"Come, Ezra, Joel, Dahvid, let us be going."
"Going--where?" asked Ezra and Joel.
"Why, to Bethlehem to see the Child. Did not the angel tell us the
sign? Let us go at once to find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger."
"There be many mangers in Bethlehem," objected Ezra.
"I know not how we shall find him," said Joel. "It is a vain search, I
fear," and he drew his cloak about him and reached for his staff, "but
I will go with you if you say."
So they started, Samuel, Ezra, and Joel--but Dahvid stood still.
"Come, Dahvid, make haste!" called Samuel.
But the boy did not move.
"I cannot go," he said.
"Cannot go!" cried Samuel in amazement; and Ezra added, "Who said but
a little while ago that he would go to the end of the earth to see the
King?"
"And so I would," cried Dahvid; "but the sheep--we cannot leave the
sheep alone."
"The sheep will be safe enough," said Samuel. "The dogs will keep them
together. There are no wolves tonight. Come, Dahvid."
But the boy was firm. "There is my master; he'll be angry if I leave
his flocks alone."
"Old Abraham will never know," said Joel.
"Abraham is a hard master," said Dahvid. "Many a time I have felt his
heavy staff on my back. But it is not that which keeps me. I have
given him my word that, come day, come night, come life, come death, I
will not fail to keep the flocks.
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