The Argyle Sweater by Scott Hilburn for December 19, 2023

I thought the 4th wise man was turned away for bringing a fruit cake.

Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh and Skirl

The bagpipes, when stuffed there, made him a a bit leery when he walked (or tooted).

Before that, it was The Little Accordian Boy. And The Little Sitar Boy. And The Little Theremin Boy.

I love bagpipes, especially with drums. He and the Little Drummer Boy should team up.

I like the halo on the baby!

I thought the fourth Wise man brought potato chips.

Unless he is playing “Amazing Grace”, we’re not interested.

If you’re at all into bagpipes check out Ally the Piper on youtube.

Wasn’t very wise, was he?

There’s actually a movie called The Fourth Wise Man. It’s good. He sells everything he has to buy several gems to be used on the journey but then the other three take off without him. He spends the next 33 years trying to catch up to them and ends up using each gem for something else. He finds the Messiah after His Resurrection. Or, I should say, the Messiah finds him. It’s one of those movies where, since Jesus isn’t really the main character and only shows up at the end, they don’t show His face. Just like The Robe (boring movie).

The Little Bag Boy

Almost as bad as that kid with the drum.

Well, that wasn’t good.

Funny, but personally I like bagpipe music, when done right of course.

Bagpipes of one sort or another are a common folk instrument. Jesus and Mary were probably familiar with it.

The very first drone delivery.

Which of the wise guys brought the fruit cake?

That certainly did call his wisdom into question.

I wanted to be a classical composer, but all the good instruments already had somebody famous for composing on them: Bach had the organ, Liszt and Chopin the piano, Vivaldi and Paganini the violin, Telemann and Purcell the trumpet, Sousa the brass band, and so on. So I decided to specialize in quartets for bagpipe, kazoo, accordion, and banjo. Now all I need is a publisher.

But the boy grew up and moved to Portland, Oregon.

When Herod’s soldiers showed up, the piper was first to go.

If only he had brought a bottle of single malt instead of a haggis.

Ha! The bagpipes not only gets baby Jebus crying but drowns out the noise of the crying.

Really?! I don’t know how Mary and Joseph could have possibly been polite to these people. A newborn baby that they are trying to get to sleep; and in come 3 old farts, a kid with a drum and then some yokel with bagpipes. It’s enough to make anyone scream!

‘Taint nuttin’ wrong wit da pipes, Laddie!

Welcome to heaven – here’s your harp…. welcome to hell – here’s your bagpipes.

History?