Wieneke Archive Book 4a : Articles by James Wieneke Presscuttings

I serve ip in a e cave simple meting R 11111 tight - little skitss an- ti dm the en 15t lard Curr took a al 'squat- ite apply of iotert sear on their Stelboarne ...ilea: "An arneWsly se a whole ):4; 44= ii:Z4411alalalliVak-111-14^A laliallaltAZAZWiltiala-47.141-41= 1.4A4U/GIZI 14147 444JOadalaltW4l , ILD The tired travellers soon mode themselves warm and comfortable and settled down to eat their frugal meal. Several people called in and stayed to exchange news and gossip before seeking then own rest, and the last to come was the Innkeep- ers wife. She was concerned tor the girl. Lying an the skins Mary looked up ml., the dark :oaf and talked softly to Joseph. She knew her 1 time was very close and they were both grateful for the shelter and kindness received. She thought again and again of the extraordinary events that had occurred concerning the child in her womb. The astounding meeting with the messeneer of God, The strange miracle of her conception Her visit to cousins Zachary and Elizabeth, and always Joseph's de- votion and consideration. Tired, but warm and safe, she fell into a fitful sleep as the ani- mals moved on the straw with an occasional grunt. Outside the fire had died down, the moon shone clearly, and snow covered notch of the ground. Mary slept - until she cried out to Joseph, and then site knew the Innkeeper's wife was with her. BUT on the pain below Bethlehem two men wrapped in skins lay on the ground under a ledge of rock, In the shelter of a of trees. The embers of their sire were low as a third man stood leaning on his crook, gazing across the flock of resting sheep, in the silence of the night. Moon and stars shed a soft light over the valley, with the air crisp and biting. The shepherd kicked the mats together and quietly stooped to waken his sleeping companions, as it was time to eat a little and change the watch. With startling suddenness, as the shepherd straightened, a bril- liant light, as from nowhere, enve- loped the threcanen. The youngest, in the very act oi rising, threw himself back to the ground. shielding his face Min the light, and crying out. "What is this? We are lost." The older shepherds remained as though rooted to the ground. With great fear and astonish - coolies would be paid tit a year OM less than fit. migrant mbar receivedi and the cost of their transport would be taken from their wages. Everyone involved in the scheme felt sure that Indian (" 1"1" .4.trrashing r es hem naturallyiso .111;. .+Htt' dawn '00 bodies HAPPY days and big pro. fits were anticipated by f :des rOM members of the Malay lin- hery and migration Society. IOW the A reliable man named Alexander Johnstone. of Caranballac. Victoria, was briefed and sent away to Malaya to gather an Initial bateff of 220 Indian coolie workers at a wage of t14 each. subii....t to deduction for pas- sage. etc The funny thing was that Mr. Johnstone, sent to Malaya after Indians. returned with 220 Chinese. His only excuse was that this was the only' labor he could recruit there. ,ms. lime way and 'portal ion *IL OWEVER, no one was lie input:- Very upset because all white men in awn 11) a CkIoria knew that no one could work harder than a Chinaman - This proved to be nolssiftffte ior diet correct .. tip with Mr. Joh etirought his little ..a earliest! cis a or army back to Victoria iiiiere.ted --lb 1848 In April. 1849. he made a .1-be4, be sample survey to discover how the lurk was importations were getting along Were they pleasing their masters? Were they -Making good profits? arbor the I iningra- lo pa/ In :raffle! she work - was that The sample consisted of 34 souls Chinese -type. The urvey provided the following interesting information: - Run away from masters . 10 ment in their simple hearts they sow an angel of incomparable beauty Menthot beside them, slid they gazed utterly speechless, as he calmly said, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people. For this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, In the city of David, and this shall be a sign unto you. You shalt find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heav- enly Army, praising God, and say- ing "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of gond will." Du in titillated and mot tonlem. the peasants could only stare as though stunned. As suddenly as the an els came they departed and all was still, but for the branches of the trees rustling in the breeze The light had been gone for minute): before the shepherds be - *qv,: ; P'' Itta6Mw.v.. 't-,16.0splailllmorws. "lite Child will be burn before rn,w,rritg, wa,;ur a rno.,sure the trnv,cflers moved towards Ma !,!nble. gait reentering from their exper- ience. They looked at one another in strained silence, - everything was the same as it had been be - lore. Then. as though of one mind, they picked up their crooks, drew' their ragged garments close around them, and talking excitedly, made all rapidly towards Bethlehem. But they stopped almost immediately as they remembered the sheep, and only then did they realise that the animals had not even stirred. The men muttered together, ana then ran to the camp of Sam and alit Mark who watched their own As Mark munched a he flock a little way off. thought Impatientlyut "These lithe- $1, riles are surely nd." He rei ly did not understand what had ha med. but as the three shepherds turried off In the direction of the vitiate he scratched his head and told Sam A big mob went down to t le waterfront and yePert "boo" and ,do borne convicts" at the vessel. Jailed In hospital . . . 15 . 15 vieta was arriving from England. A 1 newspaper echoed popular taste in . . 0saying' 'the hour has conic and the Total 32 men. The convicts are in the Bay What happened to the other two -arid it behoves us to see that they Persons in the sample lanot recorded obtain no footing here." Hinte.er. itysastataiear that Chinese A big mob went down to the water's workers did not prosper In the mitre and veiled "van." "boo" and "go -Wets:Van ;beep property atmosphere home convicts" at the good ship They hated the cold in winter Randolph which went with its cargo which made them sick. Alit they to Sydney hated the held in summer which also Angry people were waiting on the made them sick They didn't under. Sydney waterfront to continue the stand soy Enelish and didn't want Melbourne cries and the cow. lets to understand. They lust wanted to were taken on to Moreton Bay ahere go tionie they were finally_ landed:. Squatters who had joined the atitlaj Another tit p. the Hashemy, Immigration Society, and had pros_ arrived a few months later in Mel- mised to make regular coutribunahs bourne with more convicts and got to support it. res hi masses and shoved oft for the north. the scheme- e to a melancholy That ended the attestto rein - end troduce tram convicts to Late In 1849 word got round Mel- the Austral nn mainInnd. And a boulne that a ship loaded _Withnount- "good thing tool to be doubly alert about their .15111 sheep as there were jackals about, ende the ryisoeut isg herau hist it snit uri m era he tramped. uni ling. over to his friends' flock. Three-quarters of an houra rapid travel in the bright moon- light past low stone walla vineyards, and up steep winding paths, brought the shepherds to the village. The guard hardly bothered to notice them beyond thinking they most have been drinking too much wine. Their feet and garments were wet and their breath came in clouds of vapour. r HEY continued quickly along the narrow dark street. now saying little, and so ai came to the Inn. where they saw a light in the back at the building. They began to run, their voices and noisy approach bringing the landlord to the door. "Why it's you, Big SI111011, What are you doing here? 1Vhy have you left your sheep, mum? Hut don't make so much noise, and come in out of the cold." The shepherds, gesticulating and all talking lit ...nee, poured out their garbled story, and the amazed man looked mutely from one to the other. "How can this be?" he whis- pered incredulously. "You dream. man. surely?" "It's true, every simile word of it." affirmed Simon. 'Oh, it's true right enowli," agreed the other two nodding their heads vehemently. with eves rolling. Their voices' brought the Inn- keeper's wife and daughter to the room. and the father, mother and daughter gazed at the shepherds in dgrave wonder fascinated but berti- ered indeed, though the prophets had said something like this would one day happen - but surely not at their Inn. Quietly and somewhat nervously the Innkeeper's trite said. 'We were just now going to bed, and heard you come. Your story is strange, but it is true that a baby bay was born a little while ago In our manger. And my two neighbours who helped nue and my daughter have gone home. But we saw nothing unusual about the husband, wife or child." And she pointed to the dish on the table "There," she continued. "is the rem -tins of the salt we used when we put the new born child in swaddling clothes." Big Simon drew in Ills breath sharply, "A child In swaddling clothes In a manger?" He looked searchingly at the woman while his two friends moved back and fol- lowed his gaze. Brushing his -.bak- ing hand across his forehead. Simon whispered, "Could we see?" The woman glanced at her hus- nand. reluctant and disturbed. In silence he barely nodded. "Why not? Come, but quietly," she whi4tered leading the way_ Almost without realising it, the six people moved together out to the stable. Tile extraordinary news of what the shepherds had seen and heard on the palm was almost be- yond belief, and they all halted in confusion and uncertainty at the inn imer. Mary wakened. and Mainly to the moonlit entrance she &wheal the group huddled against the light. Recognising the Innkeeper's wife she smiled and beckoned theni to mine inside. Joseph, greatly tired, rested beside her said t,.ct woman as A soft light gently Illuminated the shelter and the clean straw ar- ound the make-shift crib gleaned like gold. The people came in, id - raid and wondering. The rough and ragged shepherds clutched their mammoth. They smelled of sweat and sheep. Straining their brown necks with mouth wide open and eyes wide in their weather-beaten simple faces. they heard Mary gently say. "Come close. behold the Child." Cautiously they moved nearer. Joseph wakened by the voices rose and stood by the Infant. A lamb softla bleated. Mary uncover- ed the Cheat. and they clearly saw the tiny Pliant The shepherds and the Innkeep- er's !moils instinctively dropped to their knees on the floor. The whole rave quickly became suffused with a warm radiance and tile most humble but so privileged lea mir- aculously understood, and adored Him in supreme Joy. They were hardly conscious of time or place as the wondrous min- utes passed with the hand of Clod upon them, and the Infant slept in Peace. Gradually, recovering. they heard Sinion's voice eently break the silence. "Holy God, It has come to Pass." he murmured Mildly F She slowly fell asleep, lost ill C the wonder of her supernatural C, achievement and the comfort el (' Divine Revelation. The cave was peaceful and warm, and a brilliant star hung bright and clear, suspen- ded high above the little shelter, C now turned Into a glorious throne .0 for the Christ Child, in the court- yard of a humble Inn at Bethlehem. `- And so dawned the morning of K - the first glorious Christmas Duty Epilo.rtie ON warm afternoon in the year 55 A.D., a man and a WOMall talked together at the easst- ern end of a little village in Judea, where the man and painted a small picture of a cave and an old build- ing. As the nan tookea "cross at toe distant mountains changing colour be wiped his brushes end said "Thank you again, you nave helped me greatly. This morning 'I was clown at the olive grove where the shepherds camp. And I have spoken to many villagers. However. what you have told me is so valuable. 1 had hardly hoped to meet you. of all people." Continued on Page 13 Mary listened to the telling and re -telling by the shepherds Cl their vision. Meanwhile the Innkeeper brought bread told wine for all, and his young daughter sat In silent rapture. Alter a short time the shepherds departed, reinteing with a happi- ness unknown Poore to man, to tell the villagers and all whom they might meet of the events idol the rnaerful news of a Baby. a Sav- iour born to mankind, the Infant King of Kings. asleep in the Mail- men When they had departed Mary reflected, "Those poor shepherds, Ca the most humble In the land, they have indeed confirmed it all, and f now the world will know the Pro- phecies have been fulfilled." I Ci !InffferrAINTI-1 ltenik 9ttifttiMMICreigeTt1frtitlt2titratIttit J im St /VD/11. uIl,tIL 1/.44.1Z/NE, December 26, 965--l'age 11 RISING, the m a n smiled. "My friends will be so interested Continued Jr Page 11 without It we have nns. ing. It is for rich al poor, weak anti %Rol alike." to hear what I have .1W4.41WWW.1140 to silence she loos up. "I will always r to tell them when I earth pence to men of member," she Bala sot, asorycium.c... good will"-all could be "Well, I must be T;Orgoo,,o7sh4lev,t.; sre:Yoll:;%1/21419161144_2. now. I isave with a (. r.11;""