“I have no gift for the kings,” he thought, “but there is fresh green grass beside the way that I can gather for the camels.”
He stopped, pulled his hands full, and stuffed it in the front of the little blue vestido that he wore. He followed the road for a long way until heavy sleep came to his eyes.
“How still it is upon the road! God has blown out His light and soon it will be dark. I wish I were with the others, safe within the city; for the dark is full of fearsome things when one is all alone.... Mamita will be coming home soon and bringing supper for Rosita and me. Perhaps to-night there will be an almond dulce or pan de gloria—perhaps.... I wonder will Rosita not forget the little prayer I told her to be always saying. My feet hurt with the many stones; the night wind blows cold; I am weary and my feet stumble with me.... Oh, Nene Jesu, listen! I also make the prayer: ‘Send the three kings before Manuel is too weary and afraid!’”
A few more steps he took upon the road, and then, as a reed is blown down by the wind, Manuel swayed, unknowingly for a moment, and slowly sank upon the ground, fast asleep.
How long he slept I cannot tell you; but a hand on his shoulder wakened him. Quickly he opened his eyes, wondering, and saw—yes, he saw the three kings! Tall and splendid they looked in the starlight, their mantles shimmering with myriad gems. One stood above Manuel, asking what he did upon the road at that late hour.
Manuel rose to his feet, thrusting his hand inside the shirt for the grass he had gathered.
“It is for the camels, señor; I have no other gift. But you—you ride horses this Christmas Eve!”
“Yes, we ride horses. What is that to you?”
“Pardon, señores, nothing. The three kings can ride horses if they wish; only—we were told you rode on camels from the East.”
“What does the child want?” The voice was kind, but it sounded impatient, as though the one who spoke had work waiting to be done and was anxious to be about it.