)fom%mt #,$ottnbia

¦YARJE-WffllVEKSinnr-

DTVINITY SCHOOL
TROWBRIDGE LIBRARY

WHEN HE
DWELT WITH US

¦ ¦ ' •' ¦.¦'--,-.:¦ ..'¦•'¦ -'.I'- ¦'

THE MEMORY OF A TALE WHISPERED BY THE ANGELS

WHEN HE DWELT
WITH US
MARGARET B. DOWNING

RICHARD G. BADGER
BOSTON

Copyright, 1913, by Richard G. Badger

All Rights Reserved

The Gokham Press, Boston, U. S. A.

PREFACE
This little book attempts to add nothing
to the vast literature pertaining to the Nat
ural History of the Bible. It merely
sketches, and in faint outline, the fields of
Judea as they looked in the days of Christ's
Ministry. Modern scientific investigation
has definitely identified nearly all the trees
and flowers used so eloquently by the Di
vine Teacher, by the Prophets, the Psalm
ist and the Evangelists to show forth the
glory of heaven and of earth. Of the
growing things which were among the in
struments of the Sacred Passion, we may
to-day look upon their modern descendants
with assured knowledge. In many instances
we may raise them in our gardens. Little
plots of verdure with saliw Babylonica,
weeping willow, the rue, the lily of the field
which is the modern candidum, the rose, the

PREFACE
flowering almond, the mallow will delight all
lovers of nature and present the Gentle Re
deemer in the most appealing of human
aspects. Of the tree from which the Cross was
fashioned there are many traditions. One
of the most beautiful tells of our earthly
mother Eve looking back with tear-dimmed
eyes as she passes from Paradise, at the
Tree of Life gloriously fruitful in the cen
tre of the Garden. The Angel mercifully
read her longing and plucking a golden
apple he bade her not to eat but to save the
seed and plant a tree from which would
come the universal deliverance. This tree
..." whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world and all our
woe "
survived the deluge and was growing near
Jerusalem when the day of Calvary ap
proached. It is a pretty tale, worthy of the
ages of faith, when it was piously accepted.
But microscopic examination of the frag-

PREFACE
ments of the Cross scattered throughout the
world in the form of relics, proves that it was
made from a pine-tree. This tree alone of
all known species grows in every clime where
any variety of plant life is found. It is
the universal tree and therefore the symbol
of universal redemption. The pine was
always less valued than the oak, the cy
press, the lordly cedar, and therefore was
used in ancient times as it is often now for
gibbets and instruments of ignomy and tor
ture. May this little book, brief and inadequate
though it may be, fill a tiny place in the
stupendous literature of the Bible in awak
ening a love and desire to read the unwritten
story of our Saviour's life, a story still to be
traced in the fields and forests of Palestine.
Margaret B. Downing.

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US

And when He was twelve years old, they
going up to Jerusalem according to the
custom of the Feast,
And having fulfilled the days, when they
returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jeru
salem; and His parents knew it not. Saint
Luke II, 42, 43.

AROUND the gate which led to the
North rose a babel of voices. Cara
vans were departing and friends
brought together for the Pasch were calling
their farewells. In the throng Joseph and
the Virgin Mother walked silent and se
dately. Always tranquil and meditative the
days of prayer had raised the foster-father
above all earthly cares, but as they passed
through the gateway he noted that the
Mother gazed anxiously back to the city.
As the time drew near to leave Jerusalem,
Mary had seen in the Boy's eyes that look
which betokened visions not granted to mor
tals and she felt forlorn, forgotten because
she could not share the exaltation. From
the high terrace of Herod's temple she had
looked on the brooding city and in her heart
was a sense of bereavement. The golden
years were gliding by and carrying the Boy
11

12 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
onward to His destiny. That afternoon He
had smiled lovingly into her face as she stood
waiting with the sweetness of resignation
flooding her soul. She turned to take His
hand and draw Him to the gate where their
kindred were gathered. But the far-off
look still held His eyes and gently eluding
her clasp, He turned back towards the
temple. "Let Him go," said the foster-father in
his tone of grave authority, "He is loathe to
leave. But swift of foot, He will soon come
upon us on the road."
Mary made no response but hastened to
join those who were to journey with them
to Galilee.
When His parents had turned into the
narrow way leading to the city walls, the
Boy returned to the terrace and marking
His way went rapidly through the streets to
the gate which led to the East. During
the days just passed and every year when
He came to Jerusalem to keep the Feast,
how often He had sought the highest por-

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 13
tico of Mount Moriah! How often He had
gazed down into the garden calm and holy
against the hills while the memory of a tale
whispered by the angels on the first morn
ing of creation filled His thoughts! God's
breath had dispelled the mist, and earth
lay revealed in her changing glory. Every
flower and plant and tree ordained to play
a part in that awful drama before which the
sun would veil its face and the foundations
of the earth tremble was known to the angels
and they spoke softly of it in the inner courts
of Heaven. Always He longed to see the
very spot, the growing Tree, the garden,
and the brook. Once He thought to make
the journey with His Mother but His ten
der heart refused to give her anguish.
Out of the gateway into the open country,
the Boy came quickly to the Garden. Ju-
dea lay clad in the vestments of spring, —
glorious fulfillment of the Prophet's vision:
— "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar,
and the thorn, and the myrtle, and the olive-
tree: I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the

14 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
elm, and the box-tree together." *
Fig trees had put forth green leaves and
the blossom of the young camphors and bays
made the air fragrant. The glossy foliage
of the pistacia gleamed in the sun and along
the hills were groves of nuts and pome
granates as in the day when Solomon had
sung, "I went down into the garden of nuts,
to see the fruits of the valleys, and to look
if the vineyard had flourished, and the
pomegranates budded." t
In the garden the olives bent a welcome,
as though they knew Who was passing near.
He remembered the dove and the sprig of
olive, that emblem of peace and of divine
compassion, the symbol that God's wrath
was appeased and the floods of heaven
gathered within bounds. He recalled that
under a law more ceremonial than the pa
triarchal rule, the tabernacle shaded by
an olive, and of the treasures promised by
Jehovah to His chosen people one was
an abundance of olive trees. Beyond the
* Isaias xli. 19. f Canticle of Canticles vi, 10.

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 15
garden of olives, He came to the Brook of
Cedron. Flowers clustered in radiant hues,
lilies, the dog rose, white and scarlet aloes,
blessed sign of refreshment for the way
farer. Almonds waved a roseate greeting
and the strong odor of the ladanum min
gled with the fruit-like essence of the man
drake. Along the edge of the brook the
slender rushes were bending lightly and He
smiled a welcome to an old and much loved
friend. Little rushes, how they reminded
Him of the Cave of Bethlehem and the faint
light shed upon kingly visitants, pious shep
herds and the compassionate people of the
village. How He loved the way they twin
kled in the darkness while Joseph and His
Mother slept. He recalled the solemn desert
by the Nile and when His foster-father had
lighted the taper, His Mother had said it
was like the ever-watchful Eye and the
ever-guarding Love. Looking into days to
come He saw fishermen's nets made of
rushes and the vision came of long days and
sad nights when He and these toilers of the

16 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
sea would tread beside the brook together.
He beheld a funeral procession coming
down from the Mount. The tapers would
be made of rushes from this spot. He
paused "In the covert of the reed and in
the moist places, the shades cover His
shadow, the willows of the brook shall
compass Him about." * Here was the reed,
his sceptre, whereon would be fastened the
sponge with the last bitter drops. In the
field beyond the brook the lowly and com
passionate rue bent beneath His feet.
"Woe to you, Pharisees, because you tithe
mint and rue and every herb : and pass over
judgment, and the charity of God," t it
would be said in later times. But to-day He
thought only of its mission of compassion.
Rue, ruta graveolens, prized for its medic
inal virtues was sprinkled on the floor of the
courts to lessen the danger of contagion
when prisoners were brought from their
loathsome dungeons. When the Roman
governor would wash his hands before the
« Job xl, 16, 17. f Luke ii, 42.

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 17
people the rue would be strewn about thickly
and its bruised leaves yielding an aromatic
perfume would be the one comfort of that
sad hour.
Higher on the hills came the vineyards,
"in a fruitful place." In the level spots
were fields of grain joyously blended with
green herbs and trees until earth seemed
a bridal bower. Dog roses clambered over
the naked rocks clothing them with beauty,
and the wild cucumber and the gourd made
dainty festoons against the sand heaps.
"My beloved had a vineyard on a hill . . .
and he fenced it in and picked the stones out
of it and planted it with the choicest vines." *
The vine, mystic in the old law, and how
much more precious it was to be in the new!
The Boy recalled the inspiring words of
David so often repeated by His Mother as
they talked of the vine together:
"Thou hast brought a vineyard out of
Egypt: thou hast cast out the Gentiles and
plantedst it.
* Isaias v, 1, 2.

18 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
Thou wast the guide of its journey in its
sight: thou plantedst the roots thereof and
it filled the land.
The shadow of it covered the hills : and the
branches thereof the cedars of God.
It stretched forth its branches unto the
sea, and its boughs unto the river." *
Then came the mournful words of the
prophet lamenting the fate of the Chosen
people. "O vineyard of Sabama, I will weep for
thee, with the mourning of Jazer: thy
branches are gone over the sea, they are
come even to the sea of Jazer: the robber
hath rushed in upon thy harvest, and thy
vintage. Joy and gladness is taken away from
Carmel, and from the land of Moab, and I
have taken away the wine out of the presses,
the treador of the grapes shall not sing the
accustomed cheerful tune." t
•Psalms burix, 9, 10, 11, 12. f Jeremiah xlviii, 32-33.

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 19
He remembered too the solemn comments
of Joseph on the word of Ezechiel and his
rebuke of the frivolous :
"The fathers have eaten sour grapes and
the teeth of the children are set on edge,"
and how zealously this servant of God had
defended His justice but had also pointed
out with tender care how much greater is
His mercy:
"As I live, saith the Lord God, this par
able shall be no more to you a proverb in
Israel. . . .
Behold all souls are mine: as the soul of
the father, so also the soul of the son is mine :
the soul that sinneth, the same shall die.
But if the wicked do penance for all his
sins, which he hath committed, and keep all
my commandments and do judgment, and
justice, living he shall live, and shall not
die." *
Spread before Him were the grain-fields,
barley in the ear, the cummin, and the rye.
• Ezechiel xviii, 3, 4, 21.

20 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
The vineyard and the wheat, the bread and
the wine, blessed memorial of His mission!
Here were the fig-tree and the mustard and
long rows of flax bending in the passing
wind. In the vista of years, He saw a boy
toiling up a hill bearing five barley loaves.
From the flax would be woven fine gar
ments to serve Him last and most lov
ingly in the Sepulcher. Lilies of the field
bloomed in the shaded places and the scarlet
head of the poppy gleamed among the
sheaves of the golden grain.
Higher and higher, He climbed the hills.
Flowers were rarer, no sheltering trees
were near; the soft radiance of the scene
had faded. The fierce sun of the Levant
beat down with relentless power.
But the birds were there, the timid
gazelle, the little foxes, all the living things
on wing and the creeping creatures in the
rocks. As the slender figure toiled upward
a startled thrush drowsy in an oak, circled
for a moment about the tree and flew di
rectly overhead. Then it broke into such a

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 21
pzean of song, as if its heart would burst in
rapture. A happy smile played about his
lips. "Stay with me, little thrush," he mur
mured, "until I reach the heights."
As if, in response to that prayer, myriads
of other songsters joined the thrush and a
joyous orchestra flew before, warbling, flut
tering, making the air gay with plumage and
rich with song. On the crest of the moun
tain, rent with wild ravines, fringed with
wind-torn trees, the Boy paused to rest.
Close by a clump of bushes seemed to offer
shade. He drew near only to start back.
They were thorn trees whose cruel spikes
shone out against their shining foliage like a
menace. In sombre majesty the giant buck
thorn, in the years to come to be reverently
known as the Rhamnus Spina Christi
towered above them all. Near it grew the
PaUurus Acaleatus, the Shamir of the
Hebrews, elegant in flower and foliage with
long pliant branches and methodical spikes.
There was the box thorn known as Lycium
horridum, the prickles of which possess such

22 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
stinging power that cruel man could invent
no torture more exquisite. The mad apple
and the thorn pear concealed sinister darts
beneath gorgeous blooms and glowing leaf
age. "I will thrash your flesh with the
thorns and briers of the desert," * said
Gideon to the men of Succoth. Again the
haughty young King Roboam, "My father
beat you with whips but I will beat you with
scorpions," t that is with scourges made of
thorns. But along the barren rock the
trailing sweet brier suggested no tragic fu
ture. The Boy's step was beginning to falter.
His eyes gazed mournfully beyond the
thorns. There against a yawning precipice
standing apart as though isolation had
marked it from the seedling, sombre as the
grave, dark as despair grew a gaunt mis
shapen Pine. For a moment He trembled
and from the Tree, He lifted His eyes to
Heaven. The sun was sinking to rest and
over the mountain the golden hue was tinged
* Judges viii, 7. t III Kings xii, 11.

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 23
with the roseate color of Hope. Great
heaps of clouds were banked in fleecy masses
and as He gazed, the face of His Father
beamed down from the glory. The air was
steeped in radiance and it seemed as though
all the feathered tribes of Judea had flown to
the spot. They fluttered about His head and
burst into a song as glorious and in
spiring as when the morning stars had sung
together at the dawn of creation. In that
moment of exaltation, Heaven bent down
to clasp this sorrowing earth and the glad
oratorio thrilled upward even to the Throne.
Strengthened for the supreme moment,
the Boy went forward and sinking to His
knees, His arms encircled the Tree. The
glory faded and the birds hushed their songs.
Overcome by fatigue and the mournful
journey, He closed His eyes against the
vision and the tears coursed down. It was
lonely on the mountain. His soul yearned
for the sustaining love of His Mother even
then grieving His loss. In that moment
He thought with infinite tenderness of the

24 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
long line of human mothers whose little
ones would stray away and be lost in a sad
der, truer sense. He saw a vision of the
Tree as He came down the steps of the
governor's palace and as it would be on
Mount Calvary.
All through the night the angels sped down
the shining heights and kept watch over the
Boy. The sun was beaming when He
awoke. The hills looked fair in the morn
ing, the Tree had lost its look of hideous
deformity and the birds sang in its branches.
His soul was serene and the future soft
ened by His Father's promise expanded be
fore Him. He arose and taking His way
into the lower country, soon came upon a
village against the hill.
A youth perhaps a year or two His elder,
was standing in front of a house on the out
skirts of the hamlet. He had drawn two
vessels of water and had paused to rest.
The Boy greeted him gravely as He had
heard His foster-father salute strangers.
The other returned the greeting sedately,

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 25
and mindful of the customs of the people
and noting that the youth was alien and
weary, bade Him drink and come within
to rest. With a countenance beaming with
joy, the Divine Child thanked His host and
for the first time, entered the house of
Lazarus at Bethania.
A girl but little more than His own age
was attending to the needs of the household.
With deft hands she placed before her
Guest a basin of water and gave Him fair
linen for the laving, all the while carolling
gayly as the birds without. She told Him
all about their home, that they were orphans
and Lazarus was the head of the house.
She had a little sister Mary, still slumber
ing but she would be called when they were
ready for the meal. She placed before them
a good portion of bread and milk and honey
with some dried fruits of the fig and the
vine. The Boy partook gratefully.
Lazarus waited until his Guest was re
freshed before asking of His friends and
why He was abroad so early. On entering,

26 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
the Boy had explained briefly that He was
of Nazareth and had come with His parents
to keep the Passover in the Temple.
Then as Martha's eager face was aglow
and the eyes of Lazarus full of sympathy,
the Visitor spoke of His life in Galilee, —
of His father who was a carpenter and
made yokes for oxen and plows and such
simple things in wood. Now that He had
grown tall and strong, He helped with the
work, for His father was old and getting
feeble. He told them of the fields He
loved, of the woods where He delighted to
roam and that He dreaded to hear the wood
men fell the trees. He spoke of the shep
herds who tended their flocks on the hill
sides. Often He longed to share their
watches, for by night, He took pleasure in
the lonely hills and the glory of Heaven and
in the thought of watching over the helpless
sheep exposed to many perils. He spoke
of the little mountain streams, of the birds
he knew and loved the best and of the turtle
doves, which were His own, and of the gar-

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US «7
den near the home in Nazareth. The garden
indeed was very small, only a few common
place flowers near the door and the trees
were mere shrubs, but He drew water from
the well and helped His Mother to tend
them. As the Boy spoke the birds flew near to
listen, even the wind was hushed and nature
seemed to pause. Every living thing about
Bethania longed to hear the sweetest story
ever told by mortal lips, — how the human
Mother loved and tended her Divine Child.
He told them of the lone and level sands of
Egypt when because of His Mother's en
emies they were compelled to fly from their
own country and their own people. When
at night they slept at the feet of the mighty
Sphinx a spreading date palm had grown
over their heads. Its branches offered re
freshing shade and when they awoke in the
morning, its fruit dropping into their laps
had given an ample breakfast. A goat
with her udder full of rich milk strayed
near and they had abundance to drink.

28 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
They had journeyed on until they came to
some laborer's huts where they had received
a kindly welcome and remained until a vision
called them back to Galilee. He said that
since then, they had lived in Nazareth and
He had never left the little village except to
come to Jerusalem at the Passover. Then
He spoke of the Holy Books. His Mother
often read them to Him, especially the say
ings of David, for His father and mother
came of that princely line. His father was
a wise man in the ways of God. He could
explain what every sacred word in Holy
writ should mean to those who heard.
Martha drew a deep sigh.
"My mother loved to read to us the Holy
Books," she said eagerly: — "and she read
them often and often. We loved to hear
the prophecies about the Messiah and my
mother longed so for His coming. Even
little Mary, who was so young, remembers
our mother's look when she would tell of
the messenger whom Jehovah would send
from Heaven to free His chosen people."

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 29
A radiance flushed the Boy's pale face.
Some moments before He had noticed a lit
tle girl with tumbled hair and eyes still heavy
with sleep, creep through the curtained door
and stand rooted to the spot, drinking in his
every word.
"When did your mother die?" he asked
Martha, though He looked gently at the
younger girl.
"O, dear Guest," Martha answered, her
eyes filling with tears, "it was three years ago
and the story is so sad. You who have still
your mother and your father will pity us
who have lost them both. But my father
died long ago. Even my brother, who is
the oldest, does not remember our father.
Just as Lazarus was standing when he saw
you coming, so was my mother standing
when an old man passed by. He looked so
wayworn, so lonely and so ill that my
mother, who had a gentle heart, called him
to tarry and refresh himself. She gave him
water and food and even her pallet on which
to rest. But he had come from the desert

SO WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
with a fever. My mother died within a
week and Lazarus too was ill and for days
lay as though the hand of death had smitten
him. But I prayed and wept and told the
God of Israel that He could not take away
our brother when our mother had been
stricken because she had kept the law of
charity. "Ah! dear Guest," sobbed Martha, "You
talk of God as though you had seen Him
face to face and knew His heart. Is it sin
ful that I still grieve because my mother
was taken from her little children?"
The Boy looked at her gravely. "Your
mother taught you," he replied after a full
moment, "that the ways of God are not to
be judged by man and that His meanings
are not always clear. Your mother lost her
life to find it again. Her Heavenly Father
called her away but in her place He will
send you a Friend, One who will love and
protect you all the days of your life and be
yond this life until you meet her again."
Step by step from the curtained door, the

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 81
little girl crept toward the Boy. Coming
before Him, she raised soft appealing eyes
and asked that question which neither Laz
arus nor Martha had framed.
"What is your name, dear Stranger, that
we may know you when you come again?"
Then for the first time Lazarus and
Martha and Mary heard that name which
would evermore be for them the dearest
sound on earth.
"I am called Jesus of Nazareth," he
answered. They bowed their heads reverently and
whispered the prayer their mother had
taught them to say in holy places. After
a little, the Boy asked Lazarus whether he
would journey that > day to Jerusalem.
His host answered that he had some affairs
in the city, and proposed that they should
go together.
Little Mary fluttered round the Guest
showing him all her treasures, — bright beads
that Martha had given because they were the
most beautiful things in the mother's little

32 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
stock of treasures, a fine cotton veil threaded
with silver, and some boxes scented with
sweet spices to hold her amulets and rings.
"Mary loves those baubles," Martha ex
plained indulgently, "I am always too busy
for such things."
"Our Martha is old already," Lazarus
said, smiling on her proudly, "and she is
not yet thirteen. But I shall bring her
something pretty from the bazaar in Jeru
salem. Many caravans have come in for the
feast bringing trinkets with which women
love to deck themselves."
"Will not you bring me something also?"
cried little Mary. But the Guest and her
brother were busy with their sandals and
making ready for the journey. Martha
asked if His parents would return to Jeru
salem that day. He replied that He did
not expect them for two days yet, and she
told Him to come back with Lazarus and be
their Guest. He thanked her gravely.
Little Mary was busy with her scarfs and
her baubles and she gave the Guest only a

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 33
merry nod. With a grateful farewell to
Martha and a long, penetrating look at
Mary, the Boy went out with Lazarus and
took the road which led to the City of David.
That day and the next He passed in the
Temple. When His parents returned to
Jerusalem on the evening of the third day,
they found Him there discoursing with the
Doctors.

II
The spirit of the Lord is upon me, be
cause the Lord hath anointed me: he hath
sent me to preach to the meek, to heal the
contrite of heart, and to preach a release to
the captives, and deliverance to them that
are shut up. Isaias LXI — 1
And there were many lepers in Israel in
the time of Eliseus the prophet: and none
of them were cleansed but Naaman the
Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, hearing
these things, were filled with anger And
they rose up and thrust him out of the city:
and they brought him to the brow of the hill,
whereon their city was built, that they might
cast him down headlong. But he passing
through the midst of them, went his way. —
Saint Luke IF— 27, 28, 29, 30.

THE storm of angry voices died
away as the man walked rapidly
across the fields about Jerusalem and
upwards towards the heights. It was more
than eighteen years since He had come this
way but the fair face of nature was un
changed. As on that other journey, the
hills of Judea were a glad vision, and sum
mer's declining glory was unfolded in the
landscape. Fruit trees rejoiced the heart
in the laden branches and glossy foliage and
in the vineyards dark purple clusters
gleamed cool and inviting. Hazels and
chestnuts and walnuts had rained down from
the trees and the Man refreshed Himself,
with an occasional wild grape and the
pomegranates strayed from the gardens.
Everywhere the flowers rioted and the birds
were singing and all the brilliant insect
world of Judea was on the wing. As on
that other journey, He paused to gaze upon
37

38 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
that wondrous scene, to permit its beauty
to sink deep within His soul. "How
beautiful, O my Father, hath Thou made
the earth! In wisdom hast thou planned
it all!" But He went up quickly, for in his full
strength the Man could outstrip the timor
ous Boy. He was soon past the flowery
meadows, the waving grain fields, the vine-
covered hills and had penetrated into the
wilderness on the heights. Again He saw
the wild pass of His dream, its desolation,
its air of enfolding gloom. On the heights
the remorseless sun of summer had killed
the tender flowers, and scorched the very
shrubs and straggling underwood.
The air stale, void of life, so utterly des
olate that earth seemed like some forgotten
planet, rolling purposeless in a waste of
light. Even the birds had flown. Down
below in the garden of nuts and in the vine
yards, they warbled their sweet songs.
But on the barren heights where the good
things of life were lacking, they came not,

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 39
heedless that the Man of Sorrows pined for
their solace. With a mourning heart He
looked up to Heaven. A dull, ashen hue
overspread the sun and the earth lay throb
bing in the consuming heat. From the
clouds no benign face looked down with
compassion. He saw the Pine, indeed, its
very shadow rested on Him and anguish
oppressed His heart.
That night He slept again beside the
Tree. Again all through the silent hours
came the glorious pageant from the courts
of Heaven. The angels bore lilies in their
hands and sang glad songs. The fragrance
of those beatific flowers, the sound of those
melodious anthems, sank deep into the
Man's soul to comfort and sustain Him
against the days near at hand.
It was morning when He awoke. Again
He took the downward path to the East and
entered Bethania. The little home was
trim and well cared for as in the past. The
vines were on the trellis; the fig, the citron
and the palm tree raised strong, vigorous

40 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
branches within the court. But Lazarus
was not there to greet Him. Silently He
entered the house. At first all was still but
near the door which led into the garden He
soon heard a sound of weeping. Moving
softly He came upon Martha half kneeling,
half reclining by the garden seat, her head
upon her arms, her whole body shaking with
emotion. "What is it, little sister?" said the Man
tenderly, laying His hand upon her head.
"My Friend, My Master," answered
Martha, clinging to His knees, "my sister,
my little Mary! Save her, bring her home.
I sent you word when first she left us and
I have waited for you long."
He bowed His head. Martha feeling no
need of words, arose comforted, and began
to prepare the meal. It was presently set
before Him. While He ate, Lazarus came
in, heavy-eyed, ill-clad, listless.
"You are ill," said the Man, gazing at his
friend keenly. "Why are you troubled?
Can you not trust Me? I have promised to

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 41
be your friend and Martha's and Mary's.
You need nothing more."
When He had finished His repast He
blessed them tenderly and went out of
Bethania, "down into Capharnaum, a city
of Galilee, and there He taught."

Ill
Jesus therefore sice days before the Pasch
came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been
dead, whom Jesus raised to life.
And they made Him a supper there: and
Martha served, but Lazarus was one of
them. . . .
Mary therefore took a pound of ointment
of right spikenard, of great price, and
anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His
feet with her hair: and the house was filled
with the odour of the ointment. — Saint
John XII— 1,2,3.

IT was the day when the banquet had
been prepared in the house of Simon the
leper. The Master having come to
Bethania in the early morning, sat with
Martha and Mary in the little home which
had grown so dear.
"Come, let us walk," said Lazarus, noting
his Friend's pale face and the look of sadness
in his eyes. "The air is heavy here and the
idle speeches of the populace take all savor
from it. We will go up into the hills and
refresh ourselves."
A tender smile passed over the Master's
countenance. He had taught Lazarus to
read the face of nature and to understand
the heavenly messages from the trees and
flowers. Often they had walked the hills
together but never before had they climbed
those heights toward which the Master's feet
now turned. Earth was soft and lovely,
veiled in the vesture of Spring. Every-

45

46 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
where were the flowers, the birds and the
butterflies and gaudy insects of the hills.
"How the birds sing!" exclaimed Laz
arus, pausing to listen. "We have noticed
how they flutter about when you are near.
Mary says they never sang so sweetly be
fore you came to Judea. Hear, the hill
side is filled with melody."
The Master smiled but made no other re
ply. Lazarus walked on and was silent too.
The fields of cummin waved before them.
On the gentler slopes of the hill grew the
wheat and the rye and the barley, and in
every available spot the careful husband
man had trained his grapes. Over the
ground the tender green of the cucumber
vine was decked with yellow flowers and
the gourd climbing on a broken wall threw
fantastic shadows. Lazarus would have
talked of things which he had heard from the
Master's followers, things which oppressed
his heart and filled the future with fore
bodings. But the Master's eyes held that
seeing look, — that look of gazing on the

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 47
hidden scroll whereon the finger of God had
traced mystic letters. Those who loved
Him best never spoke when they saw that
rapt expression. The hill broke into sharp,
rough knolls and the barren rocks and
prickly verdure made the ascent wearisome.
Soon they came to the heights and near a
cypress tall and upright as the Cedars of
Lebanon, the Master said they would rest.
Lazarus gladly consented, for he was still
weak and his heart was torn with anxiety.
The Master leaned against the tree and
began to speak softly of its beauty and
how Isaias had held to scorn the idolaters
who had put its noble branches to such
ignoble usage. He loved to talk with
Lazarus about the prophets. The grand
music of their words, and their majestic
images of nature filled His soul with re
freshment. He repeated the praise which
the Son of Sirach had bestowed upon the cy
press, "which groweth up even to the clouds,"
and then, a note of sadness stealing in His
voice, He added that the Gentiles made

48 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
coffins of cypress for their worthy men.
"It is a tree of sorrow and brings the
thought of death — a tree planted by the
tomb," said the Master, His eyes straying
beyond the thorn bushes, where clear in
view, against the ravine stood the Pine.
As He spoke there arose on the air the sound
of voices, and some woodmen rough and
noisy came from the other side of the hill.
The Master watched them intently. As
the first strokes of the ax fell on the air, He
leaned toward His friend:
"Come, let us go. They are felling the
Tree." Lazarus knowing that the Master's heart
was full of compassion for every growing
thing, believed only that He pitied the
doomed Pine. He took up the staff and
they began to descend. For many paces,
echoed the rude laugh of the woodmen, the
sound of the ax — then the crash of the
Tree. The Master's face was lined with anguish.
Lazarus gazed on Him appalled. They

WHEN HE DWELT WITH US 49
stopped at the first door and craved a
gourd of water from a little child playing
near. The Master drank deeply and bless
ing the child, passed on. Without a glance
towards the darkening heights He walked
rapidly back to Bethania and with His
friend went to the house where the banquet
had been prepared.
Six days after this last journey to the
hills, the Master crossed the Brook of Ced-
ron with His disciples, and went into the
Garden. Under the glory of the Paschal
moon it lay calm and holy. The cedars
reared lofty branches and the olives gleamed
silver white. Aloes filled the air with
perfume and the golden heart of the lily
throbbed in a chalice of snow. The rose
of Sharon bloomed as when Solomon sang
her praises and all about were the flowers
He knew and loved. The Master's eye
rested on the scene and read the cryptic
meaning. "A garden enclosed, a fountain
sealed up. Thy plants are a paradise of
pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard.

50 WHEN HE DWELT WITH US
Cyprus with spikenard. Spikenard and
saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all
the trees of Libanus, myrrh and aloes with
all the chief perfumes." * He saw the end
of the drama when the timorous disciple
would bring a wealth of aromatic gum and
sweet spices.
When He had talked with those clustered
about Him, He went forward to pray.
The compassionate eyes of Jesus looked on
earth's beauty no more. That night in the
Garden, the olive leaves drooped down to
comfort, the lily wept, the rose turned pale
with anguish. But after the Angel bearing
the chalice had sped down the luminous way,
His eyes saw only the Divine.
• Canticle of Canticles iv, 12, 13, 14.

4389