The Forest Children Visit the Holy Child
December 21, 1966
Just before little Charlie went to bed on Christmas Eve he looked out the window and saw a bright shining star in the sky. It seemed to be much larger and brighter than the others. He called to Papa Charlie and pointed it out to him.
Papa Charlie said, “Little Charlie, that is a very special star. If we get our traveling caps I think we can go see the place where it is right overhead.”
“What do you mean, papa?” asked little Charlie.
“Well,” replied papa Charlie, “I believe that is so special perhaps some of your forest friends would like to take the trip with us.”
“Leave now — at night?” queried little Charlie.
“Yes, that’s just what I mean,” answered papa Charlie without telling little Charlie what it was all about.
Little Charlie went around to find his friends and ask if they would like to see where the star was shining even more brightly.
Because the mothers and fathers of the little forest friends knew what it was all about, they allowed the little folk to go with papa Charlie and little Charlie.
Going on the trip were the Deer brothers, Danny and Davey and their little sister Alison, Pam and Kim the Bunny twins, Craig the Chipmunk and his sister Christina, Ernie and Cecil the Squirrels.
When they had all gathered on the front porch, papa Charlie said, “Put on your traveling caps, whirl around three times, turn a somersault and here we are in the little town of Bethlehem in the country of Judea.”
Little Charlie looked up and saw the star shining much more brightly than it did in the forest. Papa Charlie said, “I believe if we walk up this path a little way the star will grow even brighter.”
As they walked up the path they saw many people who were just walking about the town looking for something to do. They also saw a group of shepherds walking in the same direction that they were and they seemed to know just where they were going.
Little Charlie said, “Papa, let’s follow those shepherds. Maybe they know where the star is brightest.”
As the group of forest folk turned a corner in the street they saw a soft yet bright light coming from the stable beneath the inn.
They followed the beam of light and found a tiny Baby lying in a bed of straw in a manger with His mother sitting close by His side. The animals of the barn — the oxen, asses and sheep — were all quietly standing by.
Little Charlie whispered to papa Charlie, “Is this little Baby what we came to see?”
“Yes, little Charlie,” replied papa Charlie. “This is the Baby that God has sent to earth so we might have a better understanding of God and His world. It is through this little Baby that all the people on earth can learn to live in peace and love and through this little one all people can find a place in Heaven.”
As the forest children watched, three kings arrived bringing gifts to the Baby. They too had seen the star and followed it.
The little Baby soon fell asleep. The forest children and Papa Bear left the stable. As they went out of town they heard Angels singing in the sky telling all who would listen that Christ was Born.
Papa Charlie said, “I think it is time we went back to our homes. Let’s make sure our caps are on, whirl around three times, turn a somersault” and there they were back home just in time for Mama Bear and all the other mamas to tuck the children in bed after they had heard of the beautiful Baby and His Mother.