Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-13
ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF TIE GOSPELS.
by JULES LENAlIRE.

'''tiN - 'i' fAtAh bNHhTs MfAi ffNNANh
with straw 10 keep him warm. Joseph
watched, seated on the side OF n cart.
Day was beginning TO dawn, and a
pale light was streaming in through
the chinks Of the badly Joined door.
man opened the door. entered and
said to Joseph:
What are you doing here?"
Joseph stammered. The man con-
tinued
II am Muens Naslca. the proprietor
of this stable"
Joseph rose politely. and pointing to
Mary and the sleeping babe. he ex-
planned that. having found himself
without any shelter in the middle Of
the night, and his young wife being
quite near her term. he had not
thought 1t any harm to take refuge in
stable, which was not locked and APP
peared abandoned
1T is all right" said Niucius "but
you ought at least 10 have asked my
leave first"
Alas! how could have done so?"
That, my friend, Is your AFFAIR. How
ever since you are here. remain as
lcnE as you require"
You Will not regret your charity"
said Joseph. for this little child Is the
OH said Mucius, that Is nothing
to me; | am a Roman Citizen
And he went out saying:
7 repeat, however, Tint you ought
to have asked my leave"
Mucius was the son Of centurion,
and had come into Palestine In the
suite OF Il Roman procurator. After
his release from service, he had bought
farm tho 1pnI In IanfhlahpTl
Being active and Intelligent. he added
to the farm n roadside inn and a shop.
in which he sold stuffs. groceries and
kitchen utensils He was married to a
Greek. "a brisk, pleasant woman who
was Il great help to him in his various
occupations. He Travelled often, either
to sell the produce IT his harVcsts IN
the towns OF Iudea or Ia purchase his
merchandise In them. And he was.
Furthermore. u man uf probity with
great respect for the laws and the
prophecies.
Twelve years after the birth Of
Jesus Mucius happened TO be In Je-
rusalem al the time Of the feast of
the Passover He met in Il street Of
the city the man and woman he had
nrbored, somewhat in spite OF him
self, in the stable Of bethlehem, and
he recognized them easily,
Joseph was very much agitated, end
Mary was weeping. He asked them
the cause of their anxiety and VeNa-
ton.
1T is" replied Joseph, "hecausc we
have lost our little boy. We thought
at first that he was with his com
pnnions We have been searching
everywhere the whole day among our
friends and acquaintanccs, but not
having found him, we have returned
to Jerusalem
What u giddy child lie must De!
remarked Mucius,
He offered to assist them in their
search for Jesus. They discovered him
al last in the temple, where the child
was seated In the midst OF the doctors
and was astonishing these graybeards
by the fashion in which he was eN-
planning the Scriptures TO them. .
Well" said Mucius to himself, ITS
easy to sec that that youngster isn't
| much troubled with modcsty,'
Mary, full Of JOY and all hnr an
ruish forgotten, said mildly to Jesus:
"Thou hast troubled us much, my
son. Behold, for three days have thy
| father and ] been seeking thee"
The little one. In no way moved. re-
WHY did YOU seek me? Did you not
| know that l must employ myself in the
/ business of my nther|
| Mary made no reply but she turned
aside to hide the tears that mounted
TO her eyes anew. And Mueius said
very loudly;
what a very assuming boy! and
how very badly he has been brought
up"
! Eighteen years later, as Muclus wa,
| debarking i'm one of the ports Of tn,
/ sea OF Galtlee. he saw on the strant
] In az mi
hair OF q reddish shade and dressed IL
/ a white robe OF coarse wool. He was
| followed by a band Of persons poorly
| clad and seemed TO be their chief. Tn,
/ Roman inquired who he was. IL,
| learned that this young man was tn,
son of Joseph and Mary; that he was
much spoken Of In the country; that h'
| preached new religion and predicted
! the Kingdom of God.
1.-THE Kingdom of God2 What /.
| that2" unused Mucius.
At this moment a man approached
| Jesus and told him that his mother ant
| brethren were calling for him.
"Who are my mother ana brethren
replied the young prophet,
"Oh, / know him now" said Muclus
/ ut Is surely he. ! would know hin
anywhere by that sign"
Meanwhile. two fishermen In a boa
moored TO the quay We're busy mendinl
their nets. Jesus advanced towards
/ them.
flames and John. sons of zebedec
follow me-" And James and John fol
| lowed him. An old man, their father
remained alone at the bottom OF tn,
boat.
Clearly" said Mucius to himself
that man IL not rich, and he liz incap
| able of working, Who will supper
! him? and what is going TO become Of
! MIN without his children"
! But Jesus, accompanied by Jamei
and John, having walked awhile OF
! the strand, met n young man apparent
1 ly overwhelmed by some profound
/ grief.
Follow me-" he said 10 him.
Master" he said. my father IL dead
I Permit me first To go and bury him."
! Let the dead" commanded Jesus
( bury the dead: and do thou announc,
/ the Kingdom Of God"
II should have believed" though
/ Mucius. that for son to bury hi.
/ father was a rather important duty"
But continuing 20 lend an ear h,
I heard Jesus say
Because OF me the brother shall
\ deliver his brother to death. and tn,
father his child"
what fanatlcisml" murmured Mu
I cius These men are mad. But how
strange is the ascendancy this Jesui
has over themv'
Some time after This Afucius was in
vlted to the wedding feast OF one oi