He was always friendly with the people he met or
who were employed about him, but he seldom became
intimate with them. Occasionally he would join
in some athletic exercise with youths from Cana, and
in wrestling, strive who could overcome the other.
Then his soft brown hair would fly in the wind, his
cheeks would glow, and when the game was over, he
would return arm-in-arm with his adversary to the valley
below. But he preferred to be alone with himself,
or with silent nature. Beautiful ideas came
springing like lambs in that peaceful place, but there
also came thoughts strong as lions. He dreamed.
He did not think; thought, as it were, lay within
himself, and then he spoke out many a word at which
he was himself terrified. Ideas began to shape
themselves within him, and before he was aware of
it they were clearly spoken by his tongue, as if it
was another who spoke for him. And so he came
out of the mysterious depths to the light.
He was often challenged to dispute; he never defended
himself except by words, but they were so weighty
and fiery that people soon left him in peace.
If he struck, he knew how to make the injury good.
One day when he was going down the defile to the
stony moor, a mischievous boy ran up behind him and
knocked him down. Jesus quickly picked himself
up, and shouted angrily to the boy, “Die!”
When he saw the blazing eye, the boy turned deathly
pale and began to tremble so that, near to fainting,
he had to lean up against the rocky wall. Jesus
went up to him, laid his hand on his shoulder and
said kindly, “Live!”
No one in the whole country-side had ever seen such
an eye as his. Like lightning in anger, in calmer
moods like the gleam of dewdrops upon flowers.
As Jesus gradually grew to manhood he worked at his
trade as a master. For Joseph was old and feeble,
and could only sit by the bench, overlook the carpenters
and tell them what it would be best to do. They
had a young apprentice, a near relation, named John,
who helped Jesus with the carpentering and building.
When they built a cottage in Nazareth, or roofed
a house, he was severe and strict with the youth.
But when on the Sabbath day they wandered together
through the country between the vines, over the meadows
with the stones and herds, sometimes through the dark
cedar forests to the lower slopes of Lebanon, they
said not a word about the work. They watched
the animals, the plants, the streams, the heavens,
and their everlasting lights, and rejoiced 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!”
