The Countryside Near Bethlehem

Amahl, a poor shepherd boy, plays his pipe outside as his mother calls for him to go to bed. After much delay, Amahl slowly walks into his small home with the aid of his crutch. As he arrives, he urges his mother to come outside to see the large star in the night sky. Used to Amahl’s vivid imagination, his mother scolds him, telling him he must stop telling such wild stories, and refuses to look at the star. Worried, hungry, and desperate, Amahl’s mother dissolves into tears at the thought that they may have to beg to survive. Amahl comforts her, and they go to bed.

Soon there is a knock at the door. Amahl sneaks out of bed and peeks out the door to see Three Kings standing at their threshold. Excited, he wakes his mother to tell her, but she refuses to believe him. Finally, she gets up and is shocked to see the Three Kings. The Three Kings introduce themselves as Balthazar, Kaspar, and Melchior and explain to Amahl and his mother that they are following a great star in search of a wondrous Child. They are tired and ask if they may stop and
rest at Amahl’s home. While Amahl’s mother gathers wood for a fire, Amahl asks the Kings about themselves and explains that he was once a shepherd, but his mother had to sell his sheep for money and food.

Amahl’s mother returns and sends Amahl to ask their neighbors to help feed their guests, as she and Amahl have nothing to offer them. The Three Kings describe the Child they seek and the gifts they bring, causing Amahl’s mother to contemplate her son’s plight. The neighbors bring food and entertain the Kings as they dance to Amahl’s pipe. After the crowd has left and the Kings are asleep, Amahl’s mother attempts to steal some of the gold for her son. The Page awakens and catches her.

Amahl wakes to find the Page threatening his mother and tries desperately to defend her. Melchior calms the Page and tells Amahl’s mother she can keep the gold as the Child they seek will not need earthly power or wealth to build his kingdom. Overcome with emotion, the mother says she has waited for such a king all her life and asks the Kings to take back the gold. She wishes she could send
a gift herself but has nothing to give. Amahl offers the crutch he made himself as a gift for the Child. As he moves forward with the crutch, he realizes he can walk. Amahl joins the Kings on their journey, playing his pipe under the brilliant star again.