Their eyes shone kindly in the
light of Babouscka's candle, and their arms were full of precious
things--boxes of jewels, and sweet-smelling oils, and ointments.
"We have traveled far, Babouscka," said they, "and we stop to tell you
of the Baby Prince born this night in Bethlehem. He comes to rule the
world and teach all men to be loving and true. We carry Him gifts.
Come with us, Babouscka!"
But Babouscka looked at the driving snow, and then inside at her cozy
room and the crackling fire. "It is too late for me to go with you,
good sirs," she said, "the weather is too cold." She went inside again
and shut the door, and the old men journeyed on to Bethlehem without
her. But as Babouscka sat by her fire, rocking, she began to think
about the little Christ Child, for she loved all babies.
"Tomorrow I will go to find Him," she said; "tomorrow, when it is
light, and I will carry Him some toys."
So when it was morning Babouscka put on her long cloak, and took her
staff, and filled a basket with the pretty things a baby would
like--gold balls, and wooden toys, and strings of silver cobwebs--and
she set out to find the Christ Child.
But, oh! Babouscka had forgotten to ask the three old men the road to
Bethlehem, and they had traveled so far through the night that she
could not overtake them.
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