In a small Southern town there was a nativity scene that indicated great
skill and talent in its creation. One small feature puzzled me,
though. The three wise men were wearing fireman's helmets.

Totally unable to understand this, I left. At a "Quik Stop" at the edge
of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She
exploded into a rage, yelling at me, "You darn Yankees never do read the
Bible!!"

I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about
firemen in the Bible. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and
ruffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a
particular passage.

Sticking it in my face, she said, "See, it says right there. The three
wise men came from afar."