mp;
servants handed him water from the spring in a crystal goblet, skilful
cooks prepared the meal; beautiful women, whose skin was soft as velvet
and brown as copper, spread out their black hair for him and delighted
him with harp-playing, while armed men kept watch against the desert
chief, Barabbas.

The country became more and more uninviting, and it was almost
impossible to avoid many discomforts. Simeon remembered the comfort of
his palace in Jerusalem, and contemplated turning back. And yet the
thought of the wise man who could help him to immortality proved too
attractive. People came over the bare hills who told of the teacher at
the other extreme of the desert, how He gathered at times all kinds of
people round Him and spoke of the everlasting Kingdom of God. And so
the swaying litter went on farther, and the next day reached the valley
through dry rocky ravines, and found there a few olive and fig trees.
People crowded round one of the fig trees; they were for the most part
poor, sad-looking creatures, miserable outcasts wandering, homeless and
loveless, here and there. Clothed in scanty rags, their forms bent,
they turned their faces towards the tree, for there He stood and spoke.

"Be ye not sad nor cast down. You miss nothing of the world's
attractions. Yours is the Father and His Kingdom. Trust in Him; you
are His. You shall be made glad through love; things will be easier
for you if you love than if you hate. And in every misfortune that
comes upon you, keep a steadfast soul, and then you have nothing to
lose."

Simeon clearly heard the strange words, and thought to himself: "Can
this be He? No, a wise man does not surround himself with such a
shabby, poverty-stricken crowd. And yet they say it is He." Simeon
got out of his litter and drew his scimitar. Then he pressed forward
amid the disagreeable smell of old clothes and of the perspiring crowd.
Oh, how repulsive is the odour of the poor! The multitude shyly gave
way to the brilliant figure, for never had its like been seen in the
Master's neighbourhood. Jesus stood calmly under the fig tree and saw
the stranger coming. He stood still three paces off Him, beat his
head, placed his hand on his brow, like a king who greets another.

"Sir," said the stranger, and his voice was not sharp and shrill as
when he gave his servants orders, but low and hoarse. "Sir, I have
come a long way; I have sought you a long while."

Jesus held out