body
and earthly life signify, then you will understand. If, as you say, I
have raised your child from the dead, what thanks do you owe Me? Do
you recognise what he who calls back a creature from happiness to
misery does?

"You said yourself, Master, that the child was too young to gain heaven
yet."

"She has not gained it; she possessed it in her innocent heart. She
will become a maiden, and a wife, and an old woman. She will lose
heaven and seek it in agony. It will be well for her if then she comes
to the Saviour and begs: 'My soul is dead within me, Lord; wake it to
eternal life.' But if she comes not--then it would be better that she
had not waked to-day."

The mother said in all humility: "Whatsoever Thou doest, Master, that
is surely right."

He went to the table where the child was comfortably eating her food,
laid His hand on her head, and said: "You have come to earth from
heaven, now give up earth for heaven; what is earned is greater that
what is given."

So the wife of Rabbi Jairus heard as Jesus went out of the door.

They remained His adherents until near the days of the persecution.

CHAPTER XVI

About the same time things began to go ill with Levi, the tax-gatherer,
who lived on the road to Tiberias. One morning his fellow-residents
prepared a discordant serenade for him. They pointed out to Levi with
animation, from the roof of his house, in what honour he was held, by
means of the rattling of trays and clashing of pans, since he had
accepted service with the heathen as toll-keeper and demanded money
even on the Sabbath.

The lean tax-gatherer sat in a corner of his room and saw the dust fly
from the ceiling, which seemed to shake beneath the clatter. He saw,
too, how the morning sun shining in at the window threw a band of light
across the room, in which danced particles of dust like little stars.
He listened, and saw, and was silent. When they had had enough of
dancing on the roof they jumped to the ground, made grimaces at the
window, and departed.

A little, bustling woman came out of the next room, stole up to the
man, and said: "Levi, it serves you right!"

"Yes, I know, Judith," he answered, and stood up. He was so tall that
he had to bend his head in order not to strike it against the ceiling.
His beard hung down in thin strands; it was not yet grey, despite his
pale, tired face.

"They will stone you, Levi, if you continue to serve the Romans,"
exclaimed the