The Press., 1892-02-18

power ln heaven or earth Dy which hu- manity can be protected from it's curse so long as men, rulers, the people permit 1t to be made and sold. Total prohibition of the whole liquor business is the high- est need of the, civilized world to-day. 4
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 tFrom s.The opon Court" chioago) :. |BEN-MIDRASH, THE GARDENER
 OF GALILEE.
 It is now many hundred years, almost two thousand years ago, when there was 6 gardener living in Galilee by the lake- side, who raised fine grapes, figs, peach-5 es, and all kinds of good fruit, and also flowers. The gardeners name was Ben Midrash, and he was an industrious man who worked hard, and all his heart was in his work
 It happened about that time that a prophet arose in Gatilee, who was called Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus went about the country preaching and saying: "Re- pent, for the Kingdom of heaven Is at hand, and his fame went throughout all Syria. Ben -Midrash had friend whose name was Zebedee, and Zebedee was a fisher Zebedee had two sons, whom he named James and John. One evening Ren-Mid- rash was watering the. trees and the vines in his vineyard, when Zebedee entered and said: .'Be glad in the Lord and re- joice with me, for my old days shall see the glory of my sons. I was sitting yes- terday with my sons on the ship mending my nets, and Jesus of Nazareth passed Eby. He saw us, and watched my boys for sone time, and when they looked up to him and greeted him with the holy word Ehalornle lecha, Peacs be with you, Ae fsaid unto them FoIIoW 1nr xnd Is swilt tmake you fishers Of men.' And my sons Immediately left the ship and mo, and followed him.
 Said Ben-M Midrash to Zebedee: "What tsayest thou? Thou rejoieest at the be- havior of thy boys who have left their father in his old age, following the voice of some unknown prophetp Jesus of Nazareth may be false prophet. The scribe of our synagogue has warned nae not to listen to the speech of this man,
 Said Zebedee: "Thou didst never hear Jesus of Galilee speak to the people. If thou hadst heard him speak, thou wonldst not say that which thou dost say. Thou wouldst know that he Is Christ, and the ttime will come when he will be the king of Israel, and my sons will share all the glory of his kingdom" Said en-Midrash: "Thou art fool to be merry on account of 8 misfortune that has befallen thee. Jesus of Naza- |reth confoundeth the souls of men. He has oonfounded also the souls of James land John, thy sofs.s
 Since this day Zebedee and BenJMid- rash ceased to be friends. e l And it happened that Jesus came into that region of the country near the sea oi
 Galilee, and multitudes went out to hear his voice and to listen to the speech o1
 his mouth, and Zebedee went also, bnt
 his heart was full of misgivings, snd he said unto himself: "This man is, g., de.
 ceiver." But when Jesus opened his
 mouth and spoke his blessings oyer, the
 poor in spirit, over those that mourn
 over the meek, over. those that hunger
 and thirst aftel righteousness, over ths Imerciful, the pure in heart, the peace
 makers, and over those that are prose lcated for righteousness, sake, he grew Ichaerfnl and forgot all his misgivings. 4 Estrange joy came over him, and he fell I light as if he had shaken of all. the bur
 dens of his soul. He now understood thu l power that had drawn James and John t6
 this wonderful man. Il Jesus spoke about the fulfilment of tn, law, he spoke about the perfection O
 God, and about the Kingdom of God, ant I all the words of Jesus were like music itt his ears. Jesus warned the people o false prophets, and said: .Ye ,shal ! know them by their fruits. Domen gath CT grapes of thorns or figs of thistles 4 Igood tree cannot bring forth evil fruit lnalther can 8 corrupt tree bring fortl good fruit"
 When Ben Midrash heard Jesus. speai , Of fruit, he thought of his garden q home, and said to himself This mal speaketh of things of which he knowetl X nothing. And bitterness came over Ben ! IMidrash's s soul, and he listened no longc :. to the words of Jesus, but vent away fal f Iof indignation.
 Ben Mtdrash,s garden was sheltered b, ,i . strong hedge of thorns, and he wen about and cut on with \ sharp knife stalk thereof. He egrafted tho twig of ], sweet vine into the stem of the cut-oi [ thorn and took good care of 1t.
 Some tiIne had passed, and the inccu ; lated thorn commenced to blossom an < Ito bear fruit And lo1 the blossoms yer 5 blossoms Of the vlner and the fruits prom ; slissd to become good sweet grapss.
 9 One morning in tho fall Ben. ltdraa , stood at the gate before his gAsdea lool : ing It the grapes which hs 4xpsetsd | ' gathet from his thorn, and hs said mt N himself; Now I know in truth 'thi