"Gracious powers!--a spirit!--the Holy Child!" cry out the three angels, and scurry off with their torches at such a pace! but they have wings, and can run or fly as quickly as they choose. Joseph did not try to follow them: he stumbled and fell, but soon got up again, when all had vanished, and he was once more alone. A little way off he saw the glimmering of a torch. How to get near it! Joseph had lost his cap, but he did not observe it; and, running as hard as ever he could, he shouted, "Stay, stay! I am little Joseph!" But the angels declined stopping, and were no longer to be seen. Their footsteps, however, were distinct enough in the snow, and Joseph followed the marks on, and on; and at last up a hill--Heaven be praised!--a light at last, indeed many lights, and brightness all round. The comforting feeling, that men are under shelter of a roof close by, inspired fresh courage in the little wanderer; and, with renewed strength, he ran down the hill to the lights, and reached the Forest Mill below at the very moment when the three angels were ascending the outside stair singing: "Three Kaisers sang on high--the Heavenly Hosts among; And glorious the melody, and glorious the song. Awake ye, awake ye, Come hither to me; For this is the home Of the brave and the free." Joseph slipped quietly in behind the singers, scarcely daring to breathe, far less to call out--above all not to call out, or the angels would be sure to fly away again. He went with them into the room, and the three angels sung the song of the "Three Holy Kings" to the end. They were quietly listened to, and got plenty to eat and drink, and presents into the bargain; and the angels ate, and drank, and spoke their thanks very properly. Joseph soon found out that these were not angels at all, but three boys dressed up as the Three Holy Kings. They went away, and Joseph remained alone; and now, for the first time, he was remarked by those present. "Who are you?--where do you come from?--what are you doing here?" These were the questions that quickly assailed him from the Roettmaennin, and the miller's wife, and Tony. "Eat something first to warm yourself; you are quite wet, and have no cap," said Tony, kindly. "There, my boy, eat and drink, and we will talk to you afterwards. Come, I will take off your jacket and hang it near the stove. Don't sit so close to the stove--it is not good for you." "A handsome boy," said the miller's wife, while Joseph was drinking some mulled wine. "The angels guided me famously. This is what they drink in Heaven, I suppose," said Joseph. There was a strange flash in the eyes of the Roettmaennin when she heard these words and that voice. She pushed aside the large jug, and stared at the boy very much as the fox had done in the wood. "Where are you from?" asked the bride. "From Waldhausen." "Who is your father?" "He does not live with us." "What's your mother's name?"