,illustration3 ,cover ,,joel3 ,a ,,boy ,,of ,,galilee4 ,works of ,,annie ,,fellows ,,johnston ,the ,little ,colonel ,series 7,trade ,mark1 ,reg4 ,u4 ,s4 ,pat4 ,of47 ,each one vol41 large #abmo1 cloth1 illustrated ,the ,little ,colonel ,stories #a4ej 7,containing in one volume the three stories1 ,the ,little ,colonel1 ,the ,giant ,scissors1 and ,two ,little ,knights of ,kentucky47 ,the ,little ,colonel's ,house ,party #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel's ,holidays #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel's ,hero #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel at ,boarding-,school #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel in ,arizona #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel's ,christmas ,vacation #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel3 ,maid of ,honor #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel's ,knight ,comes ,riding #a4ej ,mary ,ware3 ,the ,little ,colonel's ,chum #a4ej ,mary ,ware in ,texas #a4ej ,mary ,ware's ,promised ,land #a4ej ,the above #ab vols41 boxed1 as a set #ah4jj 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,little ,colonel ,good ,times ,book #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel ,doll ,book--,first ,series #a4ej ,the ,little ,colonel ,doll ,book--,second ,series #a4ej ,illustrated ,holiday ,editions ,each one vol41 small quarto1 cloth1 illustrated1 and printed in color ,the ,little ,colonel #a4be ,the ,giant ,scissors #a4be ,two ,little ,knights of ,kentucky #a4be ,big ,brother #a4be ,cosy ,corner ,series ,each one vol41 thin #abmo1 cloth1 illustrated ,the ,little ,colonel 4#ej ,the ,giant ,scissors 4#ej ,two ,little ,knights of ,kentucky 4#ej ,big ,brother 4#ej ,ole ,mammy's ,torment 4#ej ,the ,story of ,dago 4#ej ,cicely 4#ej ,aunt ',liza's ,hero 4#ej ,the ,quilt that ,jack ,built 4#ej ,flip's ,islands of ,providence 4#ej ,mildred's ,inheritance 4#ej ,other ,books ,joel3 ,a ,boy of ,galilee #a4ej ,in the ,desert of ,waiting ,net 4#ej ,the ,three ,weavers ,net 4#ej ,keeping ,tryst ,net 4#ej ,the ,legend of the ,bleeding ,heart ,net 4#ej ,the ,rescue of the ,princess ,winsome ,net 4#ej ,the ,jester's ,sword ,net 4#ej ,asa ,holmes #a4jj ,travelers ,five ,along ,life's ,highway #a4be ,,the ,,page ,,company #ec ,beacon ,street ,boston1 ,mass4 ,illustration3 ',,then ,,take ,,yourself ,,out ,,of ,,my ,,sight ,,for ,,ever' 7,see page #if7 ,,new ,,illustrated ,,edition ,,joel3 ,a ,,boy ,,of ,,galilee ,by ,,annie ,,fellows ,,johnston ,author of ,the ,little ,colonel ,series1 ,big ,brother1 ,ole ,mammy's ,torment1 ,asa ,holmes1 etc4 ,with ,pictures by ,l4 ,j4 ,,bridgman ,illustration ,,boston ,,the ,,page ,,company ,,publishers ,copyright1 #ahie ,,by ,,roberts ,,brothers ,copyright1 #aijd ,,by ,,the ,,page ,,company ,all rights reserved ,eleventh ,impression1 ,october1 #aiaj ,twelfth ,impression1 ,march1 #aiae ,thirteenth ,impression1 ,march1 #aiah ,,the ,,colonial ,,press ,c4 ,h4 ,,simonds ,,co41 ,,boston1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,,publisher',s ,,preface ,,in this volume1 it has been the purpose of the author to present to children1 through ,joel1 as accurate a picture of the times of the ,christ as has been given to older readers through ,ben ,hur4 ,with this in view1 the customs of the private and public life of the ,jews1 the temple service with its sacerdotal rites1 and the minute observances of the numerous holidays have been studied so carefully that the descriptions have passed the test of the most critical inspection4 ,an eminent rabbi pronounces them correct in every detail4 ,while the story is that of an ordinary boy1 living among shepherds and fishermen1 it touches at every point the gospel narrative1 making ,joel1 in a natural and interesting way1 a witness to the miracles1 the death1 and the resurrection of the ,nazarene4 ,it was with the deepest reverence that the task was undertaken1 and the fact that the little book is accomplishing its mission is evinced not only by the approval accorded its first editions by so many1 from ,bible students to bishops1 but by the boys and girls here and in distant lands4 ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations ,,page ',,then ,,take ,,yourself ,,out ,,of ,,my ,,sight ,,for ,,ever' 7,see page #if7 ,frontispiece ,,he ,,looked ,,down ,,at ,,phineas1 ,,and ,,smiled ,,blissfully #cd ',i ,,peeped ,,out ',,tween ',e ,,wose-,,vines' #hb ,,not ,a ,,word ,,was ,,said #ajd ',,we ,,talked ,,late' #aci ',,you ,,but ,,mock ,,me1 ,,boy' #ahd ,a ,,dark ,,figure ,,went ,,skulking ,,out ,,into ,,the ,,night #bjc ',,the ,,stone ,,is ,,gone6' #bcc ,,joel3 ,a ,,boy ,,of ,,galilee4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,it was market day in ,capernaum4 ,country people were coming in from the little villages among the hills of ,galilee1 with fresh butter and eggs4 ,fishermen held out great strings of shining perch and carp1 just dipped up from the lake beside the town4 ,vine-dressers piled their baskets with tempting grapes1 and boys lazily brushed the flies from the dishes of wild honey1 that they had gone into the country before day-break to find4 ,a ten-year-old girl pushed her way through the crowded market-place1 carrying her baby brother in her arms1 and scolding another child1 who clung to her skirts4 ,hurry1 you little snail6 she said to him4 ,there's a camel caravan just stopped by the custom-house4 ,make haste1 if you want to see it6 ,their bare feet picked their way quickly over the stones1 down to the hot sand of the lake shore4 ,the children crept close to the shaggy camels1 curious to see what they carried in their huge packs4 ,but before they were made to kneel1 so that the custom-house officials could examine the loads1 the boy gave an exclamation of surprise4 ,look1 ,jerusha6 ,look6 he cried1 tugging at her skirts4 ,what's that8 ,farther down the line1 came several men carrying litters4 ,on each one was a man badly wounded1 judging by the many bandages that wrapped him4 ,jerusha pushed ahead to hear what had happened4 ,one of the drivers was telling a tax-gatherer4 ,in that last rocky gorge after leaving ,samaria1 said the man1 we were set upon by robbers4 ,they swarmed down the cliffs1 and fought as fiercely as eagles4 ,these men1 who were going on ahead1 had much gold with them4 ,they lost it all1 and might have been killed1 if we had not come up behind in such numbers4 ,that poor fellow there can hardly live1 ,i think1 he was beaten so badly4 ,the children edged up closer to the motionless form on the litter4 ,it was badly bruised and blood-stained1 and looked already lifeless4 ,let's go1 ,jerusha1 whispered the boy1 whimpering and pulling at her hand4 ,i don't like to look at him4 ,with the heavy baby still in her arms1 and the other child tagging after1 she started slowly back towards the market-place4 ,i'll tell you what we'll do1 she exclaimed4 ,let's go up and get the other children1 and play robbers4 ,we never did do that before4 ,it will be lots of fun4 ,there was a cry of welcome as ,jerusha appeared again in the market-place1 where a crowd of children were playing tag1 regardless of the men and beasts they bumped against4 ,they were all younger than herself1 and did not resent her important air when she called1 ,come here6 ,i know a better game than that6 ,she told them what she had just seen and heard down at the beach1 and drew such a vivid picture of the attack1 that the children were ready for anything she might propose4 ,now we'll choose sides1 she said4 ,i'll be a rich merchant coming up from ,jerusalem with my family and servants1 and the rest of you can be robbers4 ,we'll go along with our goods1 and you pounce out on us as we go by4 ,you may take the baby as a prisoner if you like1 she added1 with a mischievous grin4 ,i'm tired of carrying him4 ,a boy sitting near by on a door-step1 jumped up eagerly4 ,let me play1 too1 ,jerusha6 he cried4 ,i'll be one of the robbers4 ,i know just the best places to hide6 ,the girl paused an instant in her choosing to say impatiently1 although not meaning to be unkind1 ,oh1 no1 ,joel6 ,we do not want you4 ,you're too lame to run4 ,you can't play with us6 ,the bright1 eager look died out of the boy's face1 and an angry light shone in his eyes4 ,he pressed his lips together hard1 and sat down again on the step4 ,there was a patter of many bare feet as the children raced away4 ,their voices sounded fainter and fainter1 till they were lost entirely in the noise of the busy street4 ,usually1 ,joel found plenty to amuse and interest him here4 ,he liked to watch the sleepy donkeys with their loads of fresh fruit and vegetables4 ,he liked to listen to the men as they cried their wares1 or chatted over the bargains with their customers4 ,there was always something new to be seen in the stalls and booths4 ,there was always something new to be heard in the scraps of conversation that came to him where he sat4 ,down this street there sometimes came long caravans2 for this was the highway to the sea1--the road that led from ,egypt to ,syria4 ,strange1 dusky faces sometimes passed this way2 richly dressed merchant princes with their priceless stuffs from beyond the ,nile2 heavy loads of ,babylonian carpets2 pearls from ,ceylon1 and rich silks for the court of the wicked ,herodias1 in the town beyond4 ,fisherman and sailor1 rabbi and busy workman passed in an endless procession4 ,sometimes a ,roman soldier from the garrison came by with ringing step and clanking sword4 ,then ,joel would start up to look after the erect figure1 with a longing gaze that told more plainly than words1 his admiration of such strength and symmetry4 ,but this morning the crowd gave him a strange1 lonely feeling1--a hungry longing for companionship4 ,two half-grown boys passed by on their way to the lake1 with fish nets slung over their shoulders4 ,he knew the larger one1--a rough1 kind-hearted fellow who had once taken him in his boat across the lake4 ,he gave ,joel a careless1 good-natured nod as he passed4 ,a moment after he felt a timid pull at the fish net he was carrying1 and turned to see the little cripple's appealing face4 ,oh1 ,dan6 he cried eagerly4 ,are you going out on the lake this morning8 ,could you take me with you8 ,the boy hesitated4 ,whatever kindly answer he may have given1 was rudely interrupted by his companion1 whom ,joel had never seen before4 ,oh1 no6 he said roughly4 ,we don't want anybody limping along after us4 ,you can't come1 ,jonah2 you would bring us bad luck4 ,my name isn't ,jonah6 screamed the boy1 angrily clinching his fists4 ,it's ,joel6 ,well1 it is all the same1 his tormentor called back1 with a coarse laugh4 ,you're a ,jonah1 any way4 ,there were tears in the boy's eyes this time1 as he dragged himself back again to the step4 ,i hate everybody in the world6 he said in a hissing sort of whisper4 ,i hate'm6 ,i hate'm6 ,a stranger passing by turned for a second look at the little cripple's sensitive1 refined face4 ,a girlishly beautiful face it would have been1 were it not for the heavy scowl that darkened it4 ,joel pulled the ends of his head-dress round to hide his crooked back1 and drew the loose robe he wore over his twisted leg4 ,life seemed very bitter to him just then4 ,he would gladly have changed places with the heavily laden donkey going by4 ,i wish ,i were dead1 he thought moodily4 ,then ,i would not ache any more1 and ,i could not hear when people call me names6 ,beside the door where he sat was a stand where tools and hardware were offered for sale4 ,a man who had been standing there for some time1 selecting nails from the boxes placed before him1 and had heard all that passed1 spoke to him4 ,joel1 my lad1 may ,i ask your help for a little while8 ,the friendly question seemed to change the whole atmosphere4 ,joel drew his hands across his eyes to clear them of the blur of tears he was too proud to let fall1 and then stood up respectfully4 ,yes1 ,rabbi ,phineas1 what would you have me to do8 ,the carpenter gathered up some strips of lumber in one hand1 and his hammer and saws in the other4 ,i have my hands too full to carry these nails1 he answered4 ,if you could bring them for me1 it would be a great service4 ,if the man had offered him pity1 ,joel would have fiercely resented it4 ,his sensitive nature appreciated the unspoken sympathy1 the fine tact that soothed his pride by asking a service of him1 instead of seeking to render one4 ,he could not define the feeling1 but he gratefully took up the bag of nails1 and limped along beside his friend to the carpenter's house at the edge of the town4 ,he had never been there before1 although he met the man daily in the market-place1 and long ago had learned to look forward to his pleasant greeting2 it was so different from most people's4 ,somehow the morning always seemed brighter after he had met him4 ,the little whitewashed house stood in the shade of two great fig-trees near the beach4 ,a cool breeze from the ,galilee lifted the leaves1 and swayed the vines growing around the low door4 ,joel1 tired by the long walk1 was glad to throw himself on the grass in the shade4 ,it was so still and quiet here1 after the noise of the street he had just left4 ,an old hen clucked around the door-step with a brood of downy1 yellow chickens4 ,doves cooed softly1 somewhere out of sight4 ,the carpenter's bench stood under one of the trees1 with shavings and chips all around it4 ,two children were playing near it1 building houses of the scattered blocks2 one of them1 a black-eyed1 sturdy boy of five1 kept on playing4 ,the other1 a little girl1 not yet three1 jumped up and followed her father into the house4 ,her curls gleamed like gold as she ran through the sunshine4 ,she glanced at the stranger with deep-blue eyes so like her father's that ,joel held out his hand4 ,come and tell me your name1 he said coaxingly4 ,but she only shook the curls all over her dimpled face1 and hurried into the house4 ,it's ,ruth1 said the boy1 deigning to look up4 ,and mine is ,jesse1 and my mother's is ,abigail1 and my father's is ,phineas1 and my grandfather's is-- ,how far back he would have gone in his genealogy1 ,joel could not guess2 for just then his father came out with a cool1 juicy melon1 and ,jesse hurried forward to get his share4 ,how good it is6 sighed ,joel1 as the first refreshing mouthful slipped down his thirsty throat4 ,and how cool and pleasant it is out here4 ,i did not know there was such a peaceful spot in all ,capernaum4 ,didn't you always live here8 asked the inquisitive ,jesse4 ,no1 ,i was born in ,jerusalem4 ,i was to have been a priest1 he said sadly4 ,well1 why didn't you be one then1 persisted the child1 with his mouth full of melon4 ,joel glanced down at his twisted leg1 and said nothing4 ,why8 repeated the boy4 ,phineas1 who had gone back to his work-bench1 looked up kindly4 ,you ask too many questions1 my son4 ,no one can be a priest who is maimed or blemished in any way4 ,some sad accident must have befallen our little friend1 and it may be painful for him to talk about it4 ,jesse asked no more questions with his tongue2 but his sharp1 black eyes were fixed on ,joel like two interrogation points4 ,i do not mind telling about it1 said ,joel1 sitting up straighter4 ,once when ,i was not much older than you1 just after my mother died1 my father brought me up to this country from ,jerusalem1 to visit my ,aunt ,leah4 ,i used to play down here by the lake1 with my cousins1 in the fishermen's boats4 ,there was a boy that came to the beach sometimes1 a great deal larger than ,i1--a dog of a ,samaritan1--who pulled my hair and threw sand in my eyes4 ,he was so much stronger than ,i1 that ,i could not do anything to him but call him names4 ,but early one morning he was swimming in the lake4 ,i hid his clothes in the oleander bushes that fringe the water4 ,oh1 but he was angry6 ,i wanted him to be4 ,but ,i had to keep away from the lake after that4 ,one day some older children took me to the hills back of the town to gather almonds4 ,this ,rehum followed us4 ,i had strayed away from the others a little distance1 and was stooping to put the nuts in my basket1 when he slipped up behind me4 ,how he beat me6 ,i screamed so that the other children came running back to me4 ,when he saw them coming1 he gave me a great push that sent me rolling over a rocky bank4 ,it was not very high1 but there were sharp stones below4 ,they thought ,i was dead when they picked me up4 ,it was months before ,i could walk at all2 and ,i can never be any better than ,i am now4 ,just as my father was about to take me back to ,jerusalem1 he took a sudden fever1 and died4 ,so ,i was left1 a poor helpless burden for my aunt to take care of4 ,it has been six years since then4 ,joel threw himself full length on the grass1 and scowled up at the sky4 ,where is that boy that hurt you1 asked ,jesse4 ,rehum8 questioned ,joel4 ,i wish ,i knew1 he muttered fiercely4 ,oh1 how ,i hate him6 ,i can never be a priest as my father intended4 ,i can never serve in the beautiful temple with the white pillars and golden gates4 ,i can never be like other people1 but must drag along1 deformed and full of pain as long as ,i live4 ,and it's all his fault6 ,a sudden gleam lit up the boy's eyes1 as lightning darts through a storm-cloud4 ,but ,i shall have my revenge6 he added1 clinching his fists4 ,i cannot die till ,i have made him feel at least a tithe of what ,i have suffered4 ',an eye for an eye1 and a tooth for a tooth6' ,that is the least that can satisfy me4 ,oh1 you cannot know how ,i long for that time6 ,often ,i lie awake late into the night1 planning my revenge4 ,then ,i forget how my back hurts and my leg pains2 then ,i forget all the names ,i have been called1 and the taunts that make my life a burden4 ,but they all come back with the daylight2 and ,i store them up and add them to his account4 ,for everything he has made me suffer1 ,i swear he shall pay for it four-fold in his own sufferings6 ,ruth shrank away1 frightened by the wild1 impassioned boy who sat up1 angrily staring in front of him with eyes that saw nothing of the sweet1 green-clad world around him4 ,the face of his enemy blotted out all the sunny landscape4 ,one murderous purpose filled him1 mind and soul4 ,nothing was said for a little while4 ,the doves as before cooed of peace1 and ,phineas began a steady tap-tap with his hammer4 ,a pleasant-faced woman came out of the door with a water-jar on her head1 and passed down the path to the public well4 ,she gave ,joel a friendly greeting in passing4 ,wait1 mother6 lisped ,ruth1 as she ran after her4 ,the woman turned to smile at the little one1 and held out her hand4 ,her dress1 of some soft1 cotton material1 hung in long flowing folds4 ,it was a rich blue color1 caught at the waist with a white girdle4 ,the turban wound around her dark hair was white also1 and so was the veil she pushed aside far enough to show a glimpse of brown eyes and red cheeks4 ,she wore a broad silver bracelet on the bare arm which was raised to hold the water-jar1 and the rings in her ears and talismans on her neck were of quaintly wrought silver4 ,i did not know it was so late1 said ,joel1 rising to his feet4 ,time passes so fast here4 ,nay1 do not go1 said ,phineas4 ,it is a long walk back to your home1 and the sun is very hot4 ,stay and eat dinner with us4 ,joel hesitated2 but the invitation was repeated so cordially1 that he let ,jesse pull him down on the grass again4 ,now ,i'll tickle your lips with this blade of grass1 said the child4 ,see how long you can keep from laughing4 ,when ,abigail came back with the water1 both the boys were laughing as heartily as if there had never been an ache or pain in the world4 ,she smiled at them approvingly1 as she led the way into the house4 ,joel looked around with much curiosity4 ,it was like most of the other houses of its kind in the town4 ,there was only one large square room1 in which the family cooked1 ate1 and slept2 but on every side it showed that ,phineas had left traces of his skilful hands4 ,there was a tiny window cut in one wall2 most of the houses of this description had none1 but depended on the doorway for light and air4 ,several shelves around the walls held the lamp and the earthenware dishes4 ,the chest made to hold the rugs and cushions which they spread down at night to sleep on1 was unusually large and ornamental4 ,a broom1 a handmill1 and a bushel stood in one corner4 ,near the door1 a table which ,phineas had made1 stood spread for the mid-day meal4 ,there was broiled fish on one of the platters1 beans and barley bread1 a dish of honey1 and a pitcher of milk4 ,the fare was just the same that ,joel was accustomed to in his uncle's house2 but something made the simple meal seem like a banquet4 ,it may have been that the long walk had made him hungrier than usual1 or it may have been because he was treated as the honored guest1 instead of a child tolerated through charity4 ,he watched his host carefully1 as he poured the water over his hands before eating1 and asked a blessing on the food4 ,he does not keep the law as strictly as my ,uncle ,laban1 was his inward comment4 ,he asked only one blessing1 and ,uncle ,laban blesses every kind of food separately4 ,but he must be a good man1 even if he is not so strict a ,pharisee as my uncle1 for he is kinder than any one ,i ever knew before4 ,it was wonderful how much ,joel had learned1 in his eleven short years1 of the ,law4 ,his aunt's husband had grown to manhood in ,jerusalem1 and1 unlike the simple ,galileans among whom he now lived1 tried to observe its most detailed rules4 ,the child heard them discussed continually1 till he felt he could neither eat1 drink1 nor dress1 except by these set rules4 ,he could not play like other children1 and being so much with older people had made him thoughtful and observant4 ,he had learned to read very early2 and hour after hour he spent in the house of ,rabbi ,amos1 the most learned man of the town1 poring over his rolls of scriptures4 ,think of a childhood without a picture1 or a story-book6 ,all that there was to read were these old records of ,jewish history4 ,the old man had taken a fancy to him1 finding him an appreciative listener and an apt pupil4 ,so ,joel was allowed to come whenever he pleased1 and take out the yellow rolls of parchment from their velvet covers4 ,he was never perfectly happy except at these times1 when he was reading these old histories of his country's greatness4 ,how he enjoyed chasing the armies of the ,philistines1 and fighting over again the battles of ,israel's kings6 ,many a tale he stored away in his busy brain to be repeated to the children gathered around the public fountain in the cool of the evening4 ,it mattered not what character he told them of1--priest or prophet1 judge or king1--the picture was painted in life-like colors by this patriotic little hero-worshipper4 ,here and at home he heard so many discussions about what was lawful and what was not1 that he was constantly in fear of breaking one of the many rules1 even in as simple a duty as washing a cup4 ,so he watched his host closely till the meal was over1 finding that in the observance of many customs1 he failed to measure up to his uncle's strict standard4 ,phineas went back to his work after dinner4 ,he was greatly interested in ,joel1 and1 while he sawed and hammered1 kept a watchful eye on him4 ,he was surprised at the boy's knowledge4 ,more than once he caught himself standing with an idle tool in hand1 as he listened to some story that ,joel was telling to ,jesse4 ,after a while he laid down his work and leaned against the bench4 ,what do you find to do all day1 my lad8 he asked1 abruptly4 ,nothing1 answered ,joel1 after ,i have recited my lessons to ,rabbi ,amos4 ,does your aunt never give you any tasks to do at home8 ,no4 ,i think she does not like to have me in her sight any more than she is obliged to4 ,she is always kind to me1 but she doesn't love me4 ,she only pities me4 ,i hate to be pitied4 ,there is not a single one in the world who really loves me4 ,his lips quivered1 but he winked back the tears4 ,phineas seemed lost in thought a few minutes2 then he looked up4 ,you are a ,levite1 he said slowly1 so of course you could always be supported without needing to learn a trade4 ,still you would be a great deal happier1 in my opinion1 if you had something to keep you busy4 ,if you like1 ,i will teach you to be a carpenter4 ,there are a great many things you might learn to make well1 and1 by and by1 it would be a source of profit to you4 ,there is no bread so bitter as the bread of dependence1 as you may learn when you are older4 ,oh1 ,rabbi ,phineas6 cried ,joel4 ,do you mean that ,i may come here every day8 ,it is too good to be true6 ,yes2 if you will promise to stick to it until you have mastered the trade4 ,if you are as quick to learn with your hands as you have been with your head1 ,i shall have reason to be proud of such a pupil4 ,joel's face flushed with pleasure1 and he sprang up quickly1 saying1 ,may ,i begin right now8 ,oh1 ,i'll try so hard to please you6 ,phineas laid a soft pine board on the bench1 and began to mark a line across it with a piece of red chalk4 ,well1 you may see how straight a cut you can make through this plank4 ,he picked up a saw1 and ran his fingers lightly along its sharp teeth4 ,but he paused in the act of handing it to ,joel1 to ask1 ,you are sure1 now1 that your uncle and aunt will consent to such an arrangement8 ,yes indeed6 was the emphatic answer4 ,they will be glad enough to have me out of the way1 and learning something useful4 ,the saw cut slowly through the wood2 for the weak little hand was a careful one1 and the boy was determined not to swerve once from the line4 ,he smiled with satisfaction as the pieces fell apart1 showing a clean1 straight edge4 ,well done6 said ,phineas1 kindly4 ,now let me see you drive a nail4 ,made bold by his first success1 ,joel pounded away vigorously1 but the hammer slipped more than once1 and his unpractised fingers ached with the blows that he had aimed at the nail's head4 ,you'll soon learn1 said ,phineas1 with an encouraging pat on the boy's shoulder4 ,gather up those odds and ends under the bench4 ,when you've sawed them into equal lengths1 ,i'll show you how to make a box4 ,joel bent over his work with almost painful intensity4 ,he fairly held his breath1 as he made the measurements4 ,he gripped the saw as if his life depended on the strength of his hold4 ,phineas smiled at his earnestness4 ,be careful1 my lad1 he said4 ,you will soon wear out at that rate4 ,it seemed to ,joel that there never had been such a short afternoon4 ,he had stopped to rest several times1 when ,phineas had insisted upon it2 but this new work had all the fascination of an interesting game4 ,the trees threw giant shadows across the grass1 when he finally laid his tools aside4 ,his back ached with so much unusual exercise1 and he was very tired4 ,rabbi ,phineas1 he asked gently1 after a long pause1 what makes you so good to me8 ,what makes you so different from other people8 ,while ,i am with you1 ,i feel like ,i want to be good4 ,other people seem to rub me the wrong way1 and make me cross and hateful2 then ,i feel like ,i'd rather be wicked than not4 ,why this afternoon1 ,i've scarcely thought of ,rehum at all4 ,i forgot at times that ,i am lame4 ,when you talk to me1 ,i feel like ,i did that day ,dan took me out on the lake4 ,it seemed a different kind of a world1--all blue sky and smooth water4 ,i felt if ,i could stay out there all the time1 where it was so quiet and comforting1 that ,i could not even hate ,rehum as much as ,i do4 ,a surprised1 pleased look passed over the man's face4 ,do ,i really make you feel that way1 little one8 ,then ,i am indeed glad4 ,once when ,i was a young boy living in ,nazareth1 ,i had a playmate who had that influence over me and all the boys he played with4 ,i never could be selfish and impatient when he was with me4 ,his very presence rebuked such thoughts1--when we were children playing together1 like my own two little ones there1 and when we were older grown1 working at the same bench4 ,it has been many a long year since ,i left ,nazareth1 but ,i think of him daily4 ,even now1 after our long separation1 the thought of his blameless life inspires me to a higher living4 ,yes1 he went on musingly1 more to himself than the boy1 it was like music4 ,surely no white-robed priest in the holy temple ever offered up more acceptable praise than the perfect harmony of his daily life4 ,joel's lips trembled4 ,if ,i had ever had one real friend to care for me--not just pity me1 you know--maybe ,i would have been different4 ,but ,i have never had a single one since my father died4 ,phineas smiled1 and held out his hand4 ,you have one now1 my lad1 never forget that4 ,the strong brown hand closed in a warm grasp1 and ,joel drew it1 with a grateful impulse1 to his lips4 ,ruth came up with wondering eyes4 ,she could not understand what had passed2 but ,joel's eyes were full of tears1 and she vaguely felt that he needed comfort4 ,she had a pet pigeon in her arms1 that she carried everywhere with her4 ,here1 she lisped1 holding out the snowy winged bird4 ,boy1 take it6 ,boy1 keep it6 ,joel looked up inquiringly at ,phineas4 ,take it1 he said1 in a low tone4 ,let it be the omen of a happier life commencing for you4 ,i never had a pet of any kind before1 said ,joel1 in delight1 smoothing the white wings folded contentedly against his breast4 ,but she loves it so1 ,i dislike to take it from her4 ,how beautiful it is6 ,my little ,ruth is a born comforter1 said ,phineas1 tossing her up in his arms4 ,shall ,joel take the pigeon home with him1 little daughter8 ,yes1 she answered1 nodding her head4 ,boy cried4 ,i'll name it ',little ,friend1' said ,joel1 rising with it in his arms4 ,i'll take it home with me1 and keep it until after the ,sabbath1 to make me feel sure that this day has not been just a dream2 but ,i will bring it back next time ,i come4 ,i can see it here every day1 and it will be happier here4 ,oh1 ,rabbi ,phineas1 ,i can never thank you enough for this day6 ,it was a pitiful little figure that limped away homeward in the fading light1 with the white pigeon in his arms4 ,looking anxiously up in the sky1 ,joel saw one star come twinkling out4 ,the ,sabbath would soon begin1 and then he must not be found carrying even so much as this one poor little pigeon4 ,the slightest burden would be unlawful4 ,as he hurried on1 the loud blast of a trumpet1 blown from the roof of the synagogue1 signalled the laborers in the fields to stop all work4 ,he knew that very soon it would sound again1 to call the town people from their tasks2 and at the third blast1 the ,sabbath lamp would be lighted in every home4 ,fearful of his uncle's displeasure at his tardiness1 he hurried painfully onward1 to provide food and a resting-place for his little friend before the second sounding of the trumpet4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,early in the morning after the ,sabbath1 ,joel was in his accustomed place in the market1 waiting for his friend ,phineas4 ,his uncle had given a gruff assent1 when he timidly asked his approval of the plan4 ,the good ,rabbi ,amos was much pleased when he heard of the arrangement4 ,thou hast been a faithful student1 he said1 kindly4 ,thou knowest already more of the ,law than many of thy elders4 ,now it will do thee good to learn the handicraft of ,phineas4 ,remember1 my son1 'the balm was created by ,god before the wound4' ,work1 that is as old as ,eden1 has been given us that we might forget the afflictions of this life that fleeth like a shadow4 ,may the ,god of thy fathers give thee peace6 ,with the old man's benediction repeating itself like a solemn refrain in all his thoughts1 ,joel stood smoothing the pigeon in his arms1 until ,phineas had made his daily purchases4 ,then they walked on together in the cool of the morning1 to the little white house under the fig-trees4 ,phineas was surprised at his pupil's progress4 ,to be sure1 the weak arms could lift little1 the slender hands could attempt no large tasks4 ,but the painstaking care he bestowed on everything he attempted1 resulted in beautifully finished work4 ,if there was an extra smooth polish to be put on some wood1 or a delicate piece of joining to do1 ,joel's deft fingers seemed exactly suited to the task4 ,before the winter was over1 he had made many pretty little articles of furniture for ,abigail's use4 ,may ,i have these pieces of fine wood to use as ,i please8 he asked of ,phineas1 one day4 ,all but that largest strip1 he answered4 ,what are you going to make8 ,something for ,ruth's birthday4 ,she will be three years old in a few weeks1 ,jesse says1 and ,i want to make something for her to play with4 ,what are you going to make her8 inquired ,jesse1 from under the work-bench4 ,let me see too4 ,oh1 ,i didn't know you were anywhere near1 answered ,joel1 with a start of alarm4 ,tell me6 begged ,jesse4 ,well1 if you will promise to keep her out of the way while ,i am finishing it1 and never say a word about it-- ,i'll promise1 said the child1 solemnly4 ,he had to clap his hand over his mouth a great many times in the next few weeks1 to keep his secret from telling itself1 and he watched admiringly while ,joel carved and polished and cut4 ,one of the neighbors had come in to talk with ,abigail the day he finished it1 and as the children were down on the beach1 playing in the sand1 he took it in the house to show to the women4 ,it was a little table set with toy dishes1 that he had carved out of wood1--plates and cups and platters1 all complete4 ,the visitor held up her hands with an exclamation of delight4 ,after taking up each little highly polished dish to admire it separately1 she said1 ,i know where you might get a great deal of money for such work4 ,there is a rich ,roman living near the garrison1 who spends money like a lord4 ,no price is too great for him to pay for anything that pleases his fancy4 ,why don't you take some up there1 and offer them for sale8 ,i believe ,i will1 said ,joel1 after considering the matter4 ,i'll go just as soon as ,i can get them made4 ,ruth spread many a little feast under the fig-trees2 but after the first birthday banquet1 ,jesse was her only guest4 ,joel was too busy making more dishes and another little table1 to partake of them4 ,the whole family were interested in his success4 ,the day he went up to the great house near the garrison to offer them for sale1 they waited anxiously for his return4 ,he's sold them6 ,he's sold them6 cried ,jesse1 hopping from one foot to the other1 as he saw ,joel coming down the street empty-handed4 ,joel was hobbling along as fast as he could1 his face beaming4 ,see how much money6 he cried1 as he opened his hand to show a shining coin1 stamped with the head of ,caesar4 ,and ,i have an order for two more4 ,i'll soon have a fortune6 ,the children liked the dishes so much1 although they had the most beautiful toys ,i ever saw4 ,they had images they called dolls4 ,some of them had white-kid faces1 and were dressed as richly as queens4 ,i wish ,ruth had one4 ,the law forbids6 exclaimed ,phineas4 ,have you forgotten that it is written1 ',thou shalt not make any likeness of anything in the heavens above or the earth beneath1 or the waters under the earth'8 ,she is happy with what she has1 and needs no strange idols of the heathen to play with4 ,joel made no answer2 but he thought of the merry group of ,roman children seated around the little table he had made1 and wished again that ,ruth had one of those gorgeously dressed dolls4 ,skill and strength were not all he gained by his winter's work2 for some of the broad charity that made continual summer in the heart of ,phineas crept into his own embittered nature4 ,he grew less suspicious of those around him1 and smiles came more easily now to his face than scowls4 ,but the strong ambition of his life never left him for an instant4 ,to all the rest of the world he might be a friend2 to ,rehum he could only be the most unforgiving of enemies4 ,the thought that had given him most pleasure when the wealthy ,roman had tossed him his first earnings1 was not that his work could bring him money1 but that the money could open the way for his revenge4 ,that thought1 like a dark undercurrent1 gained depth and force as the days went by4 ,as he saw how much he could do in spite of his lameness1 he thought of how much more he might have accomplished1 if he had been like other boys4 ,it was a constant spur to his desire for revenge4 ,one day ,phineas laid aside his tools much earlier than usual1 and without any explanation to his wondering pupil1 went up into the town4 ,when he returned1 he nodded to his wife1 who sat in the doorway spinning1 and who had looked up inquiringly as he approached4 ,yes1 it's all arranged1 he said to her4 ,then he turned to ,joel to ask1 ,did you ever ride on a camel1 my boy8 ,no1 ,rabbi1 answered the boy1 in surprise1 wondering what was coming next4 ,well1 ,i have a day's journey to make to the hills in ,upper ,galilee4 ,a camel caravan passes near the place where my business calls me1 as it goes to ,damascus4 ,i seek to accompany it for protection4 ,i go on foot1 but ,i have made arrangements for you to ride one of the camels4 ,oh1 am ,i really to go1 too8 gasped ,joel1 in delighted astonishment4 ,oh1 ,rabbi ,phineas6 ,how did you ever think of asking me8 ,you have not seemed entirely well1 of late1 was the answer4 ,i thought the change would do you good4 ,i said nothing about it before1 for ,i had no opportunity to see your uncle until this afternoon2 and ,i did not want to disappoint you1 in case he refused his permission4 ,and he really says ,i may go8 demanded the boy1 eagerly4 ,yes1 the caravan moves in the morning1 and we will go with it4 ,there was little more work done that day4 ,joel was so full of anticipations of his journey that he scarcely knew what he was doing4 ,phineas was busy with preparations for the comfort of his little family during his absence1 and went into town again4 ,on his return he seemed strangely excited4 ,abigail1 seeing something was amiss1 watched him carefully1 but asked no questions4 ,he took a piece of timber that had been laid away for some especial purpose1 and began sawing it into small bits4 ,rabbi ,phineas1 ventured ,joel1 respectfully1 is that not the wood you charged me to save so carefully8 ,phineas gave a start as he saw what he had done1 and threw down his saw4 ,truly1 he said1 smiling1 ,i am beside myself with the news ,i have heard4 ,i just now walked ten cubits past my own house1 unknowing where ,i was1 so deeply was ,i thinking upon it4 ,abigail1 he asked1 do you remember my friend in ,nazareth whom ,i so often speak of1--the son of ,joseph the carpenter8 ,last week he was bidden to a marriage in ,cana4 ,it happened1 before the feasting was over1 the supply of wine was exhausted1 and the mortified host knew not what to do4 ,six great jars of stone had been placed in the room1 to supply the guests with water for washing4 ,he changed that water into wine6 ,i cannot believe it6 answered ,abigail1 simply4 ,but ,ezra ben ,jared told me so4 ,he was there1 and drank of the wine1 insisted ,phineas4 ,he could not have done it1 said ,abigail1 unless he were helped by the evil one1 or unless he were a prophet4 ,he is too good a man to ask help of the powers of darkness2 and it is beyond belief that a son of ,joseph should be a prophet4 ,to this ,phineas made no answer4 ,his quiet thoughts were shaken out of their usual routine as violently as if by an earthquake4 ,joel thought more of the journey than he did of the miracle4 ,it seemed to the impatient boy that the next day never would dawn4 ,many times in the night he wakened to hear the distant crowing of cocks4 ,at last1 by straining his eyes he could distinguish the green leaves of the vine on the lattice from the blue of the half-opened blossoms4 ,by that token he knew it was near enough the morning for him to commence saying his first prayers4 ,dressing noiselessly1 so as not to disturb the sleeping family1 he slipped out of the house and down to the well outside the city-gate4 ,here he washed1 and then ate the little lunch he had wrapped up the night before4 ,a meagre little breakfast1--only a hard-boiled egg1 a bit of fish1 and some black bread4 ,but the early hour and his excitement took away his appetite for even that little4 ,soon all was confusion around the well1 as the noisy drivers gathered to water their camels1 and make their preparations for the start4 ,joel shrunk away timidly to the edge of the crowd1 fearful that his friend ,phineas had overslept himself4 ,in a few minutes he saw him coming with a staff in one hand1 and a small bundle swinging from the other4 ,joel had one breathless moment of suspense as he was helped on to the back of the kneeling camel2 one desperate clutch at the saddle as the huge animal plunged about and rose to its feet4 ,then he looked down at ,phineas1 and smiled blissfully4 ,illustration3 ,,he ,,looked ,,down ,,at ,,phineas1 ,,and ,,smiled ,,blissfully ,oh1 the delight of that slow easy motion6 ,the joy of being carried along without pain or effort6 ,who could realize how much it meant to the little fellow whose halting steps had so long been taken in weariness and suffering8 ,swinging along in the cool air1 so far above the foot-passengers1 it seemed to him that he looked down upon a new earth4 ,blackbirds flew along the roads1 startled by their passing4 ,high overhead1 a lark had not yet finished her morning song4 ,lambs bleated in the pastures1 and the lowing of herds sounded on every hill-side4 ,not a sight or sound escaped the boy2 and all the morning he rode on without speaking1 not a care in his heart1 not a cloud on his horizon4 ,at noon they stopped in a little grove of olive-trees where a cool spring gurgled out from the rocks4 ,phineas spread out their lunch at a little distance from the others2 and they ate it quickly1 with appetites sharpened by the morning's travel4 ,afterwards ,joel stretched himself out on the ground to rest1 and was asleep almost as soon as his eyelids could shut out the noontide glare of the sun from his tired eyes4 ,when he awoke1 nearly an hour afterward1 he heard voices near him in earnest conversation4 ,raising himself on his elbow1 he saw ,phineas at a little distance1 talking to an old man who had ridden one of the foremost camels4 ,they must have been talking of the miracle1 for the old man1 as he stroked his long white beard1 was saying1 ,but men are more wont to be astonished at the sun's eclipse1 than at his daily rising4 ,look1 my friend6 ,he pointed to a wild grape-vine clinging to a tree near by4 ,do you see those bunches of half-grown grapes8 ,there is a constant miracle4 ,day by day1 the water of the dew and rain is being changed into the wine of the grape4 ,soil and sunshine are turning into fragrant juices4 ,yet you feel no astonishment4 ,no1 assented ,phineas2 for it is by the hand of ,god it is done4 ,why may not this be also8 said the old man4 ,even this miracle at the marriage feast in ,cana8 ,phineas started violently4 ,what6 he cried4 ,do you think it possible that this friend of mine is the ,one to be sent of ,god8 ,is not this the accepted time for the coming of ,israel's ,messiah8 answered the old man1 solemnly4 ,is it not meet that he should herald his presence by miracles and signs and wonders8 ,joel lay down again to think over what he had just heard4 ,like every other ,israelite in the whole world1 he knew that a deliverer had been promised his people4 ,time and again he had read the prophecies that foretold the coming of a king through the royal line of ,david2 time and again he had pictured to himself the mighty battles to take place between his down-trodden race and the haughty hordes of ,caesar4 ,sometime1 somewhere1 a universal dominion awaited them4 ,he firmly believed that the day was near at hand2 but not even in his wildest dreams had he ever dared to hope that it might come in his own lifetime4 ,he raised himself on his elbow again1 for the old man was speaking4 ,about thirty years ago1 he said slowly1 ,i went up to ,jerusalem to be registered for taxation1 for the emperor's decree had gone forth and no one could escape enrolment4 ,you are too young to remember the taking of that census1 my friend2 but you have doubtless heard of it4 ,yes1 assented ,phineas1 respectfully4 ,i was standing just outside the ,joppa gate1 bargaining with a man for a cage of gold finches he had for sale1 which ,i wished to take to my daughter1 when we heard some one speaking to us4 ,looking up we saw several strange men on camels1 who were inquiring their way4 ,they were richly dressed4 ,the trappings and silver bells on their camels1 as well as their own attire1 spoke of wealth4 ,their faces showed that they were wise and learned men from far countries4 ,we greeted them respectfully1 but could not speak for astonishment when we heard their question3 ',where is he that is born king of the ,jews8 ,for we have seen his star in the ,east1 and have come to worship him4' ,the bird-seller looked at me1 and ,i looked at him in open-mouthed wonder4 ,the men rode on before we could find words wherewith to answer them4 ,all sorts of rumors were afloat1 and everywhere we went next day1 throughout ,jerusalem1 knots of people stood talking of the mysterious men1 and their strange question4 ,even the king was interested1 and sought audience with them4 ,could any one answer them8 asked ,phineas4 ,nay6 but it was then impressed on me so surely that the ,christ was born1 that ,i have asked myself all these thirty years1 ',where is he that is born king of the ,jews8' ,for ,i too would fain follow on to find and worship him4 ,as soon as ,i return from ,damascus1 ,i shall go at once to ,cana1 and search for this miracle-worker4 ,the old man's earnest words made a wonderful impression on ,joel4 ,all the afternoon1 as they rose higher among the hills1 the thought took stronger possession of him4 ,he might yet live1 helpless little cripple as he was1 to see the dawn of ,israel's deliverance1 and a son of ,david once more on its throne4 ,ride on1 little pilgrim1 happy in thy day-dreams6 ,the time is coming2 but weary ways and hopeless heart-aches lie between thee and that to-morrow4 ,the king is on his way to his coronation1 but it will be with thorns4 ,ride on1 little pilgrim1 be happy whilst thou can6 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,it was nearly the close of the day when the long caravan halted1 and tents were pitched for the night near a little brook that came splashing down from a cold mountain-spring4 ,joel1 exhausted by the long day's travel1 crowded so full of new experiences1 was glad to stretch his cramped limbs on a blanket that ,phineas took from the camel's back4 ,here1 through half-shut eyes1 he watched the building of the camp-fire1 and the preparations for the evening meal4 ,i wonder what ,uncle ,laban would do if he were here6 he said to ,phineas1 with an amused smile4 ,look at those dirty drivers with their unwashed hands and unblessed food4 ,how little regard they have for the ,law4 ,uncle ,laban would fast a lifetime rather than taste anything that had even been passed over a fire of their building4 ,i can imagine ,i see him now1 gathering up his skirts and walking on the tips of his sandals for fear of being touched by anything unclean4 ,your ,uncle ,laban is a good man1 answered ,phineas1 one careful not to transgress the ,law4 ,yes1 said the boy4 ,but ,i like your way better4 ,you keep the fasts1 and repeat the prayers1 and love ,god and your neighbors4 ,uncle ,laban is careful to do the first two things2 ,i am not so sure about the others4 ,life is too short to be always washing one's hands4 ,phineas looked at the little fellow sharply4 ,how shrewd and old he seemed for one of his years6 ,such independence of thought was unusual in a child trained as he had been4 ,he scarcely knew how to answer him1 so he turned his attention to spreading out the fruits and bread he had brought for their supper4 ,next morning1 after the caravan had gone on without them1 they started up a narrow bridle-path1 that led through hillside-pastures where flocks of sheep and goats were feeding4 ,the dew was still on the grass1 and the air was so fresh and sweet in this higher altitude that ,joel walked on with a feeling of strength and vigor unknown to him before4 ,oh1 look6 he cried1 clasping his hands in delight1 as a sudden turn brought them to the upper course of the brook whose waters1 falling far below1 had refreshed them the night before4 ,the poetry of the ,psalms came as naturally to the lips of this beauty-loving little ,israelite as the breath he drew4 ,now he repeated1 in a low1 reverent voice1 ',the ,lord is my shepherd2 ,i shall not want4' ,oh1 ,rabbi ,phineas1 did you ever know before that there could be such green pastures and still waters8 ,the man smiled at the boy's radiant1 upturned face4 ',yea1 the earth is the ,lord's and the fulness thereof1' he murmured4 ,we have indeed a goodly heritage4 ,hushed into silence by the voice of the hills and the beauty on every side1 they walked on till the road turned again4 ,just ahead stood a house unusually large for a country district2 everything about it bore an air of wealth and comfort4 ,our journey is at an end now1 said ,phineas4 ,yonder lies the house of ,nathan ben ,obed4 ,he owns all those flocks and herds we have seen in passing this last half hour4 ,it is with him that ,i have business2 and we will tarry with him until after the ,sabbath4 ,they were evidently expected1 for a servant came running out to meet them4 ,he opened the gate and conducted them into a shaded court-yard4 ,here another servant took off their dusty sandals1 and gave them water to wash their feet4 ,they had barely finished1 when an old man appeared in the doorway2 his long beard and hair were white as the abba he wore4 ,phineas would have bowed himself to the ground before him1 but the old man prevented it1 by hurrying to take both hands in his1 and kiss him on each cheek4 ,peace be to thee1 thou son of my good friend ,jesse6 he said4 ,thou art indeed most welcome4 ,joel lagged behind4 ,he was always sensitive about meeting strangers2 but the man's cordial welcome soon put him at his ease4 ,he was left to himself a great deal during the few days following4 ,the business on which the old man had summoned ,phineas required long consultations4 ,one day they rode away together to some outlying pastures1 and were gone until night-fall4 ,joel did not miss them4 ,he was spending long happy hours in the country sunshine4 ,there was something to entertain him1 every way he turned4 ,for a while he amused himself by sitting in the door and poring over a roll of parchment that ,sarah1 the wife of ,nathan ben ,obed1 brought him to read4 ,she was an old woman1 but one would have found it hard to think so1 had he seen how briskly she went about her duties of caring for such a large household4 ,after ,joel had read for some little time1 he became aware that some one was singing outside1 in a whining1 monotonous way1 and he laid down his book to listen4 ,the voice was not loud1 but so penetrating he could not shut it out1 and fix his mind on his story again4 ,so he rolled up the parchment and laid it on the chest from which it had been taken2 then winding his handkerchief around his head1 turban fashion1 he limped out in the direction of the voice4 ,just around the corner of the house1 under a great oak-tree1 a woman sat churning4 ,from three smooth poles joined at the top to form a tripod1 a goat-skin bag hung by long leather straps4 ,this was filled with cream2 she was slapping it violently back and forth in time to her weird song4 ,her feet were bare1 and she wore only a coarse cotton dress4 ,but a gay red handkerchief covered her black hair1 and heavy copper rings hung from her nose and ears4 ,the song stopped suddenly as she saw ,joel4 ,then recognizing her master's guest1 she smiled at him so broadly that he could see her pretty white teeth4 ,joel hardly knew what to say at this unexpected encounter1 but bethought himself to ask the way to the sheep-folds and the watch-tower4 ,it is a long way there1 said the woman1 doubtfully2 ,joel flushed as he felt her black eyes scanning his misshapen form4 ,just then ,sarah appeared in the door1 and the maid repeated the question to her mistress4 ,to be sure1 she said4 ,you must go out and see our shepherds with their flocks4 ,we have a great many employed just now1 on all the surrounding hills4 ,rhoda1 call your son1 and bid him bring hither the donkey that he always drives to market4 ,the woman left her churning1 and presently came back with a boy about ,joel's age1 leading a donkey with only one ear4 ,joel knew what that meant4 ,at some time in its life the poor beast had strayed into some neighbor's field1 and the owner of the field had been at liberty to cut off an ear in punishment4 ,the boy that led him wore a long shirt of rough hair-cloth4 ,his feet and legs were brown and tanned4 ,a shock of reddish sunburned hair was the only covering for his head4 ,there was a squint in one eye1 and his face was freckled4 ,he made an awkward obeisance to his mistress4 ,buz1 she said1 this young lad is your master's guest4 ,take him out and show him the flocks and herds1 and the sheep-folds4 ,he has never seen anything of shepherd life1 so be careful to do his pleasure4 ,stay6 she added to ,joel4 ,you will not have time to visit them all before the mid-day meal1 so ,i will give you a lunch1 and you can enjoy an entire day in the fields4 ,as the two boys started down the hill1 ,joel stole a glance at his companion4 ,what a stupid-looking fellow6 he thought2 ,i doubt if he knows anything more than this sleepy beast ,i am riding4 ,i wonder if he enjoys any of this beautiful world around him4 ,how glad ,i am that ,i am not in his place4 ,buz1 trudging along in the dust1 glanced at the little cripple on the donkey's back with an inward shiver4 ,what a dreadful lot his must be1 he thought4 ,how glad ,i am that ,i am not like he is6 ,it was not very long till the shyness began to wear off1 and ,joel found that the stupid shepherd lad had a very busy brain under his shock of tangled hair4 ,his eyes might squint1 but they knew just where to look in the bushes for the little hedge-sparrow's nest4 ,they could take unerring aim1 too1 when he sent the smooth sling-stones whizzing from the sling he carried4 ,how far can you shoot with it8 asked ,joel4 ,for answer ,buz looked all around for some object on which to try his skill2 then he pointed to a hawk slowly circling overhead4 ,joel watched him fit a smooth pebble into his sling2 he had no thought that the boy could touch it at such a distance4 ,the stone whizzed through the air like a bullet1 and the bird dropped several yards ahead of them4 ,see6 said ,buz1 as he ran to pick it up1 and display it proudly4 ,i struck it in the head4 ,joel looked at him with increasing respect4 ,that must have been the kind of sling that ,king ,david killed the giant with1 he said1 handing it back after a careful examination4 ,king ,david6 repeated ,buz1 dully1 seems to me ,i have heard of him1 sometime or other2 but ,i don't know about the giant4 ,why where have you been all your life8 cried ,joel1 in amazement4 ,i thought everybody knew about that4 ,did you never go to a synagogue8 ,buz shook his bushy head4 ,they don't have synagogues in these parts4 ,the master calls us in and reads to us on the ,sabbath2 but ,i always get sleepy when ,i sit right still1 and so ,i generally get behind somebody and go to sleep4 ,the shepherds talk to each other a good deal about such things1 ,i am never with them though4 ,i spend all my time running errands4 ,shocked at such ignorance1 ,joel began to tell the shepherd king's life with such eloquence that ,buz stopped short in the road to listen4 ,seeing this the donkey stood still also1 wagged its one ear1 and went to sleep4 ,but ,buz listened1 wider awake than he had ever been before in his life4 ,the story was a favorite one with ,joel1 and he put his whole soul into it4 ,who told you that8 asked ,buz1 taking a long breath when the interesting tale was finished4 ,why ,i read it myself6 answered ,joel4 ,oh1 can you read8 asked ,buz1 looking at ,joel in much the same way that ,joel had looked at him after he killed the hawk4 ,i do not see how anybody can4 ,it puzzles me how people can look at all those crooked black marks and call them rivers and flocks and things4 ,i looked one time1 just where ,master had been reading about a great battle4 ,and ,i didn't see a single thing that looked like a warrior or a sword or a battle-axe1 though he called them all by name4 ,there were several little round marks that might have been meant for sling-stones2 but it was more than ,i could make out1 how he could get any sense out of it4 ,joel leaned back and laughed till the hills rang1 laughed till the tears stood in his eyes1 and the donkey waked up and ambled on4 ,buz did not seem to be in the least disturbed by his merriment1 although he was puzzled as to its cause4 ,he only stooped to pick up more stones for his sling as they went on4 ,it was not long till they came to some of the men1--great brawny fellows dressed in skins1 with coarse matted hair and tanned faces4 ,how little they knew of what was going on in the busy world outside their fields6 ,as ,joel talked to them he found that ,caesar's conquests and ,hero's murders had only come to them as vague rumors4 ,all the petty wars and political turmoils were unknown to them4 ,they could talk to him only of their flocks and their faith1 both as simple as their lives4 ,joel1 in his wisdom learned of the ,rabbis1 felt himself infinitely their superior1 child though he was4 ,but he enjoyed his day spent with them4 ,he and ,buz ate the ample lunch they had brought1 dipped up water from the brook in cups they made of oak-leaves1 and both finally fell asleep to the droning music of the shepherd's pipes1 played softly on the uplands4 ,a distant rumble of thunder aroused them1 late in the afternoon2 and they started up to find the shepherds calling in their flocks4 ,the gaunt sheep dogs raced to and fro1 bringing the straying goats together4 ,the shepherds brought the sheep into line with well-aimed sling-shots1 touching them first on one side1 and then on the other1 as oxen are guided by the touch of the goad4 ,joel looked up at the darkening sky with alarm4 ,who would have thought of a storm on such a day6 he exclaimed4 ,buz cocked his eyes at the horizon4 ,i thought it might come to this1 he said2 for as we came along this morning there were no spider-webs on the grass2 the ants had not uncovered the doors of their hills2 and all the signs pointed to wet weather4 ,i thought though1 that the time of the latter rains had passed a week ago4 ,i am always glad when the stormy season is over4 ,this one is going to be a hard one4 ,what shall we do8 asked ,joel4 ,buz scratched his head4 ,then he looked at ,joel4 ,you never could get home on that trifling donkey before it overtakes us2 and they'll be worried about you4 ,i'd best take you up to the sheep-fold4 ,you can stay all night there1 very comfortably4 ,i'll run home and tell them where you are1 and come back for you in the morning4 ,joel hesitated1 appalled at spending the night among such dirty men2 but the heavy boom of thunder1 steadily rolling nearer1 silenced his half-spoken objection4 ,by the time the donkey had carried him up the hillside to the stone-walled enclosure round the watch-tower1 the shepherds were at the gates with their flocks4 ,joel watched them go through the narrow passage1 one by one4 ,each man kept count of his own sheep1 and drove them under the rough sheds put up for their protection4 ,a good-sized hut was built against the hillside1 where the shepherds might find refuge4 ,buz pointed it out to ,joel2 then he turned the donkey into one of the sheds1 and started homeward on the run4 ,joel shuddered as a blinding flash of lightning was followed by a crash of thunder that shook the hut4 ,the wind bore down through the trees like some savage spirit1 shrieking and moaning as it flew4 ,joel heard a shout1 and looked out to the opposite hillside4 ,buz was flying along in break-neck race with the storm4 ,at that rate he would soon be home4 ,how he seemed to enjoy the race1 as his strong limbs carried him lightly as a bird soars6 ,at the top he turned to look back and laugh and wave his arms1--a sinewy little figure standing out in bold relief against a brazen sky4 ,joel watched till he was out of sight4 ,then1 as the wind swooped down from the mountains1 great drops of rain began to splash through the leaves4 ,the men crowded into the hut4 ,one of them started forward to close the door1 but stopped suddenly1 with his brown hairy hand uplifted4 ,hark ye6 he exclaimed4 ,joel heard only the shivering of the wind in the tree-tops2 but the man's trained ear caught the bleating of a stray lamb1 far off and very faint4 ,i was afraid ,i was mistaken in my count2 they jostled through the gate so fast ,i could not be sure4 ,going to a row of pegs along the wall1 he took down a lantern hanging there and lit it2 then wrapping his coat of skins more closely around him1 and calling one of the dogs1 he set out into the gathering darkness4 ,joel watched the fitful gleam of the lantern1 flickering on unsteadily as a will-o'-the-wisp4 ,a moment later he heard the man's deep voice calling tenderly to the lost animal2 then the storm struck with such fury that they had to stand with their backs against the door of the hut to keep it closed4 ,flash after flash of lightning blinded them4 ,the wind roared down the mountain and beat against the house till ,joel held his breath in terror4 ,it was midnight before it stopped4 ,joel thought of the poor shepherd out on the hills1 and shuddered4 ,even the men seemed uneasy about him1 as hour after hour passed1 and he did not come4 ,finally he fell asleep in the corner1 on a pile of woolly skins4 ,in the gray dawn he was awakened by a great shout4 ,he got up1 and went to the door4 ,there stood the shepherd4 ,his bare limbs were cut by stones and torn by thorns4 ,blood streamed from his forehead where he had been wounded by a falling branch4 ,the mud on his rough garments showed how often he had slipped and fallen on the steep paths4 ,joel noticed1 with a thrill of sympathy1 how painfully he limped4 ,but there on the bowed shoulders was the lamb he had wandered so far to find2 and as the welcoming shout arose again1 ,joel's weak little cheer joined gladly in4 ,how brave and strong he is1 thought the boy4 ,he risked his life for just one pitiful little lamb4 ,the child's heart went strangely out to this rough fellow who stood holding the shivering animal1 sublimely unconscious that he had done anything more than a simple duty4 ,joel1 who felt uncommonly hungry after his supperless night1 thought he would mount the donkey and start back alone4 ,but just as he was about to do so1 a familiar bushy head showed itself in the door of the sheepfold4 ,buz had brought him some wheat-cakes and cheese to eat on the way back4 ,joel was so busy with this welcome meal that he did not talk much4 ,buz kept eying him in silence1 as if he longed to ask some question4 ,at last1 when the cheese had entirely disappeared1 he found courage to ask it4 ,were you always like that8 he said abruptly1 motioning to ,joel's back and leg4 ,somehow the reference did not wound him as it generally did4 ,he began to tell ,buz about the ,samaritan boy who had crippled him4 ,he never was able to tell the story of his wrongs without growing passionately angry4 ,he had worked himself into a white heat by the time he had finished4 ,i'd get even with him1 said ,buz1 excitedly1 with a wicked squint of his eyes4 ,how would you do it8 demanded ,joel4 ,cripple him as he did me8 ,worse than that6 exclaimed ,buz1 stopping to take deliberate aim at a leaf overhead1 and shooting a hole exactly through the centre with his sling4 ,i'd blind him as quick as that6 ,it's a great deal worse to be blind than lame4 ,joel closed his eyes1 and rode on a few moments in darkness4 ,then he opened them and gave a quick glad look around the landscape4 ,my6 ,what if ,i never could have opened them again1 he thought4 ,yes1 ,buz1 you're right1 he said aloud4 ,it is worse to be blind2 so ,i shall take ,rehum's eyesight also1 some time4 ,oh1 if that time were only here6 ,although the subject of the miracle at ,cana had been constantly in the mind of ,phineas1 and often near his lips1 he did not speak of it to his host until the evening before his departure4 ,it was just at the close of the evening meal4 ,nathan ben ,obed rose half-way from his seat in astonishment1 then sank back4 ,how old a man is this friend of yours8 he asked4 ,about thirty1 ,i think1 answered ,phineas4 ,he is a little younger than ,i4 ,where was he born8 ,in ,bethlehem1 ,i have heard it said1 though his home has always been in ,nazareth4 ,strange1 strange6 muttered the man1 stroking his long white beard thoughtfully4 ,joel reached over and touched ,phineas on the arm4 ,will you not tell ,rabbi ,nathan about the wonderful star that was seen at that time8 he asked1 in a low tone4 ,what was that8 asked the old man1 arousing from his reverie4 ,when ,phineas had repeated his conversation with the stranger on the day of his journey1 ,nathan ben ,obed exchanged meaning glances with his wife4 ,send for the old shepherd ,heber1 he said4 ,i would have speech with him4 ,rhoda came in to light the lamps4 ,he bade her roll a cushioned couch that was in one corner to the centre of the room4 ,this old shepherd ,heber was born in ,bethlehem1 he said2 but since his sons and grandsons have been in my employ1 he has come north to live4 ,he used to help keep the flocks that belonged to the ,temple1 and that were used for sacrifices4 ,his has always been one of the purest of lives2 and ,i have never known such faith as he has4 ,he is over a hundred years old1 so must have been quite aged at the time of the event of which he will tell us4 ,presently an old1 old man tottered into the room1 leaning on the shoulders of his two stalwart grandsons4 ,they placed him gently on the cushions of the couch1 and then went into the court-yard to await his readiness to return4 ,like the men ,joel had seen the day before1 they were dressed in skins1 and were wild-looking and rough4 ,but this aged father1 with dim eyes and trembling wrinkled hands1 sat before them like some hoary patriarch1 in a fine linen mantle4 ,pleased as a child1 he saluted his new audience1 and began to tell them his only story4 ,as the years had gone by1 one by one the lights of memory had gone out in darkness4 ,well-known scenes had grown dim2 old faces were forgotten2 names he knew as well as his own1 could not be recalled3 but this one story was as fresh and real to him1 as on the night he learned it4 ,the words he chose were simple1 the voice was tremulous with weakness2 but he spoke with a dramatic fervor that made ,joel creep nearer and nearer1 until he knelt1 unknowing1 at the old man's knee1 spell-bound by the wonderful tale4 ,we were keeping watch in the fields by night1 began the old shepherd1 ,i and my sons and my brethren4 ,it was still and cold1 and we spoke but little to each other4 ,suddenly over all the hills and plains shone a great light1--brighter than light of moon or stars or sunshine4 ,it was so heavenly white we knew it must be the glory of the ,lord we looked upon and we were sore afraid1 and hid our faces1 falling to the ground4 ,and1 lo6 an angel overhead spake to us from out of the midst of the glory1 saying1 ',fear not3 for1 behold1 ,i bring you good tidings of great joy1 which shall be to all people4 ,for unto you is born this day in the city of ,david a ,saviour1 which is ,christ the ,lord4 ,and this shall be a sign unto you2 ,ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes1 lying in a manger4' ,and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising ,god1 and saying1 ',glory to ,god in the highest1 peace on earth1 good-will toward men6' ,oh1 the sound of the rejoicing that filled that upper air6 ,ever since in my heart have ,i carried that foretaste of heaven6 ,the old shepherd paused1 with such a light on his upturned face that he seemed to his awestruck listeners to be hearing again that same angelic chorus1--the chorus that rang down from the watch-towers of heaven1 across earth's lowly sheep-fold1 on that first ,christmas night4 ,there was a solemn hush4 ,then he said1 ,and when they were gone away1 and the light and the song were no more with us1 we spake one to another1 and rose in haste and went to ,bethlehem4 ,and we found the ,babe lying in a manger with ,mary its mother2 and we fell down and worshipped ,him4 ,thirty years has it been since the birth of ,israel's ,messiah2 and ,i sit and wonder all the day1--wonder when ,he will appear once more to ,his people4 ,surely the time must be well nigh here when ,he may claim ,his kingdom4 ,o ,lord1 let not ,thy servant depart until these eyes that beheld the ,child shall have seen the ,king in ,his beauty6 ,joel remained kneeling beside old ,heber1 perfectly motionless4 ,he was fitting together the links that he had lately found4 ,a child1 heralded by angels1 proclaimed by a star worshipped by the ,magi6 ,a man changing water into wine at only a word6 ,i shall yet see ,him6 exclaimed the voice of old ,heber1 with such sublime assurance of faith that it found a response in every heart4 ,there was another solemn stillness1 so deep that the soft fluttering of a night-moth around the lamp startled them4 ,then the child's voice rang out1 eager and shrill1 but triumphant as if inspired3 ,rabbi ,phineas1 ,he it was who changed the water into wine6--,this friend of ,nazareth and the babe of ,bethlehem are the same6 ,the heart of the carpenter was strangely stirred1 but it was full of doubt4 ,not that the ,christ had been born1--the teachings of all his lifetime led him to expect that2 but that the chosen ,one could be a friend of his1--the thought was too wonderful for him4 ,the old shepherd sat on the couch1 feebly twisting his fingers1 and talking to himself4 ,he was repeating bits of the story he had just told them3 ,and1 lo1 an angel overhead6 he muttered4 ,then he looked up1 whispering softly1 ,glory to ,god in the highest--and peace1 yes1 on earth peace6 ,he seems to have forgotten everything else1 said ,nathan1 signalling to the men outside to lead him home4 ,his mind is wiped away entirely1 that it may keep unspotted the record of that night's revelation4 ,he tells it over and over1 whether he has a listener or not4 ,they led him gently out1 the white-haired1 white-souled old shepherd ,heber4 ,it seemed to ,joel that the wrinkled face was illuminated by some inner light1 not of this world1 and that he lingered among men only to repeat to them1 over and over1 his one story4 ,that strange sweet story of ,bethlehem's first ,christmas-tide4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,next morning a goodly train set out from the gates of ,nathan ben ,obed4 ,it was near the time of the feast of the ,passover1 and he1 with many of his household1 was going down to ,jerusalem4 ,the family and guests went first on mules and asses4 ,behind them followed a train of servants1 driving the lambs1 goats1 and oxen to be offered as sacrifices in the temple1 or sold in ,jerusalem to other pilgrims4 ,all along the highway1 workmen were busy repairing the bridges1 and cleaning the springs and wells1 soon to be used by the throngs of travellers4 ,all the tombs near the great thoroughfares were being freshly white-washed2 they gleamed with a dazzling purity through the green trees1 only to warn passers-by of the defilement within4 ,for had those on their way to the feast approached too near these homes of the dead1 even unconsciously1 they would have been accounted unclean1 and unfit to partake of the ,passover4 ,nothing escaped ,joel's quick sight1 from the tulips and marigolds flaming in the fields1 to the bright-eyed little viper crawling along the stone-wall4 ,but while he looked1 he never lost a word that passed between his friend ,phineas and their host4 ,the pride of an ancient nation took possession of him as he listened to the prophecies they quoted4 ,every one they met along the way coming from ,capernaum had something to say about this new prophet who had arisen in ,galilee4 ,when they reached the gate of the city1 a great disappointment awaited them4 ,he had been there1 and gone again4 ,nathan ben ,obed and his train tarried only one night in the place1 and then pressed on again towards ,jerusalem4 ,phineas went with them4 ,you shall go with us next year1 he said to ,joel2 then you will be over twelve4 ,i shall take my own little ones too1 and their mother4 ,only one more year1 exclaimed ,joel1 joyfully4 ,if that passes as quickly as the one just gone1 it will soon be here4 ,look after my little family1 said the carpenter1 at parting4 ,come every day to the work1 if you wish1 just as when ,i am here2 and remember1 my lad1 you are almost a man4 ,almost a man6 ,the words rang in the boy's thoughts all day as he pounded and cut1 keeping time to the swinging motion of hammer and saw4 ,almost a man6 ,but what kind of one8 ,crippled and maimed1 shorn of the strength that should have been his pride1 beggared of his priestly birthright4 ,almost1 it might be1 but never in its fulness1 could he hope to attain the proud stature of a perfect man4 ,a fiercer hate sprang up for the enemy who had made him what he was2 and the wild burning for revenge filled him so he could not work4 ,he put away his tools1 and went up the narrow outside stairway that led to the flat roof of the carpenter's house4 ,it was called the upper chamber4 ,here a latticed pavilion1 thickly overgrown with vines1 made a cool green retreat where he might rest and think undisturbed4 ,sitting there1 he could see the flash of white sails on the blue lake1 and slow-moving masses of fleecy clouds in the blue of the sky above4 ,they brought before him the picture of the flocks feeding on the pastures of ,nathan ben ,obed4 ,then1 naturally enough1 there flashed through his mind a thought of ,buz4 ,he seemed to see him squinting his little eyes to take aim at a leaf overhead4 ,he heard the stone whirr through it1 as ,buz said3 ,i'd blind him6 ,some very impossible plans crept into ,joel's day-dreams just then4 ,he imagined himself sitting in a high seat1 wrapped in robes of state2 soldiers stood around him to carry out his slightest wish4 ,the door would open and ,rehum would be brought forth in fetters4 ,what is your will concerning the prisoner1 ,o most gracious sovereign1 the jailer would ask4 ,joel closed his eyes1 and waved his hand before an imaginary audience4 ,away with him1--to the torture6 ,wrench his limbs on the rack6 ,brand his eyelids with hot irons6 ,let him suffer all that man can suffer and live6 ,thus shall it be done unto the man on whom the king delighteth to take vengeance6 ,joel was childish enough to take a real satisfaction in this scene he conjured up4 ,but as it faded away1 he was man enough to realize it could never come to pass1 save in his imagination2 he could never be in such a position for revenge1 unless1-- ,that moment a possible way seemed to open for him4 ,phineas would probably see his friend of ,nazareth at the ,passover4 ,what could be more natural than that the old friendship should be renewed4 ,he whose hand had changed the water into wine should finally cast out the alien king who usurped the throne of ,israel1 for one in whose veins the blood of ,david ran royal red1--what was more to be expected than that8 ,the ,messiah would come to ,his kingdom1 and then--and then--the thought leaped to its last daring limit4 ,phineas1 who had been ,his earliest friend and playfellow1 would he not be lifted to the right hand of power8 ,through him1 then1 lay the royal road to revenge4 ,the thought lifted him unconsciously to his feet4 ,he stood with his arms out-stretched in the direction of the far-away ,temple1 like some young prophet4 ,david's cry of triumph rose to his lips3 ,thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle1 he murmured4 ,thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies1 that ,i might destroy them that hate me6 ,a sweet baby voice at the foot of the steps brought him suddenly down from the height of his intense feeling4 ,joel6 ,joel6 called little ,ruth1 where is you8 ,then ,jesse's voice added1 ,we're all a-coming up for you to tell us a story4 ,up the stairs they swarmed to the roof1 the carpenter's children and half-a-dozen of their little playmates4 ,joel1 with his head still in the clouds1 told them of a mighty king who was coming to slay all other kings1 and change all tears--the waters of affliction--into the red wine of joy4 ,h'm6 ,i don't think much of that story1 said ,jesse1 with out-spoken candor4 ,i'd rather hear about ,goliath1 or the bears that ate up the forty children4 ,but ,joel was in no mood for such stories1 just then4 ,on some slight pretext he escaped from his exacting audience1 and went down to the sea-shore4 ,here1 skipping stones across the water1 or writing idly in the sand1 he was free to go on with his fascinating day-dreams4 ,for the next two weeks the boy gave up work entirely4 ,he haunted the toll-gates and public streets1 hoping to hear some startling news from ,jerusalem4 ,he was so full of the thought that some great revolution was about to take place1 that he could not understand how people could be so indifferent4 ,all on fire with the belief that this man of ,nazareth was the one in whom lay the nation's hope1 he looked and longed for the return of ,phineas1 that he might learn more of ,him4 ,but ,phineas had little to tell when he came back4 ,he had met his friend twice in ,jerusalem1--the same gentle quiet man he had always known1 making no claims1 working no wonders4 ,phineas had heard of ,his driving the moneychangers out of the ,temple one day1 and those who sold doves in its sacred courts1 although he had not witnessed the scene4 ,the carpenter was rather surprised that ,he should have made such a public disturbance4 ,rabbi ,phineas1 said ,joel1 with a trembling voice1 don't you think your friend is the prophet we are expecting8 ,phineas shook his head4 ,no1 my lad1 ,i am sure of it now4 ,but the herald angels and the star1 insisted the boy4 ,they must have proclaimed some one else4 ,he is the best man ,i ever knew2 but there is no more of the king in ,his nature1 than there is in mine4 ,the man's positive answer seemed to shatter ,joel's last hope4 ,downcast and disappointed1 he went back to his work4 ,only with money could he accomplish his life's object1 and only by incessant work could he earn the shining shekels that he needed4 ,phineas wondered sometimes at the dogged persistence with which the child stuck to his task1 in spite of his tired1 aching body4 ,he had learned to make sandal-wood jewel-boxes1 and fancifully wrought cups to hold the various dyes and cosmetics used by the ladies of the court4 ,several times1 during the following months1 he begged a sail in some of the fishing-boats that landed at the town of ,tiberias4 ,having gained the favor of the keeper of the gates1 by various little gifts of his own manufacture1 he always found a ready admittance to the palace4 ,to the ladies of the court1 the sums they paid for his pretty wares seemed trifling2 but to ,joel the small bag of coins hidden in the folds of his clothes was a little fortune1 daily growing larger4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,it was ,sabbath morning in the house of ,laban the ,pharisee4 ,joel1 sitting alone in the court-yard1 could hear his aunt talking to the smaller children1 as she made them ready to take with her to the synagogue4 ,from the upper chamber on the roof1 came also a sound of voices1 for two guests had arrived the day before1 and were talking earnestly with their host4 ,joel already knew the object of their visit4 ,they had been there before1 when the preaching of ,john ,baptist had drawn such great crowds from all the cities to the banks of the ,jordan4 ,they had been sent out then by the authorities in ,jerusalem to see what manner of man was this who1 clothed in skins and living in the wilderness1 could draw the people so wonderfully1 and arouse such intense excitement4 ,now they had come on a like errand1 although on their own authority4 ,another prophet had arisen whom this ,john ,baptist had declared to be greater than himself4 ,they had seen ,him drive the moneychangers from the ,temple2 they had heard many wild rumors concerning ,him4 ,so they followed ,him to ,his home in the little village of ,nazareth1 where they heard ,him talk in the synagogue4 ,they had seen the listening crowd grow amazed at the eloquence of ,his teaching1 and then indignant that one so humble as a carpenter's son should claim that ,isaiah's prophecies had been fulfilled in ,himself4 ,they had seen ,him driven from the home of ,his boyhood1 and now had come to ,capernaum that they might be witnesses in case this impostor tried to lead these people astray by repeating ,his claims4 ,all this ,joel heard1 and more1 as the earnest voices came distinctly down to him through the deep hush of the ,sabbath stillness4 ,it shook his faith somewhat1 even in the goodness of this friend of his friend ,phineas1 that these two learned doctors of the ,law should consider ,him an impostor4 ,he stood aside respectfully for them to pass1 as they came down the outside stairway1 and crossed the court-yard on their way to the morning service4 ,their long1 flowing1 white robes1 their broad phylacteries1 their dignified bearing1 impressed him greatly4 ,he knew they were wise1 good men whose only aim in life was to keep the letter of the ,law1 down to its smallest details4 ,he followed them through the streets until they came to the synagogue4 ,they gave no greeting to any one they passed1 but walked with reverently bowed heads that their pious meditation might not be disturbed by the outside world4 ,his aunt had already gone by the way of the back streets1 as it was customary for women to go1 her face closely veiled4 ,the synagogue1 of finely chiselled limestone1 with its double rows of great marble pillars1 stood in its white splendor1 the pride of the town4 ,it had been built by the commander of the garrison who1 though a ,roman centurion1 was a believer in the ,god of the ,hebrews1 and greatly loved by the whole people4 ,joel glanced up at the lintel over the door1 where ,aaron's rod and a pot of manna carved in the stone were constant reminders to the daily worshippers of the ,hand that fed and guided them from generation to generation4 ,joel limped slowly to his place in the congregation4 ,in the seats of honor1 facing it1 sat his uncle and his guests1 among the rulers of the synagogue4 ,for a moment his eyes wandered curiously around1 hoping for a glimpse of the man whose fame was beginning to spread all over ,galilee4 ,it had been rumored that ,he would be there4 ,but ,joel saw only familiar faces4 ,the elders took their seats4 ,during the reading of the usual psalm1 the reciting of a benediction1 and even the confession of the creed1 ,joel's thoughts wandered4 ,when the reader took up his scroll to read the passages from ,deuteronomy1 the boy stole one more quick glance all around4 ,but as the whole congregation arose1 and turned facing the east1 he resolutely fixed his mind on the duties of the hour4 ,the eighteen benedictions1 or prayers1 were recited in silence by each devout worshipper4 ,then the leader repeated them aloud1 all the congregation responding with their deep ,amen6 and ,amen6 ,joel always liked that part of the service and the chanting that followed4 ,another roll of parchment was brought out4 ,the boy looked up with interest4 ,probably one of his uncle's guests would be invited to read from it1 and speak to the people4 ,no1 it was a stranger whom he had not noticed before1 sitting behind one of the tall elders1 who was thus honored4 ,joel's heart beat so fast that the blood throbbed against his ear-drums1 as he heard the name called4 ,it was the friend of his friend ,phineas1 the ,rabbi ,jesus4 ,joel bent forward1 all his soul in his eyes1 as the stranger unrolled the book1 and began to read from the ,prophets4 ,the words were old familiar ones2 he even knew them by heart4 ,but never before had they carried with them such music1 such meaning4 ,when ,he laid aside the roll1 and began to speak1 every fibre in the boy's being thrilled in response to the wonderful eloquence of that voice and teaching4 ,the whole congregation sat spell-bound1 forgetful of everything except the earnestness of the speaker who moved and swayed them as the wind does the waving wheat4 ,suddenly there arose a wild shriek1 a sort of demon-like howl that transfixed them with its piercing horror4 ,every one turned to see the cause of the startling sound4 ,there1 near the door1 stood a man whom they all knew1--an unhappy creature said to be possessed of an unclean spirit4 ,ha6 he cried1 in a blood-curdling tone4 ,what have we to do with ,thee1 ,jesus of ,nazareth8 ,art thou come to destroy us8 ,i know ,thee1 who thou art1 the holy ,one of ,god6 ,there was a great stir1 especially in the woman's gallery2 and those standing nearest him backed away as far as possible4 ,every face was curious and excited1 at this sudden interruption1--every face but one2 the ,rabbi ,jesus alone was calm4 ,hold thy peace and come out of him6 ,he commanded4 ,there was one more shriek1 worse than before1 as the man fell at ,his feet in a convulsion2 but in a moment he stood up again1 quiet and perfectly sane4 ,the wild look was gone from his eyes4 ,whatever had been the strange spell that had bound him before1 he was now absolutely free4 ,there was another stir in the woman's gallery4 ,contrary to all rule or custom1 an aged woman pushed her way out4 ,down the stairs she went1 unveiled through the ranks of the men1 to reach her son whom she had just seen restored to reason4 ,with a glad cry she fell forward1 fainting1 in his arms1 and was borne away to the little home1 now no longer darkened by the shadow of a sore affliction4 ,little else was talked about that day1 until the rumor of another miracle began to spread through the town4 ,phineas1 stopping at ,laban's house on his way home from an afternoon service1 confirmed the truth of it4 ,one of his neighbors had been dangerously ill with a fever that was common in that part of the country2 she was the mother-in-law of ,simon bar ,jonah4 ,it was at his home that the ,rabbi ,jesus had been invited to dine4 ,as soon as ,he entered the house1 they besought ,him to heal her4 ,standing beside her1 ,he rebuked the fever2 and immediately she arose1 and began to help her daughter prepare for the entertainment of their guest4 ,abigail was there yesterday1 said ,phineas1 to carry some broth she had made4 ,she thought then it would be impossible for the poor creature to live through the night4 ,i saw the woman a few hours ago1 and she is perfectly well and strong4 ,that night when the sun was setting1 and the ,sabbath was at an end1 a motley crowd streamed along the streets to the door of ,simon bar ,jonah4 ,men carried on couches2 children in their mother's arms2 those wasted by burning fevers2 those shaken by unceasing palsy2 the lame2 the blind2 the death-stricken1--all pressing hopefully on4 ,what a scene in that little court-yard as the sunset touched the wan faces and smiled into dying eyes4 ,hope for the hopeless6 ,balm for the broken in body and spirit6 ,there was rejoicing in nearly every home in ,capernaum that night1 for none were turned away4 ,not one was refused4 ,it is written1 ,he laid ,his hand on every one of them1 and healed them4 ,that he might not seem behind his guests in zeal and devotion to the ,law1 the dignified ,laban would not follow the crowds4 ,let others be carried away by strange doctrines and false prophets1 if they will1 he declared2 as for me and my household1 we will cling to the true faith of our fathers4 ,so the three sat in the upper chamber on the roof1 and discussed the new teacher with many shakes of their wise heads4 ,it is not lawful to heal on the ,sabbath day1 they declared4 ,twice during the past day ,he has openly transgressed the ,law4 ,he will lead all ,galilee astray6 ,but ,galilee cared little how far the path turned from the narrow faith of the ,pharisees1 so long as it led to life and healing4 ,down in the garden below1 the children climbed up on the grape-arbor1 and peered through the vines at the surging crowds which they would have joined1 had it not been for ,laban's strict commands4 ,one by one they watched people whom they knew go by1 some carried on litters1 some leaning on the shoulders of friends4 ,one man crawled painfully along on his hands and knees4 ,after awhile the same people began to come back4 ,look1 quick1 ,joel6 one of the children cried2 there goes ,simon ben ,levi4 ,why1 his palsy is all gone6 ,he doesn't shake a bit now6 ,and there's little ,martha that lives out near ,aunt ,rebecca's6 ,don't you know how white and thin she looked when they carried her by a little while ago8 ,see6 she is running along by herself now as well as we are6 ,the children could hardly credit their own sense of sight1 when neighbors they had known all their lives to be bed-ridden invalids came back cured1 singing and praising ,god4 ,it was a sight they never could forget4 ,so they watched wonderingly till darkness fell1 and the last happy-hearted healed one had gone home to a rejoicing household4 ,while the fathers on the roof were deciding they would have naught of this man1 the children in the grape-arbor were storing up in their simple little hearts these proofs of his power and kindness4 ,then they gathered around ,joel on the doorstep1 while he repeated the story that the old shepherd ,heber had told him1 of the angels and the star1 and the baby they had worshipped that night in ,bethlehem4 ,come1 children1 called his ,aunt ,leah1 as she lit the lamp that was to burn all night4 ,come6 ,it is bed-time6 ,his cousin ,hannah lingered a moment after the others had gone in1 to say1 ,that was a pretty story1 ,joel4 ,why don't you go and ask the good man to straighten your back8 ,strange as it may seem1 this was the first time the thought had occurred to him that he might be benefited himself4 ,he had been so long accustomed to thinking of himself as hopelessly lame1 that the wonderful cures he had witnessed had awakened no hope for himself4 ,a new life seemed to open up before him at the little girl's question4 ,he sat on the doorstep thinking about it until his ,uncle ,laban came down and crossly ordered him to go to bed4 ,he went in1 saying softly to himself1 ,i will go to him to-morrow2 yes1 early in the morning6 ,strange that an old proverb should cross his mind just then4 ,boast not thyself of to-morrow4 ,thou knowest not what a day may bring forth4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,when ,joel went out on the streets next morning1 although it was quite early1 he saw a disappointed crowd coming up from the direction of ,simon's house on the lake shore4 ,where have all these people been8 he asked of the baker's boy1 whom he ran against at the first corner4 ,the boy stopped whistling1 and rested his basket of freshly baked bread against his knee1 as he answered3-- ,they were looking for the ,rabbi who healed so many people last night4 ,say6 do you know1 he added quickly1 as if the news were too good to keep1 he healed my mother last night4 ,you cannot think how different it seems at home1 to have her going about strong and well like she used to be4 ,joel's eyes brightened4 ,do you think he'll do anything for me1 if ,i go to him now8 he asked wistfully4 ,do you suppose he could straighten out such a crooked back as mine8 ,look how much shorter this leg is than the other4 ,oh1 do you think he could make them all right8 ,the boy gave him a critical survey1 and then answered1 emphatically1 ,yes6 ,it really does not look like it would be as hard to straighten you as old ,jeremy1 the tailor's father4 ,he was twisted all out of shape1 you know4 ,well1 ,i'll declare6 ,there he goes now6 ,joel looked across the street4 ,the wrinkled face of the old basket-weaver was a familiar sight in the market2 but ,joel could hardly recognize the once crippled form1 now restored to its original shapeliness4 ,i am going right now1 he declared1 starting to run in his excitement4 ,i can't wait another minute4 ,but he's gone6 the boy called after him4 ,that's why the people are all coming back4 ,joel sat down suddenly on a ledge projecting from the stone-wall4 ,gone6 he echoed drearily4 ,it was as if he had been starving1 and the life-giving food held to his famished lips had been suddenly snatched away4 ,both his heart and his feet felt like lead when he got up after awhile1 and dragged himself slowly along to the carpenter's house4 ,illustration3 ',i ,,peeped ,,out ',,tween ',e ,,wose--,,vines' ,it was such a bitter disappointment to be so near the touch of healing1 and then to miss it altogether4 ,no cheerful tap of the hammer greeted him4 ,the idle tools lay on the deserted workbench4 ,disappointed again6 he thought4 ,then the doves cooed1 and he caught a glimpse of ,ruth's fair hair down among the garden lilies4 ,where is your father1 little one8 he called4 ,gone away wiv 'e good man 'at makes everybody well1 she answered4 ,then she came skipping down the path to stand close beside him1 and say confidentially3 ,i saw ,him--'e good man--going by to ,simon's house4 ,i peeped out 'tween 'e wose-vines1 and ,he looked wite into my eyes wiv ,his eyes1 and ,i couldn't help loving ,him6 ,joel looked into the beautiful baby face1 thinking what a picture it must have made1 as framed in roses it smiled out on the ,tender-hearted ,one1 going on ,his mission of help and healing4 ,with her little hand in his1 she led him back to hope1 for she took him to her mother1 who comforted him with the assurance that ,phineas expected to be home soon1 and doubtless his friend would be with him4 ,so there came another time to work by himself and dream of the hour surely dawning4 ,and the dreams were doubly sweet now2 for side by side with his hope of revenge1 was the belief in his possible cure4 ,they heard only once from the absent ones4 ,word came back that a leper had been healed4 ,joel heard it first1 down at the custom-house4 ,he had gotten into the way of strolling down in that direction after his work was done2 for here the many trading-vessels from across the lake1 or those that shipped from ,capernaum1 had to stop and pay duty4 ,here1 too1 the great road of ,eastern commerce passed which led from ,damascus to the harbors of the ,west4 ,so here he would find a constant stream of travellers1 bringing the latest news from the outside world4 ,the boy did not know1 as he limped up and down the water's edge1 longing for some word from his absent friends1 that near by was one who watched almost as eagerly as himself4 ,it was ,levi-,matthew1 one of the officials1 sitting in the seat of custom4 ,sprung from the same priestly tribe as ,joel1 he had sunk so low1 in accepting the office of tax-gatherer1 that the righteous ,laban would not have touched him so much as with the tip of his sandal4 ,bears and lions1 said a proverb1 might be the fiercest wild beasts in the forests2 but publicans and informers were the worst in cities4 ,one could not bear witness in the courts1 and the disgrace extended to the whole family4 ,they were even classed with robbers and murderers4 ,no doubt there was deep cause for such a feeling2 as a class they were unscrupulous and unjust4 ,there might have been good ones among their number1 but the company they kept condemned them to the scorn of high and low4 ,when a ,jew hates1 or a ,jew scorns1 be sure it is thoroughly done2 there is no half-way course for his intense nature to take4 ,so this son of ,levi1 sitting in the seat of custom1 and this son of ,levi strolling past him1 were1 socially1 as far apart as the east is from the west1--as unlike as thorn and blossom on the same tribal stem4 ,matthew knew all the fishermen and ship-owners that thronged the busy beach in front of him4 ,the sons of ,jonah and of ,zebedee passed him daily2 and he must have wondered when he saw them throw down their nets and leave everything to follow a stranger4 ,he must have wondered also at the reports on every tongue1 and the sights he had seen himself of miraculous healing4 ,but while strangely drawn towards this new teacher from ,nazareth1 it could have been with no thought that the hand and the voice were for him4 ,he was a publican1 and how could they reach to such depths8 ,a caravan had just stopped4 ,the pack-animals were being unloaded1 bales and packages opened1 private letters pried into4 ,the insolent officials were tossing things right and left1 as they made a list of the taxable goods4 ,joel was watching them with as much interest as if he had not witnessed such scenes dozens of times before1 till he noticed a group gathering around one of the drivers4 ,he was telling what he had seen on his way to ,capernaum4 ,several noisy companions kept interrupting him to bear witness to the truth of his statements4 ,and he who but a moment before had been the most miserable of lepers stood up before us all1 cleansed of his leprosy4 ,his skin was soft and fair as a child's1 and his features were restored to him1 said the driver4 ,joel and ,levi-,matthew stood side by side4 ,at another time the boy might have drawn his clothes away to keep from brushing against the despised tax-gatherer4 ,but he never noticed now that their elbows touched4 ,when he had heard all there was to be told1 he limped away to carry the news to ,abigail4 ,to know that others were being cured daily made him all the more impatient for the return of this friend of ,phineas4 ,the publican turned again to his pen and his account-book4 ,he1 too1 looked forward with a burning heart to the return of the ,nazarene1 unknowing why he did so4 ,at last ,joel heard of the return1 in a very unexpected way4 ,there were guests in the house of ,laban again4 ,one of the rabbis who had been there before1 and a scribe from ,jerusalem4 ,now there were longer conferences in the upper chamber1 and graver shakings of the head1 over this false prophet whose fame was spreading wider4 ,the miracle of healing the paralytic at the pool of ,bethesda1 when he had gone down to ,jerusalem to one of the many feasts1 had stirred ,judea to its farthest borders4 ,so these two men had been sent to investigate4 ,on the very afternoon of their arrival1 a report flew through the streets that the ,rabbi ,jesus was once more in the town4 ,their host led them with all the haste their dignity would allow1 to the house where ,he was said to be preaching4 ,the common people fell back when they saw them1 and allowed them to pass into the centre of the throng4 ,the ,rabbi stood in the doorway1 so that both those in the house and without could distinctly hear ,him4 ,the scribe had never seen ,him before1 and in spite of his deep-seated prejudice could not help admiring the man whom he had come prepared to despise4 ,it was no wild fanatic who stood before him1 no noisy debater whose fiery eloquence would be likely to excite and inflame ,his hearers4 ,he saw a man of gentlest dignity2 truth looked out from the depths of ,his calm eyes4 ,every word1 every gesture1 carried with it the conviction that ,he who spoke taught with ,god-given authority4 ,the scribe began to grow uneasy as he listened1 carried along by the earnest tones of the speaker4 ,there was a great commotion on the edge of the crowd1 as some one tried to push through to the centre4 ,stand back6 ,go away6 demanded angry voices4 ,the scribe was a tall man1 and by stretching a little1 managed to see over the heads of the others4 ,four men1 bearing a helpless paralytic1 were trying to carry him through the throngs2 but they would not make room for this interruption4 ,after vainly hunting for some opening through which they might press1 the men mounted the steep1 narrow staircase on the outside of the building1 and drew the man up1 hammock and all1 to the flat roof on which they stood4 ,there was a sound of scraping and scratching as they broke away the brush and mortar that formed the frail covering of the roof4 ,then the people in the room below saw slowly coming down upon them between the rafters1 this man whom no obstacle could keep back from the ,great ,physician4 ,but the paralyzed hands could not lift themselves in supplication2 the helpless tongue could frame no word of pleading1--only the eyes of the sick man could look up into the pitying face bent over him1 and implore a blessing4 ,the scribe leaned forward1 confidently expecting to hear the man bidden to arise4 ,to his surprise and horror1 the words he heard were3 ,son1 thy sins be forgiven thee6 ,he looked at ,laban and his companion1 and the three exchanged meaning glances4 ,when they looked again at the speaker1 ,his eyes seemed to read their inmost thoughts4 ,wherefore think ye evil in your hearts8 ,he asked1 with startling distinctness4 ,whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy1 ,thy sins be forgiven thee2 or to say1 ,arise1 and take up thy bed1 and walk8 ,but that ye may know that the ,son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins1 here ,he turned to the helpless form lying at ,his feet1 ,i say unto thee1 ,arise1 and take up thy bed1 and go thy way unto thine house4 ,the man bounded to his feet1 and picking up the heavy rug on which he had been lying1 went running and leaping out of their midst4 ,without a word1 ,laban and his two guests drew their clothes carefully around them1 and picked their way through the crowd4 ,phineas1 who stood at the gate1 gave them a respectful greeting4 ,laban only turned his eyes away with a scowl1 and passed coldly on4 ,the man is a liar and a blasphemer6 exclaimed the scribe1 as they sat once more in the privacy of ,laban's garden4 ,only ,god can forgive sins6 added his companion4 ,this paralytic should have taken a sin-offering to the priest4 ,for only by the blood of sacrifice can one hope to obtain pardon4 ,still ,he healed him1 spoke up the scribe1 musingly4 ,only through the power of ,satan6 interrupted ,laban4 ,when ,he says ,he can forgive sins1 ,he blasphemes4 ,the other ,pharisee leaned forward to say1 in an impressive whisper3 ,then you know the ,law on that point4 ,he should be stoned to death1 ,his body hung on a tree1 and then buried with shame6 ,it was not long after that ,joel1 just back from a trip to ,tiberias in a little sailing-boat1 came into the garden4 ,he had been away since early morning1 so had heard nothing of what had just occurred2 he had had good luck in disposing of his wares1 and was feeling unusually cheerful4 ,hearing voices in the corner of the garden1 he was about to pass out again1 when his uncle called him sternly to come to him at once4 ,surprised at the command1 he obeyed1 and was questioned and cross-questioned by all three4 ,it was very little he could tell them about his friend's plans2 but he acknowledged proudly that ,phineas had always known this famous man from ,nazareth1 even in childhood1 and was one of his most devoted followers4 ,this man ,phineas is a traitor to the faith6 roared ,laban4 ,he is a dangerous man1 and in league with these fellows to do great evil to our nation4 ,the scribe and the rabbi nodded approvingly4 ,hear me1 now6 he cried1 sternly4 ,never again are you to set foot over his threshold1 or have any communication whatsoever with him or his associates4 ,i make no idle threat2 if you disobey me in this1 you will have cause to wish you had never been born4 ,you may leave us now6 ,too surprised and frightened to say a word1 the child slipped away4 ,to give up his daily visit to the carpenter's house1 was to give up all that made his life tolerable2 while to be denied even speaking to his associates1 meant to abandon all hope of cure4 ,but he dared not rebel2 obedience to those in authority was too thoroughly taught in those days to be lightly disregarded4 ,but his uncle seemed to fear that his harsh command would be eluded in some way1 and kept such a strict watch over him1 that he rarely got beyond the borders of the garden by himself4 ,one day he was all alone in the grape-arbor1 looking out into the streets that he longed to be in1 since their freedom had been denied him4 ,a little girl passed1 carrying one child in her arms1 and talking to another who clung to her skirts4 ,it was ,jerusha4 ,joel threw a green grape at her to attract her attention1 and then beckoned her mysteriously to come nearer4 ,she set the baby on the ground1 and gave him her bracelet to play with1 while she listened to a whispered account of his wrongs through the latticed arbor4 ,it's a shame6 she declared indignantly4 ,i'll go right down to the carpenter's house and tell them why you cannot go there any more4 ,and ,i'll keep watch on all that happens1 and let you know4 ,i go past here every day1 and if ,i have any news1 ,i'll toss a pebble over the wall and cluck like a hen4 ,then if nobody is watching1 you can come to this hole in the arbor again4 ,the next day1 as ,joel was going in great haste to the baker's1 whither his aunt had sent him1 he heard some one behind him calling him to wait4 ,in another moment ,jerusha was in speaking distance1 nearly bent double with the weight of her little brother1 whom she was carrying as usual4 ,there6 she said1 with a puff of relief1 as she put him on his own feet4 ,wait till ,i get my breath6 ,it's no easy thing to carry such a load and run at the same time6 ,how did you get out8 ,there was an errand to be done1 and no one else to do it1 answered ,joel1 so ,aunt sent me4 ,oh1 ,i've got such news for you6 she exclaimed4 ,guess what has happened6 ,your ,rabbi ,jesus has asked ,levi-,matthew to be one of ,his followers1 and go around with ,him wherever ,he goes4 ,think of it6 ,one of those horrid tax-gatherers6 ,he settled his accounts and gave up his position in the custom-house yesterday4 ,and he is getting ready for a great feast4 ,i heard the butcher and the wine-dealer both telling about the big orders he had given them4 ,all the publicans and low common people that are his friends are invited4 ,yes1 and so is your friend the carpenter4 ,think of that1 now6 ,he is going to sit down and eat with such people6 ,of course respectable folks will never have anything more to do with him after that6 ,i guess your uncle was right about him1 after all6 ,both the little girl's face and manner expressed intense disgust4 ,joel was shocked4 ,oh1 are you sure8 he cried4 ,you certainly must be mistaken6 ,it cannot be so6 ,i guess ,i know what ,i see with my own eyes1 and hear with my own ears6 she retorted1 angrily4 ,my father says they are a bad lot4 ,people that go with publicans are just as unclean themselves4 ,if you know so much more than everybody else1 ,i'll not trouble myself to run after you with any more news4 ,mistaken1 indeed6 ,with her head held high1 and her nose scornfully turned up1 she jerked her little brother past him1 and went quickly around the corner of the street4 ,the indignation of some of the rabbis knew no bounds4 ,it has turned out just as ,i predicted1 said the scribe to ,laban1 at supper4 ,they are nothing but a set of gluttons and wine-bibbers6 ,there was nothing else talked of during the entire meal4 ,how ,joel's blood boiled as he listened to their conversation6 ,the food seemed to choke him4 ,as they applied one coarse epithet after another to his friend ,phineas1 all the kindness and care this man had ever given him seemed to rise up before him4 ,but when they turned on the ,nazarene1 all the stories ,joel had heard in the carpenter's house of ,his gentle sinless childhood1 all the tokens he had seen himself of ,his pure unselfish manhood1 seemed to cry out against such gross injustice4 ,it was no light thing for a child to contradict the doctors of the ,law1 and1 in a case of this kind1 little less than a crime to take the stand ,joel did4 ,but the memory of two faces gave him courage3 that of ,phineas as it had looked on him through all those busy happy hours in the carpenter's home2 the other face he had seen but once1 that day of healing in the synagogue1--who1 having once looked into the purity of those eyes1 the infinite tenderness of that face1 could sit calmly by and raise no voice against the calumny of his enemies8 ,the little cripple was white to the lips1 and he trembled from head to foot as he stood up to speak4 ,the scribe lifted up both hands1 and turned to ,laban with a meaning shrug of the shoulders4 ,to think of finding such heresy in your own household6 he exclaimed4 ,among your own children6 ,he is no child of mine6 retorted ,laban4 ,nor shall he stay among them6 ,then he turned to ,joel4 ,boy1 take back every word you have just uttered6 ,swear you will renounce this man1--this son of perdition1--and never have aught to say well of ,him again6 ,joel looked around the table1 at each face that shone out pale and excited in the yellow lamplight4 ,his eyes were dilated with fear2 his heart thumped so in the awful pause that followed1 that he thought everybody else must hear it4 ,i cannot6 he said hoarsely4 ,oh1 ,i cannot6 ,then take yourself out of my sight forever4 ,the doors of this house shall never open for you again6 ,there was a storm of abuse from the angry man at this open defiance of his authority4 ,with these two cold1 stern men to nod approval at his zealousness1 he went to greater lengths than he might otherwise have done4 ,with one more frightened glance around the table1 the child hurried out of the room4 ,the door into the street creaked after him1 and ,joel limped out into the night1 with his uncle's curse ringing in his ears4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,phineas1 going along the beach that night1 in the early moonlight1 towards his home1 saw a little figure crouched in the shadow of a low building beside the wharf4 ,it was shaking with violent sobs4 ,he went up to the child1 and took its hands down from its wet face1 with a comforting expression of pity4 ,then he started back in surprise4 ,it was ,joel6 ,why1 my child6 ,my poor child6 he exclaimed1 putting his arm around the trembling1 misshapen form4 ,what is the meaning of all this8 ,uncle ,laban has driven me away from home6 sobbed the boy4 ,he was angry because you and ,rabbi ,jesus were invited to ,levi-,matthew's feast4 ,he says ,i have denied the faith1 and am worse than an infidel4 ,he says ,i am fit only to be cast out with the dogs and publicans6--and--and-- he ended with a wail4 ,oh1 he sent me away with his curse6 ,phineas drew him closer1 and stroked the head on his shoulder in pitying silence4 ,fatherless and motherless and lame6 the boy sobbed bitterly4 ,and now1 a homeless outcast1 blighted by a curse1 ,i have been sitting here with my feet in the dark water1 thinking how easy it would be to slip down into it and forget2 but1 ,rabbi ,phineas1 that face will not let me1--that face of your friend1--,i keep seeing it all the time6 ,phineas gathered the boy so close in his arms that ,joel could feel his strong1 even heart-beats4 ,my child1 he said solemnly1 call me no more1 ,rabbi6 ,henceforth1 it is to be father ,phineas4 ,you shall be to me as my own son6 ,but the curse6 sobbed ,joel4 ,the curse that is set upon me6 ,it will blight you too6 ,nay1 was the quiet answer2 for it is written1 ',as the bird by wandering1 as the swallow by flying1 so the curse1 causeless1 shall not come4' ,but the boy still shook as with a chill4 ,his face and hands were burning hot4 ,come6 said ,phineas4 ,he picked him up in his strong arms1 and carried him down the beach to ,abigail's motherly care and comforting4 ,he will be a long time getting over the shock of this1 she said to her husband1 when he was at last soothed to sleep4 ,ah1 loyal little heart6 he answered1 he has suffered much for the sake of his friendship with us6 ,poor little storm-tossed bark6 ,in the days that followed he had reason to bless the boisterous winds1 that blew him to such a safe and happy harbor6 99 99 99 99 99 ,over on the horns of ,mount ,hattin1 the spring morning began to shine4 ,the light crept slowly down the side of the old mountain1 till it fell on a little group of men talking earnestly together4 ,it was the ,preacher of ,galilee1 who had just chosen twelve men from among those who followed ,him to help ,him in ,his ministry4 ,they gathered around ,him in the fresh mountain dawn1 as ,he pictured the life in store for them4 ,strange they did not quail before it1 and turn back disheartened4 ,nay1 not strange6 ,for in the weeks they had been with ,him1 they had learned to love ,him so1 that ,his follow me1 that drew them from the toll-gate and fishing-boat1 was stronger than ties of home and kindred4 ,just about this time1 ,phineas and ,joel were starting out from ,capernaum to the mountain4 ,hundreds of people were already on the way2 people who had come from all parts of ,judea1 and beyond the ,jordan4 ,clouds of dust rose above the highway as the travellers trudged along4 ,joel was obliged to walk slowly1 so that by the time they reached the plain below1 a great multitude had gathered4 ,let's get close1 he whispered4 ,he had heard that those who barely touched the garments of the strange ,rabbi were made whole1 and it was with the hope that he might steal up and touch ,him unobserved that he had begged ,phineas to take him on such a long1 painful walk4 ,there is too great a crowd1 now1 answered ,phineas4 ,let us rest here awhile1 and listen4 ,let me lift you up on this big rock1 so that you can see4 ',sh6 ,he is speaking6 ,joel looked up1 and1 for the second time in his life1 listened to words that thrilled him like a trumpet call1--words that through eighteen hundred years have not ceased to vibrate2 with what mighty power they must have fallen when1 for the first time1 they broke the morning stillness of those mountain wilds6 ,joel forgot the press of people about him1 forgot even where he was1 as sentence after sentence seemed to lift him out of himself1 till he could catch glimpses of lofty living such as he had never even dreamed of before4 ,round by round1 he seemed to be carried up some high ladder of thought by that voice1 away from all that was common and low and earthly1 to a summit of infinite love and light4 ,still the voice led on1 ,ye have heard that it hath been said1 ',an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth4' ,joel started so violently at hearing his own familiar motto1 that he nearly lost his balance on the rock4 ,but ,i say unto you that you resist not evil3 but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek1 turn to him the other also4444 ,ye have heard that it hath been said1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor1 and hate thine enemy4 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,love your enemies1 bless them that curse you1 do good to them that hate you1 and pray for them which despitefully use you1 and persecute you4 ,poor little ,joel1 it was a hard doctrine for him to accept6 ,how could he give up his hope of revenge1 when it had grown with his growth till it had come to be as dear as life itself8 ,he heard little of the rest of the sermon1 for through it all the words kept echoing1 ,bless them that curse you6 ,do good to them that hate you6 ,pray for them which despitefully use you6 ,oh1 ,i can't6 ,i can't6 he groaned inwardly4 ,i have found a chance for you to ride home1 said ,phineas1 when the sermon was over1 and the people began to file down the narrow mountain paths4 ,but there will be time for you to go to ,him first1 for healing4 ,you have only to ask1 you know4 ,joel took an eager step forward1 and then shrank back guiltily4 ,not now1 he murmured1 some other time4 ,he could not look into those clear eyes and ask a blessing1 when he knew his heart was black with hate4 ,after all his weeks of waiting the opportunity had come2 but he dared not let the ,sinless ,one look into his soul4 ,phineas began an exclamation of surprise1 but was interrupted by some one asking him a question4 ,joel took advantage of this to climb up behind the man who had offered him a ride4 ,all the way home he weighed the two desires in his mind1--the hope of healing1 and the hope of revenge4 ,by the time the two guardian fig-trees were in sight1 he had decided4 ,he would rather go helpless and halting through life than give up his cherished purpose4 ,but there was no sleep for him that night1 after he had gone up to his little chamber on the roof4 ,he seemed to see that pleading face on the mountain-side2 it came to him again and again1 with the words1 ,bless them that curse you6 ,pray for them that despitefully use you6 ,all night he fought against yielding to it4 ,time and again he turned over on his bed1 and closed his eyes2 but it would not let him alone4 ,he thought of ,jacob wrestling with the angel till day-break1 and knew in his heart that the sweet spirit of forgiveness striving with his selfish nature was some heavenly impulse from another world4 ,at last when the cock-crowing commenced at dawn1 and the stars were beginning to fade1 he drew up his crooked little body1 and knelt with his face to the kindling east4 ,father in heaven1 he prayed softly1 bless mine enemy ,rehum1 and forgive all my sins1--fully and freely as ,i now forgive the wrong he has done to me4 ,a feeling of light-heartedness and peace1 such as he had never known before1 stole over him4 ,he could not settle himself to sleep1 though worn out with his night's long vigil4 ,illustration3 ,,not ,a ,,word ,,was ,,said ,hastily slipping on his clothes1 he tiptoed down the stairs1 and limped1 bare-headed1 down to the beach4 ,the lake shimmered and glowed under the faint rose and gray of the sky like a deep opal4 ,the early breeze blew the hair back from his pale face with a refreshing coolness4 ,it seemed to him the world had never looked one half so beautiful before1 as he stood there4 ,a firm tread on the gravel made him turn partly around4 ,a man was coming up the beach2 it was the friend of ,phineas4 ,as if drawn by some uncontrollable impulse1 ,joel started to meet ,him1 an unspoken prayer in his pleading little face4 ,not a word was said4 ,for one little instant ,joel stood there by the shining sea1 his hand held close in the loving hand of the world's ,redeemer4 ,for one little instant he looked up into ,his face2 then the man passed on4 ,joel covered his face with his hands1 seeming to hear the still small voice that spoke to the prophet out of the whirlwind4 ,he is the ,christ6 he whispered reverently1--,he is the ,christ6 ,in his exalted feeling all thought of a cure had left him2 but as he walked on down the beach1 he noticed that he no longer limped4 ,he was moving along with strong1 quick strides4 ,he shook himself and threw back his shoulders2 there was no pain in the movement4 ,he passed his hands over his back and down his limbs4 ,oh1 he was straight and strong and sinewy6 ,he seemed a stranger to himself1 as running and leaping1 then stopping to look down and feel his limbs again1 he ran madly on4 ,suddenly he cast his garments aside and dived into the lake4 ,before his injury1 he had been able to swim like a fish1 now he reached out with long powerful strokes that sent him darting through the cold water with a wonderful sense of exhilaration4 ,then he dressed again1 and went on running and leaping and climbing till he was exhausted1 and his first wild delirious joy began to subside into a deep quiet thankfulness4 ,then he went home1 radiant in the happiness of his new-found cure4 ,but more than the mystery of the miracle1 more than the joy of the healing1 was the remembrance of that moment1 that one little moment1 when he felt the clasp of the ,master's hand1 and seemed wrapped about with the boundless love of ,god4 ,from that moment1 he lived but to serve and to follow ,him4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,high up among the black lava crags of ,perea stood the dismal fortress of ,macherus4 ,behind its close prison bars a restless captive groped his way back and forth in a dungeon cell4 ,sometimes1 at long intervals1 he was given such liberty as a chained eagle might have1 when he was led up into one of the towers of the gloomy keep1 and allowed to look down1 down into the bottomless gorges surrounding it4 ,for months he had chafed in the darkness of his underground dungeon2 escape was impossible4 ,it was ,john ,baptist1 brought from the wild1 free life of the desert to the tortures of the ,black ,castle4 ,here he lay at the mercy of ,herod ,antipas1 and death might strike at any moment4 ,more than once1 the whimsical monarch had sent for him1 as he sat at his banquets1 to be the sport of the passing hour4 ,the lights1 the color1 the flash of gems may have dazzled his eyes for a brief space1 accustomed as they were to the midnight darkness of his cell2 but his keen vision saw1 under the paint and purple of royal apparel1 the corrupt life of king and court4 ,pointing his stern1 accusing finger at the uneasy king1 he cried1 ,it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife6 ,with words that stung like hurtling arrows1 he laid bare the blackened1 beastly life that sought to hide its foulness under royal ermine4 ,antipas cowered before him2 and while he would gladly have been freed from a man who had such power over him1 he dared not lift a finger against the fearless1 unflinching ,baptist4 ,but the guilty ,herodias bided her time1 with blood-thirsty impatience2 his life should pay the penalty of his bold speech4 ,meanwhile he waited in his cell1 with nothing but memories to relieve the tediousness of the long hours4 ,over and over again he lived those scenes of his strange life in the desert1--those days of his preparation1--the preaching to the multitudes1 the baptizing at the ford of the ,jordan4 ,he wondered if his words still lived2 if any of his followers still believed on him4 ,but more than all1 he wondered what had become of that ,one on whom he had seen the spirit of ,god descending out of heaven in the form of a dove4 ,where art ,thou now8 he cried4 ,if ,thou art the ,messiah1 why dost ,thou not set up ,thy kingdom1 and speedily give ,thy servant his liberty8 ,the empty room rang often with that cry2 but the hollow echo of his own words was the only answer4 ,one day the door of his cell creaked back far enough to admit two men1 and then shut again1 leaving them in total darkness4 ,in that momentary flash of light1 he recognized two old followers of his1 ,timeus bar ,joram and ,benjamin the potter4 ,with a cry of joy he groped his way toward them1 and clung to their friendly hands4 ,how did you manage to penetrate these ,roman-guarded walls8 he asked1 in astonishment4 ,i knew the warden1 answered ,benjamin4 ,a piece of silver conveniently closes his eyes to many things4 ,but we must hasten6 ,our time is limited4 ,they had much to tell of the outside world4 ,pilate had just given special offence1 by appropriating part of the treasure of the ,temple1 derived from the ,temple tax1 to defray the cost of great conduits he had begun1 with which to supply ,jerusalem with water4 ,stirred up by the priests and rabbis1 the people besieged the government house1 crying loudly that the works be given up4 ,armed with clubs1 numbers of soldiers in plain clothes surrounded the great mob1 and killed so many of the people that the wildest excitement prevailed throughout all ,judea and ,galilee4 ,there was a cry for a national uprising to avenge the murder4 ,they only need a leader6 exclaimed ,john4 ,where is ,he for whom ,i was but a voice crying in the wilderness8 ,why does ,he not show ,himself8 ,we have just come from the village of ,nain1 said ,timeus bar ,joram4 ,we saw ,him stop a funeral procession and raise a widow's son to life4 ,he was followed by a motley throng whom ,he had healed of all sorts of diseases2 and there were twelve men whom ,he had chosen as life-long companions4 ,we questioned some of them closely1 and they gave us marvellous reports of the things ,he had done4 ,is it not strange1 asked ,benjamin the potter1 that having such power ,he still delays to establish ,his kingdom8 ,the captive prophet made no answer for awhile4 ,then he groped in the thick darkness till his hand rested heavily on ,benjamin's arm4 ,go back1 and say that ,john ,baptist asks1 ',art ,thou the ,coming ,one1 or must we look for another8' ,days passed before the devoted friends found themselves once more inside the prison walls4 ,they had had a weary journey over rough hills and rocky by-paths4 ,what did ,he say8 demanded the prisoner1 eagerly4 ,go and tell ,john what ye saw and heard3 that the blind receive sight2 the lame walk2 the lepers are cleansed2 the deaf hear2 the dead are raised2 and the poor have the gospel preached unto them4 ,the man stood up1 his long hair hanging to his shoulder1 his hand uplifted1 and his eyes dilated like a startled deer that has caught the sound of a coming step4 ,the fulfilment of the words of ,isaiah6 he cried4 ,for he hath said1 ',your ,god will come and save you4 ,then the eyes of the blind shall be opened1 and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped4 ,then shall the lame man leap as a hart1 and the tongue of the dumb sing6' ,yea1 he hath bound up the broken-hearted2 and he shall yet 'proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound1 to proclaim the acceptable year of the ,lord6' ,then with both hands clasped high above his head1 he made the prison ring with the cry1 ,the kingdom is at hand6 ,the kingdom is at hand6 ,i shall soon be free6 ,not long after that1 the castle blazed with the lights of another banquet4 ,the faint aroma of wines1 mingled with the heavy odor of countless flowers1 could not penetrate the grim prison walls4 ,nor could the gay snatches of song and the revelry of the feast4 ,no sound of applause reached the prisoner's ear1 when the daughter of ,herodias danced before the king4 ,sitting in darkness while the birthday banqueters held high carnival1 he heard the heavy tramp of soldiers' feet coming down the stairs to his dungeon4 ,the great bolts shot back1 the rusty hinges turned1 and a lantern flickered its light in his face1 as he stood up to receive his executioners4 ,a little while later his severed head was taken on a charger to the smiling dancing girl4 ,she stifled a shriek when she saw it2 but the wicked ,herodias looked at it with a gleam of triumph in her treacherous black eyes4 ,when the lights were out1 and the feasters gone1 two men came in at the warden's bidding1--two men with heavy hearts1 and voices that shook a little when they spoke to each other4 ,they were ,timeus and ,benjamin4 ,silently they lifted the body of their beloved master1 and carried it away for burial2 and if a tear or two found an unaccustomed path down their bearded cheeks1 no one knew it1 under cover of the darkness4 ,so1 out of the ,black ,castle of ,macherus1 out of the prison-house of a mortal body1 the white-souled prophet of the wilderness went forth at last into liberty4 ,for him1 the kingdom was indeed at hand4 99 99 99 99 99 ,meanwhile in the upper country1 ,phineas was following his friend from village to village4 ,he had dropped his old familiar form of address1 so much was he impressed by the mysterious power he saw constantly displayed4 ,now when he spoke of the man who had been both friend and playfellow1 it was almost reverently that he gave ,him the title of ,master4 ,it was with a heavy heart that ,joel watched them go away4 ,he1 too1 longed to follow2 but he knew that unless he took the place at the bench1 ,phineas could not be free to go4 ,gratitude held him to his post4 ,no1 not gratitude alone2 he was learning the ,master's own spirit of loving self-sacrifice4 ,as he dropped the plumb-line over his work1 he measured himself by that perfect life1 and tried to straighten himself to its unbending standard4 ,he had his reward in the look of pleasure that he saw on the carpenter's face when ,phineas came in1 unexpectedly1 one day1 dusty and travel-stained4 ,how much you have accomplished6 he said in surprise4 ,you have filled my place like a grown man4 ,joel stretched his strong arms with a slight laugh4 ,it is a pleasure to work now1 he said4 ,it seems so queer never to have a pain1 or that worn-out feeling of weakness that used to be always with me4 ,at first ,i was often afraid it was all a happy dream1 and could not last4 ,i am getting used to it now4 ,where is the ,master8 ,joel asked1 as ,phineas turned towards the house4 ,he is the guest of ,simon4 ,he will be here some days1 my son4 ,i know you wish to be with ,him as much as possible1 so ,i shall not expect your help as long as ,he stays4 ,if ,i could only do something for ,him6 was ,joel's constant thought during the next few days4 ,once he took a coin from the little money bag that held his hoarded savings--a coin that was to have helped buy his revenge--and bought the ripest1 juiciest pear he could find in the market4 ,often he brought ,him water1 fresh and cold from the well when ,he looked tired and warm from ,his unceasing work4 ,wherever the ,master turned1 there1 close beside ,him1 was a beaming little face1 so full of love and childish sympathy that it must have brought more refreshment to ,his thirsty soul than either the choice fruit or the cooling water4 ,one evening after a busy day1 when ,he had talked for hours to the people on the seashore who had gathered around the boat in which ,he sat1 ,he sent away the multitude4 ,let us pass over unto the other side1 ,he said4 ,joel slipped up to ,andrew1 who was busily arranging their sails4 ,let me go1 too6 he whispered pleadingly4 ,well1 assented the man1 carelessly1 ,you can make yourself useful1 ,i suppose4 ,will you hand me that rope8 ,joel sprang to obey4 ,presently the boat pushed away from the shore1 and the town1 with its tumult and its twinkling lights1 was soon left far behind4 ,the sea was like glass1 so calm and unruffled that every star above could look down and see its unbroken reflection in the dark water below4 ,joel1 in the hinder part of the ship1 lay back in his seat with a sigh of perfect enjoyment4 ,the smooth gliding motion of the boat rested him2 the soft splash of the water soothed his excited brain4 ,he had seen his ,uncle ,laban that afternoon among other of the scribes and ,pharisees1 and heard him declare that ,beelzebub alone was responsible for the wonders they witnessed4 ,joel's indignation flared up again at the memory4 ,he looked down at the ,master1 who had fallen asleep on a pillow1 and wondered how anybody could possibly believe such evil things about ,him4 ,it was cooler out where they were now4 ,he wondered if he ought not to lay some covering over the sleeping form4 ,he took off the outer mantle that he wore1 and bent forward to lay it over the ,master's feet4 ,but he drew back timidly1 afraid of wakening ,him4 ,i'll wait awhile1 he said to himself1 folding the garment across his knees in readiness4 ,several times he reached forward to lay it over ,him1 and each time drew back4 ,then he fell asleep himself4 ,from its situation in the basin of the hills1 the ,galilee is subject to sudden and furious storms4 ,the winds1 rushing down the heights1 meet and clash above the water1 till the waves run up like walls1 then sink again into seething whirlpools of danger4 ,joel1 falling asleep in a dead calm1 awoke to find the ship rolling and tossing and half-full of water4 ,the lightning's track was followed so closely by the crash of thunder1 there was not even pause enough between to take one terrified gasp4 ,still the ,master slept4 ,joel1 drenched to the skin1 clung to the boat's side1 expecting that every minute would be his last4 ,it was so dark and wild and awful6 ,how helpless they were1 buffetted about in the fury of the storm6 ,as wave after wave beat in1 some of the men could no longer control their fear4 ,master6 they called to the sleeping man1 as they bent over ,him in terror4 ,carest ,thou not that we perish8 ,he heard the cry for help4 ,the storm could not waken ,him from ,his deep sleep of exhaustion1 but at the first despairing human voice1 ,he was up1 ready to help4 ,looking up at the midnight blackness of the sky1 and down at the wild waste of waters1 ,he stretched out ,his hand4 ,peace6 he commanded in a deep voice4 ,be still6 ,the storm sank to earth as suddenly as a death-stricken raven2 a great calm spread over the face of the waters4 ,the silent stars shone out in their places2 the silent sea mirrored back their glory at ,his feet4 ,the men huddled fearfully together4 ,what manner of man is this8 they asked1 one of another4 ,even the wind and the sea obey ,him6 ,joel1 looking up at the majestic form1 standing so quietly by the railing1 thought of the voice that once rang out over the night of ,creation with the command1 ,let there be light6 ,at its mere bidding light had flowed in across the darkness of primeval night4 ,just so had this voice thrilled the storm with its ,peace6 ,be still6 into utter calm4 ,the child crouched at ,his feet1 burying his face in his mantle1 and whispering1 in awe and adoration1 ,he is the ,christ6 ,he is the son of ,god6 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,after that night of the voyage to the ,gadarenes1 ,joel ceased to be surprised at the miracles he daily witnessed4 ,even when the little daughter of ,jairus1 the ruler of the synagogue1 was called back to life1 it did not seem so wonderful to him as the stilling of the tempest4 ,many a night after ,phineas had gone away again with the ,master to other cities1 ,joel used to go down to the beach1 and stand looking across the water as he recalled that scene4 ,the lake had always been an interesting place to him at night4 ,he liked to watch the fishermen as they flashed their blazing torches this way and that4 ,a sympathetic thrill ran through him as they sighted their prey1 and raised their bare sinewy arms to fling the net or fly the spear4 ,but after that morning of healing1 and that night of tempest1 it seemed to be a sacred place1 to be visited only on still nights1 when the town slept1 and heaven bent nearer in the starlight to the quiet earth4 ,the time of the ,passover was drawing near1--the time that ,joel had been looking forward to since ,phineas had promised him a year ago that he should go to ,jerusalem4 ,the twelve disciples who had been sent out to all the little towns through ,galilee1 to teach the things they had themselves been taught1 and work miracles in the name of ,him who had sent them1 began to come slowly back4 ,they had an encouraging report to bring of their work2 but it was shadowed by the news they had heard of the murder of ,john ,baptist4 ,joel joined them as soon as they came into ,capernaum1 and walked beside ,phineas as the footsore travellers pressed on a little farther towards ,simon's house4 ,when are we going to start for ,jerusalem8 was his first eager question4 ,phineas looked searchingly into his face as he replied1 ,would you be greatly disappointed1 my son1 not to go this year8 ,joel looked perplexed2 it was such an unheard of thing for ,phineas to miss going up to the ,feast of the ,passover4 ,these are evil times1 my ,joel1 he explained4 ,john ,baptist has just been beheaded4 ,the ,master has many enemies among those in high places4 ,it would be like walking into a lion's den for ,him to go up to ,jerusalem4 ,even here ,he is not safe from the hatred of ,antipas1 and after a little rest will pass over into the borders of the tetrarch ,philip4 ,we have no wish to leave ,him6 ,oh1 why should ,he be persecuted so8 asked ,joel1 looking with tear-dimmed eyes at the man walking in advance of them1 and talking in low earnest tones to ,john1 who walked beside ,him4 ,you have been with ,him so much1 father ,phineas4 ,have you ever known ,him to do anything to make these men ,his enemies8 ,yes1 said ,phineas4 ,he has drawn the people after ,him until they are jealous of ,his popularity4 ,he upsets their old traditions1 and teaches a religion that ignores some of the ,laws of ,moses4 ,i can easily see why they hate ,him so4 ,they see ,him at such a long distance from themselves1 they can not understand ,him4 ,healing on the ,sabbath1 eating with publicans and sinners1 disregarding the little customs and ceremonies that in all ages have set apart our people as a chosen race1 are crimes in their eyes4 ,if they only could get close enough to understand ,him2 to see that ,his pure life needs no ceremonies of multiplied hand-washings2 that it is ,his broad love for ,his fellow-men that makes ,him stoop to the lowest classes1--,i am sure they could not do otherwise than love ,him4 ,blind fanatics6 ,they would put to death the best man that ever lived1 because ,he is so much broader and higher than they that the little measuring line of their narrow creed cannot compass ,him6 ,is ,he never going to set up ,his kingdom8 asked ,joel4 ,does ,he never talk about it8 ,yes1 said ,phineas2 though we are often puzzled by what ,he says1 and ask ourselves ,his meaning4 ,they had reached the house by this time1 and as ,simon led the way to its hospitable door1 ,phineas said1 ,enter with them1 my lad1 if you wish4 ,i must go on to my little family1 but will join you soon4 ,to ,joel's great pleasure1 he found they were to cross the lake at once1 to the little fishing port of ,bethsaida4 ,it was only six miles across4 ,we have hardly had time to eat1 said ,andrew to ,joel1 as they walked along towards the boat ,i will be glad to get away to some desert place1 where we may have rest from the people that are always pushing and clamoring about us4 ,how long before you start8 asked ,joel4 ,in a very few minutes1 answered ,andrew2 for the boat is in readiness4 ,joel glanced from the street above the beach to the water's edge1 as if calculating the distance4 ,don't go without me1 he said as1 breaking into a run1 he dashed up the beach at his utmost speed4 ,he was back again in a surprisingly quick time1 with a cheap little basket in his hand2 he was out of breath with his rapid run4 ,didn't ,i go fast8 he panted4 ,i could not have done that a few weeks ago4 ,oh1 it feels so good to be able to run when ,i please6 ,it is like flying4 ,he lifted the cover of the basket4 ,see6 he said4 ,i thought the ,master might be hungry2 but ,i had no time to get anything better4 ,i had to stop at the first stall ,i came to4 ,at the same time the boat went gliding out into the water with its restful motion1 thousands of people were pouring out of the villages on foot1 and hurrying on around the lake1 ahead of them4 ,the boat passed up a narrow winding creek1 away from the sail-dotted lake2 its green banks seemed to promise the longed-for quiet and rest4 ,but there in front of them waited the crowds they had come so far to avoid4 ,they had brought their sick for healing4 ,they needed to be helped and taught2 they were as sheep without a shepherd6 ,he could not refuse them4 ,joel found no chance to offer the food he had bought so hastily with another of his hoarded coins1--the coins that were to have purchased his revenge4 ,as the day wore on1 he heard the disciples ask that the multitudes might be sent away4 ,it would take two hundred pennyworth of bread to feed them1 said ,philip1 and even that would not be enough4 ,andrew glanced over the great crowds and stroked his beard thoughtfully4 ,there is a lad here which hath five barley loaves and two small fishes1 but what are they among so many8 ,joel hurried forward and held out his basket with its little store1--five flat round loaves of bread1 not much more than one hungry man could eat1 and two dried fishes4 ,he hardly knew what to expect as the people were made to sit down on the grass in orderly ranks of fifties4 ,his eyes grew round with astonishment as the ,master took the bread1 gave thanks1 and then passed it to the disciples1 who1 in turn1 distributed it among the people4 ,then the two little fishes were handed around in the same way4 ,joel turned to ,phineas1 who had joined them some time ago4 ,do you see that8 he asked excitedly4 ,they have been multiplied a thousand fold6 ,phineas smiled4 ,we drop one tiny grain of wheat into the earth1 he said1 and when it grows and spreads and bears dozens of other grains on its single stalk1 we are not astonished4 ,when the ,master but does in an instant1 what ,nature takes months to do1 we cry1 'a miracle6' ',men are more wont to be astonished at the sun's eclipse1 than at its daily rising1' he quoted1 remembering his conversation with the old traveller1 on his way to ,nathan ben ,obed's4 ,a feeling of exaltation seized the people as they ate the mysterious bread2 it seemed that the days of miraculous manna had come again4 ,by the time they had all satisfied their hunger1 and twelve basketfuls of the fragments had been gathered up1 they were ready to make ,him their king4 ,the restlessness of the times had taken possession of them2 the burning excitement must find vent in some way1 and with one accord they demanded ,him as their leader4 ,joel wondered why ,he should refuse4 ,surely no other man he had ever known could have resisted such an appeal4 ,the perplexed fisherman1 at ,jesus's command1 turned their boat homeward without ,him4 ,to their simple minds it seemed that ,he had made a mistake in resisting the homage forced upon ,him by the people2 they longed for the time to come when they should be recognized as the honored officials in the new kingdom4 ,many a dream of future power and magnificence must have come to them in the still watches of the night1 as they drifted home in the white light of the ,passover moon4 ,many a time in the weeks that followed1 ,joel slipped away to his favorite spot on the beech1 a flat rock half hidden by a clump of oleander bushes4 ,here1 with his feet idly dangling in the ripples1 he looked out over the water1 and recalled the scenes he had witnessed there4 ,it seemed so marvellous to him that the ,master could have ever walked on those shining waves2 and yet he had seen ,him that night after the feeding of the multitudes4 ,he had seen1 with his own frightened eyes1 the ,master walk calmly towards the boat across the unsteady water1 and catch up the sinking ,peter1 who had jumped overboard to meet ,him4 ,it grieved and fretted the boy that this man1 of ,god-given power and such sweet unselfish spirit1 could be so persistently misunderstood by the people4 ,he could think of nothing else4 ,he had not been with the crowds that pressed into the synagogue the ,sabbath after the thousands had been fed2 but ,phineas came home with grim lips and knitted brows1 and told him about it4 ,the ,master knew they followed ,him because of the loaves and fishes1 he said4 ,he told them so4 ,when we came out of the door1 ,i could not help looking up at the lintel on which is carved the pot of manna2 for when they asked ,him for a sign that they might believe ,him1 saying1 ',our fathers ate manna in the wilderness6' ,he answered3 ',i am the bread of life6 ,ye have seen me1 and yet believe not6' ,while ,he talked there was a murmuring all over the house against ,him1 because ,he said that ,he had come down from heaven4 ,your uncle ,laban was there4 ,i heard him say scornfully3 ',is not this the son of ,joseph1 whose father and mother we know8 ,how doth ,he now say1 ,i am come down out of heaven8' ,then he laughed a mocking little laugh1 and nudged the man who stood next to him4 ,there are many like him2 ,i could feel a spirit of prejudice and persecution in the very air4 ,many who have professed to be ,his friends have turned against ,him4 ,while ,phineas was pouring out his anxious forebodings to his wife and ,joel1 the ,master was going homeward with ,his chosen twelve4 ,would ye also go away8 ,he asked wistfully of ,his companions1 as ,he noted the cold1 disapproving looks of many who had only the day before been fed by ,him1 and who now openly turned their backs on ,him4 ,simon ,peter gave a questioning glance into the faces of his companions2 then he pressed a step nearer4 ,lord1 to whom shall we go8 he answered impulsively4 ,thou hast the words of eternal life4 ,and we have believed1 and know that ,thou art the ,holy ,one of ,god4 ,the others nodded their assent1 all but one4 ,judas ,iscariot clutched the money bags he held1 and looked off across the lake1 to avoid the searching eyes that were fixed upon him4 ,these honest ,galileans were too simple to suspect others of dark designs1 yet they had never felt altogether free with this stranger from ,judea4 ,he had never seemed entirely one of them4 ,they did not see in his crafty quiet manners1 the sheep's clothing that hid his wolfish nature2 but they could feel his lack of sympathetic enthusiasm4 ,he had been one of those who followed only for the loaves and fishes of a temporal kingdom1 and now1 in his secret soul1 he was sorry he had joined a cause in whose final success he was beginning to lose faith4 ,the sun went down suddenly that night behind a heavy cloud1 as a gathering storm began to lash the ,galilee and rock the little boats anchored at the landings4 ,the year of popularity was at an end4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,abigail sat just inside the door1 turning the noisy hand-mill that ground out the next day's supply of flour4 ,the rough mill-stones grated so harshly on each other that she did not hear the steps coming up the path4 ,a shadow falling across the door-way made her look up4 ,you are home early1 my ,phineas1 she said1 with a smile4 ,well1 ,i shall soon have your supper ready4 ,joel has gone to the market for some honey and-- ,nay6 ,i have little wish to eat1 he interrupted1 but ,i have much to say to you4 ,come6 the work can wait4 ,abigail put the mill aside1 and brushing the flour from her hands1 sat down on the step beside him1 wondering much at his troubled face4 ,he plunged into his subject abruptly4 ,the ,master is soon going away1 he said1 that those in the uttermost parts of ,galilee may be taught of ,him4 ,and ,he would fain have others beside the twelve ,he has chosen to go with ,him on ,his journey4 ,and you wish to go too8 she questioned1 as he paused4 ,yes6 ,how can ,i do otherwise8 ,and yet how can ,i leave you and the little ones alone in these troubled times8 ,you cannot think how great the danger is4 ,remember how many horrors we have lately heard4 ,the whole country is a smouldering volcano1 ready to burst into an eruption at any moment4 ,a leader has only to arise1 and all ,israel will take up arms against the powers that trample us under foot4 ,is not this prophet1 ,jesus1 ,he who is to save ,israel8 asked ,abigail4 ,is ,he not even now making ready to establish ,his kingdom8 ,i do not understand ,him at all6 said ,phineas1 sadly4 ,he does talk of a kingdom in which we are all to have a part2 but ,he never seems to be working to establish it4 ,he spends all ,his time in healing diseases and forgiving penitent sinners1 and telling us to love our neighbors4 ,then1 again1 why should ,he go down to the beach1 and choose for ,his confidential friends just simple fishermen4 ,they have neither influence nor money4 ,as for the choice of that publican ,levi-,matthew1 it has brought disgrace on the whole movement4 ,he does not seem to know how to sway the popular feeling4 ,i believe ,he might have had the support of the foremost men of the nation1 if ,he had approached them differently4 ,he shocks them by setting aside laws they would lay down their lives rather than violate4 ,he associates with those they consider unclean2 and all ,his miracles cannot make them forget how boldly ,he has rebuked them for hypocrisy and unrighteousness4 ,they never will come to ,his support now2 and ,i do not see how a new government can be formed without their help4 ,abigail laid her hand on his1 her dark eyes glowing with intense earnestness1 as she answered3 ,what need is there of armies and human hands to help8 ,where were the hosts of ,pharaoh when our fathers passed through the ,red ,sea8 ,was there bloodshed and fighting there8 ,who battled for us when the walls of ,jericho fell down8 ,whose hand smote the ,assyrians at ,sennacherib8 ,is the ,lord's arm shortened that ,he cannot save8 ,why may not ,his prophet speak peace to ,jerusalem as easily as ,he did the other night to the stormy sea8 ,why may not ,his power be multiplied even as the loaves and fishes8 ,why may not the sins and backslidings of the people be healed as well as ,joel's lameness2 or the glory of the nation be quickened into a new life1 as speedily as ,he raised the daughter of ,jairus8 ,isaiah called ,him the ,prince of ,peace4 ,what are all these lessons1 if not to teach us that the purposes of ,god do not depend on human hands to work out their fulfilment8 ,her low voice thrilled him with its inspiring questions1 and he looked down into her rapt face with a feeling of awe4 ,abigail1 he said softly1 'my source of joy1'--you are rightly named4 ,you have led me out of the doubts that have been my daily torment4 ,i see now1 why ,he never incites us to rebel against the yoke of ,caesar4 ,in the fulness of time ,he will free us with a breath4 ,how strange it should have fallen to my lot to have been ,his playmate and companion4 ,my wonder is not that ,he is the ,messiah2 but that ,i should have called ,him friend1 all these years1 unknowing4 ,how long do you expect to be away8 she asked1 after a pause1 suddenly returning to the first subject4 ,several months1 perhaps4 ,there is no telling what insurrections and riots may arise1 all through this part of the country4 ,since the murder of ,john ,baptist1 ,herod has come back to his court in ,tiberias4 ,i dislike to leave you here alone4 ,abigail1 too1 looked grave1 and neither spoke for a little while4 ,i have it6 she exclaimed at length1 with a pleased light in her eyes4 ,i have often wished ,i could make a long visit in the home of my girlhood4 ,the few days ,i have spent in my father's house1 those few times ,i have gone with you to the feasts1 have been so short and unsatisfactory4 ,can ,i not take ,joel and the children to ,bethany8 ,neither father nor mother has ever seen little ,ruth1 and we could be so safe and happy there till your return4 ,why did ,i not come to you before with my worries8 asked ,phineas4 ,how easily you make the crooked places straight6 ,just then the children came running back from the market4 ,abigail went into the house with the provisions they had brought1 leaving their father to tell them of the coming separation and the long journey they had planned4 ,a week later1 ,phineas stood at the city gate1 watching a little company file southward down the highway4 ,he had hired two strong1 gayly-caparisoned mules from the owner of the caravan4 ,abigail rode on one1 holding little ,ruth in her arms2 ,joel mounted the other1 with ,jesse clinging close behind him4 ,abigail1 thinking of the joyful welcome awaiting her in her old home1 and the children happy in the novelty of the journey1 set out gayly4 ,but ,phineas1 thinking of the dangers by the way1 and filled with many forebodings1 watched their departure with a heavy heart4 ,at the top of a little rise in the road1 they turned to look back and wave their hands4 ,in a moment more they were out of sight4 ,then ,phineas1 grasping his staff more firmly1 turned away1 and started on foot in the other direction1 to follow to the world's end1 if need be1 the friend who had gone on before4 ,it was in the midst of the barley harvest4 ,jesse had never been in the country before4 ,for the first time1 ,nature spread for him her great picture-book of field and forest and vineyard1 while ,abigail read to him the stories4 ,first on one side of the road1 then the other1 she pointed out some spot and told its history4 ,here was ,dothan1 where ,joseph went out to see his brothers1 dressed in his coat of many colors4 ,there was ,mount ,gilboa1 where the arrows of the ,philistines wounded ,saul1 and he fell on his own sword and killed himself4 ,shiloh1 where ,hannah brought little ,samuel to give him to the ,lord2 where the ,prophet ,eli1 so old that his eyes were too dim to see1 sat by the gate waiting for news from the army1 and when word was brought back that his two sons were dead1 and the ,ark of the ,covenant taken1 here it was that he fell backward from his seat1 and his neck was broken4 ,all these she told1 and many more4 ,then she pointed to the gleaners in the fields1 and told the children to notice how carefully ,israel still kept the commandment given so many centuries before3 ,when ye reap the harvest of your land1 thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field1 neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest4 ,and thou shalt not glean thy vineyard1 neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard1 thou shalt leave them for the poor and the stranger4 ,at ,jacob's well1 where they stopped to rest1 ,joel lifted ,jesse up1 and let him look over the curb4 ,the child almost lost his balance in astonishment1 when his own wondering little face looked up at him from the deep well4 ,he backed away from it quickly1 and looked carefully into the cup of water ,joel handed him1 for more than a minute1 before he ventured to drink4 ,the home to which ,abigail was going was a wealthy one4 ,her father1 ,reuben1 was a goldsmith1 and for years had been known in ,jerusalem not only for the beautifully wrought ornaments and precious stones that he sold in his shop near the ,temple1 but for his rich gifts to the poor4 ,reuben the ,charitable1 he was called1 and few better deserved the name4 ,his business took him every day to the city2 but his home was in the little village of ,bethany1 two miles away4 ,it was one of the largest in ,bethany1 and seemed like a palace to the children1 when compared to the humble little home in ,capernaum4 ,joel only looked around with admiring eyes2 but ,jesse walked about1 laying curious little fingers on everything he passed4 ,the bright oriental curtains1 the soft cushions and the costly hangings1 he smoothed and patted4 ,even the silver candlesticks and the jewelled cups on the side table were picked up and examined1 when his mother happened to have her back turned4 ,illustration3 ',,we ,,talked ,,late' ,there were no pictures in the house2 the ,law forbade4 ,but there were several mirrors of bright polished metal1 and ,jesse never tired of watching his own reflection in them4 ,ruth stayed close beside her mother4 ,she is a ray of ,god's own sunshine1 said her grandmother1 as she took her in her arms for the first time4 ,the child1 usually afraid of strangers1 saw in ,rebecca's face a look so like her mother's that she patted the wrinkled cheeks with her soft fingers4 ,from that moment her grandmother was her devoted slave4 ,jesse was not long in finding the place he held in his grandfather's heart4 ,the old man1 whose sons had all died years before1 seemed to centre all his hopes on this son of his only daughter4 ,he kept ,jesse with him as much as possible2 his happiest hours were when he had the child on his knee1 teaching him the prayers and precepts and proverbs that he knew would be a lamp to his feet in later years4 ,nay6 do not punish the child6 he said1 one morning when ,jesse had been guilty of some disobedience4 ,abigail went on stripping the leaves from an almond switch she just had broken off4 ,why1 father1 she said1 with a smile1 ,i have often seen you punish my brothers for such disobedience1 and have as often heard you say that one of ,solomon's wisest sayings is1 ',chasten thy son while there is hope1 and let not thy soul spare for his crying4' ,jesse misses his father's firm rule1 and is getting sadly spoiled4 ,that is all true1 my daughter1 he acknowledged2 still ,i shall not stay here to witness his punishment4 ,abigail used the switch as she had intended4 ,the boy had overheard the conversation1 and the cries that reached his grandfather as he rode off to the city were unusually loud and appealing4 ,they may have had something to do with the package the good man carried home that night1--cakes and figs and a gay little turban more befitting a young prince than the son of a carpenter4 ,who lives across the street8 asked ,joel1 the morning after their arrival4 ,two old friends of mine1 answered ,abigail4 ,they came to see me last night as soon as they heard ,i had arrived4 ,you children were all asleep4 ,we talked late1 for they wanted to hear all ,i could tell them of ,rabbi ,jesus4 ,he was here last year1 and ,martha said ,he and her brother ,lazarus became fast friends4 ,ah1 there is ,lazarus now6--that young man just coming out of the house4 ,he is a scribe1 and goes up to write in one of the rooms of the ,temple nearly every day4 ,mary says some of the copies of the ,scriptures he has made are the most beautifully written that she has ever seen4 ,see6 exclaimed ,joel1 he has dropped one of the rolls of parchment he was carrying1 and does not know it4 ,i'll run after him with it4 ,he was hardly yet accustomed to the delight of being so fleet of foot2 no halting step now to hinder him4 ,he almost felt as if he were flying1 and was by the young man's side nearly as soon as he had started4 ,ah1 you are the guest of my good neighbor1 ,reuben1 ,lazarus said1 after thanking him courteously4 ,are you not the lad whose lameness has just been healed by my best friend8 ,my sisters were telling me of it4 ,it must be a strange experience to suddenly find yourself changed from a helpless cripple to such a strong1 straight lad as you are now4 ,how did it make you feel8 ,oh1 ,i can never begin to tell you1 ,rabbi ,lazarus1 answered ,joel4 ,i did not even think of it that moment when ,he held my hand in ,his4 ,i only thought how much ,i loved ,him4 ,i had been starving before1 but that moment ,he took the place of everything1--father1 mother1 the home love ,i had missed1--and more than that1 the love of ,god seemed to come down and fold me so close and safe1 that ,i knew ,he was the ,messiah4 ,i did not even notice that ,i was no longer lame1 until ,i was far down the beach4 ,oh1 you do not know how ,i wanted to follow ,him6 ,if ,i could only have gone with ,him instead of coming here6 ,yes1 my boy1 ,i know6 answered the young man1 gently2 for ,i1 too1 love ,him4 ,this strong bond of sympathy between the two made them feel as if they had known each other always4 ,come walk with me a little way1 said ,lazarus4 ,i am going up to ,jerusalem to the ,temple4 ,or rather1 would you not like to come all the way8 ,i have only to carry these rolls to one of the priests1 then ,i will be at liberty to show you some of the strange sights in the city4 ,joel ran back for permission4 ,only stopping to wind his white linen turban around his head1 he soon regained his new-found friend4 ,his recollection of ,jerusalem was a very dim1 confused one4 ,time and time again he had heard pilgrims returning from the feasts trying to describe their feelings when they had come in sight of the ,holy ,city4 ,now as they turned with the road1 the view that rose before him made him feel how tame their descriptions had been4 ,the morning sun shone down on the white marble walls of the ,temple and the gold that glittered on the courts1 as they rose one above the other2 tower and turret and pinnacle shot back a dazzling light4 ,it did not seem possible to ,joel that human hands could have wrought such magnificence4 ,he caught his breath1 and uttered an exclamation of astonishment4 ,lazarus smiled at his pleasure4 ,come1 he said1 it is still more beautiful inside4 ,they went very slowly through ,solomon's ,porch1 for every one seemed to know the young man1 and many stopped to speak to him4 ,then they crossed the ,court of the ,gentiles4 ,it seemed like a market-place2 for cages of doves were kept there for sale1 and lambs1 calves1 and oxen bleated and lowed in their stalls till ,joel could scarcely hear what his friend was saying1 as they pushed their way through the crowd1 and stood before the ,gate ,beautiful that led into the ,court of the ,women4 ,here ,lazarus left ,joel for a few moments1 while he went to give the rolls to the priest for whom he had copied them4 ,joel looked around4 ,then for the first time since his healing1 he wondered if it would be possible for him to ever take his place among the ,levites1 or become a priest as he had been destined4 ,while he wondered1 ,lazarus came back and led him into the next court4 ,here he could look up and see the ,holy ,place1 over which was trained a golden vine1 with clusters of grapes as large as a man's body1 all of purest gold4 ,beyond that he knew was a heavy veil of ,babylonian tapestry1 hyacinth and scarlet and purple1 that veiled in awful darkness the ,holy of ,holies4 ,as he stood there thinking of the tinkling bells1 the silver trumpets1 the clouds of incense1 and the mighty songs1 a great longing came over him to be one of those white-robed priests1 serving daily in the ,temple4 ,but with the wish came the recollection of a quiet hillside1 where only bird-calls and whirr of wings stirred the stillness2 where a breeze from the sparkling lake blew softly through the grass1 and one ,voice only was heard1 proclaiming its glad new gospel under the open sky4 ,no1 he thought to himself2 ,i'd rather be with ,him than wear the ,high ,priest's mitre4 ,it was almost sundown when they found themselves on the road homeward4 ,they had visited place after place of interest4 ,lazarus found the boy an entertaining companion1 and the friendship begun that day grew deep and lasting4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,what are you looking for1 grandfather8 called ,jesse1 as he pattered up the outside stairs to the roof1 where ,reuben stood1 scanning the sky intently4 ,come here1 my son1 he called4 ,stand right here in front of me1 and look just where ,i point4 ,what do you see8 ,the child peered anxiously into the blue depths just now lit up by the sunset4 ,oh1 the new moon6 he cried4 ,where did it come from8 ,summer hath dropped her silver sickle there1 that ,night may go forth to harvest in her star-fields1 answered the old man4 ,then seeing the look of inquiry on the boy's face1 hastened to add1 ,nay1 it is the censer that ,god's hand set swinging in the sky1 to remind us to keep the incense of our praises ever rising heavenward4 ,even now a messenger may be running towards the ,temple1 to tell the ,sanhedrin that it has appeared4 ,yea1 other eyes have been sharper than mine1 for see6 ,already the beacon light has been kindled on the ,mount of ,olives6 ,jesse watched the great bonfire a few minutes1 then ran to call his sister4 ,by the time they were both on the roof1 answering fires were blazing on the distant hilltops throughout all ,judea1 till the whole land was alight with the announcement of the ,feast of the ,new ,moon4 ,i wish it could be this way every night1 don't you1 ,ruth8 said ,jesse4 ,are you not glad we are here8 ,the old man looked down at the children with a pleased smile4 ,i'll show you something prettier than this1 before long1 he said4 ,just wait till the ,feast of ,weeks1 when the people all come to bring the first fruits of the harvests4 ,i am glad your visit is in this time of the year1 for you can see one festival after another4 ,the day the celebration of the ,feast of ,weeks commenced1 ,reuben left his shop in charge of the attendants1 and gave up his entire time to ,joel and ,jesse4 ,we must not miss the processions1 he said4 ,we will go outside the gates a little way1 and watch the people come in4 ,they did not have long to wait till the stream of people from the upper countries began to pour in2 each company carried a banner bearing the name of the town from which it came4 ,a white ox1 intended for a peace-offering1 was driven first2 its horns were gilded1 and its body twined with olive wreaths4 ,flocks of sheep and oxen for the sacrifice1 long strings of asses and camels bearing free-will gifts to the ,temple1 or old and helpless pilgrims that could not walk1 came next4 ,there were wreaths of roses on the heads of the women and children2 bands of lilies were tied around the sheaves of wheat4 ,piled high in the silver vessels of the rich1 or peeping from the willow baskets of the poor1 were the choicest fruits of the harvest4 ,great bunches of grapes from whose purple globes the bloom had not been brushed1 velvety nectarines1 tempting pomegranates1 mellow pears1 juicy melons1--these offerings of fruit and flowers gleamed all down the long line1 for no one came empty-handed up this ,hill of the ,lord4 ,as they drew near the gates1 a number of white-robed priests from the ,temple met them4 ,reuben lifted ,jesse in his arms that he might have a better view4 ,listen1 he said4 ,joel climbed up on a large rock4 ,a joyful sound of flutes commenced1 and a mighty chorus went up3 ,i was glad when they said unto me1 let us go into the house of the ,lord4 ,our feet shall stand within thy gates1 ,o ,jerusalem6 ,voice after voice took up the old psalm1 and ,reuben's deep tones joined with the others1 as they chanted1 ,peace be within thy walls1 and prosperity within thy palaces6 ,following the singing pilgrims to the ,temple1 they saw the priests take the doves that were to be for a burnt-offering1 and the first fruits that were to be laid on the altars4 ,jesse held fast to his grandfather's hand as they passed through the outer courts of the ,temple4 ,he was half frightened by the din of voices1 the stamping and bellowing and bleating of the animals as they were driven into the pens4 ,he had seen one sacrificial service2 the great stream of blood pouring over the marble steps of the altar1 and the smoke of the burnt-offering were still in his mind4 ,it made him look pityingly now at the gentle-eyed calves and the frightened lambs4 ,he was glad to get away from them4 ,soon after the time of this rejoicing was over1 came ten solemn days that to ,joel were full of interest and mystery4 ,they were the days of preparation for the ,fast of the ,atonement4 ,disputes between neighbors were settled1 and sins confessed4 ,the last great day1 the most solemn of all1 was the only time in the whole year when the ,high ,priest might draw aside the veil1 and enter into the ,holy of ,holies4 ,with all his rich robes and jewels laid aside1 clad only in simple white1 with bare feet and covered head1 he had to go four times into the awful ,presence4 ,once to offer incense1 once to pray1 to sprinkle the blood of a goat towards the mercy-seat1 and then to bring out the censer4 ,that was the day when two goats were taken2 by casting lots one was chosen for a sacrifice4 ,on the other the ,high ,priest laid the sins of the people1 and it was driven out into the wilderness1 to be dashed to pieces from some high cliff4 ,tears came into ,joel's eyes1 as he watched the scape-goat driven away into the dreary desert4 ,he pitied the poor beast doomed to such a death because of his nation's sins4 ,then came the closing ceremonies1 when the great congregation bowed themselves three times to the ground1 with the ,high ,priest shouting solemnly1 ,ye are clean6 ,ye are clean6 ,ye are clean6 ,joel was glad when the last rite was over1 and the people started to their homes1 as gay now as they had been serious before4 ,when are we going back to our other home8 asked ,ruth1 one day4 ,why1 are you not happy here1 little daughter8 said ,abigail4 ,i thought you had forgotten all about the old place4 ,i want my white pigeons1 she said1 with a quivering lip1 as if she had suddenly remembered them4 ,i don't want my father not to be here6 she sobbed2 and ,i want my white pigeons6 ,abigail picked her up and comforted her4 ,wait just a little while4 ,i think father will surely come soon4 ,i will get my embroidery1 and you may go with me across the street4 ,ruth had been shy at first about going to see her mother's friends2 but ,martha coaxed her in with honey cakes she baked for that express purpose1 and ,mary told her stories and taught her little games4 ,after a while she began to flit in and out of the house as fearlessly as a bright-winged butterfly4 ,one day her mother was sitting with the sisters in a shady corner of their court-yard1 where a climbing honeysuckle made a cool sweet arbor4 ,ruth was going from one to the other1 watching the bright embroidery threads take the shape of flowers under their skilful fingers4 ,suddenly she heard the faint tinkle of a silver bell4 ,while she stood with one finger on her lip to listen1 ,lazarus came into the court-yard4 ,see what ,i have brought you1 little one1 he said4 ,it is to take the place of the pigeons you are always mourning for4 ,it was a snow-white lamb1 around which he had twined a garland of many colored flowers1 and from whose neck hung the little silver bell she had heard4 ,at first the child was so delighted she could only bury her dimpled fingers in the soft fleece1 and look at it in speechless wonder4 ,then she caught his hand1 and left a shy little kiss on it1 as she lisped1 ,oh1 you're so good6 ,you're so good6 ,after that day ,ruth followed ,lazarus as the white lamb followed ,ruth2 and the sisters hardly knew which sounded sweeter in their quiet home1 the tinkling of the silver bell1 or the happy prattle of the baby voice4 ,abigail spent many happy hours with her friends4 ,one day as they sat in the honeysuckle arbor1 busily sewing1 ,ruth and ,jesse came running towards them4 ,i see my father coming1 and another man1 cried the boy4 ,i'm going to meet them4 ,they all hastened to the door1 just as the tired1 dusty travellers reached it4 ,peace be to this house1 and all who dwell therein1 said the stranger1 before ,phineas could give his wife and friends a warmer greeting4 ,we went first to your father's house1 but1 finding no one at home1 came here1 said ,phineas4 ,come in6 insisted ,martha4 ,you look sorely in need of rest and refreshment4 ,but they had a message to deliver before they could be persuaded to eat or wash4 ,the ,master is coming1 said ,phineas4 ,he has sent out seventy of ,his followers1 to go by twos into every town1 and herald ,his approach1 and proclaim that the day of the ,lord is at hand4 ,we have gone even into ,samaria to carry the tidings there4 ,at last1 at last6 cried ,mary1 clasping her hands4 ,oh1 to think that ,i have lived to see this day of ,israel's glory6 ,tell us what the ,master has been doing1 urged ,abigail1 after the men had been refreshed by food and water4 ,first one and then the other told of miracles they had seen1 and repeated what ,he had taught4 ,even the children crept close to listen1 leaning against their father's knees4 ,there has been much discussion about the kingdom that is to be formed4 ,while we were in ,peter's house in ,capernaum1 some of the disciples came quarrelling around ,him1 to ask who should have the highest positions4 ,i suppose those who have followed ,him longest think they have claim to the best offices4 ,what did ,he say8 asked ,abigail1 eagerly4 ,phineas laid his hand on ,ruth's soft curls4 ,he took a little child like this1 and set it in our midst1 and said that he who would be greatest in ,his kingdom1 must become even like unto it6 ,faith and love and purity on the throne of the ,herods1 cried ,martha4 ,ah1 only ,jehovah can bring such a thing as that to pass6 ,are you going to stay at home now1 father8 asked ,jesse1 anxiously4 ,no1 my son4 ,i must go on the morrow to carry my report to the ,master1 of the reception we have had in every town4 ,but ,i will soon be back again to the ,feast of ,tabernacles4 ,carry with you our earnest prayer that the ,master will abide with us when ,he comes again to ,bethany1 said ,martha1 as her guests departed4 ,no one is so welcome in our home1 as the friend of our brother ,lazarus4 ,the preparation for the ,feast of the ,tabernacles had begun4 ,i am going to take the children to the city with me to-day6 said ,reuben1 one morning1 to see the big booth ,i am having built4 ,it will hold all our family1 and as many friends as may care to share it with us4 ,jesse was charmed with the great tent of green boughs4 ,i wish ,i could have been one of the children that ,moses led up out of ,egypt1 he said1 with a sigh4 ,why1 my son8 asked ,reuben4 ,so's ,i could have wandered around for forty years1 living in a tent like this4 ,how good it smells1 and how pretty it is6 ,i wish you and grandmother would live here all the time6 ,the next day ,phineas joined them4 ,it was a happy family that gathered in the leafy booth for a week of out-door rejoicing in the cool autumn time4 ,where is the ,master8 asked ,abigail4 ,i know not1 answered her husband4 ,he sent us on before4 ,will ,he be here1 ,i wonder8 she asked1 and that question was on nearly every lip in ,jerusalem4 ,will ,he be here8 asked the throngs of pilgrims who had heard of ,his miracles1 and longed to see the man who could do such marvellous things4 ,will ,he be here8 whispered the scribes to the ,pharisees4 ,let ,him beware6 ,will ,he be here8 muttered ,caiaphas the ,high ,priest4 ,then better one man should die1 than that the whole community perish4 ,the sight that dazzled the eyes of the children that first evening of the week1 was like fairyland2 a blaze of lanterns and torches lit up the whole city4 ,in the ,court of the ,women1 in the ,temple1 all the golden lamps were lit1 twinkling and burning like countless stars4 ,on the steps that separated this court from the next one1 stood three thousand singers1 the sons and daughters of the tribe of ,levi4 ,two priests stood at the top of the steps1 and as each gave the signal on a great silver trumpet1 the burst of song that went up from the vast choir seemed to shake the very heavens4 ,harps and psalters and flutes swelled with the rolling waves of the organ's melody4 ,to the sound of this music1 men marched with flaming torches in their hands1 and the marching and a weird torch-dance were kept up until the gates of the ,temple closed4 ,in the midst of all the feasting and the gayeties that followed1 the long-expected ,voice was heard in the arcades of the ,temple4 ,the ,child of ,nazareth was once more in ,his ,father's house about ,his ,father's business4 ,on the last great day of the feast1 ,joel was up at day-break1 ready to follow the older members of the family as soon as the first trumpet-blast should sound4 ,in his right hand he carried a citron1 as did all the others2 in his left was a palm-branch1 the emblem of joy4 ,an immense multitude gathered at the spring of ,siloam4 ,water was drawn in a golden pitcher1 and carried back to be poured on the great altar1 while the choir sang with its thousands of voices1 and all the people shouted1 ,amen and ,amen6 ,when the days had gone by in which the seventy bullocks had been sacrificed1 and when the ceremonies were all over1 then the leaves were stripped from the green booths1 and the people scattered to their homes4 ,long afterward1 ,jesse remembered only the torch-light dances1 the silver trumpets and the crowds1 and the faint ringing of the fringe of bells on the priest's robes as he carried the fire on the golden shovel to burn the sweet-smelling incense4 ,joel's memory rang often with two cries that had startled the people4 ,one when the water was poured from the golden pitcher4 ,it was the ,master's voice3 ,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me4 ,the other was when all eyes were turned on the blazing lamps4 ,i am the ,light of the ,world6 ,reuben thought oftenest of the blind man to whom he had seen sight restored4 ,but ,lazarus was filled with anxiety and foreboding2 through his office of scribe1 he had come in close contact with the men who were plotting against his friend4 ,dark rumors were afloat4 ,the air was hot with whisperings of hate4 ,he had overheard a conversation between the ,temple police1 and some of the chief priests and ,pharisees4 ,why did ye not take ,him1 as ye were ordered8 they demanded angrily4 ,we could not1 was the response2 for never man spake like this man4 ,he had seen the mob searching for stones to throw at ,him4 ,though ,he had disappeared out of their midst unhurt1 still ,lazarus felt that some terrible disaster was hanging threateningly over the head of his beloved friend4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,it was with a deep feeling of relief that the two families watched the ,master go away into ,perea4 ,phineas still kept with ,him4 ,as the little band disappeared down the street1 ,ruth hid her face in her mother's dress and began to cry4 ,i don't want my father to go away again6 she sobbed4 ,abigail took her in her lap and tried to comfort her1 although there were tears in her own eyes4 ,we will go home soon1 little daughter1 and then father will be with us all the time4 ,but we must wait first1 till after the cold1 rainy season1 and the ,feast of ,dedication4 ,what6 another feast8 asked ,jesse1 to whom the summer had seemed one long confusion of festivals4 ,don't they have lots of them down in this country6 ,what's this one for8 ,grandfather will tell you1 answered his mother4 ,run out and ask him for the story4 ,i know you will like it4 ,seated on his grandfather's knee1 ,jesse doubled up his little fists1 as he heard how a heathen altar had once been set up on the great altar of burnt-offering1 and a heathen general had driven a herd of swine through the holy ,temple1 making it unclean4 ,but his breath came quick1 and his eyes shone1 as the proud old ,israelite told him of ,judas the ,maccabee1 ,judas the lion-hearted1 who had whipped the ,syrian soldiers1 purified the ,temple1 and dedicated it anew to the worship of ,jehovah4 ,our people never forget their heroes1 ended the old man4 ,every year1 in every home1 no matter how humble1 one candle is lighted at the beginning of the feast2 the next night1 two1 and the next night1 three1 and so on1 till eight candles shine out into the winter darkness4 ,for so the brave deeds of the ,maccabees burn in the memory of every child of ,abraham6 ,the feast came and went4 ,while the candles burned in every home1 and the golden lamps in the great ,temple blazed a welcome1 the ,nazarene came back to ,his ,father's house1 to be once more about ,his ,father's business4 ,joel caught a glimpse of ,him walking up and down the covered porches in front of the ,gate ,beautiful4 ,the next moment he was pushing and elbowing his way through the jostling crowds1 till he stood close beside ,him4 ,after that1 the services that followed were a blank4 ,he saw only one face1--the face that had looked into his beside the ,galilee1 and drawn from his heart its intensest love4 ,he heard only one voice1--the voice he had longed for all these weeks and days4 ,just to be near ,him6 ,to be able to reach out reverent fingers and only touch the clothes ,he wore2 to look up in ,his face1 and look and look with a love that never wearied1--that was such happiness that ,joel was lost to everything else6 ,but after a while he began to realize that it was for no friendly purpose that the chief priests came pressing around with questions4 ,if ,thou be the ,christ1 tell us plainly1 they demanded4 ,then up and down through the long ,porch of ,solomon1 among all its white marble pillars1 they repeated ,his answer3-- ,the works that ,i do in my ,father's name1 they bear witness of me4 ,i and my ,father are one6 ,blasphemy6 shouted a mocking voice behind ,him4 ,blasphemy6 echoed ,pharisee and ,sadducee for once agreed4 ,the crowds pushed and shoved between the pillars2 some ran out for stones4 ,in the confusion of the uproar1 as they turned to lay violent hands on ,him1 ,he slipped out of their midst1 and went quietly away4 ,joel hunted around awhile for the party he had come with1 but seeing neither ,phineas nor ,lazarus1 started back to ,bethany on the run4 ,a cold winter rain had begun to fall4 ,none of ,reuben's family had gone into ,jerusalem that day on account of the weather1 but were keeping the feast at home4 ,they were startled when the usually quiet boy burst excitedly into the house1 and told them what he had just seen4 ,o mother ,abigail6 he cried1 throwing himself on his knees beside her4 ,if ,he goes away again may ,i not go with ,him8 ,i cannot go back to ,galilee and leave ,him1 unknowing what is to happen4 ,if ,he is to be persecuted and driven out1 and maybe killed1 let me at least share ,his suffering1 and be with ,him at the last6 ,you forget that ,he has all power1 and that ,his enemies can do ,him no harm1 said ,abigail1 gently4 ,has ,he not twice walked out unharmed1 before their very eyes1 when they would have taken ,him8 ,and besides what good could you do1 my boy8 ,you forget you are only a child1 and might not be able to stand the hardships of such a journey4 ,i am almost fourteen1 said ,joel1 stretching himself up proudly4 ,and ,i am as strong now as some of the men who go with ,him4 ,he gave me back my strength1 you know4 ,oh1 you do not know how ,i love ,him6 he cried4 ,when ,i am away from ,him1 ,i feel as you would were you separated from ,jesse and ,ruth and father ,phineas4 ,my heart is always going out after ,him6 ,child1 have you no care for us8 she responded reproachfully4 ,oh1 do not speak so6 he cried1 catching up her hand and kissing it4 ,i do love you2 ,i can never be grateful enough for all you have done for me4 ,but1 ,o mother ,abigail1 you could never understand6 ,you were never lame and felt the power of ,his healing4 ,you were never burning with a wicked hatred1 and felt the balm of ,his forgiveness6 ,you cannot understand how ,he draws me to ,him6 ,let the boy have his way1 spoke up ,reuben4 ,i1 too1 have felt that wonderful power that draws all men to ,him4 ,gladly would ,i part with every shekel ,i possess1 if ,i thereby might win ,him the favor of the authorities4 ,when once more a little band of fugitives followed their ,master across the ,jordan1 ,joel was with them4 ,the winter wore away1 and they still tarried4 ,day by day1 they were listening to the simple words that dropped like seeds into their memories1 to spring up in after months and bear great truths4 ,now they heard them as half understood parables1--the good ,samaritan1 the barren fig-tree1 the prodigal son1 the unjust steward4 ,there was one story that thrilled ,joel deeply1--the story of the lost sheep4 ,for he recalled that stormy night in the sheepfold of ,nathan ben ,obed1 and the shepherd who searched till dawn for the straying lamb4 ,it was only long afterwards that he realized it was the ,good ,shepherd ,himself who told the story1 when ,he was about to lay down ,his own life for the lost sheep of ,israel4 99 99 99 99 99 ,meanwhile in ,bethany1 ,rabbi ,reuben and his wife rejoiced that their daughter's visit stretched out indefinitely4 ,jesse openly declared that he intended to stay there always1 and learn to be a goldsmith like his grandfather4 ,ruth1 too1 was happy and contented1 and seemed to have forgotten that she ever had any other home4 ,as the early spring days came on1 she lived almost entirely out in the sunshine4 ,she had fallen into the habit of standing at the gate to watch for ,lazarus every evening when he came back from the ,temple4 ,as soon as she saw him turn the corner into their street1 she ran to meet him1 her fair curls and white dress fluttering in the wind4 ,no matter how tired he was1 or what cares rested heavily on his mind1 the pale face always lighted up1 and his dark eyes smiled at her coming4 ,lazarus does not seem well1 lately1 she heard ,martha say to her mother one day4 ,i have been trying to persuade him to rest a few days2 but he insists he cannot until he has finished the scroll he is illuminating4 ,a few days after that he did not go to the city as usual4 ,ruth peeped into the darkened room where he was resting on a couch2 his eyes were closed1 and he was so pale it almost frightened her4 ,he did not hear her when she tiptoed into the room and out again2 but the fragrance of the little stemless rose she laid on his pillow aroused him4 ,he opened his eyes and smiled languidly1 as he caught sight of her slipping noiselessly through the door4 ,her mother1 sewing by the window1 looked out and saw her running across the street4 ,jesse was out in front of the house1 playing with a ball4 ,who is that boy talking to ,jesse8 asked ,abigail of ,rebecca1 who stood in the doorway1 holding out her arms as ,ruth came up4 ,why1 that is little ,joseph1 the only son of ,simon the leper4 ,poor child6 ,simon the leper1 repeated ,abigail4 ,a stranger to me4 ,surely not4 ,have you forgotten the wealthy young oil-seller who lived next the synagogue8 ,he has the richest olive groves in this part of the country4 ,not the husband of my little playmate ,esther6 cried ,abigail4 ,surely he has not been stricken with leprosy6 ,yes2 it is one of the saddest cases ,i ever heard of4 ,it seems so terrible for a man honored as he has been1 and accustomed to every luxury1 to be such a despised outcast4 ,poor ,esther6 sighed ,abigail4 ,does she ever see him8 ,not now4 ,the disease is fast destroying him2 and he is such a hideous sight that he has forbidden her to ever try to see him again4 ,even his voice is changed4 ,of course he would be stoned if he were to come back4 ,he never seeks the company of other lepers4 ,she has had a room built for him away from the sight of men4 ,every day a servant carries him food and tidings4 ,it is well that they have money1 or he would be obliged to live among the tombs with others as repulsive-looking as himself1 and such company must certainly be worse than none4 ,sometimes little ,joseph is taken near enough to speak to him1 that he may have the poor comfort of seeing his only child at a distance4 ,what if it were my ,phineas6 exclaimed ,abigail1 her tears dropping fast on the needlework she held4 ,oh1 it is a thousand times worse than death6 ,out in the street the boys were making each other's acquaintance in the off-hand way boys of that age have4 ,my name is ,jesse4 ,what's yours8 ,joseph4 ,where do you live8 ,around the corner1 next to the synagogue4 ,my father is a carpenter4 ,what's yours8 ,joseph hesitated4 ,he used to be an oil-seller1 he said finally4 ,he doesn't do anything now4 ,why8 persisted ,jesse4 ,he is a leper now1 was the reluctant answer4 ,a look of distress came over ,jesse's face4 ,he had seen some lepers once1 and the sight was still fresh in his mind4 ,as they were riding down from ,galilee1 ,joel had pointed them out to him4 ,a group of beggars with horrible scaly sores that had eaten away their flesh1 till some were left without lips or eyelids2 one held out a deathly white hand from which nearly all the fingers had dropped4 ,their hair looked like white wire1 and they called out1 in shrill1 cracked voices1 ,unclean6 ,unclean6 ,come not near us6 ,how terrible to have one's father like that1 thought ,jesse4 ,a lump seemed to come up in his throat2 his eyes filled with tears at the bare idea4 ,then1 boy-like1 he tossed up his ball1 and forgot all about it in the game that followed4 ,several days after he met ,joseph and a servant who was carrying a large1 covered basket and a water-bottle made of skin4 ,i'm going to see my father1 now1 said ,joseph4 ,ask your mother if you can come with me4 ,jesse started towards his home1 then turned suddenly4 ,no1 ,i'm not going to ask her1 for she'll be sure to say no4 ,i am just going anyhow4 ,you'll catch it when you get home6 exclaimed ,joseph4 ,well1 it cannot last long1 reasoned ,jesse1 whose curiosity had gotten the better of him4 ,i believe ,i'd rather take a whipping than not to go4 ,joseph looked at him in utter astonishment4 ,yes1 ,i would1 he insisted2 so come on6 ,a short walk down an unfrequented road1 in the direction of ,jericho1 took them to a lonely place among the bare cliffs4 ,a little cabin stood close against the rocks1 with a great sycamore-tree bending over it4 ,near by was the entrance to a deep cave1 always as cool as a cellar1 even in the hottest summer days4 ,at the mouth of the cave sat ,simon the leper4 ,he stood up when he saw them coming1 and wrapped himself closely in a white linen mantle that covered him from head to foot4 ,it was a ghostly sight to ,jesse2 but to ,joseph1 so long accustomed to it1 there seemed nothing strange4 ,at a safe distance the servant emptied his basket on a large flat rock1 and poured the water into a stone jar standing near4 ,last of all1 he laid a piece of parchment on the stone4 ,it was ,esther's daily letter to her exiled husband4 ,no matter what storms swept the valley1 or what duties pressed at home1 that little missive was always sent4 ,she had learned to write for his sake4 ,by all his friends he was accounted dead2 but her love1 stronger than death1 bridged the gulf that separated them4 ,she lived only to minister to his comfort as best she could4 ,simon did not send as long a message in return as this trusted messenger usually carried4 ,he had much to say to his boy1 and the sun was already high4 ,jesse1 lagging behind in the shelter of the rock1 heard the tender words of counsel and blessing that came from the white-sheeted figure with a feeling of awe4 ,as the father urged his boy to be faithful to every little duty1 careful in learning the prayers1 and above all obedient to his mother1 ,jesse's conscience began to prick him sorely4 ,i believe ,i know somebody that could cure him1 he said1 as they picked their way over the rocks1 going home4 ',cause ,he made ,joel well4 ,who's ,joel8 asked ,joseph4 ,a boy that lives with us4 ,he was just as lame1 and limped way over when he walked4 ,now he is as straight as ,i am4 ,all the sick people where ,i lived went to ,him1 and they got well4 ,joseph shook his head4 ,lepers can't be cured4 ,can they1 ,seth8 he asked1 appealing to the servant4 ,no1 lepers are just the same as dead1 answered ,seth4 ,there's no help for them4 ,jesse was in a very uncomfortable frame of mind1 as1 hot and dusty1 he left his companion and dragged home at a snail's pace4 ,next morning ,joseph was waiting for him out in front4 ,well1 did she whip you8 he asked1 with embarrassing frankness4 ,no1 said ,jesse1 a little sheepishly4 ,she put me to bed just as soon as ,i had eaten my dinner1 and made me stay there till this morning4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,ruth went every day to ask for her sick friend1 sometimes with a bunch of grapes1 sometimes with only a flower in her warm little hand4 ,but there came a time when ,martha met her1 with eyes all swollen and red from crying1 and told her they had sent to the city for a skilful physician4 ,in the night there came a loud knocking at the door1 and a call for ,rabbi ,reuben to come quickly1 that ,lazarus was worse4 ,at day-break a messenger was sent clattering away to hurry over the ,jordan in hot haste1 and bring back from ,perea the only ,one who could help them4 ,the noise awakened ,ruth2 she sat up in surprise to see her mother dressed so early4 ,the outer door was ajar1 and she heard the message that the anxious ,martha bade the man deliver3 ,lord1 he whom ,thou lovest is sick4 ,he will come right away and make him well1 won't ,he1 mother8 she asked anxiously4 ,surely1 my child1 answered ,abigail4 ,he loves him too well to let him suffer so4 ,but the day wore on1 and the next2 still another1 and ,he did not come4 ,ruth stole around like a frightened shadow1 because of the anxious looks on every face4 ,why doesn't ,he come8 she wondered2 and on many another lip was the same question4 ,she was so quiet1 no one noticed when she stole into the room where her friend lay dying4 ,mary knelt on one side of the bed1 ,martha on the other1 watching the breath come slower and slower1 and clinging to the unresponsive hands as if their love could draw him back to life4 ,neither shed a tear1 but seemed to watch with their souls in their eyes1 for one more word1 one more look of recognition4 ,abigail sat by the window1 weeping softly4 ,ruth had never seen her mother cry before1 and it frightened her4 ,she glanced at her grandfather1 standing by the foot of the bed2 two great tears rolled slowly down his cheeks1 and dropped on his long beard4 ,a sudden cry from ,mary1 as she fell fainting to the floor1 called her attention to the bed again4 ,martha was silently rocking herself to and fro1 in an agony of grief4 ,still the child did not understand4 ,those in the room were so busy trying to bring ,mary back to consciousness1 that no one noticed ,ruth4 ,drawn by some impulse she could not understand1 the child drew nearer and nearer4 ,then she laid her soft little hand on his1 thinking the touch would surely make him open his eyes and smile at her again2 it had often done so before4 ,but what was it that made her start back terrified1 and shrink away trembling8 ,it was not ,lazarus she had touched1 but the awful mystery of death4 ,i did not know that a little child could feel so deeply1 said ,abigail to her mother1 when she found that ,ruth neither ate nor played1 but wandered aimlessly around4 ,i shall keep her away from the funeral4 ,but all her care could not keep from the little one's ears the mournful music of the funeral dirge1 or the wailing of the mourners1 who gathered to do honor to the young man whom all ,bethany knew and loved4 ,many friends came out from ,jerusalem to follow the long procession to the tomb4 ,there was a long eulogy at the grave2 but the most impressive ceremony was over at last1 and the great stone had to be rolled into the opening that formed the doorway4 ,then the two desolate sisters went back to their lonely home and empty life1 wondering how they could go on without the presence that had been such a daily benediction4 ,the fourth day after his death1 as ,martha sat listlessly looking out of the green arbor with unseeing eyes1 ,ruth ran in with a radiant face4 ,he's come6 she cried4 ,he's come1 and so has my father4 ,hurry6 ,he is waiting for you6 ,martha drew her veil about her1 and mechanically followed the eager child to the gate1 where ,phineas met her with the same message4 ,oh1 why did ,he not come sooner8 she thought bitterly1 as she pressed on after her guide4 ,once outside of the village1 she drew aside her veil4 ,there stood the ,master1 with such a look of untold sympathy on ,his worn face1 that ,martha cried out1 ,lord1 if ,thou hadst been here my brother had not died6 ,thy brother shall rise again1 ,he said gently4 ,yes1 ,i know he shall rise again in the resurrection1 at the last day1 she said brokenly4 ,that brings hope for the future2 but what comfort is there for the lonely years we must live without him8 ,the tears streamed down her face again4 ,then for the first time came those words that have brought balm into thousands of broken hearts1 and hope into countless tear-blind eyes4 ,i am the resurrection and the life4 ,he that believeth in me shall never die4 ,believest thou this8 ,martha looked up reverently4 ,yea1 ,lord1 ,i believe that ,thou art the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god which should come into the world4 ,a great peace came over her troubled spirit as she hurried to her home1 where the many friends still sat who had come to comfort them4 ,a number of them were from ,jerusalem1 and she knew that among them were some who were unfriendly to her brother's friend4 ,so she quietly called her sister from the room1 whispering1 ,the ,master is come1 and calleth for thee6 ,those who sat there thought they were going to the grave to weep1 as was the custom4 ,so they rose also1 and followed at a little distance4 ,mary met ,him with the same exclamation that her sister had uttered1 and fell at ,his feet4 ,he1 seeing in her white face the marks of the deep grief she had suffered1 was thrilled to the depths of ,his humanity by the keenest sympathy4 ,his tears fell too1 at the sight of hers4 ,behold how ,he loved ,lazarus6 said a man to the one who stood beside him4 ,why did ,he not save him then8 was the mocking answer4 ,they say ,he has the power to open the eyes of the blind1 and even to raise the dead4 ,let ,him show it in this case6 ,it was a curious crowd that followed ,him to the door of the tomb3 men who hated ,him for the scorching fire-brands of rebuke ,he had thrown into their corrupt lives2 men who feared ,him as a dangerous teacher of false doctrines2 men who knew ,his good works1 but hesitated either to accept or refuse2 and men who loved ,him better than life1--all waiting1 wondering what ,he would do4 ,roll the stone away6 ,he commanded2 a dozen strong shoulders bent to do ,his bidding4 ,then ,he looked up and spoke in a low tone1 but so distinctly that no one lost a word4 ,father1 ,he said1--,he seemed to be speaking to some one just beside ,him1--,i thank ,thee that ,thou hast heard me1 and ,i knew that ,thou hearest me always3 but because of the people which stand by ,i said it1 that they may believe that ,thou hast sent me4 ,a cold shiver of expectancy ran over those who heard4 ,then ,he cried1 in a loud voice1 ,lazarus1 come forth6 ,there was a dreadful pause4 ,some of the women clutched each other with frightened shrieks2 even strong men fell back1 as out of the dark grave walked a tall figure wrapped in white grave-clothes4 ,his face was hidden in a napkin4 ,loose him1 and let him go1 said the ,master1 calmly4 ,phineas stepped forward and loosened the outer bands4 ,when the napkin fell from his face1 they saw he was deathly white2 but in an instant a warm1 healthful glow took the place of the corpse-like pallor4 ,not till he spoke1 however1 could the frightened people believe that it was ,lazarus1 and not a ghost they saw4 ,never had there been such a sight since the world began3 the man who had lain four days in the tomb1 walking side by side with the man who had called him back to life4 ,the streets were full of people1 laughing1 shouting1 crying1 fairly beside themselves with astonishment4 ,smiths left their irons to cool on the anvils2 bakers left their bread to burn in the ovens2 the girl at the fountain dropped her half-filled pitcher2 and a woman making cakes ran into the street with the dough in her hands4 ,every house in the village stood empty1 save one where a sick man moaned for water all unheeded1 and another where a baby wakened in its cradle and began to cry4 ,long after the reunited family had gone into their home with their nearest friends1 and shut the door on their overwhelming joy1 the crowds still stood outside1 talking among themselves4 ,many who had taken part against the ,master before1 now believed on account of what they had seen4 ,but some still said1 more openly than before1 ,he is in league with the evil one1 or ,he could not do such things4 ,these hurried back to ,jerusalem1 to spread the report that this dangerous man had again appeared1 almost at the very gates of the great ,capital4 ,that night there was a secret council of the chief priests and the ,pharisees4 ,what shall we do1 was the anxious question4 ,if we let ,him alone1 all men will believe on ,him2 and the ,romans shall come and take away both our place and our nation4 ,every heart beat with the same thought1 but only ,caiaphas put it in words4 ,at last he dared repeat what he had only muttered to himself before3 ,it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people1 and that the whole nation perish not4 ,while the streets were still full of people1 ,jesse crept up to ,joel1 as they sat together in the court-yard4 ,don't you think it would be just as easy to cure a leper as to raise ,rabbi ,lazarus from the dead8 ,yes1 indeed6 answered ,joel1 positively1 ,i've seen it done4 ,oh1 have you8 cried the boy1 in delight4 ,then ,joseph can have his father back again4 ,he told him the story of ,simon the leper1 and of his visit to the lonely cave4 ,joel's sympathies were aroused at once4 ,ever since his own cure1 he had felt that he must bring every afflicted one in the wide world to the great source of healing4 ,just then a man stopped at the gate to ask for ,phineas4 ,joel had learned to know him well in the weeks they had been travelling together2 it was ,thomas4 ,the boy sprang up eagerly4 ,do you know when the ,master is going to leave ,bethany8 he asked4 ,in the morning1 answered ,thomas1 and right glad ,i am that it is to be so soon4 ,for when we came down here1 ,i thought it was but to die with ,him4 ,he is beset on all sides by secret enemies4 ,and will ,he go out by the same road that we came8 ,it is most probable4 ,joel waited for no more information from him1 but went back to ,jesse to learn the way to the cave4 ,jesse was a little fellow1 but a keen-eyed one1 and was able to give ,joel the few simple directions that would lead him the right way4 ,oh1 ,i'm so glad you are going6 he exclaimed4 ,shall ,i run and tell ,joseph what you are going to do8 ,no1 do not say a word to any one1 answered ,joel4 ,i shall be back in a very short time4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,simon the leper sat at the door of his cave4 ,he held a roll of vellum in his unsightly fingers2 it was a copy of the ,psalms that ,lazarus had once made for him in happier days4 ,many a time he had found comfort in these hope-inspiring songs of ,david2 but to-day he was reading a wail that seemed to come from the depths of his own soul3 ,thy wrath lieth hard upon me1 and ,thou hast afflicted me with all ,thy waves4 ,thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me4 ,thou hast made me an abomination unto them4 ,i am shut up and ,i cannot come forth4 ,lord1 ,i have called daily upon ,thee4 ,i have stretched out my hands unto ,thee4 ,wilt ,thou show wonders to the dead8 ,shall the dead arise again and praise ,thee8 ,lord1 why casteth ,thou off my soul8 ,why hidest ,thou ,thy face from me8 ,the roll dropped to the ground1 and he hid his face in his hands1 crying1 ,how long must ,i endure this8 ,oh1 why was ,i not taken instead of ,lazarus8 ,the sound of some one scrambling over the rocks made him look up quickly4 ,seth never made his visits at this time of the day1 and strangers had never before found the path to this out-of-the-way place4 ,joel came on1 and stopped by the rock where the water-jar stood4 ,simon stood up1 covering himself with his mantle1 and crying out1 warningly1 ,beware6 ,unclean6 ,come no further6 ,i bring you news from the village1 said ,joel4 ,the man threw out his hand with a gesture of alarm4 ,oh1 not of my wife ,esther1 he cried1 imploringly1 or of my little ,joseph6 ,i could not bear to hear aught of ill from them4 ,my heart is still sore for the death of my friend ,lazarus4 ,i went as near the village as ,i dared1 and heard the dirge of the flutes and the wailing of the women1 when they laid him in the tomb4 ,i have sat here ever since in sackcloth and ashes4 ,but ,lazarus lives again6 exclaimed ,joel1 simply4 ,he had seen so many miracles lately1 that he forgot the startling effect such an announcement would have on one not accustomed to them4 ,illustration3 ',,you ,,but ,,mock ,,me1 ,,boy' ,the man stood petrified with astonishment4 ,at last he said bitterly1 ,you but mock me1 boy2 at least leave me to my sorrow in peace4 ,no6 cried ,joel4 ,as the ,lord liveth1 ,i swear it is the truth4 ,have you not heard that ,messiah has come8 ,i have followed ,him up and down the country1 and know whereof ,i speak4 ,at a word from ,him the dumb sing1 the blind see1 and the lame walk4 ,i was lame myself1 and ,he made me as you see me now4 ,joel drew himself up to his fullest height4 ,simon looked at him1 completely puzzled4 ,why did you take the trouble to come and tell me that1--a poor despised leper8 he finally asked4 ,because ,i want everybody else to be as happy as ,i am4 ,he cured me4 ,he gave me back my strength4 ,then why should not my feet be always swift to bring others to ,him for the same happy healing8 ,he ,himself goes about all the time doing good4 ,i know there is hope for you1 for ,i have seen ,him cleanse lepers4 ,simon trembled1 as the full meaning of the hope held out to him began to make itself clear to his confused mind3 health1 home1 ,esther1 child1--all restored to him4 ,it was joy too great to be possible4 ,oh1 if ,i could only believe it6 he cried4 ,lazarus was raised when he had been four days dead4 ,all ,bethany can bear witness to that1 persisted ,joel4 ,the words poured out with such force and earnestness1 as he described the scene1 that ,simon felt impelled to believe him4 ,where can ,i find this man8 he asked4 ,joel pointed down the rocky slope4 ,take that road that leads into ,bethany4 ,come early in the morning1 and as we all pass that way1 call to ,him4 ,he never refuses any who have faith to believe that ,he can grant what they ask4 ,when ,joel was half-way down the hill1 he turned back4 ,if ,he should not pass on the morrow1 he said1 do not fail to be there on the second day4 ,we will surely leave here soon4 ,simon stood in bewilderment till the boy had passed down the hill2 he began to fear that this messenger had been only the creation of a dream4 ,he climbed upon the cliff and peered down into the valley4 ,no1 he had not been deceived2 the boy was no mirage of his thirsty soul1 for there1 he came out into full sight again1 and now1 he was climbing the opposite hillside4 ,how beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him who bringeth good tidings6 he murmured4 ,oh1 what a heaven opens out before me1 if this lad's words are only true6 ,next morning1 after they left ,bethany1 ,joel looked anxiously behind every rock and tree that they passed2 but ,simon was not to be seen4 ,presently ,joel saw him waiting farther down the road2 he was kneeling in the dust4 ,the white mantle1 that in his sensitiveness was always used to hide himself from view1 was cast aside1 that the ,great ,healer might see his great need4 ,he scanned the approaching figures with imploring eyes4 ,he was looking for the ,messiah1--some one in kingly garments1 whose jewelled sceptre's lightest touch would lay upon him the royal accolade of health4 ,these were evidently not the ones he was waiting for4 ,these were only simple wayfarers2 most of them looked like ,galileans4 ,he was about to rise up with his old warning cry of unclean1 when he caught sight of ,joel4 ,but where was the princely ,redeemer of prophecy8 ,nearer and nearer they came1 till he could look full in their faces4 ,no need now to ask on which one he should call for help2 indeed1 he seemed to see but one face1 it was so full of loving pity4 ,o ,thou ,messiah of ,israel6 he prayed4 ,thou didst call my friend ,lazarus from the dead1 ,o pass me not by6 ,call me from this living death6 ,make me clean6 ,the eyes that looked down into his seemed to search his soul4 ,believest thou that ,i can do this8 ,the pleading faith in ,simon's eyes could not be refused4 ,yea1 ,lord1 he cried1 ,thou hast but to speak the word6 ,he waited1 trembling1 for the answer that meant life or death to him4 ,i will4 ,be thou clean6 ,he put out ,his hand to raise the kneeling man to his feet4 ,go and show thyself to the priests1 ,he added4 ,the party passed on1 and ,simon stood looking after them4 ,was it the ,christ who had passed by8 ,where were ,his dyed garments from ,bozrah8 ,the prophet foretold ,him as glorious in apparel1 travelling in the greatness of ,his strength4 ,no sceptre of divine power had touched him2 it was only the clasp of a warm human hand he had felt4 ,he looked down at himself4 ,still a leper6 ,his faith wavered2 but he remembered he had not obeyed the command to show himself to the priests4 ,immediately he started across the fields on a run1 towards the road leading into ,jerusalem4 ,far down the highway ,joel heard a mighty shout2 he turned and looked back4 ,there on the brow of a hill1 sharply outlined against the sky1 stood ,simon4 ,his arms were lifted high up towards heaven2 for as he ran1 in obedience to the command1 the leprosy had gone from him4 ,he was pouring out a flood of praise and thanksgiving1 in the first ecstasy of his recovery1 at the top of his voice4 ,joel thought of the tiresome ceremonies to be observed before the man could go home1 and wished that the eight days of purification were over1 that the little family might be immediately reunited4 ,meanwhile1 ,seth1 with his basket and water-bottle1 was climbing the hill toward the cave4 ,for the first time in seven years since he had commenced these daily visits1 no expectant voice greeted him4 ,he went quite close up to the little room under the cliff2 he could see through the half-open door that it was empty4 ,then he cautiously approached the mouth of the cave1 and called his master4 ,a hundred echoes answered him1 but no human voice responded4 ,call after call was sent ringing into the hollow darkness4 ,the deep stillness weighed heavily upon him2 he began to be afraid that somewhere in its mysterious depths lay a dead body4 ,the fear mastered him4 ,only stopping to put down the food and pour out the water1 he started home at the top of his speed4 ,as he reached the road1 a traveller going to ,bethany hailed him4 ,what think you that ,i saw just now8 asked the stranger4 ,a man running with all his might towards ,jerusalem4 ,tears of joy were streaming down his cheeks1 and he was shouting as he ran1 ',cleansed6 ,cleansed6 ,cleansed6' ,he stopped me1 and bade me say1 if ,i met a man carrying a basket and water-skin1 that ,simon the leper has just been healed of the leprosy4 ,he will be home as soon as the days of purification are over4 ,seth gazed at him stupidly1 feeling that he must be in a dream4 ,esther1 too1 heard the message unbelievingly4 ,yet she walked the floor in a fever of excitement1 at the bare possibility of such a thing being true4 ,the next morning1 she sent ,seth1 as usual1 with the provisions4 ,but he brought them back1 saying the place was still deserted4 ,then she began to dare to hope2 although she tried to steel herself against disappointment1 by whispering over and over that she could never see him again1 she waited impatiently for the days to pass4 ,at last they had all dragged by4 ,the new day would begin at sunset1 the very earliest time that she might expect him4 ,the house was swept and garnished as if a king were coming4 ,the table was set with the choicest delicacies ,seth could find in the ,jerusalem markets4 ,the earliest roses1 his favorite red ones1 were put in every room4 ,in her restless excitement nothing in her wardrobe seemed rich enough to wear4 ,she tried on one ornament after another before she was suited4 ,then1 all in white1 with jewels blazing in her ears1 on her throat1 on her little white hands1 and her eyes shining like two glad stars1 she sat down to wait for him4 ,but she could not keep still4 ,this rug was turned up at the corner2 that rose had dropped its petals on the floor4 ,she would have another kind of wine on the table4 ,at last she stepped out of the door in her little silken-bound sandals1 and climbed the outside stairs to the roof1 to watch for him4 ,the sun was entirely out of sight1 but the west was glorious with the red gold of its afterglow4 ,looking up the ,mount of ,olives1 she could see the smoke of the evening sacrifice rising as the clouds of incense filled the ,temple4 ,surely he must be far on the way by this time4 ,her heart almost stopped beating as she saw a figure coming up the road1 between the rows of palm-trees4 ,she strained her eyes for a nearer view1 then drew a long tremulous breath4 ,it was ,lazarus2 there went the two children and the lamb to meet him4 ,all along the street1 people were standing in the doors to see him go past2 he was still a wonder to them4 ,she shaded her eyes with her hand1 and looked again4 ,but while her gaze searched the distant road1 some one was passing just below1 under the avenue of leafy trees1 with quick impatient tread2 some one paused at the vine-covered door2 some one was leaping up the stairs three steps at a time2 some one was coming towards her with out-stretched arms1 crying1 ,esther1 little ,esther1 ,o my wife6 ,my ,god-given one6 ,for the first time in seven years1 she turned to find herself in her husband's arms4 ,strong and well1 with the old light in his eyes1 the old thrill in his voice1 the glow of perfect health tingling through all his veins1 he could only whisper tremulously1 as he held her close1 ,praise ,god6 ,praise ,god6 ,no wonder he seemed like a stranger to ,joseph4 ,but the clasp of the strong arms1 and the deep voice saying my son1 so tenderly1 were inexpressibly dear to the little fellow kept so long from his birthright of a father's love4 ,he was the first to break the happy silence that fell upon them4 ,what a good man ,rabbi ,jesus must be1 to go about making people glad like this all the time6 ,it is ,he who shall redeem ,israel6 exclaimed ,simon4 ,to ,god be the glory1 who hath sent ,him into this sin-cursed world6 ,henceforth all that ,i have1 and all that ,i am1 shall be dedicated to ,his service6 ,kneeling there in the dying daylight1 with his arms around the wife and child so unexpectedly given back to him1 such a heart-felt prayer of gratitude went upward to the good ,father that even the happiest angels must have paused to listen1 more glad because of this great earth-gladness below4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,i ,,think there will be an unusual gathering of strangers at the ,passover this year1 said ,rabbi ,reuben to ,lazarus1 as they came out together from the city1 one afternoon4 ,the number may even reach three millions4 ,a travelling man from ,rome was in my shop to-day4 ,he says that in the remotest parts of the earth1 wherever the ,hebrew tongue is found1 one may hear the name of the ,messiah4 ,people pacing the decks of the ships1 crossing the deserts1 or trading in the shops1 talk only of ,him and ,his miracles2 they have aroused the greatest interest even in ,athens and the cities of the ,nile4 ,the very air seems full of expectancy4 ,i cannot but think great things are about to come to pass4 ,surely the time is now ripe for ,jesus to proclaim ,himself king4 ,i cannot understand why ,he should hide ,himself away in the wilderness as if ,he feared for ,his safety4 ,lazarus smiled at the old man1 with a confident expression4 ,be sure1 my friend1 it is only because the hour has not yet come4 ,what a sight it will be when ,he does stand before the tomb of our long dead power1 to call back the nation to its old-time life and grandeur4 ,i can well believe that with ,him all things are possible4 ,would that this next ,passover were the time6 responded ,reuben4 ,how ,i would rejoice to see ,his enemies laid low in the dust6 ,already1 on the borders of ,galilee1 the expected king had started toward ,his coronation4 ,many of the old friends and neighbors from ,capernaum had joined their band1 to go on to the ,paschal feast4 ,they made slow progress1 however1 for at every turn in the road they were stopped by outstretched hands and cries for help4 ,nearly every step was taken to the sound of some rejoicing cry from some one who had been blessed4 ,joel could not crowd all the scenes into his memory2 but some stood with clear-cut distinctness4 ,there were the ten lepers who met them at the very outset2 and there was blind ,bartimeus begging by the wayside4 ,he could never forget the expression of that man's face1 when his eyes were opened1 and for the first time he looked out on the glory of the morning sunshine4 ,joel quivered all over with a thrill of sympathy1 remembering his own healing1 and realizing more than the others what had been done for the blind beggar4 ,then there was ,zaccheus1 climbing up to look down through the sycamore boughs that he might see the ,master passing into ,jericho1 and ,zaccheus scrambling down again in haste to provide entertainment for his honored guest4 ,there was the young ruler going away sorrowful because the sacrifice asked of him was more than he was willing to make4 ,but there was one scene that his memory held in unfading colors3-- ,roses and wild honeysuckle climbing over a bank by the road-side4 ,orange-trees dropping a heavy fragrance with the falling petals of their white blossoms4 ,in the midst of the shade and the bloom the mothers from the village near by1 gathering with their children1 all freshly washed and dressed to find favor in the eyes of the passing ,prophet4 ,babies cooed in their mother's arms4 ,bright little faces smiled out from behind protecting skirts1 to which timid fingers clung4 ,as they waited for the coming procession1 and little bare feet chased each other up and down the bank1 the happy laughter of the older children filled all the sunny air4 ,as the travellers came on1 the women caught up their children and crowded forward4 ,it was a sight that would have made almost any one pause1--those innocent-eyed little ones waiting for the touch that would keep them always pure in heart1--that blessing their mothers coveted for them4 ,but some of the disciples1 impatient at the many delays1 seeing in the rosy faces and dimpled limbs nothing that seemed to claim help or attention1 spoke to the women impatiently4 ,why trouble ye the ,master8 they said4 ,would ye stop the great work ,he has come to do for matters of such little importance8 ,repelled by the rebuke1 they fell back4 ,but there was a look of displeasure on ,his face1 such as they had never seen before1 as ,jesus turned toward them4 ,suffer the little children to come unto me1 ,he said1 sternly1 and forbid them not2 for of such is the kingdom of heaven6 ,then holding out ,his hands ,he took them up in ,his arms and blessed them1 every one1 even the youngest baby1 that blinked up at ,him unknowingly with its big dark eyes1 received its separate blessing4 ,so fearlessly they came to ,him1 so lovingly they nestled in ,his arms1 and with such perfect confidence they clung to ,him1 that ,he turned again to ,his disciples4 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of ,god as a little child1 he shall not enter therein4 ,met at all points as ,he had been by loathsome sights1 ragged beggars1 and diseases of all kinds1 this group of happy-faced children must have remained long in ,his memory1 as sweet as the unexpected blossoming of a rose in a dreary desert4 ,at last the slow journey drew towards a close4 ,the ,friday afternoon before the ,passover found the tired travellers once more in ,bethany4 ,news of their coming had been brought several hours before by a man riding down from ,jericho4 ,his swift-footed beast had overtaken and passed the slow procession far back on the road4 ,there was a joyful welcome for the ,master in the home of ,lazarus4 ,the cool1 vine-covered arbor was a refreshing change from the dusty road4 ,here were no curious throngs and constant demands for help4 ,away from the sights that oppressed ,him1 away from the clamor and the criticism1 here was a place where heart and body might find rest4 ,the peace of the place1 and the atmosphere of sympathy surrounding ,him1 must have fallen like dew on ,his thirsty soul4 ,here1 for a few short days1 ,he who had been so long a houseless wanderer was to know the blessedness of a home4 ,several hours before the first trumpet blast from the roof of the synagogue proclaimed the approaching ,sabbath1 ,simon hurried to his home4 ,esther1 he called in great excitement1 ,i have seen ,him6 ,the ,christ6 ,i have knelt at ,his feet4 ,i have looked in ,his face4 ,and1 oh1 only think6--,he has promised to sit at our table6 ,to-morrow night1 such a feast as has never been known in the place shall be spread before ,him4 ,help me to think of something we may do to show him especial honor4 ,esther sprang up at the news4 ,we have very little time to prepare1 she said4 ,seth must go at once into the city to make purchases4 ,to-morrow night1 no hireling hand shall serve him4 ,i myself shall take that lowly place1 with ,martha and ,mary to aid me4 ,abigail1 too1 shall help us1 for it is a labor of love that she will delight to take part in4 ,i shall go at once to ask them4 ,the long1 still ,sabbath went by4 ,the worshippers in the synagogue looked in vain for other miracles1 listened in vain for the ,voice that wrought such wonders4 ,through the unbroken rest of that day ,he was gathering up ,his strength for a coming trial4 ,something of the approaching shadow may have been seen in ,his tender eyes2 some word of the awaiting doom may have been spoken to the brother and sisters sitting reverently at his feet1--for they seemed to feel that a parting was at hand1 and that they must crowd the flying hours with all the loving service they could render ,him4 ,that night at the feast1 as ,esther's little white hands brought the water for the reclining guests to wash1 and ,martha and ,abigail placed sumptuously filled dishes before them1 ,mary paused in her busy passing to and fro2 she longed to do some especial thing to show her love for the honored guest4 ,never had ,his face worn such a look of royalty2 never had ,he seemed so much the ,christ4 ,the soft light of many candles falling on ,his worn face seemed to reveal as never before the divine soul soon to leave the worn body where it now tarried4 ,an old ,jewish custom suddenly occurred to her4 ,she seemed to see two pictures3 one was ,aaron1 standing up in the rich garments of the priesthood1 with his head bowed to receive the sacred anointing2 the other was ,israel's first king1 on whom the hoary ,samuel was bestowing the anointing that proclaimed his royalty4 ,token of both priesthood and kingship1--oh1 if she dared but offer it6 ,no one noticed when she stepped out after awhile1 and hurried swiftly homeward4 ,hidden away in a chest in her room1 was a little alabaster flask1 carefully sealed4 ,it held a rare sweet perfume1 worth almost its weight in gold4 ,she took it out with trembling fingers1 and hid it in the folds of her long flowing white dress4 ,her breath came quick1 and her heart beat fast1 as she slipped in behind the guests again4 ,the color glowed and paled in her cheeks1 as she stood there in the shadow of the curtains1 hesitating1 half afraid to venture4 ,at last1 when the banquet was almost over1 she stepped noiselessly forward4 ,there was a hush of surprise at this unusual interruption1 although every one there was familiar with the custom1 and recognized its deep meaning and symbolism4 ,first on ,his head1 then on ,his feet1 she poured the costly perfume4 ,bending low in the deepest humility1 she swept her long soft hair across them to wipe away the crystal drops4 ,the whole house was filled with the sweet1 delicate odor4 ,some of those who saw it1 remembered a similar scene in the house of another ,simon1 in far away ,galilee2 but only the ,anointed ,one could feel the deep contrast between the two4 ,that ,simon1 the proud ,pharisee1 condescending and critical and scant in hospitality2 this ,simon1 the cleansed leper1 ready to lay down his life1 in his boundless love and gratitude4 ,that woman1 a penitent sinner1 kneeling with tears before ,his mercy2 this woman1 so pure in heart that she could see ,god though hidden in the human body of the ,nazarene4 ,that anointing1 to ,his priesthood at the beginning of ,his ministry2 this anointing1 to ,his kingdom1 now almost at hand4 ,no one spoke as the fragrance rose and spread itself like the incense of a benediction4 ,it seemed a fitting close to this hour of communion with the ,master4 ,across this eloquent silence that the softest sound would have jarred upon1 a cold1 unfeeling voice broke harshly4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,dark ,,figure ,,went ,,skulking ,,out ,,into ,,the ,,night ,it was ,judas ,iscariot who spoke4 ,why was all this ointment wasted8 he asked4 ,it would have been better to have sold it and given it to the poor4 ,simon frowned indignantly at this low-browed guest1 who was so lacking in courtesy1 and ,mary looked up distressed4 ,let her alone6 said the ,master1 gently4 ,ye have the poor with you always1 and whensoever ye will1 ye may do them good3 but me ye have not always4 ,she hath done what she could3 she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying4 ,a dark look gleamed in the eyes of ,judas1--there was that reference again to ,his burial4 ,there seemed to be no use of making any further pretence to follow ,him any longer4 ,his kingdom was a delusion1--a vague1 shadowy1 spiritual thing that the others might believe in if they chose4 ,but if there was no longer any hope of gaining by ,his service1 he would turn to the other side4 ,that night there was another secret council of some of the ,sanhedrin1 and ,judas ,iscariot was in their midst4 ,when the lights were out1 and the ,temple police were making their final rounds1 a dark figure went skulking out into the night1 and wound its way through the narrow streets1--the dark figure that still goes skulking through the night of history1--the man who covenanted for thirty pieces of silver to betray his ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,who is that talking in the house8 asked ,joel of ,abigail the morning after the feast4 ,he had been playing in the garden with ,jesse1 and paused just outside the door as he heard voices4 ,only father and ,phineas1 now1 answered ,abigail4 ,simon the oil-seller has just been here1 and ,i am sure you could not guess his errand4 ,it was about you4 ,about me8 echoed ,joel1 in surprise4 ,yes1 ,i never knew until this morning that you were the one who persuaded him to go to the ,master for healing4 ,he says if it had not been for you1 he would still be an outcast from home4 ,during these weeks you have been away1 he has been hoping to find some trace of you1 for he longs to express his gratitude4 ,last night at the feast1 he learned your name1 and now he has just been here to talk to ,phineas and father about you4 ,his olive groves yield him a large fortune every year1 and he is in a position to do a great deal for you1 if you will only let him4 ,what does he want to do8 asked ,joel4 ,he has offered a great deal3 to send you to the best schools in the country2 to let you travel in foreign lands1 and see life as it is in ,rome and ,athens and the cities of ,egypt4 ,then when you are grown1 he offers to take you in business with himself1 and give you the portion of a son4 ,it is a rare chance for you1 my boy4 ,yes1 answered ,joel1 flushing with pleasure at the thought of all he might be able to see and learn4 ,he seemed lost for a few minutes in the bright anticipation of such a tempting future2 then his face clouded4 ,but ,i would have to leave everybody ,i love1 he cried1 and the home where ,i have been so happy6 ,i cannot do it1 mother ,abigail2 it is too much to ask4 ,now you talk like a child1 she answered1 half impatiently2 but there was a suspicion of tears in her eyes as she added1 ,joel1 you have grown very dear to us4 ,it will be hard to give you up1 for you seem almost like an own son4 ,but consider1 my boy2 it would not be right to turn away from such advantages4 ,jesse and ,ruth will be well provided for4 ,all that my father has will be theirs some day4 ,but ,phineas is only a poor carpenter1 and cannot give you much beyond food and clothing4 ,i heard him say just now that he clearly thought it to be your duty to accept1 and he had no doubt but that you would4 ,but ,i cannot be with the ,master6 cried ,joel1 as the thought suddenly occurred to him that he could no longer follow ,him as he had been doing1 if he was to be sent away to study and travel4 ,no2 but think what you may be able to do for ,his cause1 if you have money and education and influence4 ,it seems to me that for ,his sake alone1 you ought to consent to such an arrangement4 ,that was the argument that ,phineas used when he came out2 and the boy was sadly bewildered between the desire to be constantly with his beloved ,master1 and his wish to serve ,him as they suggested4 ,it was in this perplexed state of mind that he started up to ,jerusalem with ,jesse and his grandfather4 ,the streets were rapidly filling with people1 coming up to the ,feast of the ,passover1 and ,joel recognized many old friends from ,galilee4 ,there is ,rabbi ,amos6 he exclaimed1 as he caught sight of an old man in the door of a house across the street4 ,may ,i run and speak to him8 ,certainly6 answered ,reuben4 ,you know your way so well about the streets that it makes no difference if we do get separated4 ,jesse and ,i will walk on down to the shop4 ,you can meet us there4 ,rabbi ,amos gave ,joel a cordial greeting4 ,i am about to go back to the ,damascus gate1 he said4 ,i have just been told that the ,nazarene will soon make ,his entrance into the city1 and a procession of pilgrims are going out to meet ,him4 ,i have heard much of the man since ,he left ,capernaum1 and ,i have a desire to see ,him again4 ,will you come8 ,the old man hobbled along so painfully1 leaning on his staff1 that they were a long time in reaching the gate4 ,the outgoing procession had already met the coming pilgrims1 and were starting to return4 ,the way was strewn with palm branches and the clothes they had taken off to lay along the road in front of the man they wished to honor4 ,every hand carried a palm branch1 and every voice cried a ,hosannah4 ,at first ,joel saw only a confused waving of the green branches1 and heard an indistinct murmur of voices2 but as they came nearer1 he caught the words1 ,hosannah to the ,son of ,david6 ,look6 cried ,rabbi ,amos1 laying his wrinkled1 shaking hand heavily on ,joel's shoulder4 ,look ye1 boy1 the voice of prophecy6 ,no ,roman war-horse bears the coming victor6 ,it is as ,zechariah foretold6 ,that the king should come riding upon the colt of an ass1--the symbol of peace4 ,so ,david rode1 and so the ,judges of ,israel came and went6 ,joel's eyes followed the gesture of the tremulous1 pointing finger4 ,there came the ,master1 right in the face of ,his enemies1 boldly riding in to take possession of ,his kingdom4 ,at last6 ,no wandering now in lonely wildernesses6 ,no fear of the jealous scribe or ,pharisee6 ,the time had fully come4 ,with garments strewn in the way1 with palms of victory waving before ,him1 with psalm and song and the shouting of the multitude1 ,he rode triumphantly into the city4 ,joel was roused to the highest pitch of enthusiasm1 to see ,his best beloved friend so honored4 ,people understood ,him now2 they appreciated ,him4 ,the demonstrations of the multitude proved it4 ,he was so happy and excited1 he scarcely knew what he was doing4 ,he had no palm branch to wave1 but as the head of the procession came abreast with him1 and he saw the face of the rider1 he was almost beside himself4 ,he waved his empty hands wildly up and down1 cheering at the top of his voice2 but his shrillest ,hosannahs were heard only by himself4 ,they were only a drop in that mighty surf-beat of sound4 ,scarcely knowing what to expect1 yet prepared for almost anything1 they followed the procession into the city4 ,when they reached the porch of the ,temple1 the ,master had disappeared4 ,i wonder where ,he has gone1 said ,joel1 in a disappointed tone4 ,i thought they would surely crown ,him4 ,he evidently did not wish it to be1 answered ,rabbi ,amos4 ,it would be more fitting that the coronation take place at the great feast4 ,wait until the day of the ,passover4 ,as they sat in the ,court of the ,gentiles1 resting1 ,joel told ,rabbi ,amos of the offer made him by the wealthy oil-dealer ,simon4 ,accept it1 by all means6 was the old man's advice4 ,we have seen enough just now to know that a new day is about to dawn for ,israel4 ,in ,bethany1 you will be much nearer the ,master than in ,capernaum2 for surely1 after to-day's demonstration1 ,he will take up ,his residence in the capital4 ,in time you may rise to great influence in the new government soon to be established4 ,the old rabbi's opinion weighed heavily with ,joel1 and he determined to accept ,simon's offer4 ,then for awhile he was so full of his new plans and ambitions1 he could think of nothing else4 ,all that busy week he was separated from the ,master and ,his disciples2 for it was the first ,passover he had ever taken part in4 ,after it was over1 he was to break the ties that bound him to the carpenter's family and the simple life in ,galilee1 and go to live in ,simon's luxurious home in ,bethany4 ,so he stayed closely with ,phineas and ,abigail1 taking a great interest in all the great preparations for the feast4 99 99 99 99 99 ,reuben chose1 from the countless pens1 a male lamb a year old1 without blemish4 ,about two o'clock the blast of two horns announced that the priests and ,levites in the ,temple were ready1 and the gates of the inner courts were opened1 that all might bring the lambs for examination4 ,the priests1 in two long rows1 caught the blood in great gold and silver vessels1 as the animals were killed1 and passed it to others behind1 till it reached the altar1 at the foot of which it was poured out4 ,then the lamb was taken up and roasted in an earthen oven1 and the feast commenced at sunset on ,thursday4 ,the skin of the lamb1 and the earthen dishes used1 were generally given to the host1 when different families lodged together4 ,as many as twenty were allowed to gather at one table4 ,reuben had invited ,nathan ben ,obed1 and those who came with him1 to partake of his hospitality4 ,much to ,joel's delight1 a familiar shock of sunburned hair was poked in at the door1 and he recognized ,buz's freckled face1 round-eyed and open mouthed at this first glimpse of the great city4 ,during the first hour they were together1 ,buz kept his squinting eyes continually on ,joel4 ,he found it hard to believe that this straight1 sinewy boy could be the same pitiful little cripple who had gone with him to the sheepfolds of ,nathan ben ,obed4 ,say1 he drawled1 after awhile1 ,i know where that fellow is who made you lame4 ,i was so upset at seeing you this way that ,i forgot to tell you4 ,he had a dreadful accident1 and you have already had your wish1 for he is as blind as that stone4 ,oh1 how8 ,who told you8 cried ,joel1 eagerly4 ,i saw him myself1 as we came through ,jericho4 ,he had been nearly beaten to death by robbers a few weeks before4 ,it gave him a fever1 and both eyes were so inflamed and bruised that he lost his sight4 ,poor ,rehum6 exclaimed ,joel4 ,poor ,rehum6 echoed ,buz1 in astonishment4 ,what do you mean by poor ,rehum8 ,aren't you glad8 ,isn't that just exactly what you planned2 or did you want the pleasure of punching them out yourself8 ,no1 answered ,joel1 simply2 ,i forgave him a year ago1 the night before ,i was healed4 ,you forgave him6 gasped ,buz1--you forgave him6 ,a dog of a ,samaritan6 ,why1 how could you8 ,buz looked at him with such a wondering1 puzzled gaze that ,joel did not attempt to explain4 ,buz might be ignorant of a great many things1 but he knew enough to hate the ,samaritans1 and look down on them with the utmost contempt4 ,i don't really believe you could understand it1 said ,joel1 so it is of no use to try to tell you how or why4 ,but ,i did forgive him1 fully and freely4 ,and if you will tell me just where to find him1 ,i will go after him early in the morning and bring him back with me4 ,the ,hand that straightened my back can open his eyes2 for ,i have seen it done many times4 ,all during the feast1 ,buz kept stealing searching glances at ,joel4 ,he could hardly tell which surprised him most1 the straightened body or the forgiving spirit4 ,it was so wonderful to him that he sat speechless4 ,at the same time1 in an upper chamber in another street1 the ,master and ,his disciples were keeping the feast together4 ,it was their last supper with ,him1 although they knew it not4 ,afterwards they recalled every word and every incident1 with loving memory that lingered over each detail2 but at the time they could not understand its full import4 ,the gates were left open on ,passover night4 ,while the ,master and ,his followers walked out to the ,garden of ,gethsemane1 where they had often gone together1 ,joel was questioning ,buz as to the exact place where he was to find his old enemy4 ,i'll go out very early in the morning1 said ,joel1 as his head touched the pillow4 ,very early in the morning1 for ,i want ,rehum's eyes to be open just as soon as possible1 so that he can see the ,master's face4 ,lord help me to find him to-morrow1 he whispered1 and with a blessing on his lips for the one he had so long ago forgiven1 his eyes closed softly4 ,sleep came quickly to him after the fatigue and excitement of the day4 ,in his dreams he saw again the ,master's face as ,he made ,his triumphal entrance into the city2 he heard again the acclamations of the crowd4 ,then he saw ,rabbi ,amos and ,simon and little ,ruth4 ,there was a confused blending of kindly faces2 there was a shadow-like shifting of indistinct but pleasant scenes4 ,in the fair dreamland where he wandered1 fortune smiled on him1 and all his paths were peace4 ,sleep on1 little disciple1 happy in thy dreaming2 out in ,gethsemane's dark garden steals one to betray thy ,lord6 ,by the light of glimmering lanterns and fitful torches they take ,him now4 ,armed with swords and staves1 they lead ,him out from the leafy darkness into the moon-flooded highroad4 ,now ,he stands before the ,high ,priest1--alone1 unfriended4 ,sleep1 and wake not at the cock's shrill crowing1 for there is none to make answer for ,him1 and one who loved ,him hath thrice denied6 ,dream on6 ,in the hall of ,pilate now1 thorn-crowned and purple-clad1 ,him whom thou lovest2 scourged now1 and spat upon4 ,this day1 indeed1 shall ,he come into ,his kingdom1 but well for thee1 that thou seest not the coronation4 ,sleep on1 little disciple1 be happy whilst thou can6 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,it was so much later than he had intended1 when ,joel awoke next morning1 that without stopping for anything to eat1 he hurried out of the city1 and took the road by which the ,master had made such a triumphal entry a few days before4 ,faded branches of palms still lay scattered by the wayside1 thickly covered with dust4 ,all unconscious of what had happened the night before1 and what was even at that very moment taking place1 ,joel trudged on to ,bethany at a rapid pace1 light-hearted and happy4 ,for six days he had been among enthusiastic ,galileans who firmly believed that before the end of ,passover week they should see the overthrow of ,rome1 and all nations lying at the feet of a ,jewish king4 ,how long they had dreamed of this hour6 ,he turned to look back at the city4 ,the white and gold of the ,temple dazzled his eyes1 as it threw back the rays of the morning sun4 ,he thought of himself as he had stood that day on the roof of the carpenter's house1 stretching out longing arms to this holy place1 and calling down curses on the head of his enemy1 ,rehum4 ,could he be the same boy8 ,it seemed to him now that that poor1 crippled body1 that bitter hatred1 that burning thirst for revenge1 must have belonged to some one else1 he felt so well1 so strong1 so full of love to ,god and all mankind4 ,a little broken-winged sparrow fluttered feebly under a hedgerow4 ,he stopped to gather a handful of ripe berries for it1 and even retraced his steps to a tiny spring he had noticed farther back1 to bring it water in the hollow of a smooth stone4 ,he did not find ,rehum at the place where ,buz had told him to inquire4 ,his father had taken him to his home1 somewhere in ,samaria4 ,joel turned back1 tired and disappointed4 ,he was glad to lie down1 when he reached ,bethany again1 and rest awhile4 ,a peculiar darkness began to settle down over the earth4 ,joel was perplexed and frightened2 he knew it could not be an eclipse1 for it was the time of the full moon4 ,finally he started back to ,jerusalem1 although it was like travelling in the night1 for the darkness had deepened and deepened for nearly three hours1 and the mysterious gloom made him long to be with his friends4 ,his first thought was to find the ,master1 and he naturally turned toward the ,temple4 ,just as he started across the ,porch of ,solomon1 the darkness was lifted1 and everything seemed to dance before his eyes4 ,he had never experienced an earthquake shock before1 but he felt sure that this was one4 ,he braced himself against one of the pillars4 ,how the massive columns quivered6 ,how the hot air throbbed6 ,the darkness had been awful1 but this was doubly terrifying4 ,the earth had scarcely stopped trembling1 when an old white-bearded priest ran across the ,court of the ,gentiles2 his wrinkled hands1 raised above his head1 shook as with palsy4 ,the scream that he uttered seemed to transfix ,joel with horror4 ,the veil of the ,temple is rent in twain6 he cried1--,the veil of the ,temple is rent in twain6 ,then with a convulsive shudder he fell forward on his face4 ,joel's knees shook4 ,the darkness1 the earthquake1 and now this mighty force that had laid bare the ,holy of ,holies1 filled him with an undefined dread4 ,he ran past the prostrate priest into the inner court1 and saw for himself4 ,there hung the heavy curtain of ,babylonian tapestry1 in all its glory of hyacinth and scarlet and purple1 torn asunder from top to bottom4 ,no earthquake shock could have made that ragged gash4 ,the wrath of ,god must have come down and laid mighty fingers upon it4 ,he ran out of the ,temple1 and towards the house where he had slept the night before4 ,the earthquake seemed to have shaken all ,jerusalem into the streets4 ,strange words were afloat4 ,a question overheard in passing one excited group1 an exclamation in another1 made him run the faster4 ,at ,reuben's shop he found ,jesse and ,ruth both crying from fright4 ,the attendant who had them in charge told him that his friends had been gone nearly all day4 ,where8 demanded ,joel4 ,i do not know exactly4 ,they went out with one of the greatest multitudes that ever passed through the gates of the city4 ,not only ,jews1 but ,greeks and ,romans and ,egyptians4 ,you should have seen the camels and the chariots1 the chairs and the litters6 exclaimed the man4 ,a sudden fear fell upon the boy that this was the day that the ,one he loved best had been made king1 and he had missed it1--had missed the greatest opportunity of his life4 ,was it to follow ,rabbi ,jesus of ,nazareth8 he demanded eagerly4 ,the man nodded4 ,to crown ,him8 was the next breathless question4 ,no2 to crucify ,him4 ,the unexpected answer was almost a death-thrust4 ,joel stood a moment1 dumb with horror4 ,the blood seemed to stand still in his veins2 there was a roaring in his ears2 then everything grew black before him4 ,he clutched blindly at the air1 then staggered back against the wall4 ,no1 no1 no1 ,,no6 he cried2 each word was louder than the last4 ,i will not believe it6 ,you do not speak truth6 ,he ran madly from the shop1 down the street1 and through the city gate4 ,out on the highway he met the returning multitude1 most of them in as great haste as he4 ,everything he saw seemed to confirm the truth of what he had just heard1 but he could not believe it4 ,no1 no1 no6 he gasped1 in a breathless whisper1 as he ran4 ,no1 no1 no6 ,it cannot be6 ,he is the ,christ6 ,the ,son of ,god6 ,they could not be able to do it1 no matter how much they hated ,him6 ,but even as he ran he saw the hill where three crosses rose4 ,he turned sick and cold1 and so weak he could scarcely stand4 ,still he stumbled resolutely on1 but with his face turned away from the sight he dared not look upon1 lest seeing should be knowing what he feared4 ,at last he reached the place1 and1 shrinking back as if from an expected blow1 he slowly raised his eyes till they rested on the face of the dead body hanging there4 ,the agonized shriek on his lips died half uttered1 as he fell unconscious at the foot of the cross4 ,a long time after1 one of the soldiers happening to notice him1 turned him over with his foot1 and prodded him sharply with his spear4 ,it partially aroused him1 and in a few moments he sat up4 ,then he looked up again into the white face above him2 but this time the bowed head awed him into a deep calm4 ,the veil of the ,temple was rent indeed1 and through this pierced body there shone out from its ,holy of ,holies the ,shekinah of ,god's love for a dying world4 ,it uplifted ,joel1 and drew him1 and drew him1 till he seemed to catch a faint glimpse of the ,father's face2 to feel himself folded in boundless pardon1 in pity so deep1 and a love so unfathomed1 that the lowest sinner could find a share4 ,but while he gazed and gazed into the white face1 so glorified in its marble stillness1 ,joseph of ,arimathea stood between him and the cross1 giving directions1 in a low tone1 for the removal of the body4 ,it seemed to waken ,joel out of his trance2 and when the bloodstained form was stretched gently on the ground1 he forgot his glimpse of heavenly mysteries1 he saw no longer the uplifted ,christ4 ,he saw instead1 the tortured body of the man he loved2 the friend for whom he would gladly have given his life4 ,almost blinded by the rush of tears1 he groped his way on his knees toward it4 ,a mantle of fine white linen had been laid over the lifeless body2 but one hand lay stretched out beside ,him with a great bloody nail-hole through the palm1--it was the hand that had healed him2 the hand that had fed the hungry multitudes2 the hand that had been laid in blessing on the heads of little children1 waiting by the roadside6 ,with the thought of all it had done for him1 with the thought of all it had done for all the countless ones its warm1 loving touch had comforted1 came the remembrance of the torture it had just suffered4 ,joel lay down beside it with a heart-broken moan4 ,men came and lifted the body in its spotless covering4 ,joel did not look up to see who bore it away4 ,the lifeless hand still hung down uncovered at ,his side4 ,with his eyes fixed on that1 ,joel followed1 longing to press it to his lips with burning kisses2 but he dared not so much as touch it with trembling fingers1--a sense of his unworthiness forbade4 ,as the silent procession went onward1 ,joel found himself walking beside ,abigail4 ,she had pushed her veil aside that she might better see the still form borne before them2 she had stood near by through all those hours of suffering4 ,her wan face and swollen eyes showed how the force of her sympathy and grief had worn upon her4 ,joel glanced around for ,phineas4 ,he was one of those who walked before with the motionless burden1 his strong brown hands tenderly supporting the ,master's pierced feet2 his face was as rigid as stone1 and seemed to ,joel to have grown years older since the night before4 ,another swift rush of tears blinded ,joel1 as he looked at the set1 despairing face1 and then at what he carried4 ,o friend of ,phineas6 ,o feet that often ran to meet him on the grassy hillsides of ,nazareth1 that walked beside him at his daily toil1 and led him to a nobler living6--,thou hast climbed the mountain of ,beatitudes6 ,thou hast walked the wind-swept waters of the ,galilee6 ,but not of this is he thinking now4 ,it is of ,thy life's unselfish pilgrimage2 of the dust and travel stains of the feet he bears2 of the many steps1 taken never for self1 always for others2 of the cure and the comfort they have daily carried2 of the great love that hath made their very passing by to be a benediction4 ,it seemed strange to ,joel that1 in the midst of such overpowering sorrow1 trivial little things could claim his attention4 ,years afterward he remembered just how the long streaks of yellow sunshine stole under the trees of the garden2 he could hear the whirr of grasshoppers1 jumping up in the path ahead of them2 he could smell the heavy odor of lilies growing beside an old tomb4 ,the sorrowful little group wound its way to a part of the garden where a new tomb had been hewn out of the rock2 here ,joseph of ,arimathea motioned them to stop4 ,they laid the open bier gently on the ground1 and ,joel watched them with dry eyes but trembling lips1 as they noiselessly prepared the body for its hurried burial4 ,from time to time as they wound the bands of white linen1 powdered with myrrh and aloes1 they glanced up nervously at the sinking sun4 ,the ,sabbath eve was almost upon them1 and the old slavish fear of the ,law made them hasten4 ,a low stifled moaning rose from the lips of the women1 as the ,one they had followed so long was lifted up1 and borne forever out of their sight1 through the low doorway of the tomb4 ,strong hands rolled the massive stone in place that barred the narrow opening4 ,then all was over2 there was nothing more that could be done4 ,the desolate mourners sat down on the grass outside the tomb1 to watch and weep and wait over a dead hope and a lost cause4 ,a deep stillness settled over the garden as they lingered there in the gathering twilight4 ,they grew calm after awhile1 and began to talk in low tones of the awful events of the day just dying4 ,gradually1 ,joel learned all that had taken place4 ,as he heard the story of the shame and abuse and torture that had been heaped upon the ,one he loved better than all the world1 his face grew white with horror and indignation4 ,oh1 wasn't there one to stand up for ,him8 he cried1 with clasped hands and streaming eyes4 ,wasn't there one to speak a word in ,his defence8 ,o my ,beloved6 he moaned4 ,out of all the thousands ,thou didst heal1 out of all the multitudes ,thou didst bless1 not one to bear witness6 ,he rocked himself to and fro on his knees1 wringing his hands as if the thought brought him unspeakable anguish4 ,oh1 if ,i had only been there6 he moaned4 ,if ,i could only have stood up beside ,him and told what ,he had done for me6 ,o my ,god6 ,my ,god6 ,how can ,i bear it8 ,to think ,he went to ,his death without a friend and without a follower1 when ,i loved ,him so6 ,all alone6 ,not one to speak for ,him1 not one6 ,groping with tear-blinded eyes towards the tomb1 the boy stretched his arms lovingly around the great stone that stopped its entrance2 then suddenly realizing that he could never go any closer to the ,one inside1 never see ,him again1 he leaned his head hopelessly against the rock1 and gave way to his feeling of utter loneliness and despair4 ,how long he stood there1 he did not know4 ,when he looked up again1 the women had gone1 and it was nearly dark4 ,phineas and several other men lingered in the black shadows of the trees1 and ,joel joined them4 ,roman guards came presently4 ,a stout cord was stretched across the stone1 its ends firmly fastened1 and sealed with the seal of ,caesar4 ,a watch-fire was kindled near by2 then the ,roman sentinels began their steady tramp6 tramp6 as they paced back and forth4 ,high overhead the stars began to set their countless watch-fires in the heavens2 then the white full moon of the ,passover looked down1 and all night long kept its silent vigil over the forsaken tomb of the sleeping ,christ4 99 99 99 99 99 ,abigail had found shelter for the night with friends1 in a tent just outside the city2 but ,joel and ,phineas took their way back to ,bethany4 ,little was said as they trudged along in the moonlight4 ,joel thought only of one thing1--his great loss1 the love of which he had been bereft4 ,but to ,phineas this death meant much more than the separation from the best of friends2 it meant the death of a cause on which he had staked his all4 ,he must go back to ,galilee to be the laughing-stock of his old neighbors4 ,he who they trusted would have saved ,israel had been put to death as a felon1--crucified between two thieves6 ,the cause was lost2 he was left to face an utter failure4 ,when the moon went down that morning over the hills of ,judea1 there were many hearts that mourned the ,man of ,nazareth1 but not a soul in all the universe believed on ,him as the ,son of ,god4 ,hope lay dead in the tomb of ,joseph1 with a great stone forever walling it in4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,wake up1 ,joel6 ,wake up6 ,i bring you good tidings1 my lad6 ,it was ,abigail's voice ringing cheerily through the court-yard1 as she bent over the boy1 fast asleep on the hard stones4 ,all the long ,sabbath day after the burial1 he had sat listlessly in the shady court-yard1 his blank gaze fixed on the opposite wall4 ,no one seemed able to arouse him from his apathy4 ,he turned away from the food they brought him1 and refused to enter the house when night came4 ,towards morning he had gone over to the fountain for a long draught of its cool water2 then overcome by weakness from his continued fast1 and exhausted by grief1 he fell asleep on the pavement4 ,abigail came in and found him there1 with the red morning sun beating full in his face4 ,she had to shake him several times before she could make him open his eyes4 ,he sat up dizzily1 and tried to collect his thoughts4 ,then he remembered1 and laid his head wearily down again1 with a groan4 ,wake up6 ,wake up6 she insisted1 with such eager gladness in her voice that ,joel opened his eyes again1 now fully aroused4 ,what is it8 he asked indifferently4 ,he is risen6 she exclaimed joyfully1 clasping her hands as she always did when much excited4 ,i went to ,his tomb very early in the morning1 while it was yet dark1 with ,mary and ,salome and some other women4 ,the stone had been rolled aside2 and while we wondered and wept1 fearing ,his enemies had stolen ,him away1 ,he stood before us1 with ,his old greeting on ,his lips1--',all hail6' ,joel rubbed his eyes and looked at her4 ,no1 no6 he said wearily1 ,i am dreaming again6 ,he would have thrown himself on the ground as before1 his head pillowed on his arm1 but she would not let him4 ,she shook his hands with a persistence that could not be refused1 talking to him all the while in such a glad eager voice that he slowly began to realize that something had made her very happy4 ,what is it1 ,mother ,abigail8 he asked1 much puzzled4 ,i do not wonder you are bewildered1 she cried4 ,it is such blessed1 such wonderful news4 ,why ,he is alive1 ,joel1 ,he whom ,thou lovest6 ,try to understand it1 my boy6 ,i have just now come from the empty tomb4 ,i saw ,him6 ,i spoke with ,him6 ,i knelt at ,his feet and worshipped6 ,by this time all the family had come out4 ,reuben looked at his daughter pityingly1 as she repeated her news2 then he turned to ,phineas4 ,poor thing6 he said1 in a low tone4 ,she has witnessed such terrible scenes lately1 and received such a severe shock1 that her mind is affected by it4 ,she does not know what she is saying4 ,did not you yourself help prepare the body for burial1 and put it in the tomb8 ,yes1 answered ,phineas1 and helped close it with a great stone1 which no one man could possibly move by himself4 ,and ,i saw it sealed with the seal of ,caesar2 and when ,i left it was guarded by ,roman sentinels in armor4 ,no man could have opened it4 ,but ,abigail talks of angels who sat in the empty tomb1 and who told them ,he had risen1 replied her father4 ,joel1 who had overheard this low-toned conversation1 got up and stood close beside them4 ,he had begun to tremble from weakness and excitement4 ,illustration3 ',,the ,,stone ,,is ,,gone6' ,father ,phineas1 he asked1 do you remember the story we heard from the old shepherd1 ,heber8 ,the angels told of ,his birth2 maybe she did see them in ,his tomb4 ,how can such things be8 queried ,reuben1 stroking his beard in perplexity4 ,that's just what you said when ,rabbi ,lazarus was brought back to life1 piped ,jesse's shrill voice1 quite unexpectedly1 at his grandfather's elbow4 ,he had not lost a word of the conversation4 ,why don't you go and see for yourself if the tomb is empty8 ,abigail had gone into the house with her mother1 and now the summons to breakfast greeted them4 ,she saw she could not convince them of the truth of her story1 so she said no more about it2 but her happy face was more eloquent than words4 ,all day snatches of song kept rising to her lips1--old psalms of thanksgiving1 and half whispered hallelujahs4 ,at last ,joel and ,phineas were both so much affected by her continued cheerfulness1 that they began to believe there must be some great cause for it4 ,finally1 in the waning afternoon1 they took the road that led from ,bethany to the garden where they firmly believed that the ,master still lay buried4 ,as they came in sight of the tomb1 ,joel clutched ,phineas by the arm1 and pointed1 with a shaking finger1 to the dark opening ahead of of them4 ,see6 he said1 pointing into its yawning darkness4 ,she was right6 ,the stone is gone6 ,it was some time before they could muster up courage to go nearer and look into the sepulchre4 ,when at last they did so1 neither spoke a word1 but1 after one startled look into each other's eyes1 turned and left the garden4 ,it was growing dark as they hurried along the highway homeward4 ,two men came half running towards the city1 in great haste to reach the gates before they should be closed for the night4 ,they were two disciples well known to ,phineas4 ,he stopped them with the question that was uppermost in his mind4 ,yes1 ,he is risen1 answered one of the men1 breathlessly4 ,we have seen ,him4 ,hosanna to the ,highest6 ,he walked along this road with us as we went to ,emmaus4 ,ah1 how our hearts burned as ,he talked with us by the way6 interrupted the other man4 ,only this hour ,he sat at meat with us1 cried the first speaker4 ,he broke bread with us1 and blessed it as ,he always used to do4 ,we are running back to the city now to tell the other disciples4 ,phineas would have laid a detaining hand on them1 but they hurried on1 and left him standing in the road1 looking wistfully after them4 ,it must be true1 said ,joel1 or they could not have been so nearly wild with joy4 ,phineas sadly shook his head4 ,i wish ,i could think so1 he sighed4 ,let us go home1 urged ,abigail1 the next day1 the ,master has bidden ,his brethren meet ,him in ,galilee4 ,let us go4 ,there is hope of seeing ,him again in our old home6 ,joel1 now nearly convinced of the truth of her belief1 was also anxious to go4 ,but ,phineas lingered2 his plodding mind was slower to grasp such thoughts than the sensitive woman's or the imaginative boy's4 ,one after another he sought out ,peter and ,james and ,john1 and the other disciples who had seen the risen ,master1 and questioned them closely4 ,still he tarried for another week4 ,one morning he met ,thomas1 whose doubts all along had strengthened his own4 ,he ran against him in the crowded street in ,jerusalem4 ,thomas seized his arm1 and1 turning1 walked beside him a few paces4 ,it is true6 he said1 in a low intense tone1 with his lips close to his ear4 ,i saw ,him myself last night2 ,i held ,his hands in mine6 ,i touched the side the spear had pierced6 ,he called me by name2 and ,i know now beyond all doubt that the ,master has risen from the dead1 and that ,he is the ,son of ,god6 ,after that1 ,phineas no longer objected when it was proposed that they should go back to ,galilee4 ,the story of the resurrection was too great for him to grasp entirely1 still he could not put aside such a weight of evidence that came to him from friends whose word he had always implicitly trusted4 ,the roads were still full of pilgrims returning from the ,passover4 ,as ,phineas journeyed on with his little family1 he fell in with the sons of ,jonah and ,zebedee1 going back to their nets and their fishing-boats4 ,the order of procession was constantly shifting1 and one morning ,joel found himself walking beside ,john1 one of the chosen twelve1 who seemed to have understood his ,master better than any of the others4 ,the man seemed wrapped in deep thought1 and took no notice of his companion1 till ,joel timidly touched his sleeve4 ,do you believe it is true8 the boy asked4 ,there was no surprise in the man's face at the abrupt question1 he felt1 without asking1 what ,joel meant4 ,a reassuring smile lighted up his face as he laid his hand kindly on ,joel's shoulder4 ,i know it1 my lad2 ,i have been with ,him4 ,the quiet positiveness with which he spoke seemed to destroy ,joel's last doubt4 ,many things that ,he said to us come back to me very clearly2 and ,i see now ,he was trying to prepare us for this4 ,tell me about them1 begged ,joel1 and about those last hours ,he was with you4 ,oh1 if ,i could only have been with ,him1 too6 ,john saw the tears gathering in the boy's eyes1 heard the tremble in his voice1 and felt a thrill of sympathy as he recognized a kindred love in the little fellow's heart4 ,so he told ,joel of the last supper they had taken together1 of the hymn they had sung1 and of the watch they had failed to keep1 when ,he took them with ,him into the garden of ,gethsemane4 ,all the little incidents connected with those last solemn hours1 he repeated carefully to the listening boy4 ,from time to time ,joel brushed his hand across his eyes2 but a deep calm fell over him as ,john's voice went on1 slowly repeating the words the ,master had comforted them with4 ,let not your hearts be troubled3 ye believe in ,god1 believe also in me4 ,in my ,father's house are many mansions4444 ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,i will come again1 and receive you unto myself2 that where ,i am1 there ye may be also4444 ,if ye loved me1 ye would rejoice1 because ,i said1 ,i go unto the ,father4444 ,these things ,i have spoken unto you1 that in me ye might have peace4 ,in the world ye shall have tribulation3 but be of good cheer2 ,i have overcome the world4 ,joel made an exclamation as if about to speak1 and then stopped4 ,what is it8 asked ,john4 ,how could ,he mean that ,he has overcome the world8 ,caesar still rules1 and ,jerusalem is full of ,his enemies4 ,i can't forget that they killed ,him1 even if ,he has risen4 ,john stooped to tie his sandal before he answered4 ,i have been fitting together different things ,he told us2 and ,i begin to see how blind we were4 ,once ,he called ,himself the ,good ,shepherd who would give his life for his sheep1 and said1 ',therefore doth my ,father love me1 because ,i lay down my life that ,i might take it again4 ,no man taketh it from me1 but ,i lay it down of myself4 ,i have power to lay it down1 and ,i have power to take it again4' ,they walked on in silence a few paces1 then ,john asked abruptly1 ,do you remember about the children of ,israel being so badly bitten by serpents in the wilderness1 and how ,moses was commanded to set up a brazen serpent in their midst8 ,yes1 indeed6 answered ,joel4 ,all who looked up at it were saved2 but those who would not died from the poisonous bites4 ,one night1 continued ,john1 a learned man by the name of ,nicodemus1 one of the rulers1 came to the ,master with many questions4 ,and ,i remember one of the answers ,he gave him4 ',as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so must the ,son of ,man be lifted up1 that whosoever believeth in ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4' ,we did not understand ,him then at all4 ,not till ,i saw ,him lifted up on the cruel cross1 did ,i begin to dimly see what ,he meant4 ,a light broke over ,joel's face as he remembered the vision he had had that day1 kneeling at the foot of the cross2 then he stopped still in the road1 with his hands clasped in dismay4 ,there suddenly seemed to rise before him the scenes of daily sacrifice in the ,temple1 when the blood of innocent lambs flowed over the altar2 then he thought of the great ,day of ,atonement1 when the poor scape-goat was driven away to its death1 laden with the sins of the people4 ,oh1 that must be what ,isaiah meant6 he cried in distress4 ',he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter6' ,oh1 can it be possible that 'the ,lord hath laid on ,him the iniquity of us all'8 ,what an awful sacrifice6 ,the tears streamed down his face as the thought came over him with overwhelming conviction1 that it was for him that the man he loved so had endured all the horrible suffering of death by crucifixion4 ,why did such a thing have to be8 he asked1 looking up appealingly at his companion4 ,john looked out and up1 as if he saw far beyond the narrow1 hill-bound horizon1 and quoted softly3 ,for ,god so loved the world1 that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,just as the feeling had come to him that morning by the ,galilee1 and again as he gazed and gazed into the white face on the cross1 ,joel seemed to feel again the love of the ,father1 as it took him close into its infinite keeping4 ',greater love hath no man than this1' quoted ,john again1 'that a man lay down his life for his friends4' ,he is the propitiation for our sins2 and not ours only1 but also for the sins of the whole world4 ,it was hard for the child to understand this at first2 but this gentle disciple who walked beside him had walked long beside the ,master1 and in the ,master's own way and words taught ,joel life's greatest lesson4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,they went back to their simple lives again1--those hardy fishermen1 the busy carpenter1 and the boy4 ,phineas was silent and grave4 ,for him1 hope still lay dead in that garden tomb near ,golgotha2 but ,joel sang as he worked4 ,the appointed time was nearing when the ,master was to meet them on the mountain4 ,as often as he could1 ,joel stole away from the moody man at the work-bench1 and went down to the beach for more cheerful companionship4 ,one morning1 seeing a fishing-boat that he recognized pulling in quickly to shore1 he ran down to see what luck his friends had had during the night4 ,he held up his hands in astonishment at the great haul of fish the boat held4 ,we have been with the ,master1 explained one of the men4 ,we toiled all night1 and took nothing till we met ,him4 ,joel listened eagerly while they told him of that meeting in the early dawn1 and of the meal they ate together1 while the sun came up over the ,galilee1 and the blue waves whispered their gladness to the beach1 as they heard the ,master's voice once more4 ,oh1 to think that ,he is in ,galilee again6 exclaimed ,joel4 ,that thought added purpose and meaning to each new day4 ,every morning he woke with the feeling1 ,maybe ,i shall see ,him before the sun goes down4 ,every night he went to sleep saying1 ,he is somewhere near6 ,no telling how soon ,i may be with ,him6 ,when the day came on which they were to go to the mountain1 ,joel was up very early in the morning4 ,he bathed and dressed himself with the care of a priest about to enter the inner courts on some holy errand4 ,when he started to the mountain1 ,abigail noticed that he wore his finest headdress of white linen4 ,his tunic was spotless1 and1 from the corners of his brown and white striped mantle1 the blue fringes that the ,law prescribed hung smooth as silk4 ,he did not wait for ,phineas or any of his friends4 ,long before the time1 he had climbed the rocky path1 and was sitting all alone in the deep shadowed stillness4 ,the snapping of a twig startled him2 the falling of a leaf made him look up hopefully4 ,any minute the ,master might come4 ,his heart beat so loud it seemed to him that the wood-birds overhead must surely hear it1 and be frightened away4 ,imagine that scene1 you who can1--you who have just seen the earth close over your best-beloved2 who have awakened in the lonely night1 with that sudden sickening remembrance of loss2 who have longed1 with a longing like a constant ache1 for the voice and the smile and the footstep that have slipped hopelessly beyond recall4 ,think of what it would mean1 if you knew now1 beyond doubt1 that all that you had loved and lost would be given back to you before the passing of another hour6 ,so ,joel waited1 restless1 burning1 all in a quiver of expectancy4 ,steps began to wind around the base of the mountain4 ,one familiar face after another came in sight1 then strange ones1 until1 by and by1 five hundred people had gathered there1 and were sitting in reverent1 unbroken silence4 ,the soft summer wind barely stirred the leaves2 even the twitter of nestlings overhead was hushed4 ,after awhile1 thrilled by some unseen influence1 as a field of grain is swayed by the passing wind1 they bowed their heads4 ,the ,master stood before them1 ,his hands outspread in blessing4 ,joel started forward with a wild desire to throw himself at ,his feet1 and put his arms around them2 but a majesty he had never seen before in that gentle face restrained him4 ,he listened to the voice as it rose and fell with all its old winning tenderness4 ,as you would listen could the dead lips you love move again2 as you would greedily snatch up every word1 and hide it in your heart of hearts1 so ,joel listened4 ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,i will come again and receive you unto myself1 that where ,i am there ye may be also4444 ,peace ,i leave with you4444 ,not as the world giveth1 give ,i unto you4 ,let not your heart be troubled1 neither let it be afraid4 ,as the beloved voice went on1 promising the ,comforter that should come when ,he was gone1 all the dread and pain of the coming separation seemed to be lost4 ,boy though he was1 ,joel looked down the years of his life feeling it was only a fleeting shadow1 compared with the eternal companionship just promised him4 ,he would make no moan2 he would utter no complaint3 but he would take up his life's little day1 and bear it after the ,master1--a cup of loving service1--into that upper kingdom where there was a place prepared for him4 ,it was all over so soon4 ,they were left alone on the mountain-side again1 with only the sunshine flickering through the leaves1 and the wood-birds just beginning to trill to each other once more4 ,but the warm air seemed to still throb with the last words ,he had spoken3 ,lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the end of the world4 ,phineas came down the mountain with his face all ashine2 at last his eyes had been opened4 ,he and the ,father are one6 he exclaimed to the man walking beside him4 ,that voice is the same that spake from the midst of the burning bush1 and from the summit of ,sinai4 ,all these years ,i have followed the ,master1 ,i believed ,him to be a perfect man and a great prophet2 ,i believed ,him to be 'the rod out of the stem of ,jesse' who through ,jehovah's hand was to redeem ,israel1 even as the rod in ,aaron's hand smote the floods and made a pathway for our people4 ,when ,i saw ,him put to death as a felon1 all hope died within me2 even to-day ,i came out here unbelieving4 ,i could not think that ,i should see ,him4 ,how blind we have been all these years6 ,god with us in the flesh1 and we did not know ,him6 ,joel walked on behind the two1 sharing their feeling of exaltation4 ,as they came down into the valley and entered ,capernaum1 the work-a-day sights and noises seemed to jar on their senses1 in this uplifted mood4 ,a man standing in an open doorway accosted ,phineas1 and asked when he could commence work on the house he had talked to him about building4 ,phineas hesitated1 and looked down at the ground1 as if studying some difficult problem4 ,in a few minutes he raised his eyes with a look of decision4 ,i cannot build it for you at all1 he answered4 ,not build it6 echoed the man4 ,i thought you were anxious for the job4 ,so ,i was1 answered the carpenter2 but when ,i asked for it1 ,i had no belief that the ,master could rise from the dead4 ,just now1 on the mountain yonder1 ,i have been with ,him4 ,his command is still ringing in my ears3 ',go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature6' ,henceforth ,i give my life to ,him1 even as ,he gave ,his to me4 ,my days are now half spent1 but every remaining one shall be used to proclaim1 as far and wide as possible1 that the risen ,christ is the ,son of ,god6 ,the man was startled as he looked at ,phineas2 such a fire of love and purpose seemed to illuminate his earnest face that it was completely transformed4 ,even now1 exclaimed ,phineas1 will ,i commence my mission4 ,you are the first one ,i have met1 and ,i must tell to you this glad new gospel4 ,he died for you6 ',god so loved the world1 that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life6' ,o my friend1 if you could only believe that as ,i believe it6 ,the man shrank back into the doorway1 strangely moved by the passionate force of his earnestness4 ,i must go up to ,jerusalem1 continued ,phineas1 and wait till power is given us from on high2 then ,i can more clearly see my way4 ,i do not know whether ,i shall be directed to go into other lands1 or to come back here to carry the news to my old neighbors4 ,but it matters not which path is pointed out1 the mission has been already given1--to tell the message to every creature my voice can reach4 ,and you8 asked the man1 pointing to the companion of ,phineas4 ,i1 too1 received the command1 was the answer1 and ,i1 too1 am ready to go to the world's end1 if need be6 ,surely there must be truth in what you say1 muttered the man4 ,then his glance fell on ,joel4 ,you1 too8 he questioned4 ,nay1 he is but a lad1 answered ,phineas1 before ,joel could find words to answer him4 ,come6 we must hasten home4 ,joel talked little during the next few days1 and stole away often to think by himself1 in the quiet little upper chamber on the roof4 ,phineas was making his preparations to go back to ,jerusalem2 and he urged the boy to go back with him1 and accept ,simon's offer4 ,abigail1 too1 added her persuasions to his2 and even old ,rabbi ,amos came down one day1 and sat for an hour under the fig-trees1 painting in glowing colors the life that might be his for the choosing4 ,it was a very alluring prospect2 it had been the dream of his life to travel in far countries4 ,he pictured himself surrounded by wealth and culture2 he would be able to do so much for his old friends4 ,he could give back to ,jesse and ,ruth a hundred fold1 what had been bestowed on him2 and the poor--how much he could help them1 when he received a son's portion from the wealthy ,simon6 ,o the hearts he could make glad1 all up and down the land6 ,the old day-dreams he used to delight in danced temptingly before him4 ,as he stood idly beside the work-bench one afternoon1 thinking of such a future1 a soft step behind him made him turn4 ,the hammer fell from his hand to the grass1 as he saw the woman who came timidly to meet him4 ,why1 ,aunt ,leah6 he cried4 ,what brought you here8 ,he had not seen her since the night his ,uncle ,laban had driven him from home4 ,she drew aside her veil1 and looked at him4 ,i heard you had been healed1 she said1 and ,i have always wanted to come and see you1 and tell you how glad ,i am2 but my husband forbade it4 ,child6 she cried abruptly1 how much you look like your father6 ,the likeness is startling6 ,the discovery seemed to make her forget what she had come to say1 and she stood and stared at him2 then she remembered4 ,rabbi ,amos told me of the offer you have had from a rich merchant in ,bethany1 and ,i came down here1 secretly1 to beg you to accept it4 ,in your father's name ,i beg you6 ,joel looked perplexed4 ,i hardly know what to do1 he said4 ,every one advises me just as you do2 but ,i feel that they are all wrong4 ,surely the ,master meant me as well as father ,phineas and the others1 when ,he charged us to go and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,a sudden interest came into the woman's face2 she took a step forward4 ,joel1 did you see ,him after ,he was risen8 ,yes1 he answered4 ,oh1 ,i believe then that ,he is the ,christ6 she cried4 ,i have thought all the time that it might be so1 and the children are so sure of it4 ,and ,uncle ,laban8 questioned ,joel4 ,she shook her head sadly4 ,he grows more bitterly opposed every day4 ,aunt ,leah1 he asked1 coming back to the first question1 don't you think ,he must have meant me as well as those men8 ,oh1 hardly1 she said1 hesitatingly1 you are so young1 and there are so many others to do it2 it would surely be better for you to go to ,bethany4 ,after she had gone home1 he put away his tools1 and1 like one in a dream1 started slowly towards the mountain4 ,the same summer stillness reigned on its shady slopes as when the five hundred had gathered there4 ,he climbed up near the summit1 and sat down on a high stone4 ,to the eastward the ,galilee glittered like a sapphire in the sun2 ,capernaum seemed like a great ant-hill in commotion4 ,no wonder he could not think among all those conflicting voices2 he was glad he had come up where it was so still4 ,phineas was going away in the morning4 ,if ,joel went also1 maybe he would never look down on that scene again4 ,then almost as if some living voice broke the stillness1 he heard the words3 ,go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature6 ,it was the echo of the words that had fallen from the ,master's lips4 ,nothing once uttered by that voice can ever die2 it lives on and on in the ever-widening circles of the centuries1 as a ripple1 once started1 rings shoreward through the seas4 ,in that instant all the things he had been considering seemed so small and worthless4 ,he had been planning to give ,simon's gold and silver to the poor2 but the ,master had given them ,his life1 ,himself6 ,could he do less8 ,inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these1 ye have done it unto me1 something seemed to say to him4 ,yes2 he could do it for the ,master's sake1 for the ,one who had healed him1 for the ,one who had died for him4 ,then and there1 high up in the mountain's solitudes1 he found the path he was to follow2 and then he wondered how he could have thought for an instant of making any other choice4 ,it was the path the ,master's own feet had trod1 and the boy who had followed1 knew well what a weary way it led4 ,for his great love's sake1 he gave up the old ambitions1 the self-centred hopes1 saying1 in a low tone1 as if he felt the beloved ,presence very near1 ,oh1 ,i want to serve ,thee truly6 ,if ,i am too young now to go out into all the world1 let me be ,thy little cup-bearer here at home1 to carry the story of ,thy life and love to those around me6 ,the west was all alight with the glory of the sunset2 somewhere beyond its burnished portals lay the ,city of the ,king4 ,joel turned from its dazzling depths to look downward into the valley4 ,he had chosen persecution and sacrifice and suffering1 he knew1 but the light on his face was more than the halo of the summer sunset4 ,as he went down the mountain to his life of lowly service1 a deep peace fell warm across his heart2 for the promise went with him1 a staff to bear him up through all his after life's long pilgrimage3 ,,lo1 ,i ,,am ,,with ,,you ,,alway1 ,,even ,,unto ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,world6 ,,the ,,end ,selections from ,the ,page ,company's ,books for ,young ,people ,,the ,,blue ,,bonnet ,,series ,each large #abmo1 cloth decorative1 illustrated1 per volume #a4ej ,a ,,texas ,,blue ,,bonnet ,by ,,caroline ,e4 ,,jacobs4 ,the book's heroine1 ,blue ,bonnet1 has the very finest kind of wholesome1 honest1 lively girlishness4--,chicago ,inter-,ocean4 ,,blue ,,bonnet',s ,,ranch ,,party ,by ,,caroline ,e4 ,,jacobs ,,and ,,edyth ,,ellerbeck ,,read4 ,a healthy1 natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter4--,boston ,transcript4 ,,blue ,,bonnet ,,in ,,boston2 ,,or1 ,,boarding-,,school ,,days ,,at ,,miss ,,north',s4 ,by ,,caroline ,e4 ,,jacobs ,,and ,,lela ,,horn ,,richards4 ,it is bound to become popular because of its wholesomeness and its many human touches4--,boston ,globe4 ,,blue ,,bonnet ,,keeps ,,house2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,new ,,home ,,in ,,the ,,east4 ,by ,,caroline ,e4 ,,jacobs ,,and ,,lela ,,horn ,,richards4 ,it cannot fail to prove fascinating to girls in their teens4--,new ,york ,sun4 ,,blue ,,bonnet--,,debutante ,by ,,lela ,,horn ,,richards4 ,an interesting picture of the unfolding of life for ,blue ,bonnet4 ,,the ,,young ,,pioneer ,,series ,by ,,harrison ,,adams ,each #abmo1 cloth decorative1 illustrated1 per volume #a4be ,,the ,,pioneer ,,boys ,,of ,,the ,,ohio2 ,,or1 ,,clearing ,,the ,,wilderness4 ,such books as this are an admirable means of stimulating among the young ,americans of to-day interest in the story of their pioneer ancestors and the early days of the ,republic4--,boston ,globe4 ,,the ,,pioneer ,,boys ,,on ,,the ,,great ,,lakes2 ,,or1 ,,on ,,the ,,trail ,,of ,,the ,,iroquois4 ,the recital of the daring deeds of the frontier is not only interesting but instructive as well and shows the sterling type of character which these days of self-reliance and trial produced4--,american ,tourist1 ,chicago4 ,,the ,,pioneer ,,boys ,,of ,,the ,,mississippi2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,homestead ,,in ,,the ,,wilderness44 ,the story is told with spirit1 and is full of adventure4--,new ,york ,sun4 ,,the ,,pioneer ,,boys ,,of ,,the ,,missouri2 ,,or1 ,,in ,,the ,,country ,,of ,,the ,,sioux4 ,vivid in style1 vigorous in movement1 full of dramatic situations1 true to historic perspective1 this story is a capital one for boys4--,watchman ,examiner1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,,the ,,pioneer ,,boys ,,of ,,the ,,yellowstone2 ,,or1 ,,lost ,,in ,,the ,,land ,,of ,,wonders4 ,there is plenty of lively adventure and action and the story is well told4--,duluth ,herald1 ,duluth1 ,minn4 ,,the ,,pioneer ,,boys ,,of ,,the ,,columbia2 ,,or1 ,,in ,,the ,,wilderness ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,northwest4 ,the story is full of spirited action and contains much valuable historical information4--,boston ,herald4 ,,the ,,hadley ,,hall ,,series ,by ,,louise ,m4 ,,breitenbach ,each large #abmo1 cloth decorative1 illustrated1 per volume #a4ej ,,alma ,,at ,,hadley ,,hall ,the author is to be congratulated on having written such an appealing book for girls4--,detroit ,free ,press4 ,,alma',s ,,sophomore ,,year ,it cannot fail to appeal to the lovers of good things in girls' books4--,boston ,herald4 ,,alma',s ,,junior ,,year ,the diverse characters in the boarding-school are strongly drawn1 the incidents are well developed and the action is never dull4--,the ,boston ,herald4 ,,alma',s ,,senior ,,year ,incident abounds in all of ,miss ,breitenbach's stories and a healthy1 natural atmosphere breathes from every ,chapter4--,boston ,transcript4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,girls ,,of ,,friendly ,,terrace ,,series ,by ,,harriet ,,lummis ,,smith ,each large #abmo1 cloth decorative1 illustrated2 per volume #a4ej ,,the ,,girls ,,of ,,friendly ,,terrace ,a book sure to please girl readers1 for the author seems to understand perfectly the girl character4--,boston ,globe4 ,,peggy ,,raymond',s ,,vacation ,it is a wholesome1 hearty story4--,utica ,observer4 ,,peggy ,,raymond',s ,,school ,,days ,the book is delightfully written1 and contains lots of exciting incidents4 ,,famous ,,leaders ,,series ,by ,,charles ,h4 ,l4 ,,johnston ,each large #abmo1 cloth decorative1 illustrated1 per volume #a4ej ,,famous ,,cavalry ,,leaders ,more of such books should be written1 books that acquaint young readers with historical personages in a pleasant1 informal way4--,new ,york ,sun4 ,it is a book that will stir the heart of every boy and will prove interesting as well to the adults4--,lawrence ,daily ,world4 ,,famous ,,indian ,,chiefs ,mr4 ,johnston has done faithful work in this volume1 and his relation of battles1 sieges and struggles of these famous ,indians with the whites for the possession of ,america is a worthy addition to ,united ,states ,history4--,new ,york ,marine ,journal4 ,,famous ,,scouts ,it is the kind of a book that will have a great fascination for boys and young men1 and while it entertains them it will also present valuable information in regard to those who have left their impress upon the history of the country4--,the ,new ,london ,day4 ,,famous ,,privateersmen ,,and ,,adventurers ,,of ,,the ,,sea ,the tales are more than merely interesting2 they are entrancing1 stirring the blood with thrilling force and bringing new zest to the never-ending interest in the dramas of the sea4--,the ,pittsburgh ,post4 ,,famous ,,frontiersmen ,,and ,,heroes ,,of ,,the ,,border ,this book is devoted to a description of the adventurous lives and stirring experiences of many pioneer heroes who were prominently identified with the opening of the ,great ,west4 ,the accounts are not only authentic1 but distinctly readable1 making a book of wide appeal to all who love the history of actual adventure4--,cleveland ,leader4 ,,hildegarde-,,margaret ,,series ,by ,,laura ,e4 ,,richards ,eleven ,volumes ,the ,hildegarde-,margaret ,series1 beginning with ,queen ,hildegarde and ending with ,the ,merryweathers1 make one of the best and most popular series of books for girls ever written4 ,each large #abmo1 cloth decorative1 illustrated1 per volume #a4be ,the eleven volumes boxed as a set #ac4ge ,,list ,,of ,,titles ,,queen ,,hildegarde ,,hildegarde',s ,,holiday ,,hildegarde',s ,,home ,,hildegarde',s ,,neighbors ,,hildegarde',s ,,harvest ,,three ,,margarets ,,margaret ,,montfort ,,peggy ,,rita ,,fernley ,,house ,,the ,,merryweathers ,,the ,,captain ,,january ,,series ,by ,,laura ,e4 ,,richards ,each #abmo1 cloth decorative1 illustrated1 per volume4 ,net1 #ej cents2 carriage paid1 #fj cents ,,captain ,,january ,a charming idyl of ,new ,england coast life1 whose success has been very remarkable4 ,,same4 ,illustrated ,holiday ,edition #a4be ,,same1 ,,french ,,text4 ,illustrated ,holiday ,edition #a4be ,,melody3 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,a ,,child4 ,,same4 ,illustrated ,holiday ,edition #a4be ,,marie ,a companion to ,melody and ,captain ,january4 ,,rosin ,,the ,,beau ,a sequel to ,melody and ,marie4 ,,snow-,,white2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,house ,,in ,,the ,,wood4 ,,jim ,,of ,,hellas2 ,,or1 ,,in ,,durance ,,vile1 and a companion story1 ,,bethesda ,,pool4 ,,narcissa ,and a companion story1 ,,in ,,verona1 being two delightful short stories of ,new ,england life4 ,,some ,,say ,and a companion story1 ,,neighbors ,,in ,,cyrus4 ,,nautilus ',nautilus' is by far the best product of the author's powers1 and is certain to achieve the wide success it so richly merits4 ,,isla ,,heron ,this interesting story is written in the author's usual charming manner4 ,,the ,,little ,,master ,a well told1 interesting tale of a high character4--,california ,gateway ,gazette4 ,,delightful ,,books ,,for ,,little ,,folks ,by ,,laura ,e4 ,,richards ,,three ,,minute ,,stories ,cloth decorative1 #abmo1 with eight plates in full color and many text illustrations by ,josephine ,bruce4 ,net #a4be2 carriage paid #a4dj ,little ones will understand and delight in the stories and poems4--,indianapolis ,news4 ,,five ,,minute ,,stories ,cloth decorative1 square #abmo1 illustrated #a4be ,a charming collection of short stories and clever poems for children4 ,,more ,,five ,,minute ,,stories ,cloth decorative1 square #abmo1 illustrated #a4be ,a noteworthy collection of short stories and poems for children1 which will prove as popular with mothers as with boys and girls4 ,,five ,,mice ,,in ,a ,,mouse ,,trap ,cloth decorative1 square #abmo1 illustrated #a4be ,the story of their lives and other wonderful things related by the ,man in the ,moon1 done in the vernacular from the lunacular form by ,laura ,e4 ,richards4 ,,when ,i ,,was ,,your ,,age ,cloth1 #hvo1 illustrated #a4be ,the title most happily introduces the reader to the charming home life of ,doctor ,howe and ,mrs4 ,julia ,ward ,howe1 during the childhood of the author4 ,a ,,happy ,,little ,,time ,cloth1 #hvo1 illustrated #a4be ,little ,betty and the happy time she had will appeal strongly to mothers as well as to the little ones who will have this story read to them1 and appeal all the more on account of its being such a real story4 ,,the ,,boys' ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,railroad ,,series ,by ,,burton ,e4 ,,stevenson ,each large #abmo1 cloth decorative1 illustrated1 per volume #a4ej ,,the ,,young ,,section-,,hand2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,adventures ,,of ,,allan ,,west4 ,a thrilling story1 well told1 clean and bright4 ,the whole range of section railroading is covered in the story1 and it contains information as well as interest4--,chicago ,post4 ,,the ,,young ,,train ,,dispatcher ,a vivacious account of the varied and often hazardous nature of railroad life1 full of incident and adventure1 in which the author has woven admirable advice about honesty1 manliness1 self-culture1 good reading1 and the secrets of success4--,congregationalist4 ,,the ,,young ,,train ,,master ,it is a book that can be unreservedly commended to anyone who loves a good1 wholesome1 thrilling1 informing yarn4--,passaic ,news4 ,,the ,,young ,,apprentice2 ,,or1 ,,allan ,,west',s ,,chum4 ,the story is intensely interesting1 and one gains an intimate knowledge of the methods and works in the great car shops not easily gained elsewhere4--,baltimore ,sun4 ,it appeals to every boy of enterprising spirit1 and at the same time teaches him some valuable lessons in honor1 pluck1 and perseverance4--,cleveland ,plain ,dealer4 ,the lessons that the books teach in development of uprightness1 honesty and true manly character are sure to appeal to the reader4--,the ,american ,boy4 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel ,,books 7,trade ,mark7 ,by ,,annie ,,fellows ,,johnston ,each large #abmo1 cloth1 illustrated1 per volume #a4ej ,,the ,,little ,,colonel ,,stories 7,trade ,mark7 ,being three ,little ,colonel stories in the ,cosy ,corner ,series1 ,the ,little ,colonel1 ,two ,little ,knights of ,kentucky1 and ,the ,giant ,scissors1 in a single volume4 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel',s ,,house ,,party 7,trade ,mark7 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel',s ,,holidays 7,trade ,mark7 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel',s ,,hero 7,trade ,mark7 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel ,,at ,,boarding-,,school 7,trade ,mark7 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel ,,in ,,arizona 7,trade ,mark7 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel',s ,,christmas ,,vacation 7,trade ,mark7 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel1 ,,maid ,,of ,,honor 7,trade ,mark7 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel',s ,,knight ,,comes ,,riding 7,trade ,mark7 ,,mary ,,ware3 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel',s ,,chum 7,trade ,mark7 ,,mary ,,ware ,,in ,,texas ,,mary ,,ware',s ,,promised ,,land ,these twelve volumes1 boxed as a set1 #ah4jj4 ,,special ,,holiday ,,editions ,each small quarto1 cloth decorative1 per volume #a4be ,new plates1 handsomely illustrated with eight full-page drawings in color1 and many marginal sketches4 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel 7,trade ,mark7 ,,two ,,little ,,knights ,,of ,,kentucky ,,the ,,giant ,,scissors ,,big ,,brother ,,the ,,johnston ,,jewel ,,series ,each small #afmo1 cloth decorative1 with frontispiece and decorative text borders1 per volume ,net #j4ej ,,in ,,the ,,desert ,,of ,,waiting3 ,,the ,,legend ,,of ,,camelback ,,mountain4 ,,the ,,three ,,weavers3 ,a ,,fairy ,,tale ,,for ,,fathers ,,and ,,mothers ,,as ,,well ,,as ,,for ,,their ,,daughters4 ,,keeping ,,tryst3 ,a ,,tale ,,of ,,king ,,arthur',s ,,time4 ,,the ,,legend ,,of ,,the ,,bleeding ,,heart ,,the ,,rescue ,,of ,,princess ,,winsome3 ,a ,,fairy ,,play ,,for ,,old ,,and ,,young4 ,,the ,,jester',s ,,sword 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,little ,,colonel',s ,,good ,,times ,,book ,uniform in size with the ,little ,colonel ,series #a4ej ,bound in white kid 7morocco7 and gold ,net #c4jj ,cover design and decorations by ,peter ,verberg4 ,a mighty attractive volume in which the owner may record the good times she has on decorated pages1 and under the directions as it were of ,annie ,fellows ,johnston4--,buffalo ,express4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,obvious punctuation errors repaired4 ,varied hyphenation as in head-dress and headdress was retained4 ,page #aa1 word an removed from text4 ,original read 7never be an any better7 ,page #cb1 a good changed to good a 7too good a man to7 ,page #fh1 persistance changed to persistence 7persistence with which the7 ,page #fh1 coin changed to coins 7small bag of coins7 ,page #ij1 acknowleged changed to acknowledged 7he acknowledged proudly7 ,page #aja1 ,that changed to that 7unto you that7 ,page #aad1 ,was changed to was 7was ,joel's constant7 ,page #aaf1 kness changed to knees 7his knees in readiness7