
On the snowflakes which cover thy sod
The feet of the Christ Child fall gentle and white,
And the voice of the Christ Child tells out with delight,
That mankind are the children of God.

On the sad and the lonely, the wretched and poor,
The voice of the Christ Child shall fall;
And to every blind wanderer open the door
Of hope that he dared not to dream of before,
With a sunshine of welcome for all.

--_Phillips Brooks._

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife....

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

(_Exit_ PROLOGUE.)

(_Soft chimes. As these chimes die away in the distance a concealed choir is heard singing._)

O COME, COME, AWAY.

O come, come away
From labor now reposing,
Let busy care a while forbear;
O come, come away.

(_The front curtains are drawn, showing a winter street in Bethlehem. No one appears on the stage, but the choir continues singing outside at right front._)

Come, come, our social joys renew,
And thus where trust and friendship grew,
Let true hearts welcome you,
O come, come away.

RACHEL _and_ PRISCILLA _enter from the inn at right front, arm in arm. They go to the center, then to the rear of the stage, turn and face the inn, pause a moment or two, listening to the choir, and then go out at rear left. The choir continues:_

From toils and the cares
On which the day is closing,
The hour of eve brings sweet reprieve,
O come, come away.
O come where love will smile on thee,
And round its hearth will gladness be,
And time fly merrily,
O come, come away.

_While the choir is singing the last three lines of the song_, SIMEON _and_ ISAAC _enter from rear left, leaning on their shepherd's crooks. They pause at rear center and listen to the singing. When the song is finished the organ continues the same music softly._

SIMEON.
Make haste, my son, the hour is waxing late,
The night is cold, methinks our sheep await.

ISAAC.
Nay gran'ther, I would liefer tarry here.
The town is gay, the inns are full of cheer.

SIMEON (_points to rear right_).
But there our duty lies, the wind grows cold!
Come, let's away and put the sheep in fold.

(_Starts off right._)

ISAAC.
Nay, Simeon, wait! What means this crowd of men
And women here in peaceful Bethlehem?

SIMEON (_comes to him_).
Herod the King hath issued a decree
That each and all his subjects taxèd be;
And every one who in this town saw light
Must here return and register tonight.
From all Judea, aye, from th' distant land,
Each Bethlehemite must come at his command.

ISAAC (_comes to the doorway of the inn and peers in_).
The town is full of people, great and small,
Each inn is crowded to its very wall.

SIMEON (_comes down center and takes his arm_).
But come, we're wasting time, 'tis very late.
Make haste, my son, I know the flocks await!

ISAAC.
Thou speakest true, though I would rather stay,
Our duty calls, so to the hills, away!

(_They go out at rear right._)

_The concealed choir repeats the first stanza of the song softly. After a slight pause_ DEBORAH _enters from the inn._

DEBORAH (_coming down to right front_).
My inn is crowded to the doors. The heat
Is stifling, but out here the air is sweet.

(_Looks upward._)

The bright stars twinkle with mysterious light,
Methinks there's something strange about the night.

_She sits on the bench in front of the inn._ TIMOTHY _enters from rear left._ DEBORAH _continues her soliloquy._

The air is still, the night is very cold,
The shepherds seek the hills to watch the fold.

(_Sees him._)

(TIMOTHY _goes out at rear R._)

DEBORAH.
Some strange, unearthly voice seems calling me,
Methinks this night portends great things to be.

_Enter_ RACHEL _and_ PRISCILLA _from rear right, then come down center and address the hostess._

RACHEL.
Hail, hostess of the inn, my cousin here
Hath lodgings at your inn. We'd seek its cheer.

DEBORAH (_rises_).
Enter within. My guests tonight are gay
And fain would turn this winter's night to day.

RACHEL _and_ PRISCILLA _enter the inn, followed by_ DEBORAH. _The organ music continues softly. After a slight pause enter_ ANNA _from rear left. She leads_ RUTH _and_ THOMAS _by the hand._

THOMAS (_at rear center_).
Oh, mother, hark! There's music in the inn!

ANNA.
'Tis not for us--their noise and merry din.

RUTH.
Our little town is crowded, joyous, gay.

THOMAS.
So many travelers came this way today.

RUTH.
The night is chill and cold, I much do fear
The little sheep will shiver by the mere.

ANNA.
Too cold it is for thee, I fear, in truth,
Return and get thy cloak, my little Ruth.
We'll wait for thee upon the little hill.

(_Points off R._)

But speed thy steps, the cold will work thee ill.

RUTH.
I'll fly, dear mother, like an arrow home.

(_Runs out at L._)

ANNA.
We must not tarry. Come, my Thomas, come!

(_She leads him out at rear R. There is a pause. The music changes to a mysterious plaintive air. The old German song, Holy Night, may be effectively introduced as an organ solo._)

_Enter from rear right,_ JOSEPH, _walking with a staff and supporting_ MARY.

MARY.
Here is a place, now I must rest awhile!
For many a league, for many a weary mile,
We've trudged along since break of day began.

JOSEPH.
'Tis true, and I'm an old and ancient man,
My joints are stiff, my bones are waxing old--
And the long night is bitter, bitter cold.
Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within,
And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

(_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger. He goes out at rear left. The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._)

MARY (_sings_).
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God
my Saviour.
For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty has magnified me: and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the
humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath
sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he
promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

_Enter_ JOSEPH _from rear L._

JOSEPH.
For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest,
Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

_Enter_ DEBORAH _from the inn._

MARY.
Husband, I'm faint; I can no farther go.
Methinks I'll rest me here upon this loe.

(_Sits in front of the manger._)

JOSEPH (_assisting her_).
Have courage, Mary, here's the hostess here.

(_Comes to_ DEBORAH _at right._)

We'd lodge with thee tonight.

DEBORAH.
Alas, I fear
My inn is crowded to the very wall,
Soldiers and scribes, the rich, the great, the small!

JOSEPH.
Is there room for us? My wife is ill.

DEBORAH.
My heart is sad and it is not my will
To send you hence, but naught is left to do.
Perhaps some other inn will shelter you.

JOSEPH.
Alas, the other inns are all the same!

DEBORAH.
Never was seen the like in Bethlehem.

(_Laughter and noise at R._)

My guests are merry, hear their jovial din!

(_Goes to R._)

I pity you, there's no room at the inn.

(_Exits into the inn._)

MARY.
Our last hope gone! Now, what shall we do?
My strength is leaving!

(_Bows head._)

JOSEPH.
Would I could succor you.
I'll wrap thee warm. Now rest thee here a while.
We've traveled far, full many a weary mile.

_Enter_ RUTH _from rear L., hurrying along._

JOSEPH.
Maiden, I fain would stop thee in thy flight--
Can'st tell where we could lodge this winter night?

RUTH.
That inn is crowded. There's one upon the hill.

JOSEPH.
I've tried them all, my wife is very ill.

RUTH.
That little stable there upon the loe,

(_Points to L front._)

'Tis snug and warm. 'Twill shield thee from the snow.

MARY (_rises_).
God's blessing on thy little head, sweet child!
Come, Joseph, for the wind now waxes wild.

(_Exits L. front._)

(JOSEPH _leads her to exit L., then turns and looks off R._)

JOSEPH.

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth

(_Turns toward manger._)

The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

(RUTH _stands at rear C., watching him._)

_The curtains slowly fall._

Scene II: _Hymn by the congregation._

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS.

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground.
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around,
And glory shone around.

"Fear not," said he,--for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind,
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
To you and all mankind,
To you and all mankind."

"To you in David's town this day,
Is born of David's line,
The Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord,
And this shall be the sign,
And this shall be the sign."

"The heav'nly babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid,
And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph--and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels, praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song,
Addressed their joyful song:--

"All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace;
Good will henceforth, from heav'n to men,
Begin and never cease,
Begin and never cease."

_The_ PROLOGUE _appears before the curtains and speaks._