Wieneke Archive Book 4a : Articles by James Wieneke Presscuttings

ramid they departed I. but for the branches ut es rustling in the breeze light had been gone for - before the shepherds be - not understand what had ha ends elleaare surely mad." He did but as the three shepherds nailed oil in the direction of the village he scratched his head and told Sam g mob went dews to J,Ise-watorlront and yelled "boo" 1.1,11 "no bawd -convicts" at the vessel. --- -- a ----- 15 %acts was arriving from England. A .lied I newspaper echoed popular taste in hospital . . . 6 shying' The hour has come and the . . . Total 32 mien.- The convicts are In the Bay i I niappened to the utlige-Lwar-lintt behoves us to see that they obtain no looting here." in the sample .natattrcorded er, it Tr that Chinese A big mob went down to the water s not prosper in the edne r' ,i veiled "yea," "boo" and "go ,I1 sheep property atmosphere homr ' molds" at the good ,,hip hated the cold In winter - Rana a which went with its cargo made them sick. AAd 'they to Sydney ie heat in summer -which also Angry people were waiting on the inn sick They didn't under- Sydney vii, ',firma to continue the ny English and didn't want Melbo s cries and the onotets island. They just wanted to were taken in to aloreto ay where they were tinall its who had joined the Malay Anot --s IV p. the Haaherny, ration Society and had ro- a few months later in Mel- lo make regular co a bourne with more convicts and got art it, re masses and shoved oft Mr the north. e to a melancholy That ended the anent to rein- troduce trail convicts to in 1649 word got round Mel- an mainland. And a that a ship loaded good thing tool along saying little, and toon came to the inn. where they saw a light in the back of the building. They began to run, their voices and noisy approach bringing the landlord to the door. "Why it's you, Big Simon, what are you doing here? Why have you left your sheep, man? But dun't make so much noise, and come in out of the cold." The shepherds, gesticulating and all talking at once. poured out their garbled story, and the amazed man looked nudely from one to the other. "How can this be?" he wins. pered incredulously. "You dream. Mall, surely?" -It's true, every single word ca It." affirmed Simon. "Oh, II F true right enouzh," agreed the other two nodding their heads vehemently. with eyes rolling. Their voices brought the Inn- iteepet's wife and daughter to the room. and the father. mother and daughter gazed at the shepherds in grave wonder fascinated but ber,11- dered 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 wife said, 'We were just now going to bed. and heard you come. Your story is strange, but it is true that a baby boy was born a little while ago In our manger. And my two neighbours who helped me 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 remains of the salt we used when we put the new born child in swaddling clothes." Big Sinton drew in his breath sharply. "A child in swaddling clothes in a manger," He looked searchingly at the woman while Ills two friends moved buck and fol- lowed his gaze. Brushing his shak- ing hand across his forehead. Simon whispered, "Could we see?" 't'he woman glanced at her hus- nand, reluctant and disturbed. In silence he barely nodded. "Why not? Come, but quietly," she whispered. leading the way. Almost without realising it, the six neople moved together out to the stable. The extraordinary news of what the shepherds had 'cell and heard on the plain was .timost be- yond belief, anti they all halted in con/union and uncertainty af the manger. Mary wakened, and turning to the moonlit entrance she beheld the group huddled against the light. Recognising the Innke-'per's wife she smiled and beckoned them to come inside. Joseph. greatly tired, rested beside her I The aheapherds and the Innkeep- ers wetly instinctively dropped to their knees on the floor. The whole rave quickly became suffused with a warm radiance, and the must humble but so privileged tea mir- aculously understood. and adored Him in supreme joy. They were hardly conscious of tinte or place as the wondrous 113111 - tiles passed with the hand of God upon them. and the haunt slept in peace. Gradually recovering, they heard Simona voice gently breid1 the silence. "Holy God, it has come to Pass," he murmured quietly Mary listened to the telling and re -telling by the shepherds of their vision. Meanwhile tile Innkeeper brought bread and wine for all, and his young daughter sat in silent rapture. Altar a short time the shepherds departed, rejoicing with a happi- ness unknown before to man, to tell the villagers and all whom they might meet of the events and the alnderful news of a Baby, a Sav- iour born to mankind, the Infant King of Kings, asleep in the Man- ger. When they had departed Mary reflected. -Those poor shepherds. the most humble in the land. they have indeed confirmed it all. and now the world will know the pro- phecies have been fulfilled." She slowly felt asleep, lost III the wonder of her supernaturalachievement and the comfort of Divine Revelation. The cave was pea ehfuunand igwhat rman da clear, brilliant ded high above the little shelter, now turned Into a glorious throne for the Christ Child, in the court- yard of a humble Put at Bethlehem And so dawned the morning of the first glorious Christrium Dav Epilogue d)a/ a warm aiternoon in the year 55 A.D., a man and a woman talked together at the &Amt. - ern end of a little village in Judea, where the man had painted a small picture of a cave and an old build- ng. As the nan looked across at toe distant mountains changing colour he wiped his brushes and mid "Thank you again, you nave helped me greatly. This morning T was down 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 WitlitninatTIVItrit IMO? iltIltiVintffantiltrtiTMMA u f THE SUNDAY MAIL MAGAZINE, December 26, 19415--roge 11 %;1 1-1 . and The Child Was Born RISING, the m a n smiled. "My friends will be so interested to hear what I have to tell them when I return home." His companion, some sixty-five years of age, picked up her basket as he gathered his things, "It is a beautiful Rae painting," she remarked admiringly, "but the old Inn needs some repairs. My poor father never tired of telling the story of that Inn and its visi- tors, and how often I heard him say, 'If we would but live, by sin- cerely interpreting the words t h e shepherds brought to us on that night-"Glory be to God in Use highest, and on Continued from Page 11 earth peace In men of good could be well with the world The faun looked kindly at the aged daughter of the Innkeeper. "Your father was right beyond all doubt. We know now that the Infant born that winter's night at your father's little Inn was truly the Son of God made Man choosing to be born in poverty and humility, to come among us as an intermediary and Saviour, and to show us the way of life. And at the willing sacrifice of his own. But his teaching will be our yardstlen for all time, for without it we have noth- ing. It la for rich and poor, weak and strong alike." In silence she looked up, "I will alwas re- member," she said' softly. "Well, I must be off now. I leave with a cara- van before sundown, and I want you to have this little painting. I did it for you. God be with yor.' The woman's gentle 'hanks were hardly aud- ible as the man turned and made his way swiftly along the narrow streets to the Gates of Bethie- hem. She gazed after him. He was both surgeon and artist from the famed city of Antioch, and was writing the greatest story of all time His name was Luke. THE SUNDAY MAIL NI