ally they were reaching the end of their journey. They met with
no persecution during this last stretch. Indeed, they rather saw how
some of the seeds, although mingled with weeds, had taken root. They
reached the last hills after a night in which they had encamped under
sycamore and fig trees. Jesus was walking in front. Although He was
exhausted with the long wandering, and His feet almost refused their
office, He still walked on ahead. The disciples came behind, and when
they reached the top of the hill they gave a great cry. There opposite
them on the tableland of the other hill lay the metropolis! In the
morning sun it looked as if built of burnished gold, Solomon's Temple
with its innumerable pinnacles overtopping everything.

Several of the disciples had never before been to Jerusalem, and a
feeling of inspired reverence came over them at the sight of the Holy
City of the kings and prophets. Here--so thought Judas and many
another--here will the glory begin for us. They sat down under the
olive-trees to rest and to put their clothes in order, while some even
anointed their hair. Then they ate figs and the fruit of the currant
bushes. But they were anxious about the Master. The exertions of the
last few weeks had told on Him, and His feet were very sore. But He
said nothing. The disciples agreed that they could not let this go on
any longer. James went down the slope to where he saw some cottages,
and asked if anyone had a riding horse or at least a camel on which a
traveller could ride into the town. They would like to borrow it.

A little bent old man sidled up to the stranger and assured him with
much eloquence that neither horse nor camel was to be had, but that
there was an ass. Yet that ass was not to be had either.

Could the Messiah make His entry on an ass? No, we could not begin
like that. Such was the disciple's first thought. Then it occurred to
him that ancient prophets had foretold: He would make His entry on an
ass. Whereupon James declared himself willing to take the ass.

"You may want him and I mayn't give him," said the old man with a
cunning laugh. "If anything happened to this animal I should never get
over it. It is no ordinary ass, my friend!"

"It is no ordinary rider who needs him," said James.

The little old man took the disciple to the stable. The animal stood
by the manger, and was certainly of a good breed. It was not gray, but
rather bright brown and sm