New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05
"Do not weep for me, women of Jerusa-

DO not weep for me, women of Jerusa-
lem. Weep for yourselves and for your
children. A time is coming when only the
barren will be happy and those who have
never borne children. The spirit of this
world that is killing me will also lay hands
upon you. They that rule by the sword
will not spare women and children"
He rocked on his feet as he spoke, and
Longinus looked round for help
Beside me stood big negro who carried
two market baskets full of vegetables. His
black face and his blood streaked eyes
shone with pity, and when Longnus called
to him he stepped forward willingly, but re-
Numbering his baskets he paused and looked
hesitatingly at me. took the baskets from
him, and he went and lifted up the cross
bar as If 1t were toy, and the soldiers
steadylng Jesus we went on through the
narrow streets and out by the Damascus
gate.
Three posts stood ready by the roadside
on hlllock where all men could see. The
prisoners were offered drugged wine. but
Jesus would not take it. So stripping him
again to the loin cloth, they laid him on the
ground and. stretching out his arms, they
bound them with rope to the crossbar and
nailed his hands to the wood Then thew
brought him to the foot Of the post. and.
man on ladder hauling with rope and
others below lifting. they hoisted the cross
bar, with the body of Jesus, till it Jared
into the socket prepared Then they tied
it securely. Afterward they did the same
to the two thieves. When this was done
they threw the clothing Of the prisoners
into heap and diced for it. Then the
guard divided, and half returned to the
barracks and half under Longinus remained
to watch
Simon stood beside me with his market
basket. The tears rolled down his black
cheeks and from time to time he wiped
them off with the back of his hand.
But the mob that fingered looking on the
agony of the cruciied had no pity and the
travellers the Damascus road who
stopped to and the leading men of the
city sneered It Jesus, and said:
'He wanted to save others. Let him save
himself if he is tho Son of God"
They called out TO Jesus, hooking him:
IF you are Gods son come down from tie
cross" "You that trusted in God get God
to deliver you now. Get down from the
cross and we will believe in you"
And reading the Titulus they said:
Where is your kingdom now, you King
of the Jews?"
felt as if the point of a sharp sword had
been broken off inside my heart. How could
they mock at Jesus in his pain? How could
men watch with curious eyes to see how
much the thieves could suffer? A black
ness fell upon me, and though the sun still
shone l could not see the light. Surely
human nature was cruel TO the bone.
Gesmas had writhed his body upward
so loosenlng the ropes that by tearing his
palms with the nails in them he could get
one elbow over the crossbar He was
drugged and half drunk, and he cried out
to Jesus:
Cant you see how we suffer? If YOU
are the Son of God take US from these
crosses. Save US and yourself" His elbow
slipped and in his torment his voice broke
and he began to curse and to swear, revil-
ing Jesus and blaming him for the pain.
Dysmas, who hung to the right, had turned
his head so that he could see the face of
Jesus, and he said to Gesmas "What has
this man done to you that YOU curse hin,
so? They have some excuse for torturino
US, for we have broken their laws but he
has done nothing"
Then he said to Jesus:
do not forget me when you come into
your kingdom"
And Jesus, his face drawn with pain but
his voice still kind, answered.
This very day when this pain is over
we shall be together again" And the man.