St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1906-01-13

81 !; j; :: :: :: :: !:
NNXxEIJ the father of the
m6M NJ carpenter, whose
s20AAN ~ little stone shop
S>SsN&sSN&SA could be seen from
the rear door and
where he labored from morning till
night that there might be bread to
feed his hungry little flock. Before
the open door little boy Of five or
six years is playing, and trotting
around the room after the mother as
she bustles about her work in prepar-
alton for the evening meal is girl
Of three or four, while sleeping in the
crude cradle in one corner of the room
is the baby, the JOY and delight and
pride of the home. A glad shout from
the boy playing about the door causes
the mother to turn and she greets with
a sweet smile a sturdy boy of nine as
he enters. Setting down on the low
shelf the small jar Of goats milk which
he had brought, he stoops and takes
up the little girl, who with a cry of de-
light had left her mothers side and
ran towards him.
Helping mamma make the cakes?"
he asked, patting her cheeks. That's
right. We all need to help"
YES" spoke up James, who had fol-
lowed his brother iSto the house, I'm
going to learn to take care of the goat
When l get little bigger, amt
mammal" and he drew himself up be-
side the older boy to show how tall
he was growing.
$50 you shall, James," responded his
brother, encouragingly. Hello, there's
the BABY" he exclaimed as the little
one began to squeal, and putting his
sister down, he went over to the crib.
At sight of him she began to laugh
and eco, and soon all four children
were in a merry romp on the floor.
The mother glanced out of the door
way and noting that tue sun was near
the upper rim of the western hills
and would soon have set, she hastily
took her water jar and started for the
we'll, bidding the boy Jesus take care
of the children while she was gone.
1t was an animated scene about the
gushing fountain at this hour OF the
day, and the busy clatter Of the
tongues of the women gathered there,
mingled with the drip and splash and
murmur of the waters. To Mary 1t was
a sacred place, for it was here that
early one morning years before the
angel Of the Lord had appeared to her
and told her that of her was to be
born the Son of God. the hope Of
Israel. That was nearly ten years
ago now, but she had never come to
the fountain since without feeling that
she was in the very presence of God.
She could not enter into the idle talk
and gossip of her neighbors and sell
dom fingered, save on occasion when
she was alone, or when she would in
quire after some sick one or speak
some word of comfort. And had it
not been for her sweet, sympathetic,
loving, helpful nature, which made her
a benediction and blessing to those
among whom she dwelt, she would
have been called exclusive and proud,
but as it was her quiet reserve and
dignity had won for her their defer
ence and profound respect. Something
in the deep thoughtfulness of the eye,
and the gentle, though firm, bearing
of the woman told those with whom
she came in contact that she lived
largely in a world of her own; that
she had thoughts and experiences not
common to others, and no one seemed
disposed to trespass on the sacred
ground.
On this particular day the women
gathered at the fountain were SO alb
sorbed in their discussion that they
did not observe Mary's approach and
she had filed her jar and was turning
to go when they called to her.
"Whither away so fast, Mary?
Canst thou not tarry one brief moment
to chat with thy neighbors?'' child
ed one of the women, who had been
eagerly RECALLING the others with some
bit of gossip which had come to her
ears. and which she was anxious to tell
again.
'Our rabbi has just returned from
Jerusalem with, strange story she
ran on excitedly, and the other women
pressed close, to again hear the tale,
while Mary, posing her water pot
gracefully upon her head, waited. He
found the doctors Of the temple search
ing diligently through the writings of
the prophets for the promises of the
Messiah, for one Of the chief men of
Bethlehem had but short time be-
fore come to Jerusalem declaring that
one of his shepherds had told him how
years before in answer to q strange
midnight vision he and his compan-
ions had gone to Bethlehem and had
there seen babe whom the angels APP
pearing in the vision had proclaimed
rs the one who should come as Is
raels hope. But all trace OF the child
has been lost, and the learned doctors
Of the law are seeking If there be any
word of the prophets which would
throw light upon the story"
Mary started visibly ct tie words,
and almost sent the jar upon her head
dashing to the ground, but her agita-
ton was unobserved by the others, so
absorbed we're they In the story. Quick
" recovering herself, she asked,
quietly:
And what think the doctors Of the
story? Do they believe Messias hath
GOMEZ
..Nay, rabbi declareth that they have
already proved out Qf the words Of
the prophets that the story OF the
shepherds cannot be true, for Christ