sight of the birds. And Azariah
and Joseph followed the shepherd up to the crags and were shown some
birds wheeling above rocks so steep that there was no foothold for man.
Or else we should have had their nests long ago, the shepherd said. Now
here is a bear's trail. He's been seeking water here, but he didn't get
any; he came by here, and my word, he's been up here after wild bees.
The shepherd showed scratches among the dropping resin, saying: it was
here that he clawed his way up. But did he get the honey? Joseph asked,
a question the shepherd could not answer; and talking about bears and
honey and eagles and lambs and wolves and lions, the afternoon passed
away without their feeling it, till one of the shepherds said: it is
folding-time now; and answering to different calls the flocks separated,
and the shepherds went their different ways followed by their flocks.

The sunset had begun to redden the sky, and the shadows of the trees
drew out as they crossed the hillside and descended by the steep path
into the valley. The ascent that faced them was steep indeed, and
Azariah had to rest several times, but at last they reached the slope on
which the city was built: but they did not enter the gates yet awhile
but stood looking back, thinking of the day that had gone by. We shall
remember this day always, Joseph said, if we live to be as old as the
patriarchs. Was it then so wonderful? Azariah asked, and Joseph could
only answer: yes, very wonderful. Didn't you think so? and tell me, he
added, is it true that God is going to destroy the world and very soon?
Why do you ask, Joseph? Azariah replied, and Joseph answered: because
the world is so very beautiful. I never saw the world before to-day. My
eyes were opened, and I shall be sorry if God destroys the world, for I
should like to see more of it. But why should he make a beautiful world,
and then destroy it? Don't you think he will relent when the time comes
and the day be as beautiful as it was this morning? Azariah answered him
that God does not relent, for He knows the past and future as well as
the present, and that the world was not as beautiful as it seems to be,
for man is sinning always, though certainly God said all things are
beautiful. But perhaps we sinned this morning in the sight of God. We
sinned? Joseph repeated. How did we sin? Have you forgotten, Azariah
answered, that it was arranged that we should spend the day reading the
Scriptures, and we've spe