The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-02-06

DRY OF the Boy.
When in Nazareth / found q car
pehter shop Of the old style, wherein
WOrkmen sat on the floor. and using
both hands and feet, made %agricultu-
raj implements. Doubtless, the car
uenter Joseph did not build tables and
chairs and window-frames and doors
His work was largely upon ploughs-I
winch were little more than an iron
shod bit Of timber-and upon vOkes
and spade handles. The CARPENTER
VINO made his living out Of an agri-
cultural population knew full we'll
what It meant when he said, M
yoke is easy
n chips OF the floor Of Joseph's
carpenter shop Were the first toys Of
the boy Jesus. Work was the natural
atmosphere Of his life. He grew I'D
accustomed to help in all possible
ways about the workshop which pro-
Vlded the family income. That the
modern son of prosperous parents is
not learning to work with his hands.
and is not under obligation to do any
regular tasks is one OF the llr1enta-
BILE defects in our modern scheme OF
life.
The Carpenter.
This is h only lesson upon the
training in Nazareth that we shall
nave, and we cannOt torego musing
upon the Carpenter. Every person
who has meditated upon the life Of
Jesus has pointed out that it was not
as a king or as a philosopher or as a
soldier that Jesus came, but as a
member Of the great army of the
common people. a W~Orkingman. Mr..
Robert e.. Speer is fond of quoting an
old English poem, the s%oliloquy of a
carpenters:
Isn't this Joseph's SOM Ave, It is
He,
'IOCGnh tho q a YVNnIfnr' - O., r, "a {ra1,
as me!
] thought as I'd find it, I knew it was
here,
But my sights getting queer.
Il don't know right where as His shed
might ha' stood,
But often as I've been a%-planing my
wood,
I've took off my hat Just with think
ing of He
At the same work as me.
He warn't that set Up that He
couldn't stoop down
, And work in the country for folks In
the town,
And I'll warrant He felt q bit pride,
, like I've done,
At a good job begun.
J Il thinks OF rs how not the parson
- 1851
= AS is teacher and father and shepherd
Of men.
Not he knows as much OF the Lord ir
that shed,
: Where He earned His own bread
The Boy at Church.
All that the country boys first visit
to the city means to a youngster now.
adays, and far more, the journey tt
r Jerusalem which the boy Jesus made
n in this twelfth year meant to him. I
d was a great event not only because O
IS the new experiences involved. and be
y cause OF the adventure OF it all. bu
e also because he had become a "son O
e the law" and obliged to join with hi
n parents and neighbOrs in the yearl,
II pilgrimage to the Passover feast. Thi
e was the great social and religion
event OF the year. Groups Of friend
: and neighbors set out at the sam,
time for the journey. 1t was all sim
n pie and primitive, and so diferen
Re from our modern travel that w
9 scarcely can understand it. Now tina
a railways are threading Palestine an
h the old ways are departing, it will b
l more difficult than ever to viSualiz
n this company of peasants trampin
IF so%ngfully over the hills, most Of ther
is afoOt, a few OF donkeyS and all i'm
lie peded with very little luggage. Thei
&, own simple wants, and the hospitalit
OF the time, made travel a matter G
30 no great expense or difficulty.
in We can imagine the boy Jesus stray
~ ing from the caravan; watching tn
sc darling yards admiring the luStrOu
Of Velvety black Of the native fowe
lie which is today called Aaron's Roc
h. studying the clumps and hedges {
"a cactus; watching with Wide-eyed il
r terest the sinking jackal, and enjoy
sc ing the new faces and interests
u every Wayside halt. While the grow
ed folk gathered about the daily fire an
d, exchanged news, he listened in wild
ne cared silence. His sweet voice jOine
er with enthusiasm in the chanting
an the appropriate Psalms OF Ascent,
ce they drew near the Holy City.
Nc eyes looked more eagerly or
wonderingly upon the great temple
lis they saw it glistening in the sunligE
and as they entered the borders OF i
- 10000 4AA 4h4a Aanatioad Lax