December 19, 2014: Del Rio News-Herald * Letter to the Editor * First Christmas Mouse Tale

Letter to the Editor,

First Christmas Mouse Tale

Atop Amistad Dam on a cold Christmas Eve night, a family of mice from north and south of the border gathered to hear Grandpapa tell them this traditional Christmas mouse tale.

We’ve all heard the poem that begins, “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”

Well did you know that there were mice at the very first Christmas?

Their names were Bethel and Elhem, the Mice from Bethlehem, who took shelter in a cave on that cold winter’s night, when to their surprise Two Travelers came into that very same cave.

It was a Young Couple and the donkey they rode. 

The Young Wife was pregnant and about to give birth. 

All the animals gathered around Her, protecting the Mother and soon Baby to be born, from the cold wind that whisked and whirled around the cave.

There were sheep, goats, cows, chickens and Bethel and Elhem, all encircling the Mother soon to give birth. 

They stood there in wonder and awe as the Baby Boy was born and the Mother and Father rejoiced at the birth of their First Born Son. 

The cave was all aglow with the moon and the stars in the heavenly night shining brightly upon the Newborn.

The sheep gave the New Family of the Baby Boy and His Parents their soft woolly coat to keep them snuggly warm; the goats and cows gave their creamy milk and the chickens gave their fresh eggs to keep them fed.

But Bethel and Elhem wondered what they could give the Baby Boy and His Father and Mother. 

They felt very sad because they were just two small, simple mice with nothing of value to give this New Family of Mother, Father and Newborn Baby Boy. 

All through the night they rummaged through their secret pile of stashed away trinkets, when much to their delight they found a needle and thread and a stack of brightly colored pieces of fabric shreds. 

When all were asleep they quietly sneaked their new found treasures next to the Baby Boy’s bed which was a manger of hay.  

Bright and early the next morning His Mother awoke and much to Her surprise She found the needle, thread and fabric pieces and began to sew them to make the finest attire for her Baby Boy. 

Bethel and Elhem were as proud as could be, for the Baby Boy now had a garment fit for a King.

Bethel and Elhem were there when Three Strangers on camels entered the cave; they knelt in front of the Baby Boy now dressed like a King. 

For His Birthday presents they gave Him their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

But nothing was grander than the garment the Baby Boy wore and all thanks to the best gifts of all from Bethel and Elhem.

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Marian Casillas, Ed.D.