The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25

cart wheel, in the centre OF which a
hole has been cut. through which the
water is raised by a bucket and rope to
the surface. The stone is kept clean
and well polished by the kisses of pill
grims.
The story is that the Wise Men as
they trudged along the road in the
gathering twilight sat down on the mar
gin of this well to rest. They stopped
forward to draw some water to drink
! when they saw in the mirrorlike sur
| face the star. They looked towards
the heavens and then, In the words of
the Scripture:
'Lo, the star which they saw In the
east went before them, until 1t came
and stood over where the young child
was"
The Plain OF the Shepherds.
| It was not far from here that L
caught my first sight of the field where
the shepherds lay that same night
when they saw the star. 1t Is said to
be the one which was owned by Boa2,
upon which Ruth cleaned her wheat.
1t lies across the valley to the east of
Bethlehem. There is a little village In
front of It, and a part of the field Is
covered with an olive grove. saw the
sheep feeding upon it, and as I rode to
which were being driven to the Jeru-
salem markets. They We're of the fat
tailed variety, some Of their tails
weighing, I venture, fifteen pounds
! each.
They were owned by shepherds
dressed in long gowns and wearing
handkerchiefs about their heads as
turbans. Some Of the shepherds Wore
sheepskins, and 1t is>probable that they
were clad much the same as those who
! followed the star There Is a chapel
now In the Field of the Shepherds. and
for centuries a church and a monastery
stood on the spot.
Judas Iscariot.
Soon after leaving Jerusalem we pass
a hill, where, the guide says, stood the
building In which Judas Iscariot sold
| his Lord for thirty pieces Of silver. The
/ site is at the left of the road, and not
far away is an old olive tree, upon
which the ignorant pilgrims are told
! Judas hanged himself in his remorse
/, after the crucifiXion.
Going onward about four miles from
! Jerusalem ecome to a building which
has Just received fresh coat of white
| wash. 1t is known as the tomb of Ra-
| chael, and II covers spot where she
/ is said to be buried. 1t is not far from
it that David had his fight with Goliath.
the tenfoot- high giant OF the Scrip
4 lures. am not sure as to the local
/ ity, but there are stones there to-day.
and plenty of ammunition for the sings
= of numerous Davids. Indeed there is
hardly field on the hills Of Judea
which is not covered with stones of
one size or another, and the shepherds
use sings to this day
The Field OF Peas.
And speaking of stones remins me
of the Field of Peas, which lies not
far from Bethlehem. 1t is tract on
the side Of hill, upon which the rocks
are so thick that II planted to corn
I YOU would have to carry earth to
I cover the grains, AS the story goes.
our Lord was passing here when He
saw man sowing grain, He stopped
and asked him what he was sowing.
4 The man replied Stones" and there
upon the seed peas In his bag turned to
/ stones, and all that he had sown did
the same, Some of the stones now on
the field are gathered up and peddled
to pilgrims as relics
had one such peddler follow me
| half the way from Jerusalem to Beth
| leAem, He was turbaned Syrian boy.
on donkey, who had to gallop to keep
up with my carriage, To this the dom
key objected, and the boy kept him up
to his work with a stick as long as It
husking pig and equally sharp. He
inserted this under the saddle behind
him, and then, using 1t as lever,
] pulled on the other end of the peg,
Forcing Its sharp point into the animals
iiesh AT every such pull the donkey
kicked up Its heels and Increased It's
|" speed. tho Long, full-trousered legs Of