The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-21

tized of John. We have gone back III
Judea and have travelled across Sar<
maria to the mountains of Calico. We
are now about so miles north OF Js-j
rusalem and 81 miles from Bethle hemsl
where Jesus was born. We are In ~
little nest in the mountains inside ~
quaint town. the houses of which
cover the sides of the hills. The
houses are great stone boxes Of one
and two stories The most OF them have
flat roofs and some are surrounded
by gardens. The country about Is COW
cred with grass and flowers. There
are fruit trees almost everywhere ard
especially orchards Of olives and figs.
This is the town of Nazareth. which
stands on the same site as the home OF
Joseph and Mary. The place has now
about $4,000 people: and. like most OF
the holy spots of Palestine. it has many
converts and churches. 1t was here that
Joseph worked at the carpenter trade
and here the boy Jesus played about
with His fellows as the little Nazar-
cnes do today. 1t was here that Jesus
came after He had been baptized in
the Jordan, and here He preached in the
syna gogue when the NaZarenes cried
out rs not this Josephs SOM" and
in their anger We're about to throw
him from the brow of the hill where
on the city was built, but He. passing
through the midst of them. went Hiss
way. That hill is still shown to tour
lists
It is about a mile and a half from the
town. In the middle of Nazareth is q
fountain or spring which supplies the
water for the community The women go
to the spring and carry the water In jars
on their heads to their houses. Mary un-
doubtedly used that spring for her FAM
lily water supply, and the boy Jesus must
have drunk there.
The surroundings OF Nazareth are beau
tifi1 doi1bf whether t1Ara ss r1cra
beautiful scenery to be found in England
or Scotland, or even in the Blue Ridge
mountains of Virginia. for which God has
done much. One can stand In the city
or near II and look out over the plain
of Esdraeon, and by climbing the hills
he can see Mount Carmel, where Elijah
hid the prophets and later on slew tbs
false prophets of Baal. 1t Is only few
hours ride in carriage from Nazareth
over the hill of the Sea of Gaulee. where
the Nazarene boys even now sometimes
go fishing Fa#
1t was from Nazareth that Joseph ana
Mary went every year to Jerusalem. They
tramped over the hills of Galilee. across
the plain of Esdraelon. and then climbed
the mountains of Samaria. There is q
regular trail. a part of which has lately
been turned into macadaznized roady
Such trips were usually made In large
companies. and when I crossed Samarias
short time ago. / met scores of these
people from Galilee on their way to Jerts-
salem. The parties consisted of mon
women and children. most OF whom WE'RE
on foot. Now and then one found q
woman riding donkey. with her husband
trudging beside her. and sometimes whole
families on donkeys. 1t was In one Of
such parties that Jesus went to Jeru-
salem when lie was about IL years op
age. He was then thought to be old
enough to take care of Himself. for the
Bible relates that when they departed
Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem, and
Joseph and His mother knew not Of IN
They had already gone a days journey
before He was missed. and they then
turned back to find Him. 1t was only
after three days that He was discovered
in the temple sitting In the midst OF the
doctors both hearing them and asa1nd
them questions. "a
And he said unto them: sJLuws1s It thae
We sought me? Wist ye not that 4 MUS
be about my fathers business7
And they understood not the saying
which he spake unto them. And he went
down with them and came to Naarethy
and was subject unto them. But hid
mother kept all these sayings in hsA
heart
And Jesus increased in wisdom and
stature and In favor with God and man,
FRANK e. CARPENTER