iced exceedingly. Sometimes they assisted poor
gardeners and shepherds, and did them trifling services. They taught
John to blow the horn, and Jesus sang joyful psalms with a clear voice.

But Joseph's death was approaching.

He lay half-blind on his bed, and asked Mary how she would manage when
he was gone. Then he felt with his cold hand for Jesus.

"My son, my son!"

Jesus wiped the dying man's brow with the hem of his garment.

"I had hoped," said Joseph softly, "but it is not to be. I must depart
in darkness."

"Father," said Jesus, and tenderly stroked his head.

"It is hard, my child. Stay beside me. I had hoped to see the Messiah
and his light. But I must be gathered to my fathers in darkness."

"He will soon come and lead you to paradise."

The old man grasped his hand convulsively. "It is quite dark. I am
afraid. Stay with me, my Jesus."

And so he fell asleep for ever.

They buried him outside the city under the walls. Jesus planted the
staff which Joseph had cut during the flight into Egypt, and had always
carried with him, on the mound. And no sooner was it planted in the
earth than it began to bear young shoots. And when Mary went the next
day to pray there, behold the grave was surrounded with white lilies,
which grew from the stick and spread themselves in rows over the mound.

After the old master's death trouble befell the family. People began
to take their orders for work elsewhere, for they found it difficult to
get on with the young master. A man who went against the Scriptures
and traditional custom in so many things could not do his work
properly. He seldom attended public worship in the Temple, and was
never seen to give alms. In the morning he went down to the spring and
washed himself, but otherwise he omitted all the prescribed ablutions.
When the Rabbi of Nazareth reproached him for such conduct, he replied;
"Who ought to wash, the clean or the unclean? Moses knew this people
when he made washing a law for them. Does uncleanness come from within
or without? It is not the dust of the street that soils a man, but the
evil thoughts of his heart. Is it unseemly to eat honest bread with
dusty hands? Is it not more unseemly to take away your brother's bread
with clean hands?"

The Rabbi considered that it would be foolish to waste more words on
this transgressor of the law, and went his way. But next day he
informed the carpenter that he was to stand on the Sab