Let's Find Out - The Birth of Jesus & other Christmas Stories (Mark Twain, Joseph Conrad, Frederick Douglass) | ASMR

Episode Date: December 22, 2022

A reading of the biblical Birth of Jesus Christ and the extended story surrounding the nativity. Then I read a couple other comical, tragic, thoughtful, and endearing Christmas stories by Joseph Conrad, Frederick Douglass, and Betty. Also included is the Poem "The Bird of Dawning" by Shakespeare. Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro (Christmas is a collective dream about hope, peace, and love and one in which billions look forward to participate in.) Beginning of the Story of the Birth of Jesus: 5:07 (Elisabeth and Zechariah given a miracle baby: John the Baptist) 9:39 The Annunciation (Gabriel announcing miracle virgin birth to Mary) 13:28 The Visitation (of Mary to her cousin Elisabeth) 16:03 The Nativity (Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem, Birth Jesus, Shepards visited by Gabriel and visit Jesus) 22:16 Presentation of 8-day old Jesus in the Temple (to Simeon) 25:00 The Coming of the Magi (Wise Men) and Herod's Inquiry 28:21 The Slaying of the Infants (by Herod in Search of Jesus) and the Flight to Egypt of Mary, Joseph and Jesus 30:53 The Return of Jesus to Israel 37:25 What was the Star of Bethlehem? A Comet? Conjunction of Planets? Beginning of the other Christmas Stories: 46:29 "The Bird of Dawning" (Short Poem by Shakespeare) 51:07 "A Letter from Santa Claus" by Mark Twain 59:11 "Christmas Day at Sea" by Joseph Conrad 1:06:07 "Christmas Meditation of a Young Student" by the young Pope John XXIII (from 1902) 1:11:19 "New Relations and Duties" by Frederick Douglass 1:18:00 "Francie Nolan's Christmas Tree" by Betty Smith Merry Christmas, -Rich

Well, Merry Christmas, guys. We're going to wrap up the year with a Christmas themed episode. Not exactly my most prolific year. It's probably episode number five. But for those of you listening, let's see, I got a Christmas book here. I aptly called The Book of Christmas. And I just recently got over it cold. So forgive my extra.

bassy voice tonight. It's funny how we're coming together collectively, everyone who celebrates it, and even those who aren't Christians, we essentially agree upon a shared fantasy that we should all be a little more kind. I saw somebody doing a Twitter poll about, you know, what is the theme the underlying theme behind most Christmas stories and movies is that, you know, it's getting at least one of the more prominent answers. It's for the main character of all these stories to get in touch with the Christmas spirit. And in that Christmas spirit means, well, it has a deep history. Going back to before pre-Christianity, the birth of Jesus then,

and all the traditions that have been subsumed by the holiday since then, and all the new ones that continually get made and assimilated into the current tradition. But at its core is the birth of Christ, and it's a spirit in the sense of, it's an idea that takes hold of all of our imaginations. And part of it is the gift-giving Santa Claus and making sure children are nice over being naughty and the gift-giving spirit, the family embracing and the general spirit of love amongst your community. And of course this all revolves around the shortest actual day of the year It's when night is longest day is shortest in the northern hemisphere where these traditions were created The year is roughly the coldest and

The new year represents a rebirth of the coming cycle Yearly seasonal cycle the rebirth of all the dying dead um flora and fauna you know we don't sit and think about why we put a tree in our room in our living rooms and decorate it and light it up cap it with a star and leave presents under it and take a collective holiday every year but we do most people do and Most people agree, I think I said this in my other video a couple years ago, Santa sold shrooms or something like that. We would much rather have a Christmas holiday

than it would just be another day of the week. And that goes for any holiday, really, of course. But, you know, why is this time of year so special? I really want to just kind of have that be the background. Learning more about a subject, any subject, gives more depth to it and more resonance and more meaning to it, I guess. So let's find out about Christmas, and we're going to start with the absolute center. The core of Christmas is, of course, the birth of Christ.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Isaiah 9, chapter 9, verse 6. There was, in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the course of Abidja, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth, and they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren. and they were both now well stricken in years and it came to pass that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing at the whole multitude of people, standing at the time of incense. the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, fear not Zechariah. For thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call him, call his name John. Here from Luke, Luke chapter 1 verse 5 through 16 18 through 25 I missed this painting here is the angel of enunciation angel of the enunciation part of an altar piece painted by an unknown

French artist around 1450 biblically accurate angel from what I've seen on Reddit recently those seem pretty wild looking and now shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth, for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb, and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. In Zechariah said unto the angel, whereby shall I know this, for I am an old man, and my wife, well stricken in years. And the angel said unto him,

I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee and show thee these glad tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed because thou believest not in my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zachariah and marveled, that he tarried so long in the temple.

And when he came out and he could not speak unto them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless. And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministrations were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself for five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Figure of an angel, angel from 18th century, Napoleon, Neapolitan, Kresch. We have another depiction of the enunciation. One in this picture here. The enunciation. And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph in the of the house of David and the virgin's name was Mary and the angel came in unto her and said hail thou art highly favored the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women and when she saw him she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation

this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and he shall be called the son of the highest. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father, David. and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Marian to the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The holy ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also, that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God. And behold that cousin Elizabeth,

she hath also conceived a son in her old age. And this was the sixth month with her, who was called barren, for with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Here's a bronze panel from the north door of the baptistery in Florence from the 1400s. Look at this a little more in depth here. It's just so much going on here. The visitation by Jacopa de Pontormo, 16th century. There's Mary, I guess, visiting Elizabeth. And Mary arose in those days and went into the country, the hill country with Hayes. into a city of Judah and entered into the house of Zechariah and saluted Elizabeth and it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary the babe left in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and she spake out with a loud voice and said blessed art thou among women blessed is the fruit of thy womb and whence is this to me that the mother of my lord should come to me. For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation, salutation sounded in my nears, the babe left in my womb for joy. And blessed

is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Savior. For he hath regarded the lowest state of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name, and his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shown his strength with his arm. He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things. In the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath helped his servant, Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spake to our fathers to Abraham and to his seed forever. And Mary abode with her about three months and returned to her house. The Nativity. This is the nativity from a Spanish Ritablo, Joseph and Mary and the wise men. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus. Remember this is right around, this is at Rome's height here, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was for first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria, and all went to be taxed everyone 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 one of the house of the lineage of David, to be taxed with his Mary, with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. Hundreds here eating from the children, David, Mary and Joseph, Neobolitan Kreish figure. Then here from the 1400s, illumination depicting the enunciation to the shepherds. So here we have angels announcing the birth of Jesus. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them. and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear not. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you.

Ye shall find this babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger and suddenly there was with and with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace a good will toward men Overleaf is on the next page is the angels in adoration two fresco panels by Benazzo Cozoli for the chapel of the Medici Ricardy Palace in Florence in the 15th century the 1400s here it really is something right there it's an amazing piece of art Brant 1646 can't really make that out sorry mere the adoration of the shepherds by from the by Hugo van derogues 1475 little bed isn't it

the baby some hay. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let's go now, let's go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph in the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child, and all that they had heard wondered at those things that were foretold to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her home, and the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them. Luke chapter 2 verse 1 to 20 and when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child his name was called jesus which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb and when the days of her purification according to the laws of moses were accomplished they brought him to jerusalem to present him to the lord and to offer him to her purification according to the laws of moses were accomplished they brought him to the lord and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves,

or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and that same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Ghost was upon Him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, then he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let'st thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared,

before the face of all people. A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people of Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. And there's a 13th century illumination. Illumination means it was in part of a manuscript. So it's a page, I believe, I don't know for sure.

Circumcision, 16th century. this main piece here is from the 14th century presentation of Jesus in the temple by Ambrosio Lorenzetti. Especially back then those temples must have really been something to stand in and behold and next to I'm sure the more drab, you know ordinary looking clay or brick stone buildings around it. The Magi, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. was born in Bethlehem of Judea 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 a star in the east and are come to worship him. Get that more in view here there. When Herod the king, when Herod had heard these things, he was troubled. and all Jerusalem with him And when he gathered all the chief priests and scribes of people together He demanded of them where Christ should be born

And they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea For thus it is written by the prophet And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah Art not the least among the princes of Judah For out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privately called, or privily, called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child. When ye have found him, bring him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him, I'm not so sure that's what Herod wants to do though. I'd actually forgotten this part of the story. When they had heard the king they departed 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 in exceeding with exceeding great joy and when they were coming to the house they saw the young child with

marry his mother and fell down and worshipped him. When their treasures, they presented to them gifts of gold, frankincense, and mur. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod. They departed into their own country another way. Matthew chapter 2 in verse 1 through 12. Here's a depiction of the sleep of the magi in which they got the dream. not to go back to Herod. This was from the 15th century, 1400s. The slaying of the infants.

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring thee word. For Herod will seek the young child

to destroy him. And when he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt. And was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, out of Egypt, have I called my son? Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wrath, and sent forth and slew all the children. children that were in Bethlehem from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying, in Rama was there

a voice heard. Lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel, weeping for her children, would not be comforted because they are not. Slaughtering of the Innocence, 13th century illumination. No doubt this happened in history many times, all the way from the year a thousand, a thousand years ago. Here in Joseph's dream, an 11th century illumination. Uncarving by Gislebertus of the Cathedral, autumn, 12th century.

Europe was awakening from the many dark ages, medieval. Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel, for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose and took the young child and his mother

and came into the land of Israel, but when he heard that Archelaus, Arkelos, did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither. Notwithstanding being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth. That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of to the by the prophets. He shall be called a Nazarene. And the child grew.

waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. Luke chapter 2, verse 40. Virgin and the child near a window, a drawing by Rembrandt, 17th century. As many Sunday schools as I went to, I don't remember the slaughtering of the children part. And I'm sure there's tons about the Bible and within the Bible that I don't remember. But I also don't remember Mary having a cousin. her getting pregnant at an old age. So the book goes into the history of Christmas.

I guess one thing that came up to me, I didn't want to interrupt the story there. One thing I never really thought about was, undoubtedly, if this was, I don't know about the historic, you know, the veracity, the truth of Herod slaying all the children here, I'm sure it happened many times I'm sure things like that happened

when a tyrannical ruler got especially radical and tyrannical and somehow or another happened to slay all the especially the males who might grow up to you know if any historically this is just practical for

you don't want to have males in a conquered city grow up knowing the history knowing the you know having the resentment for the conquerors that they might use to overthrow eventually so of course there's going to be lots of that happening but it was interesting that if jesus really was the only child or one of the few who survived of his age group then wouldn't that impact that wouldn't that make him all the more valuable and special wouldn't you think he would be revered and doted on in all the best possible ways you know he was he would be taken under the wing of all the the elders and the wise men and the you know that

everyone would have his best interest at heart if you had only one male of that generation or within a couple years he would be looked after he would be encouraged to thrive and flourish and been given every opportunity you know I could only imagine what kind of effect that would have on someone's character the psychology of that would be astounding so the book goes here into it's about 30 pages so that would be you know that'd be like a two-hour journey so I'm not gonna read the history of Christmas here but it does go into maybe we'll browse through it it is a pretty comprehensive look into the history interpreted and how it evolved after

Christ's birth as Christianity grew and evolved and began impacting the culture and the Roman and further beyond, beyond Roman supporters. The traditions began being incorporated into previous traditions like Saturnalia and assimilated into the myth. I might actually make this into another video. This would be really cool to read about. Goes into the history of it. the um you know the taxation and the the actual history around that time and at one point it speculates

about whether the star seen by the wise men and the shepherds was a comet or was it maybe a conjunction of two planets like mars and jupiter or something or maybe mars and saturn venus even especially bright planets If those had happened to almost exactly overlap, that would have made something that looked like a new star exceptionally bright in the sky. 3. Johnius Kepler watched through his telescope a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation of Pisces. And remembered something he'd read that ancient astrologers had long believed this near meeting of the planet signified that. night, even the hour, when the Messiah would appear. Because Pisces, those two celestial fishes, tied by their tails, was his Jesus's, Christ's sign. Jupiter was a royal and lucky planet,

Saturn, was held to protect Israel. From careful calculation of his notes, Kepler learned that this rare and strange conjunction had happened before in six or seven BC. For years, his discovery was disregarded, but in 1925. Some ancient papers were found in the once famous school of astrology in Sipar and Babylon. And there in Babylonian cuneiform, a conjunction was clearly marked and observed for five, months in the year of 7 BC it was of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Pisces seems irrefutable and yet to wise experienced men like the magi could the conjunction however close seemed as one star you know would they not

have said and seen said seen it and said we have seen his stars in the plural again whether explained with planets there was a Chinese comet mentioned or could have been a supernova a nova exploding of course there's still one flaw all were visible in Babylon and over the east as far as China yet no one in Palestine seems to have noticed them not herod's chief priests or scribes

or anyone in Jerusalem even when the magic I told them they were mystified. Why? In Jerusalem, in the Jerusalem Bible, the commentary on the Gospels is careful to scotch any fantasy, scrupulously separating truth from legend. And yet the relevant note says, obviously not the evangelist, or obviously the evangelist, the careful historian Matthew. And that's a whole other interesting. thing to dive into the actual authors of the New Testaments, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

They have their own stories and myths surrounding them as well. Obviously, Matthew is thinking of a miraculous star. It's futile to look for a natural explanation. And it is not in the essence of vision that it is seen only by those, yeah, Is it not in essence a vision that it's seen only by those for whom it's intended? There's no record that anyone but John the Baptist saw the dove descending at the baptism. On the road to Damascus, no one but Paul saw anything. Yet Paul for a while was blinded by the light.

It's been the same with all visions. It says here, so it might be that, It might have been that the true wonder of the star was that no one but the magi saw it. To marry their homage, too, would have seemed unearthly. These great visitants from countries far beyond her kin, kneeling before her child. But then there were those earthly gifts, strange gifts for most babies. But the wise men were seers. They offered this one gold for his royalty.

frankincense for his divinity in mur for bitter death and sorrow yeah that's going to but I didn't want to of course read the whole thing I almost got tempted there I think what I like to do is go from the story of the birth of Christ into a couple of these short stories by these famous authors Ming's Dickens, Joseph Conrad for me Let's see Cross Mark Twain I think maybe starting with Shakespeare

Might be a good idea I haven't read Shakespeare since college Or maybe high school But man I did not enjoy it But um I think it's something that I wasn't ready to read I wasn't ready to relate to the actual experience that his character went through.

Look at this. There's something like this, this depiction of an old 1500s German village or something covered with snow. I'm in Florida, so that's even more, you know, romantic to me. This idea that, of course, this would have been someone born to, into wealth. such a mansion but I don't know maybe it was a communal event who knows just the

idea of a small little European village covered in snow next to an ancient forest and everybody going indoors as the sun sets and the fire inside is roaring warming everybody up and they get off there well there's two horses here but you know they're one horse open sleigh occasionally seems like such a such a pleasant experience doesn't it and there's like a hundred stories here there's at least 30 different stories if not 30 or 40 actually 50 who knows but um I'll probably just read two or three here's Shakespeare the bird some say that ever against the season comes wherein our saviour's birth is celebrated. The bird of

dawning singeth all night long. And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad. The knights are wholesome. Then no planets strike, no fairy takes, nor which hath power to charm. So hallowed and so gracious is this time. Forget if I edited it out, but if I did edit it out that's a hard word to say in the past tense I edited it I was just talking about how I saw the other day someone

asking for just taking a poll online about the general common thread among all Christmas stories and movies and it's the spirit of Christmas being lost and regained by the main protection

in the spirit of Christmas, which is defined here. May you have the gladness of Christmas, which is hope. The spirit of Christmas, which is peace, in the heart of Christmas, which is love. Hope, peace, spring coming forth, and the day getting longer. Rebirth of not only plants and animals, but, you know, ourselves. and peace, peace being able to not carry over into the new year any of your troubles from the year before and by being honest with yourself and not hiding anything and airing out any old grievances you might be tempted to take into the new year and letting it go. in the heart which is love and that's the aspect of giving giving to the people you love

presence gifts sharing dinners friends and family and um yeah those are pretty pretty important aspects of life that it's good that we have at least one day a year and that we're all forced most of us to um to remember yeah let's see what else are I was hoping to just read the shorter, pithier ones. Not really drag them out too much more. But I miss this. A letter from Santa Claus. Picture of Mark Twilera, Samuel, and Susie Clemens in 1877.

Letter from Santa Claus. My dear Susie Clemens. I've received and read all the letters which you and your little sister have written me by hand, oh, by the hand of your mother and your nurses. and I've also read those which you little people have written me with your own hands

for although you did not use any characters that are in grown people's alphabet you used the characters that all children and all lands on earth in the twinkling stars use and as all my subjects in the moon are children and use no character but that

you will easily understand that I can read your and your baby sisters jagged in fantastic remarks, remarks without any trouble at all. But I had trouble with those letters which you dictated through your mother and the nurses. For I'm a foreigner

and I can't read English writing well. You will find that I made no mistakes about the things which you and the baby ordered in your own letters. I went down your chimney at midnight when you were asleep and delivered them all myself and kissed you both, of course.

Because you are good children, well-trained, nice-mannered, and about the most obedient little people I have ever seen. But in the letter you dictated, which you dictated, there were some words I couldn't make out for certain. One or two small orders, which I couldn't film because we ran out of stock. Our last lot of kitchen furniture for dolls has just gone to a very poor, little child in the North Star sway away up in the cold country above the Big Dipper. Your mama can show you that that star and you'll say, little Snowflake, for that is the child's name. I'm glad that you got your own furniture, for you needed more than I. That is, you must write that with your own hand and Snowflake will write you an answer. If you only

spoke it, she wouldn't hear you. Make your letter light and thin for the distance is great in the postage is very heavy. There was a word or two in your mama's letter in which I couldn't be certain of. I took it to be a trunk full of dolls' clothes. Is that it? I will call at your kitchen door about nine o'clock this morning to inquire, but I must not see anybody and I must not speak to anybody but you. When the kitchen doorbell rings, George must be blindfolded and sent to the door. Then he must go back to the dining room, or the china closet, or take the cook with him. You must tell George he must walk on tiptoe and not speak. Otherwise, he will die something. Then you must go up to the nursery and stand on a chair or the nurse's bed and put your

ear to the speaking tube that leads down to the kitchen. And when I whistle through it, you must speak into the tube and say, welcome Santa Claus. Then I will ask whether it was a trunk you ordered or not. If you say it was, I shall ask you what color you want the trunk to be. Your mama will help you make, help you to name a nice color. And then you must tell me every single thing in detail, which you want the trunk to contain. Then when I say goodbye and a Merry Christmas to my little Susie Clemens, you must say

goodbye, good old Santa Claus. I thank you very much and please tell that little snowflake. I will look at her star tonight and she must look down here. I will be right in the West Bay window and every fine night I will look at her star and say, I know somebody up there and I like her too. Then you must go down into the library and make George close up all the doors that open into the main hall. And everybody must keep still for a little while. I will go to the moon and get those things. And in a few minutes, I will come down the chimney that belongs to the fireplace that is in the hall if it is a trunk you want, because I couldn't get such a thing as a trunk down the nursery

chimney, you know. People may talk if they want until they hear my footsteps in the hall. Then you tell them to be quiet While I go back up the chimney Maybe you may not hear my footsteps at all So you may go now and then and peep through the dining room doors And by and by you will see that thing which you want Right under the piano in the drawing room

For I shall put it there If I should leave any snow in the hall you must tell George to sweep it into the fireplace For if I have I haven't time to do such things. George must not use a broom, but a rag, else he will die someday. You must watch George and not let him run into danger. If my boots should leave a stain on the marble,

George must not wholly stone it away. Leave it there always as a memory for my visit, of my visit. And whenever you look at it or show it to anybody, you must let it remind you to be a good little girl. whenever you are naughty and somebody points to that mark which your good old Santa Claus's boots made on the marble what will you say little sweetheart

goodbye for a few minutes till I come down to the world and ring the kitchen doorbell your loving Santa Claus whom people call sometimes the man in the moon that was a really cute little letter I had no idea that existed along with, I guess, most of these letters. All right, let's try one or two.

Christmas Day at Sea, Joseph Conn. On Christmas Tree. How many housefires did that cause? Christmas Day at Sea by Joseph Conrad. In all my 20 years of wandering over the restless waters of the globe, I can only remember one Christmas Day celebrated by a present given and received. It was, in my view, proper live-sea transaction, no offering of dead sea fruit, and in its unexpectedness, perhaps worth recording.

Let me tell you first that it happened in the year 1879, long before there was any thought of wireless messages, and when an inspired person trying to prophecy broadcasting would have been regarded as a particularly offensive nuisance and probably sent to a rescue home. We used to call them madhouses then in our rude cavemen way. The daybreak of Christmas Day in the year 1879 was fine.

The sun began to shine sometime around 4 o'clock over the somber expanse of the southern ocean in latitude 51 and shortly after a sail was sighted ahead. The wind was light but a heavy swell was running. Presently I wished a merry Christmas to my captain. He looked sleepy but amiable. I reported the distant sail to him

and ventured the opinion that there was something wrong with her. He said wrong in an incredulous tone. I pointed out that she had all her upper sails furled and that she was brought to the wind, which in that region of the world could not be accounted for on any other theory. He took the glasses from me, directed them towards her striped to masses,

masts waggling to and fro ridiculously in that heaving and austere wildness of countless waterhills and returned them to me without a word. He only yawned. This marked display, this marked display of callousness gave me a shock. In those days I was generally inexperienced and still a comparative stranger

in that particular region of the world of waters. The captain, as is a captain's way, disappeared from the deck and after time our carpenter came up the poop ladder carrying an empty small wooden keg of the sort in which certain ship's provisions are packed. I said surprised. What do you mean by lugging this thing up here, Chips? Captain's order, sir, he explained shortly. I didn't like to question him further, so we only exchanged Christmas greetings, and he went away. The next person to speak to me was the steward. He came running up the companion stairs.

Have you any old newspapers in your room, sir? We had left Sydney, New South Wales. I guess that's what they called Australia back then. 18 days before, there were several old Sydney Herald's telegraphs, bulletins in my cabin. Besides a few home papers received by the last mail, why do you ask, Stuart? I inquired naturally. The captain would like to have them, he said. And even then I did not understand the inwardness of these eccentricities.

I was only lost in astonishment at them. It was 8 o'clock before we had closed with that ship. which under her short canvas and heading nowhere in particular seemed to be loafing aimlessly on the very threshold of the gloomy home of storms. But long before that hour I learned from the number of boats she carried that this nonchalant ship was a whaler. She had hoisted the stars and stripes at her peak

and her signal flags had already told us that they were that her name was Alaska, two years out from New York, east of Honolulu. Two hundred and fifteen days on the cruising ground. We passed, sailing slowly, within a hundred yards of her.

And just as our steward started ringing the breakfast bell, the captain and I held aloft. In good view of the figures watching us over her stern, the cake, properly headed up and containing,

besides an enormous bundle of newspapers, two boxes of figs, in honor of the day. We flung it far out over the rail. Instantly our ship, sliding down the slope of a high swell, left it far behind in our wake. On board, on board the Alaska, a man in a fur cap flourished an arm.

Another, a much-be-whiskered person, ran forward suddenly. I never saw anything so ready and so smart as the way that whaler rolling desperately all the time lowered one of her boats. The southern ocean went on tossing the two ships like a juggler in his gilt balls and the microscopic white speck of the boat

seemed to close into the game instantly. As if shot out of a catapult on the enormous and lonely stage, that Yankee whaler lost not a moment in picking up her Christmas present from the English wool clipper. Before we had increased,

the distance very much, she dipped her ensign in thanks and asked to be reported all well with a catch of three fishes. I suppose it paid them for two hundred and fifteen days of risk and toil away from the sounds and sights of the inhabited world, like outcasts devoted beyond the confines of mankind's life to some enchanted and lonely penance. Relations and Duties by Frederick Douglass 259. This got my eye. Christmas meditation of a young student.

Night has fallen, the clear bright stars are sparkling in the cold air. Noisy, strident voices rise to my year from the city, voices of revelers of this world who celebrate with merry-making the poverty of their savior. Around me in their rooms, my companions are asleep. I'm still wakeful, thinking of the mystery of Bethlehem. Come, come, Jesus, I await you. Mary and Joseph, knowing the hour is near, are turned away by the townsfolk and go out into the fields to look for a shelter.

I'm a poor shepherd. I have only a wretched stable, a small manger, some wisps of straw. I offer all these to you. Be pleased to come into my poor heart. I offer you my heart. My soul is poor and bare virtues. The straws of so many imperfections will prick you and make you weep, but, O Lord, oh my Lord, what can you expect? This little is all I have. I am touched by your poverty. I'm moved to tears, but I have nothing better to offer you. Jesus, honor my soul with your presence, adorn it with your graces. Burn this straw and change it into a soft couch for your most holy body.

Jesus, I am here waiting for your coming. Wicked men have driven you out and the wind is like ice. I am a poor man, but I will warm you as well as I can. Be pleased that I wish to welcome you warmly, to love you and sacrifice myself for you. But in your own way, you are rich and you see my needs. You are a flame of charity and you will purge my heart of all that is not your own most holy heart. You are uncreated holiness. You will fill me with those graces which give new life to my soul.

Oh Jesus, come, I have so much. to tell you so many sorrows to confide, so many desires, so many promises, so many hopes. To kiss you on the brow, oh, tiny Jesus, to give myself to you once more, forever. Come, my Jesus, delay no longer, come, be my guest. Alas, it is already laid, and I'm overcome with sleep in my pen slips from my fingers. Let me sleep a little, oh Jesus. while your mother and St. Joseph are preparing the room. I will lie down to rest here in the fresh night air.

As soon as you come, a splendor of your light will dazzle my eyes. Your angels will awaken me with sweet hymns of glory and peace, and I shall run forward with joy to welcome you, and to offer you my own poor gifts, my home, all the little I have, I will worship you. I will show you all my love with the other shepherds who have joined me and with the angels of heaven, singing hymns of glory to your loving heart. Says, these moving words were written on Christmas Eve 1902 by a young Italian named Angelo, Giuseppe Roncali, who was studying for the priesthood in Rome. Two years later, he graduated as a doctor in theology and was ordained.

The world now remembers him as the widely beloved Pope John the 23rd. Really passionate. That was really something. It's pretty deep. Sit there and really dwell on that. How little you have to give and how much you rely on Jesus. And that idea, that's potent. That's really powerful.

New Relations and Duties by Frederick Douglass. My term of service with Edward Covey, inspired on Christmas Day 1834. I gladly enough left him, although he was by this time as gentle as a lamb. My home for the year 1835 was already secured, my next master selected. There was always more or less excitement about the changing hands, but determined to fight my way, I'd somewhat become somewhat reckless and cared little into whose hands I fell. The report got abroad that I was hard to whip, that I was guilty of kicking back and that, though generally a good-natured Negro, I sometimes got the devil in me.

These sayings were rife in Talbot County and distinguished me among my servile brethren. Slaves would sometimes fight with each other and even die at each other's hands, but there were very few who were not held in awe by a white man. trained from the cradle up to think and feel that their masters were superiors and vested with a short a sort of sacredness there were few who could rise above the control which that sentiment exercised i had freed myself from it and the thing was known one bad sheep will spoil a whole flock i was a bad sheep i hated slavery slaveholders and all pertaining to them I did not fail to inspire others with the same feeling wherever and whenever opportunity was presented. This made me a marked lad, a marked lad among the slaves, and a suspected one among the slaveholders. The knowledge also of my ability to read and write got pretty widely spread, which was very much against me.

The days between Christmas Day and New Year's were allowed the slaves as high. holidays. During these days all regular work was suspended and there was nothing to do but keep fires and look after the stock. We regarded this time as our own by the grace of our masters and we therefore used it or abused it as we pleased. Those who had families at a distance were expected to visit and spend with them time with them the entire week. Under slaves who are the unmarried ones were expected to see to the animals and attend to incidental duties at home. The holidays were variously spent.

Sober, thinking, industrious ones would employ themselves in manufacturing corn brooms, mats, horse collars, baskets. Some of these were very well made. Another class spent their time in hunting possums, coons, rabbits, and other game. But the majority spent the holidays in sports, playing ball, wrestling, boxing, running foot, races, dancing, drinking whiskey. In this latter mode was generally most agreeable to their masters. A slave who had worked during the holidays was thought by his master, undeserving of holidays.

There was in this simple act of continued work and accusation against slaves. A slave could not help thinking that if he made three dollars during the holidays, he might make three hundred during the year. Not to be drunk during the holidays was disgraceful. The fiddling, dancing, and Jubilee beating was carried on in all directions. This latter performance was strictly southern. It supplied the place of violin or other musical instruments and was played so easily that almost every farm had its juba beater.

The performer improvised as he beat the instrument, marking the words as he sang so as they have them fall pot with the movements of his hands. Once in a while among the mass of nonsense and wild frolic, a sharp hit was given to the meanness of slaveholders. Take the following example. We raised the wheat. They give us to corn. We bake the bread.

They give us the crust. We sift the meal. They give us the huts. We peeled the meat, they give us the skin, and that's the way they take us in. This is not a bad summary of the palpable injustice and fraud of slavery, giving as it does to the lazy and idle the comforts which God design should be given solely to the honest laborer, but to the holidays. Judging from my own observation and experience, I believe those holidays were among the most effective means in the hands of the slaveholds.

hands of the slaveholders of keeping down the spirit of insurrection among the slaves. Makes you think, superstition of the Old South here says at midnight on Christmas Eve, the animals in their barns sink to their knees and turn toward Bethlehem. They also speak to each other about the good season and its meaning, but if you try to eavesdrop on them, you might die. There was another one I wanted to look at here. Francie Nolan's Christmas tree Yeah, that was it

I've never heard of Betty Smith but let's give her a shot Francie Nolan's Christmas tree Christmas was a charmed time in Brooklyn in 1912 The spruce trees began coming into Francy Nolan's neighborhood the week before Christmas It's funny how much earlier we celebrate And start decorating for Christmas these years These days I mean

Their branches were recorded to make shipping easy. Vendors rented space on the curb before a store and stretched a rope from pole to pole and leaned the trees against it. All day they walked up and down this one-sided avenue of aromatic cleaning trees, blowing on stiff, ungloved fingers. And the air was cold and still,

and full of the pine smell, and the smell of tangerines which appeared in the store is only a Christmas time, and the mean street was truly wonderful for a little while. There was a cruel custom in the neighborhood. At midnight on the eve of our dear Savior's birth, the kids gathered where there were unsold trees. There was a saying that if you waited until then, you wouldn't have to buy a tree, that they'd chuck them at you. This was literally true. The man threw each tree in turn, starting with the biggest. Kids volunteered to stand up

against the throwing. If a boy didn't fall down under the impact, the tree was his. If he fell, he forfeited his chance at winning a tree. Only the roughest boys and some of the young men elected to be hit by the big trees. The other kids waited shrewdly until a tree came up that they could stand against. The littlest kids waited for the tiny, foot-high trees and shrieked in delight when they won one. On the Christmas Eve, when Francie was ten and her brother Neely nine, Mama consented to let them go down and have a try for a tree. Francie had picked out her tree earlier in the day.

She'd stood near all afternoon and evening, praying that no one would buy it. To her joy, it was still there at midnight. It was ten feet tall. It was price, its price was so high that no one could afford it. Its branches were bound with new white rope, and it came to a sure, pure point at the top. The man took this tree out first. Before Francie could speak up the neighborhood bully,

a boy of 18 known as Punky Perkins, stepped forward and ordered the man to chuck the tree at him. The man hated the way Punky was so confident. He looked around and asked, Anybody else wanted to take a chance at it? Prancy stepped forward. Me, mister. A spurt of derisive laughter came from the tree man.

The kids snickered, a few adults who'd gathered to watch the fun guffawed. Oh, Guan, you're too little. The tree man objected. Me and my brother, we're not too little together. She pulled neelie forward. The man looked at them, a thin girl of ten, with starveling hollows in her cheeks. but with the chin still baby round.

He looked at the little boy with his fair hair and round blue eyes, and nearly Nolan. All innocence and trust. Two ain't fair, yelped Punky. Shut your lousy trap, advised the man who held all power in that hour. These kids, these here kids got nerve. Stand back, the rest of you. These kids going to have a show at this tree.

The others made a way of it. Lain, a human funnel with Francie and her brother, making the small end of it. The big man at the other end flexed his great arms to throw the great tree. He noticed how tiny the children looked at the end of the short lane. For the split part of a moment, the tree thrower went through with a kind of gethsemini. Oh, Jesus Christ, his soul agonized. Why don't I just give him the tree and say Merry Christmas? I can't sell it no more this year.

till next year. The kids watched them solemnly as he stood there in his moment of thought. But then, he rationalized. If I did that, all the others would expect to get them handed to him too. And next year, nobody at all would buy a tree off me. I ain't a big enough man to give this tree away for nothing. No, I gotta think of myself and my own kids. He finally came to his conclusion. Oh, what the hell? Them two kids got to live in this world. They got to learn, to give, and to take punishment. As he threw the tree with all his strength, his heart wailed out.

It's rotten. It's a rotten, lousy world. Francie saw the tree leave his hands. The whole world stood still as something dark and monstrous came through the air. There was nothing but pungent darkness and something that grew and grew. as it rushed at her. She staggered as the tree hit them. Neely went to his knees, but she pulled him up fiercely before he could go down.

There was a mighty swishing sound as the tree settled. Everything was dark, green, and prickly. Then she felt a sharp pain at her side, the side of her head where the trunk of the tree had hit her. She felt neely trembling. When some of the older boys pulled the tree away, found francy and her brother standing upright hand in hand blood was coming from scratches on neelie's face he looked more like a baby than ever with his bewildered blue eyes and the fairness of his skin

made more noticeable because of the clear red blood but they were smiling had they not won the biggest tree in the neighborhood some of the boys hollered hooray a few adults clapped the tree man, eulogized them by screaming, and now get the hell out of here with your tree. Such phrases could mean many things, according to the tone used in saying them. So Francie smiled tremendously at the kind man. She knew that he was really saying, goodbye. God bless you. They were handicapped by a young boy who ran alongside yelping. Free ride, all the board.

who'd jump on and make them drag him along. But he got sick at the game eventually and went away. In a way, it was good that it took them so long to get the tree home. It made their triumph more drawn out. Brancy glowed when a lady said, I'd never seen such a big tree. The cop on the corner stopped them, examined the tree, and solemnly offered to buy it for 15 cents if they delivered to his home.

Francy nearly burst with pride, although she knew he was joking. They had to call Papa to help them get the tree up the narrow stairs. Papa came running down. His amazement at the size of the tree was flattering. He pretended to believe that it wasn't theirs. Francie had a lot of fun convincing him, although she knew all the while that the whole thing was make-believe. Papa pulled in front, and Francie and Neely pushed him back,

and they began forcing the tree. up the narrow flights upstairs. Papa started singing, not caring that it was rather late at night. He sang Holy Night. The narrow walls took up his clear, sweet voice, held it for a breath, and gave it back with doubled sweetness.

Doors creaked open and families gathered on the landings, pleased and amazed at something unexpected being added to that moment of their lives. Francie saw the Tinimore sisters who gave piano lessons standing together in the doorway their gray hairs and crimpers and ruffled starched nightgowns showing under their voluminous wrappers they added their thin poignant voices to popas

Floss Gaddis and her brother Henny who was dying of consumption stood in the doorway Henny was crying and went Papa saw him, he let the song trail off. He thought maybe it made Henny too sad. Flossie was in a Klondike dance hall girl costume, waiting for an escort to take her to a masquerade ball,

which started at midnight. More to make Henny smile than anything else. Papa said, Floss, we got no angel for the top of this Christmas tree. How about you oblige you? Floss was already to make a smile. Mard-aliki reply, but there was something about the big, proud tree, the beaming children and the rare goodwill of the neighbors that changed her mind. All she said was,

gee, ain't you a kidder, Mr. Nolan. They set the tree up in the front room after Mama had spread a sheet to protect the carpet from the falling pine needles. The tree stood in a big tin bucket with broken bricks to hold it upright. Then the rope was cut away, and the branches spread out to fill the room. They draped over the piano and some of the chairs stood among the branches. There was no money to buy decorations or lights, but the tree, the great tree standing there, was enough. The room was cold. It was a poor year, that one. Too poor for them to buy an extra coal for the front room stove. The room smelled cold and clean and aromatic. Every day during the week the tree stood there.

Francie put her on her sweater and stocking cap and went in and sat under the tree. She sat there and enjoyed the smell and the dark greenness of it. Oh, the mystery of that great tree. A prisoner in a tin wash bucket in a tenement front room by Betty Smith. This is going to get into more of the history of the traditions. Maybe I'll save that for a different video and tack it on to the history of Christmas that we briefly touched upon. There, if I don't. Merry Christmas, guys.