Ye
shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

And then all the sky was full of light, and the air was full of
heavenly voices, singing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men."

While the shepherds listened, half joyful, half afraid, the light
faded and the voices floated away--"Good will to men--to men--to men,"
and all was still as before. For a moment the shepherds looked at each
other in silent awe and wonder. Then Ezra spoke in a voice dry with
fear. "What was it?"

Dahvid stood speechless, and Samuel answered reverently, "Angels."

"Brothers," he continued, "a wonderful thing has happened to us. It
has been a long, long day since angels have spoken to men."

Then he girded his shepherd's cloak about him and seized his staff.
"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. Go on without me; I must keep my
word. Go on."

So they went on, impatient and eager for this wondrous quest, Ezra
and Joel muttering now and then at the obstinacy of the boy, but
Samuel full of glowing admiration. Dahvid watched them as they moved
up the hill. Th