At length Balthazar seemed to understand the movements of the star,
and, drawing nearer, he would seem to hear these men repeating
cheering and encouraging words to one another. "Pure religion and
undefiled," he heard one exclaiming, "is to visit the fatherless and
widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the
world." And another echoed, "Inasmuch as we do it to the least of
these, we do it unto Christ."
[Sidenote: The Joy of Doing Good]
"Ah! thought Balthazar as he listened, I see the meaning of it now; I
am coming to the end of my search. The kingdom of Christ--I have found
it. It is in the deeds of men; it is in the conscience and the serving
will. Devotion to right, this is the law of the kingdom of Christ."
Then Balthazar turned to go in search of his comrades again; but
behold! the opal star was trembling, as if beckoning him on. So, still
doubting if he had reached the end of his search, he followed the
star.
[Sidenote: The Paths Converge]
Thus Gaspard, Melchoir and Balthazar, each following the star, at last
approached each other. The star of each seemed to melt and blend into
the star of the others, and the opal light stood at last in the center
of the group. Gaspard exclaimed: "I have found that which we all were
seeking. The kingdom of Christ is in the imagination; Christ lives in
what man feels.
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