The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-12-10
Ghildrru's Column,
The Child Jesus.

L liz O4AAAN% OSS~O'
Il wonder what the Lord Jesus really
did when he was child?' said Willie,
one Sunday evening just before Christmas
so do I, said Katie; and wish
the Bible had told us more about Him
whether He went to school or not, wheth-
er he ever played, or whether he was
always quiet and thoughtful. "
A good many people have felt the
same wish, aunt Kate answered; but
rs God has not seen fit to tell us more, we
NAV be sure there is some very good rea-
SON why we should not have our curiosity
crati6ed. Still, we do'know something
about the childhood of our Lord, and the
few notices we have teach us a great
deal.
lie didn't go to school, I suppose "
Katie said; because the Jews asked,
How knoweth this man letters, having
never learned? John vii. Is.
Did Jesus never learn His letters?'
asked Polly, with some surprise.
Well, the Jews did not mean that
Jesus had never learned the alphabet,
Aunt Kate said, but that he had not
been taught in any of the schools Of the
rabbis; and they were surprised, not at
His being able to read but at His know
ingso much about the Scriptures Wheth-
er he went to school at Nazareth or not
I can't say, for the Bible tells us nothing
about it.
At any rate, suppose he used to help
Joseph at his work, Willie said; and
that proves that He must have been some
thing like other boys.
Il have no doubt that in a great
many ways Jesus was like other boys,
only we can never think of His being idle
or disobedient, or any thing else wrong.
Very likely He did work at Josephs
trade, for the people called Him the car
penter's son; and st. Mark tells US that
once they asked, Is not this the car
penter? ?"
And don't we know any thing else
about the Lord when He was child 2
asked Polly.
Eyes, there is another text which sure
ly you will remember, that tells us
what He did after Mary had found Him
disputing with the doctors in the temple.
He went home with Mary and Joseph,
and did what they told Him, Willie
said.
Katie had found the placein st. Luke,
and read :-"' And He went down with
them, and came to Nazareth, and was
subject unto them; but His mother kept
all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus
increased in wisdom and in stature, and
in favor with God and man.
And so, said Aunt Kate, " though
we know hardly any thing else about the
Lords childhood, we do know that He
was always obedient and gentle, setting
an example to the boys and girls Of Naz-
areth, and not only to them, but to all
children in all parts of the world.
Il don't wonder that everybody loved
Jesus when He was child, said Willie,
' for He must have been so good. But
then it was easy for Him to be good, and
it's very hard for US.
Yes but, Willie, you know that he
who was once child and had to pass
through all the temptations of childhood,
knows how hard it is for you to be good,
and if you ask Him, He Will help you so
that you may be like Him, and as you
grow bigger and wiser you may also in
crease in favor with God and man.
And as we think of the Saviour, let us
remember why He was born into this
world, and lived and died for us. 1t was
to make us pure and holy and to save us
from our sins. Come, let us thank Him
for His love. And Aunt Kate prayed.
s. s. V1Stor.