The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 194 -
The First Woman's Nature Is Rebuked
CYRENIUS AGAIN tossed his marble first, and this time landed in the ninth little pit, and the children of Cyrenius declared,
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'Father Cyrenius, that is really moving up: from child to prime minister, and that at the first toss!
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If you were to toss again, you surely could get into the King's pit.'
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But Cyrenius said, 'My children, I am already satisfied with this honor - so you just go ahead and toss the marbles.
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See to it that you get into the children's pit quite often, for there you will find the best and most desirable place.'
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Thereupon Sixtus quickly tossed, landed in the children's pit and was quite happy.
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Then the oldest girl tossed and again landed in the second mother's pit.
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At this the girl complained as she had done before, saying, 'Oh, so I have to be the mother again after all!'
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Here the little Child went over, took the marble out of the pit, handed it back to the girl and said,
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'Here, toss again, you dissatisfied one - but see to it that you do not toss into the mother's pit again!'
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The girl now tossed once more, landed in the same pit, and nearly wept from vexation.
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At this the little Child again stepped over to her and asserted, 'Oh you tyrannical creature! Truly, in you the first woman's nature is revealed!
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What shall I do with you, oh serpent's nature, oh lion's paw?
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I shall promptly call a mouse that will really torment you, then you will no doubt become more to My liking.'
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At this the girl quickly fell on her knees before the little Child and implored amid tears,
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'My dearest Jesus, I beg You, just no mouse or rat - for that makes me terribly afraid!
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Truly I will a thousand times rather take the part of the mother than to see a single mouse!'
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Here the little Child said, 'This time I shall spare you with a mouse -
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but if you grumble once more, then ten mice will come at you at once and sniff at your feet!'
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At this the girl was quiet as a mouse and watched quite patiently while the other children occupied all the other pits,
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and did not even take exception when another girl occupied the father's pit, which otherwise always vexed her the most if a boy did not occupy it.
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Lastly the girl tossed and still once more landed in the mother's pit.
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At this she bit her lips in secret vexation.
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And the little Child smiled, took a little twig, dabbed all the marbles with it and then breathed over the little pits, and instantly a lively mouse sat therein in place of the marble.
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When the girl beheld these little animals she began to scream and to talk incoherently in great excitement, and ran away.
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Here Joseph came outside and asked, 'My dear Jesus, what is the matter between You and the girl again, that she screams so loudly?'
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The little Child replied, 'She is jealous, as always, so I have visited her again with a few mice!'
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At this Joseph smiled and went after the girl to calm her, while the rest of the children peacefully continued with their game, for they saw nothing of the terrible mice.