d he ran before,
and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass
that _way_. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw
him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to
day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and
received him joyfully. And when they saw _it_, they all murmured,
saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And
Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my
goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man
by false accusation, I restore _him_ fourfold. And Jesus said unto
him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also
is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost.--_St. Luke xix: 1-10_.

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_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_

_The sycomore tree referred to in the text is a species of fig
bearing small, coarse fruit, which is used as food only in cases of
necessity. Although occasionally of great size, the tree is easily
climbed, as the trunk is short, and the branches are numerous and
wide spreading. Jericho, rebuilt by Herod, was a somewhat fashionable
town. To signalize the despised tax-gatherer in such a way was to
teach a permanent lesson of absolute unworldliness_.

JESUS RESTORETH SIGHT TO BARTIMAEUS

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his
disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of
Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it
was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, _thou_
son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should
hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, _Thou_ son of
David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to
be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good
comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment,
rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What
wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him,
Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy
way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his
sight, and followed Jesus in the way.--_St. Mark x: 4.6--52._

* * * * *

_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_

_The site of Jericho is still an oasis in the surrounding deser