The Three Kings

by Kurt Baumann

On a freezing winter night, a young lute player, an old, blind storyteller, and the king of the northern country are brought together to witness the birth of a very special child.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558580948
• ISBN13: 9781558580947
• Release Date: July 1945
• Publisher: NorthSouth (NY)
• Length: 26 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.7" x 11.6"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 3

Customer Reviews

"On the 11th Day of Christmas.....A Light More Brilliant Than Any Other, Shone For All to See!"

There are three main characters in this tale: Arne, the beggar king, Finju the young king of the lute players, and the King of the Northern country who loves power. The story begins during a very cold winter, in a land where most of the farmhouses are old and falling apart. There's a castle in the distance, and there's a special hut, a barn like structure where all three kings come together. We first meet Finju, who is walking in the freezing snow; icicles are forming in his hair. Most of the houses in the village are covered over with heavy snow. In the distance, Finju sees the figure of a man, and he is filled with hope, not to be alone out in the cold. He calls out to the man, and as he gets closer, he realizes that the man is a beggar and he is blind. The old man knows of Finju as the boy who plays the lute . The old man is a story teller, and is known as the beggar king. They walk together toward a castle where the people inside are celebrating Winter Solstice, the celebration of the longest night in winter. As they go on together, the walking becomes easier, because it is Finju who keeps the old man hopeful, telling him that they will be better off when they reach the castle. While they are walking, Finju asks the old man to tell some stories, but the old man says that it's been so long and nothing is worth telling. Soon, they come to the castle, and enter the King's dining room where everyone is eating, and no one is talking. Once in a while, they hear someone saying, "yes, your majesty!" It seems the king is depressed, and when he hears that there is a new star appearing this night, he imagines himself to be the star, that special someone. He wants Finju to play the flute, but Finju's fingers are stiff from the cold. The king gets angry and threatens to do harm to him. Together, Arne and Finju manage to run away from the castle. While walking, a bright star shows a path, and they decide to follow this path. Somehow, the rich king has caught up with them, and while he wants to take them as prisoners, Arne explains that they are following this bright star. Arne, the old beggar, invites the rich king to come with them, because he wants to know the meaning of the star. Together,through the wind blowing and the snow whistling,the three of them come upon an old barn, a hut. When Arne gently knocks on the door, a man with a lighted candle invites them in. The man welcomes them in, and the light becomes brilliant, even to the point of Arne believing he can see again; he sees a light brighter than the star. Each of them presents the baby with a gift: Finju plays his lute, and the rich king places the gold chain from his neck at the feet of the baby. The rich king, noticing the poor family is saddened that people in his kingdom are so poor; he promises to take better care of his people. Arne turns to Finju and says "Now do you know why we crossed the great plain?" Finju replies, "