"Nay, but I must be about the Master's work; and, look, the stars are
rising. I should tarry not, for they who toil long rest early."

"For whom is thy service to-night, my son? Last birth-night it was to
the sorrowing; before that to the blind, and even yet to the deaf and
the lame. And whither tend thy footsteps now?"

"To the tempted ones, mother."

"And thou shalt stay their feet, dear boy, for rememberest not the
Immanuels of last year? How the sorrowful found strange, staying joy in
their hearts? How the blind said, as thou named their gifts, and placed
them in their hands, that it seemed they could straightway behold them?
How even the dumb gave forth pleasant sounds like music from their
helpless tongues? and how even the lame well-nigh leaped from their
lameness, for the light of thy young face? But when thou comest to thy
crown and throne thou needest not got forth alone upon thy birth-night,
but send out thy gifts with love and plenty."

"I know not, my mother."

"But all will be thine? What said the angel: 'The Lord God shall give
unto him the throne of his father David; and of his kingdom there shall
be no end!' It may be soon, we know not, for lo! King David was but a
boy, and at his daily toil, when he was called to reign over the house
of Jacob. Forget not, thou art born the King."

"Oh, gladden not thy heart, loved mother, with this joy. I seek not to
behold the future, but I see not in this world my kingdom, for the rose