The Valley of Vision

hich way to go. He was not even sure that they had gone home; for they had talked of paying a visit to their relatives in the south before returning to Nazareth; and

d shelter. There were boys in the other camps with whom he could play. Best of all, he could go again to the city and the Temple. He could see more of the wonderful things there, and watch the way the people lived, and find out why so many of them seemed

ad always gone into the city. Outside the gate a few boys about

! Let us have some fun with him. Hal

ee," answer

ive," cried the children. "Where

laughed at his country way of spea

ied. "You can't task. Can you

was killed by a robber, and they had a mock funeral. The Boy took always the lowest part. He was the hired mou

ut they were not long contented with anything. Some of them would dance no more for the w

all wrong. You spoil the game. We are tire

But they said he did not keep to the course. Then they threw stones; and the

ulder, another made a long cut on his cheek. Wiping away the blood with his sleeve, he

em and running up the narrow street that led to the sheep-market. The cries of his pursuers grew fainter behind him. Among the sta

azaars and noisy workshops. The Roman soldiers from the castle were sauntering to and fro. Women in rich attire, with ear-ring

he gate, and, missing his way a little, came to a great pool of water, walled in wit, white stone, with five porticos around it

e pool to wash away the blood. But he could not do it very well. His head ached too much. So he crept back to the porch

only a few years older than himself. She was clad in silk, with a veil of gauze over her head, gold coins in her hair, and a phial of alabas

ou. What are you doing here? You look like a little brother

his head was swimming. The young woman beckoned to a Nubian slave who followed her. He

man bathed the Boy's wound and his feet. The servants came with food, and she made him eat of the best. His eyes grew bright again, and the co

charm in his simple talk. Her eyes rested upon him with plea

ple are gone. You shall sleep here to-night-you shall live w

her with wide eyes, as if she were sayin

u already, even as your brother did. Is your husband here? Will he come soo

illed with pain and sorrow; she sh

understand. I eat the bread of shame and live in the house of wi

s ran through her fingers like rain. The Boy looked at her, astonished

han I ever was in my life. It must be dreadful to be a sinner. But sinners can pray, for God is our Father, a

nd kissed it. She wiped away her te

s not fit for you. My Nubian shall lead you back to the gate, and you will return to yo

"I will not forget you. I will always remember your love and

ve made me want to try. Go in peace

replied the Boy grave

amp on the hillside and a shelter in one of the friendly ten

e Temple, to find some of the learned teachers who gave instruction there, and l

ed in white despised him? Why had the city children mocked him and chased him away with stone

he felt it in the others, and it made him so sorry, so distressed for them, that it seemed like a heavy weight, a burden on his own heart. It was

d cut themselves with stones, like a man he once saw in Galilee. This was something larger and more mysterious-like the hot wind that sometimes ble

nted to fight against it, to drive it away. It seemed as if there were a spirit in his heart saying to him, "This is what you must do, you must

nted to find out. And he went into the Temple

reaming into it through the eight open gates, meeting and mingling and eddying round in confused currents, bargaining and haggling with the merchants and

ers were gathered. The Roman soldiers of the guard paced up and down, or leaned tranquilly upoa their spears, looking with indifference or amused

und many groups of people, walking in the broad aisles between the pillars, or seated in the alcoves of Solomon's Porch around the teachers who

Pharisees about the purifying of the sacred vessels in the Temple; while another, a Sadducee, was disputing with him scornfully and claiming that the purification of the priests was the only important

ots talking fiercely of the misdeeds of the house of Herod and the outrages committed by the Romans; the Sadducees contemptuously mocking at the hopes of the revolutionists and showing that the dream of freedom for Judea was foolish. "Freedom," they said, "belongs to those who are well protected. We ha

another, completely absorbed by what he heard, yet not satisfied. Late in the afternoon he came into the quietest part of Solomon's Porch

lean, dark-bearded, stern little man, the Boy was spoken to by a

"I am looking for some one

, smiling. "I am a Greek, and I desire wisdom. Let

re of the circle and stood

me thy disciple if thou wilt teach me the whole

him sharply across the leg. "That is the whole law for mockers,"

n earnest," said he, as he came back to the Boy. "Now let us g

beard and a gentle face. The stranger took his place as before, standing on one foot, and mad

dst not have him do to thee, this is the w

ing, "what think you of this teac

s the best of all I have heard to-day. I am coming

Sanhedrim. You will do well, young Jew, to listen to such a man. Socrates could not ha

the friends heard him, wondering at his discernment. They were in doubt whether to let him go again the next day; but he begged so ear