Jesus said nothing.

"And now, my son, we will betake ourselves to that land."

And so they set out on the last stage of their journey. It was hard
walking over the vineyards of Judaea and Samaria, and Mary, when they
were quite near home, asked if she should ever see Nazareth again.
Jesus marched the distance, so to speak, twice, for he was never tired
of turning aside to gather dates, currants, and figs, or to fetch a
pitcher of water in order that his parents might quench their thirst.
So they went slowly over the rocky land, and when the mule-path led to
an eminence over which flat stones lay scattered, and which was thickly
sown with stumpy shrubs, the fertile plain of Israel lay before them.
It was surrounded by wooded hills, while villages were scattered about
its surface, and shining rivers wound through it. Opposite, one range
of mountains showed behind the other, and the highest lifted their
snowy peaks into the blue sky.

Joseph let fall the camel's guiding rein and his staff, extended his
arms and exclaimed: "Praise the Lord, oh my soul!" For Galilee, his
native place, lay before him.

When they saw the little town of Nazareth nestling in a bend of the
hills--ah! how small the place was, and how peaceful amid the green
hills!--Mary wept for joy.




CHAPTER IX