He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side; if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion.

— John Stuart Mill

Christmas Carols in Prose #13: The First Noel

Cover image from Christmas 1898 Harper's Magazine
An over-the-top-dramatic Star of Bethlehem from the cover image of the Christmas 1898 Harper’s Magazine. By Harvey Ellis.

The first “Noel” the angel said was to certain poor shepherds as they lay in fields—in fields where they lay while keeping their sheep on a cold, deep winter night. Noel! The king of Israel is born!

They looked up and saw a star shining far beyond them in the east. It gave great light to earth and continued like that both day and night. Noel! The king of Israel is born!

[Original Text: traditional carol, author unknown]


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