For the Temple | Page 8

that they can conspire without danger; and
whereas, at first, the blood of ten men will put an end to sedition, it
needs, at last, the blood of as many thousands to restore peace and
order. It is good for a man to be merciful, but not for a ruler, for the
good of the whole people is placed in his hands. The sword of justice is
given to him, and he is most merciful who uses it the most promptly
against those who work sedition. The wise ruler will listen to the
prayers of his people, and will grant their petitions, when they show
that their case is hard; but he will grant nothing to him who asketh with
his sword in his hand, for he knows full well that when he yields, once,
he must yield always; until the time comes, as come it surely will,
when he must resist with the sword. Then the land will be filled with
blood whereas, in the beginning, he could have avoided all trouble, by
refusing so much as to listen to those who spoke with threats.
"Josephus is a good man, and the Lord has given him great gifts. He
has done great things for the land; but you will see that many woes will
come, and much blood will be shed, from this lenity of his towards
those who stir up tumults among the people."
A few minutes later the family retired to bed; the hour being a late one
for Simon's household, which generally retired to rest a short time after
the evening meal.
The next day the work of gathering in the figs was carried on, earnestly
and steadily, with the aid of the workers whom Simon had hired in the
town and, in two days, the trees were all stripped, and strings of figs
hung to dry from the boughs of all the trees round the house.

Then the gathering of the grapes began. All the inhabitants of the little
fishing village lent their aid--men as well as women and children--for
the vintage was looked upon as a holiday; and Simon was regarded as a
good friend by his neighbors, being ever ready to aid them when there
was need, judging any disputes which arose between them, and lending
them money without interest if misfortune came upon their boats or
nets, or if illness befell them; while the women, in times of sickness or
trouble, went naturally to Martha with their griefs, and were assured of
sympathy, good advice, and any drugs or dainty food suited to the case.
The women and girls picked the grapes, and laid them in baskets. These
were carried by men, and emptied into the vat; where other men trod
them down, and pressed out the juice. Martha and her maids saw to the
cooking and laying out, on the great tables in the courtyard, of the
meals; to which all sat down, together. Simon superintended the
crushing of the grapes; and John worked now at one task, and now at
another. It was a pretty scene, and rendered more gay by the songs of
the women and girls, as they worked; and the burst of merry laughter
which, at times, arose.
It lasted four days, by which time the last bunch, save those on a few
vines preserved for eating, was picked and crushed; and the vats in the
cellar, sunk underground for coolness, were full to the brim. Simon was
much pleased with the result; and declared that never, in his memory,
had the vine and fig harvest turned out more abundant. The corn had
long before been gathered, and there remained now only the olives; but
it would be some little time yet before these were fit to be gathered, and
their oil extracted, for they were allowed to hang on the trees until
ready to drop.
The last basket of grapes was brought in with much ceremony; the
gatherers forming a little procession, and singing a thanksgiving hymn
as they walked. The evening meal was more bounteous, even, than
usual; and all who helped carried away with them substantial proofs of
Simon's thankfulness, and satisfaction.
For the next few days Simon and his men, and Martha's maids, lent
their assistance in getting in the vintage of their neighbors; for each

family had its patch of ground, and grew sufficient grapes and fruits for
its own needs. Those in the village brought their grapes to a vat, which
they had in common; the measures of the grapes being counted as they
were put in, and the wine afterwards divided, in like proportion--for
wine, to be good, must be made in considerable quantities.
And now there was, for a time, little to do on the farm. Simon
superintended the men who