I'm moving this weekend, and as you can imagine, things are very busy. Sadly, too busy for blog research.
So instead of our regular skip down General Conference lane, or even a saunter through the Iliad as we've been doing, I'm going to post references to Christmas from classic stories.
Our first is The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. The very last paragraph of the story says this:
The magi, as you know, were wise men—
wonderfully wise men—
who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger.
They invented the art of giving Christmas presents.
Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones,
possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication.
And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle
of two foolish children in a flat
who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house.
But in a last word to the wise of these days
let it be said that of all who give gifts
these two were the wisest.
Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest.
Everywhere they are wisest.
They are the magi."
The story of the wise men is in Matthew 2:
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa
in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him...
...and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them,
till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house,
they saw the young child with Mary his mother,
and fell down, and worshipped him:
and when they had opened their treasures,
they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
