The Camel Caravan.

The little caravan traveled to a distant oasis led by a proud camel He needed no direction from his rider, for he knew the route and wanted to appear knowledgeable to his eldest offspring. The young was on his very first caravan.

As the men and animals approached the greenery, the moon hinted at approaching coolness. Water and rest were close at hand and the men grew anxious for a night beside the well. Entering the grove, the camel stood still. A driver removed drinking vessels and ran to the well. But hope turned to despair. Despite all efforts, the well yielded not a drop of water. "We must move on," one man shouted. "Our vessels are dry." "But what if the nearest well has no water either?" asked another. "What will we do?" The men argued loudly, but finally declined to go.

The little camel's eyes questioned his father. Surely a long night's trip without water was unwise. The elder animal must have agreed, for he sat down in the sand followed by the others. How the men pushed and shoved! Still the camels refused to budge. The men sat down, bemoaning their fate. Then sleep overtook every man and beast, leaving only the lead camel awake to sit vigilantly beside the well.

Midnight arrived and the alert camel looked heavenward to find a golden burst of celebration filling the winter sky. A sweet angel hovered above the lead camel with a message of hope and faith for every creature on the earth. She told of a Savior born in Bethlehem. The other camels awoke and gazed upon the miracle while the men slept their troubled sleep. The young camel looked upon his father's face. Had his father known all along that a miracle would take place during the night? For reasons he was too young to understand, the caravan was not to leave.

Morning approached. The men awoke to recollections of yesterday's dilemma, coming quickly to their feet. They renewed the frantic efforts to get the camels up… until they heard the sound. Water!! The well was filled nearly to the brim and the camels watched as the men drank and rejoiced.