Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-29
An Apocryphal Girl
Who Was True,

The girl about whom | am to tel
you has no name. That is both an ad
vantage and disadvantage. It is {
, disadvantage because we shall have tt
call her the girl. and that is incon
, venient in a story as 1t is in real life
Most girls and boys like to have names
of their own. 1t is an advantage be
cause you can give her the name you
choose and the name you think will
! fit her, after knowing about her. AS
girls and boys do not always them
selves have the names that they think
they would have chosen, this will give
them chance to try their wit for a
perfectly proper name.
I found out about this girl in one of
the byways of reading. which is called
the Apocryphal New Testament Many
know all the stories about Jesus which
are in the Bible, but these are few,
especially about his boyhood In other
writings which did not get into the
Bible are many stories of his baby
hood and boyhood. These stories grew
UP long after he lived and belonged to
what we call legends, but they are in
teresting to us, nevertheless They
are wonder stories and are somewhat
like fairy stories, or like what grown
ups study often and call folklore.
| In book called "The Infancy" some
of these wonder stories tell OF the
many cures which--were made by the
baby Jesus, who was with his father
and mother Joseph and Mary, on the
way from Egypt to their own home.
Some Of these cures were made by
washing in the water which had been
used in giving the baby Jesus his bath,
or sometimes the cure is made by hold
ing the baby in ones arms; that is
how we come across this GIRL who,
though told about in wonder story,
was in her character true.
One day rich woman had been
cured of a terrible disease. To show
her gratitude she brought some per-
fumed water to wash the baby Jesus
in, and then she preserved the water
1t was fortunate she did, for there was
girl near by who was afflicted with
leprosy, a loathsome disease which no
one could cure. and which made people
shun the one who had it. They sprink-
led her with the water that had been
kept from washing the baby Jesus and
she was instantly cured. You easily
see why we call it wonder story.
I was interested In what more was
told about the girl. When Joseph and
Mary were getting ready to go on their
way, this girl came and asked them to |
let her go along with them. They
granted her wish, and she was allowed
to go.
So they travelled on together until
they came to place where there was
a palace Of great king The prince
and the princess had one son, but he !
was afflicted with the terrible disease
which the girl had had The prince !
was angry about it. strange to say, and
demanded that the child be either kill !!
ed or sent away where they would |
never hear about him.
OF course the mother princess was
very sad. The girl heard OF her and
found way to see her and to tell how
she had been cured of the same trouble /
which the young prince had. The
princess then eagerly sought ont 10
seph and Mary and the child. who were |
staying at the inn. She mAde big
feast for them. The next day she took
perfumed water to wash the child in
She put some Of this water on her own
child and he was instantly cured. The /
princess sang thanks and praises to
God and offered large gifts to the moth
er, who is here called Lady Mary and
sent her on her way, as It Is here said,
with all imaginable respect"
The group, our friendly girl still with
them, continued on their journey. In
another city on their way they saw
three women who appeared very sad
as they were walking along together.
Mary sent the girl to inquire about
their trouble, They proved to be three
sisters and they invited the kind stran-
gers to their beautiful home. In the
parlor they were surprised to see a
mule, covered with rich silk and wear
ing valuable collar. The sisters were
very affectionate toward the mule. The
girl was naturally much surprised, and
the sisters fastened to explain that
this was not really mule but was
their brother. He had been turned in
to mule by the witchery and wicked l.
ness Of jealous woman. They had
tried magicians for help. but no one
could restore their brother to them.
The girl told them to cease their
was a remedy and it was in their house
She told how she herself had been
made well. The sisters went to Mary
ouu piCouCu Will LSl " dlu lucIu. !
Mary placed the child on the back Of
the mule and the mule at once changed
into a human form and the sisters had
this fine young man back again as
their brother.
Naturally the sisters rejoiced and
said of their new friends. who had
done so much for them. Blessed are
the eyes that are so happy as to see
thee" They fastened to their mother
and told her Of the wonderful power of
the child Jesus and fthe kindness Of
the girl who had told them about him.
Since their son who had been restor-
ed was not married and they wanted a
true wife for him. they thought how
fine it would be to have him marry the
girl who had done so much for all of
them. So they consulted Mar yand the
matter was agreeably arranged. We
are told that they made splendid
for the girl Their mourning
was turned into mirth. and all were
dressed in their richest attire, with
Afterward they praised
Cod for their great blessing IoSenh