His former owner had not pampered him; his short legs were firm and willing.

They gave one last grateful look at the cave, the stones of which were softer than the hearts of the men of Bethlehem.

Joseph took his stick and a leathern strap and walked beside the ass, leading it, the ass which carried his whole world and his heaven, and--the heaven of the whole world.
After going some way, they thought to rest under some palm-trees, not far from Hebron.

But the ass would not stop, and they let him have his will.

Then soldiers of Herod rode that way; they saw a brown-skinned woman with a child sitting on the sand.
"Is it a boy ?" they called to her.
"A girl," answered the woman.