it may be that hope will never be fulfilled, which is sad to think on.  I’ve never seen thee over-busy with one of our serving girls, nor caught thee near her bed, and the family will end with, thee, and the counting-house will end with me, and these things will happen through no fault of mine or thine, Joseph.  Our lives are not planned by ourselves, and when life comes sweetly to a man a bitter death awaits him, for death is bitter to those that have lived in ease and health as I have done.  I am still obdurate, for I can sit down to a meal with pleasure, but a time will come when I shall not be able to do this, and then the sentence that the Lord pronounced over all flesh will seem easy to bear, and the grandchildren I have not gotten will be desired no longer; only the peace of the grave, where there is no questioning nor dainties.  But, Father, this world is but the shadow of a reality beyond the grave, and I beseech you to believe in your eternity and in mine.  In the eternity of my body or of my soul—­which, Joseph?  Thou knowest not, but of this we are sure, that there is little time left for me to love you in this comfortable land of Galilee.  And, this being so, I will ask you to promise me that thou wilt not leave Judea in my lifetime.  Thou’lt have to go to Jerusalem, for business awaits you there, and to Jericho, perhaps, which is a long way from Galilee, but I’d not have thee leave Judea to preach a strange creed to the Gentiles.  I know no reason now, Father, for me to leave Judea, since I am not among the chosen.  If thou hadst been, Joseph, thou wouldst not have left me in these last years of my life?  Jesus is dear to thee, but he isn’t thy father, and every father would like his son to be by him when the Lord chooses to call him.  I would have thee within a day’s journey or two; death comes quicker than that sometimes, but we must risk something.  I’d have thee remain in Judea so that thou mayest come, if thou art called, to receive my last blessing.  I’d have thee close my eyes, Joseph.  The children I’ll forgive thee, if thou wilt promise me this.  I promise it, Father, and will hold to my promise if I live beyond thee.  If thou livest beyond me, Joseph?  Of course thou wilt live many years after me.  But, Joseph, I would have thee shun dangerous company.  And guessing that his father had Jesus in his mind, Joseph asked him if it were so, and he answered that it was so, saying that Jesus was no new thing in Judea, and that the priests and the prophets have ever been in strife.  That is my meaning, he said.  The exactions of the priests weigh heavily, and Jesus is right in this much, that priests always have been, and perhaps always will be, oppressors of the poor; they are strong, and have many hirelings about them.  Thou hast heard of the Zealots, Son, who walk in the streets of Jerusalem, their hands on their knives, following those who speak against the law and the traditions, and who, when they meet them, put their knives into