For the Temple | Page 9

were plowing up the corn stubbles, ready
for the sowing in the spring; sometimes putting his hand to the plow,
and driving the oxen. Isaac and his son worked in the vineyard and
garden, near the house; aided to some extent by John who, however,
was not yet called upon to take a man's share in the work of the
farm--he having but lately finished his learning, with the rabbi, at the
school in Hippos. Still, he worked steadily every morning and, in the
afternoon, generally went out on the lake with the fishermen, with
whom he was a great favorite.
This was not to last long for, at seventeen, he was to join his father,
regularly, in the management of the farm and, indeed, the Rabbi
Solomon, who was a frequent guest, was of opinion that Simon gave
the boy too much license; and that he ought, already, to be doing man's
work.
But Simon, when urged by him, said:
"I know that, at his age, I was working hard, rabbi; but the lad has
studied diligently, and I have a good report of him; and I think it well
that, at his age, the bow should be unbent somewhat.
"Besides, who knows what is before us! I will let the lad have as much
pleasure from his life as he can. The storm is approaching; let him play,
while the sun shines."
Chapter 2
: A Storm On Galilee.
One day, after the midday meal, John said:

"Mary, Raphael and his brother have taken the big boat, and gone off
with fish to Tiberias; and have told me that I can take the small boat, if
I will. Ask my mother to let you off your task, and come out with me. It
is a fortnight since we had a row on the lake, together."
"I was beginning to think that you were never going to ask me again,
John; and, only I should punish myself, I would say you nay. There
have you been, going out fishing every afternoon, and leaving me at
home to spin; and it is all the worse because your mother has said that
the time is fast coming when I must give up wandering about like a
child, and must behave myself like a woman.
"Oh, dear, how tiresome it will be when there will be nothing to do but
to sit and spin, and to look after the house, and to walk instead of
running when I am out, and to behave like a grown-up person,
altogether!"
"You are almost grown up," John said; "you are taller, now, than any of
the maids except Zillah; but I shall be sorry to see you growing staid
and solemn. And it was selfish of me not to ask you to go out before,
but I really did not think of it. The fishermen have been working hard,
to make up for the time lost during the harvest; and I have really been
useful, helping them with their nets, and this is the last year I shall have
my liberty.
"But come, don't let's be wasting time in talking; run in and get my
mother's permission, and then join me on the shore. I will take some
grapes down, for you to eat; for the sun is hot today, and there is scarce
a breath of wind on the water."
A few minutes later, the young pair stood together by the side of the
boat.
"Your mother made all sorts of objections," Mary said, laughing, "and I
do think she won't let me come again. I don't think she would have
done it, today, if Miriam had not stood up for me, and said that I was
but a child though I was so tall; and that, as you were very soon going
to work with your father, she thought that it was no use in making the

change before that."
"What nonsense it all is!" John said. "Besides, you know it is arranged
that, in a few months, we are to be betrothed according to the wishes of
your parents and mine. It would have been done, long ago, only my
father and mother do not approve of young betrothals; and think it
better to wait, to see if the young ones like each other; and I think that
is quite right, too, in most cases--only, of course, living here, as you
have done for the last three years--since your father and mother
died--there was no fear of our not liking each other."
"Well, you see," Mary said, as she sat in the stern of the boat, while
John rowed it quietly along, "it might have been just the other way.
When people don't see anything of each other, till they are betrothed by
their