The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-21

and stature, and in favor with EoQ
and men, Luke 2-52.
BY WILLIAM n. ELLIS.
I'm the two hundred and hfty-four
words which the Sunday schools
are to study we have all that me
world knows of thirty years OF
80 the life of histOrys most eminent
Character, from the days i'm His
infancy to His appearance in pubic
l1te- How meagre it seems to US along
side of other biographies winch de-
vote chapter after chapter to the I'M
portant and critical formative period
Of life The brief glimpse that we
have of the bOyhOOd of Jesus, now
ever. is as revealing is a flash OF nght-
ming from a dark sky. While the heart
covets more in the way of details con-
corning this most wonderful or all
boyhOods. yet the judgment atfrms
that sufficient particulars have Deen
given.
The story begins with an epitome OF
a boys life. And the child grew, ana
waxed strong, filled with wisdom. ana
The grace of God was upon Him ne
order of the words is suggestive OF the
way every boys life should grow
While the legends that center about
the bOyhOOd of Jesus should be reject
ed-mOst of them reject themselves
by their righteousness IS d
proper place for the use of reVerent
Imagination. but it never should tran
scend the limit of the statements here
recorded and of the known character
and environment of Jesus. We nave
abundant evidence that He was a
wholesome healthy, natural. winsome
boy, living the ordinary life of a Jew
ish child i'm a WOrkingman home
That His character was of an unusual
j. serious cast, goes without saying
A Glimpse Of a Home.
This home of which the boy Jesus
was a member was such as i'm every
time are the mainstays of nation s
greatness Industry, love and religion
we're there. 1t was splendid soil for
the growing of the fundamental viz
tues: just as today the majority OF the
leaders of men spring from the homes
OF plain people and serve ther HrsL
apprenticeship I'm the school of self
denial and toll
Religion meant much in this home.
Every year the father and mother traV-
elcd the eighty miles from Nazareth
to Jerusalem to share in the great an
nual feast of the Passover which COM
memOrated the GeliVerance of the He
brew first-bOrn i'm Egypt from the
sword of the DESTROYING angel The
Old Testament was the one supreme
handbook of education and life. The
book of nature. also, was an open and
beloved volume to the Boy. as we may
know from His later reference to the
life of the field and farm and sky and
sea. He was Open-eyed, also to the
significance and beauty of the simple
life of the plain people, with whom
His lot was cast
The Oriental child ripens several
years sooner than the more sluggish
offspring of the west. At twelve a
Jewish boy became ''sOn of the law, 3"
and began to assume religious respOn-
sibilities along with his elders. Then
it was that Jesus went up to Jerusa-
lem. To us He seems very young at
that time; yet it is to be remem bered
that the period of dependence is being
steadily prolonged in youth. Today
the favored boy is supported by his
family until he has reached the legal
&c, and often long beyond that point.
He does not early learn to stand on his
own feet Not to be piued is that boy
Who early learns to put his shoulder
under burdens and responsibilities.
A Boys Will
ON this memorable visit to Jerusa-
lem Jesus tarried behind, after the
neighbOrs had started for home: lust
as one boy fingers over the machinery
exhibit at a fair and another before
the display of guns and fishing tackle
Where a boys natural tendency first
iuclines is one of the secrets which his
parents should early discover. Mary's
perpleXity has come to almost every
parent since. i'm supposing her Child
to be in one place. when he was some
where else; fortunate are they whose
sons are as nObly inclined as the boy
Jesus.
Probably the Nazareth caravan wa.
encamDed for the night before it was
discovered that Jesus was not in the
large company. with any of the friend.
or relatives. CONSERVATION seizeC
upon Joseph and Mary and they re.
turned to Jerusalem with the break n
day. Tt was not until the day follow.
ing that they finally discovered him
after long and anxious search Their
they were destined to learn great les
sons that are hard for even the bes
IF nov araH 70 So Fl-l-
mere fragment of his mothers life. II,
Is an independent personality. a bow
VIII is the winds will. and the thought
of youth are long. long thoughts"
Where Artists Fail
The scene that broke upon Mary
gaze has been a favorite theme for tn
brush of artists. None of them no
even Hoffman. has attained unto tn
reality of il. There, in the midst o
the grave and reverend doctors of tn
law sat the youth from despised Cali
lee. Open-eyed. alert intent his sen
sitiEe features alive with interest. TIL
boy Jesus sat in the midst of the com
pany of teachers i'm a court of the TEN
pie listening to them as they expound
ed the law Most of the picture
make him the teacher. with the age
men as listeners; there is nothing il
the record to warrant this. Jesus wa
not that sort of boy. He was listen
ing and asking questions. He sat a
the feet of those learned in His Faith
er's book
And what questions must bav
thronged to His active brain,-ques
tons concerning the history of Hi
people, but most of all questions con
corning the Messiah, who He mus
then have known to be Himself. on
can scarcely entertain a thought Z
the time when Jesus did not have som
intimatiOn of His Deity and mission
The delight of the rabbis in the sler
and intelligent boy must have bee
keen indeed, although it is possibl
that among them were some VII
should later join the chorus CRYING fo
his crucidxion. They. in turn. aslre
Him questions. SO impressed We're the
by His interest and knowledge.
The Mothers Reproof.
Mary knew Jesus best of ali. vet sb
was a long time in learning that n
was more than her Son. It is hard ia