wife, and teaching for the child. When the time comes, God will lead
you back as once He led Moses and Joshua across the sea."

Joseph knew not whose voice it was; he did not seek to know, and
doubted not his soul rested trustfully in the arms of the Lord. He put
his hand on the shoulders of his dearest one, and said softly: "Mary,
awake, and be not afraid. Gather together our few possessions, put
them in a sack, and I will fasten it to the beast Ishmael gave us.
Then take the child. We must away."

Mary pushed her long, soft, silky hair from her face. Her husband's
sudden decision, the departure in the middle of the night, made her
wonder, but she said not a word. She gathered together their scanty
possessions, took the sleeping child in her arms, and mounted the ass,
who pricked up his ears and thought what a day's work must be before
him since it began so terribly early. His former owner had not
pampered him; his short legs were firm and willing. They gave one last
grateful look at the cave, the stones of which were softer than the
hearts of the men of Bethlehem. Joseph took his stick and a leathern
strap and walked beside the ass, leading it, the ass which carried his
whole world and his heaven, and--the heaven of the whole world.

After going some way, they thought to rest under some palm-trees, not
far from Hebron. But the ass would not stop, and they let him have his
will. Then soldiers of Herod rode that way; they saw a brown-skinned
woman with a child sitting on the sand.

"Is it a boy?" they called to her.

"A girl," answered the woman. "But strangers have just passed by, and