behind the other, and the highest lifted their
snowy peaks into the blue sky.

Joseph let fall the camel's guiding rein and his staff, extended his
arms and exclaimed: "Praise the Lord, oh my soul!" For Galilee, his
native place, lay before him.

When they saw the little town of Nazareth nestling in a bend of the
hills--ah! how small the place was, and how peaceful amid the green
hills!--Mary wept for joy.

CHAPTER IX

The inhabitants of Nazareth were not a little astonished to see Joseph,
the carpenter, who had so long disappeared from their midst, walk up
the street with his wife and a handsome boy. It was a good thing that
they had baggage with them. But Cousin Nathaniel made a very wry face,
in which the smile of welcome struggled with the anxiety this
unexpected arrival caused him. Cousin Nathaniel had taken possession
of, and settled comfortably in the house, regarding himself as the
heir. Now he must pack up and go.

Joseph was delighted to see his workshop again, with its vice, bench,
yardstick, plane, and saw. The red dyeing vat was also there, and the
cord with which the timber was measured before the axe was used on it.
Cousin Nathaniel declared that many of the tools belonged to him, until
Joseph pointed to the J with which all the things were marked for the
sake of order. When the old workman tied on his apron, and for the
first time set to work with the plane so that the fine shavings flew
whirring about, his blood flowed swiftly for delight, and his eye
looked like that of a young man. And so the carpenter began cheerfully
to work again, not only in his own shop, but anywhere in the
neighbourhood where building or repairing was required, or tables,
chests, or benches were needed. The little property he had brought
from Egypt would be increased here, so that when the time came his son
should make a good start in life. Mary helped him with careful and
economical housekeeping, and made undergarments and cloaks for the
women of Nazareth. Jesus had a room to himself to which he could
withdraw when work was over. Joseph hoped, by making him comfortable
at home, to counteract the attractions of the outside world. The vine
trellises could be clearly seen through the windows of the room, and a
hill with olive-trees, and clouds from Lebanon passing over the sky,
and the stars that rose in the east. The first gleam of sun, moon, and
stars, when they rose, fell into that peaceful chamber.