The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-14


ped, at loss to explain. See, He is
coming toward us!" he added, point
ing to a youth who was advancing. 1t
was as If he had said, II have no
words beautiful enough to describe
Him. Look, and judge for yourself"
CHANGING curiously at Him, Levi
saw that the boy whose approach
was arousing so much interest, was
little older than himself perhaps
fifteen years of age-tall, slender and
graceful. When He drew nearer and
Levi could see His face, he riveted
his eyes upon it as if spellbound, so
marvelously sweet and loving was it..
Samuel broke through the crowd,
ran towards Jesus, and grasped His
arm confidingly. "Oh, tell my father
that did not do it," he begged He
doth wish to believe me, bur he can
not" and again he began to sob con-
vulsively.
Jesus took the boys dirty little
hand into His. Together they went
back to Jacob, the rest crowding
very near, ever eager to see the end.
Poor jacob" Jesus exclaimed, see
ing the fathers distress. But why
dost thou accuse Samuel of having
stolen the missing shekels? Several
months ago he promised thee never
again to take what is not his, and he
hath ever been boy of his word"
Gratefully Samuel smiled up into
his defenders face and clasped His
hand more tightly. Jacob was reliev-
ed to find that Jesus believed in his
sons innocence.
But he did steal once before-from
Aaron. 1t was last autumn. Hast
Thou forgotten?" said the boy who
had before insisted on this point.
While this conversation was being
carried on Levi had not for an instant
taken his eyes from Jesus face; and,
unobserved by the others, Jesus now
turned and looked straight into those
bright black eyes. Levi blushed and
looked miserable. He started for
ward, checked himself, and then, after
a moments hesitation, stepped to-
ward Jacob and said distinctly and
loud enough to- be heard by all: ia
cob, it was l who stole thy neighbor' s
money! Here it is. Take it, and re.
turn it unto him. l crept into the
shop whilst Samuel was laughing and
talking with an old man-Joseph,
think that thou didst call him. If
thou wilt, give the stripes to me in
stead of thy son.
| Tntnnco Gil
fession. For a full minute no one
spoke or moved. Jacob broke the
spell by taking SamuePs hand into
his and saying tenderly, Come, my
son." He led him homeWard. 1t
would be hard to tell which of those
two were the happier; the father, any
parent would say-the son, any boy.
One by one the men dispersed after
having cost contemptuous glances at
Levi. The children shrank away
awed, they new not why, and per-
haps little disappointed that no one
had been beaten. Unflinching, Levi
watched them, his head raised high,
his eyes blazing.
AS the last boy scampered down
the street, Levi turned to find Jesus
standing near him. Instantly the
naughty look faded from his sun
Drowned face. After having proudly
defied the crowd, he stood ashamed
before a boy of his own age. He hung
his head and nervously dug the soft
sandy soil with the toe of his sandal,
watching the process intentIy, pre-
tending to be much interested in the
hole he was making. Before he had
found courage to speak, or even to
glance up, Jesus laid a gentle hand
on his shoulder. Thou didst tell the
truth bravely," He said. 1T is easy
to do wrong. 1t is hard TO make
atonement
With surprised and grateful
smile, Levi looked into the face bent
close to his. A moment later Jesus
was gone. Levi watched Him as He
walked slowly down the street and
disappeared at length into one of the
smallest of the square, fat-roofed
houses of the village
| HAIc0u years Slu0u Dy, ana Lew
neither saw nor heard more of Jesus.
He never again went to Nazareth:
his old friends there visited him no
more. Many and many time he had
wished that they had given him any
number of stripes on that never-for-
gotten day; that they had whipped
him, and then been willing to forget.
AS it was he had gone unpublished
only to be punished during long
years. But never since that day had
Levi forgotten Jesus. He had cher
ished the remembrance of His beauti-
full, peaceful face, and of His kind
ness. He had kept before his mind
the lesson, too deep and sweet for
words, which the Boy of Nazareth
had taught him by one look, lesson
which had given him courage to tell
the shameful truth at the moment,
and to so live afterward that he had
become known in Capernaum as
honest Levi" and good Levi"
On reaching maturity he had secur-
ed position under Herod Antipas
as collector of customs at the Sea of
Tiberias. In consequence he was
hated by the Jews who despised all
publicans. His life was very lonely
His father was Dead he was not mar.
ried; friends he had few, almost
none The brightest spot in his life