A Life of St. John for the Young

Bethsaida-Ram

two brethren, Simon who is called Peter

her two brethren, James the son of Z

da, of the city of Andre

would, like many other boys of Galilee, have lived on the shores of Gennesaret, fished in its waters, died, and been forgotten. These five Bethsaidan boys were two pairs of brothers and a friend. The names of one pair were Andrew and Peter. They were the sons of Jonas, a fisherma

s a fisherman having so much prosperity in his business that he employed servants to help him. Judging

birth. He was probably younger than Jame

of Jesus, ministering to Him when He was living, and was one of the few who cared for His dead body. Her son

by influences which we shall have occasion to notice. As we know of them as daily companions in manhood, we think of the intimacy and affection of boyhood. It will help

The Holy Mount," so called for a blessed reason of which all of them were to learn. Down from its snowy glittering sides a thousand streamlets blended in larger streams combining in the Jordan, which flowed through marshes and Lake Merom until it entered Gennesaret near their home. Eastward, across the lake, the rugged cliffs

g winds hav

beneath the

d leave the

n bright t

e lake's

eetly in

rraced high wit

lilee-From

ge

boats,-gay barges and royal galleys-and trading vessels, and f

stage of its journey of one hundred and twenty miles through rugged go

rrow from

d and lon

ushing, ra

strong, a

ark green fol

lver ray

chosen home; and the blue and white winged jays that have strayed from the jungles through which the Jordan has pushed its way; and the favorite turtle-doves; and the blue birds so light that one can rest on a blade of grass without bending it; and the confiding larks and storks which,

in trying to secure pebbles from its bottom. They rest under the shade of an olive or a palm. They gather walnuts which are

the brightness and richness of flowers which retain their

poet Keble

nt ye ou

rude, s

Jordan flows b

Gennesa

the flowe

stern slope brea

gh the sum

ssoms red

t breasts unheed

its watch

the sac

Saviour watched

e blue lupin and salvia, the purple hyacinth, the yellow and white crocus, the s

the parable into which all these would be weaved; nor of Him who would utter it in their hearing near where they then stood. They saw the shepherds and their flocks, the sparrows and the lilies, that became object lessons of the Great

rly life, and which would interest his refined and observing nature, of which we know in

hilip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter." Perhaps he was their special friend, and so became one of the company of five, as he afterward became one of the more glorious c