occupation and object, became a little more communicative. The eldest of
the three, a man past middle-age, with full beard and remarkably keen
eyes, acted as spokesman for all. He was asked what he thought of the
Child at Bethlehem.

"It is the Messiah of the Jews," was his prompt reply.

"How do you know that?"

"We know it by His star--the star that was prophesied as heralding His
coming. That the Jewish Messiah was to come was foretold by their own
prophets and by our own Zoroaster. We are astronomers, and know the
mystery of the heavens and the nativities. In what is called Mount
Victory in our country is a cave, from the mouth of which the heavens
are studied by wise men. About two years ago appeared the star of the
Messiah. Then we began our journey to the city of the Jews to pay homage
to the Great Ruler born."

"But why do you, who are not Jews, come on such an expedition?"

"Our belief is broad. We care very little for any old teachings which
are not verified by celestial phenomena. We saw the prophecy fulfilled.
That was enough."

"What about the star? Is it something which will not last?"

"No. It is a star which will last as long as any, but one which is
visible on earth only at intervals of long ages. Then it foretells a
great event. It appeared last just before the birth of Moses."

"What is it like?"

"It is a bright, almost red, star, visible in the sign Pisces of the
zodiac only when Jupiter and Saturn are in conjunction. It is the star
of the Messiah."

His companions assented to all the elder man said, but he declined to
talk further on the subject. The name of the speaker was given as
Melchoir; the names of his two friends were Caspar and Balthasar. The
first was the one who made a gift of gold for the child, while the
second contributed frankincense, and the third myrrh. The reporter
returned to the hotel later in the day to ask certain additional
questions, but the visitors had left hurriedly. The landlord said they
had gone none too soon, as agents of the authorities visited the place
soon after their disappearance. It is said that they were warned in a
dream that they must escape. They were all three well mounted, and are
now, no doubt, some distance from Jerusalem.

Such are the facts. Such is the story as learned of the Messiah of the
Jews. Were their prophets right? Has the great Prince come? Is the glory
of Rome to pass away before the glory of the Hebrew Christ?

Will the Tetr