Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-01-09
PALESTINE LEeENDs OF CHRIST
The Christ Child at Play with Judas
(conected BY Selma Largeloef.)

COLLECTED by Selma Largeioef.)
One day, in the year 8, the Christ
child Was found sitting on the thres-
hold of his fathers carpenter shop in
Nazareth. forming cuckoo birds out
OF some clay which an earthernware
maker living opposite had given him
Jesus was happy, indeed. for The
children had warned him time and
again that the potter was disagree
able man who would be cajoled Meth
er by honeyed words nor sweet looks.
None of the youngsters ever dared
ask him for things.
Yet--the Christ child hardly knew
how 1t happened-he merely went to
the neighbor's shop and stood there,
looking in watching work and mater
ial with longing eyes, when the art'-
san, as II by sudden impulse. left his
bench and turned over TO him enough
clay to make 3 foot water jug.
On the doorstep OF The house ad-
Joining that of Joseph, the carpenter.
sat another little boy. a red haired. ill
favored child with face full OF
scratches and marks. His clothes We're
torn In half dozen places the re
suit of constant fighting with The
widest boys in town. For the time
being young Judas was keeping TO
himself. as there was no one about to
tease or injure Besides, he. too. was
working some bird etiigies, Jesus nav
ing divided with his comrade the clay
the potter gave him
As one after another was finished.
the children placed the birds in
semicircle around them, and soon 1t
became apparent that the Christ
child's work proceeded at a merrier
pace than the others for most oi
Judas birds refused To stand upright.
tumbling and falling. 10 the lasting
injury of beak and wings.
With every bird finished the Chris
child's happiness Increased, because
he thought each preitier than the
oIher, and regarded all with pride ana
love. They shall be my playmates,
ne nuseus oNhh Sleep III NY Uth ahH
help me sing when mother and father
are away and ! feel lonesome. All.
with these new friends shall never
feel lonesome again"
Occasionally passers-by stopped to
look at the handsome child. Their
was Peter, the water carrier, as tall
as he was good nuiured. He laid his
hand caressingly on the little ones
blonde head and inquired how his
cuckoos were getting along.
Just what wanted to ask cried
the grecngroeer halting his ass. on
whose back he sat enthroned among
empty wicker baskets.
oh they are line birds, smiled
The Christ child. mailing from lar
away countries and knowing many
strange things. Stories they tell and
songs they sing. so sweet and On,
trancing; never heard their like he
fore: neither did you, reckon"
And when, after awhile, his big
friends started to go. the ,nrist child
said: But thou burst not neglect to
look across the way. My little com.
rade there has cuckoos just as good
as my own"
The water carrier merely gave Ju-
das' birds a single look, but the green
grocer. who was a singularly good.
natured man, tried 10 make friends
with the red-haired boy "Dldst thou
name the birds yst?" he asked And
do they tell stories like tnese here"
Judas refused TO answer; maybe h.
did not know what to say.
The afternoon passed, and gradual.
ly the sun sank so low its rays came
creeping under the archway of the
mean city gate surmounted by Ro-
man eagle that stood at the streei
end. The rays of the setting sun
were pink as roses and generous as
the good Lord. They painted the pot
ter's ugly wares, the plank groaninp
under Joseph's busy saw and e
linen cloth framing Marys head Ana
the rainwater puddles between the
cobbestones. they filed with a mix.
ture OF gold, scarle, and azure. No
painter could wish for more glo
rious combination on his palette.
Observing the sun rays work. the
Christ child put his tiny nand in the
nearest puddle. MY cuckoos will
look all the better for some purple
and gold" he argued, ioyously. Aud
10! the sunbeams allowed themselves
to be caught by those tiny fingers
aud presently the cuckoos shone like
gold.
Judas could not suppress a shout OF
delight when he saw his comrades 5
achievement. Placing his hand into
puddle, he tried TO gather gold for
his own birds: but, nimble as he was.
the sunlight slipped through his nm.
gers and Judas cuckoos remained
gray and unadorned
The Christ child witnessed the
neighbors Ill success with regret.
t.At