When the little children who were going with their parents to Jerusalem were lifted out of the carts in this desolate-looking place, they became uneasy and began to cry.  Before, they had been very happy in the thought of travelling to Jerusalem.  Of course they had cried a good deal when leaving their homes, but down at the station they became quite disconsolate.

Their elders were busy unloading their goods from the wagons and stowing them away in a baggage car.  They all helped, so that no one had any time to look after the children, and see what they were up to.

The youngsters meanwhile got together, and held council as to what they should do.

After a bit the older children took the little ones by the hand and walked away from the station, two by two-a big child and a little child.  They went the same way they had come across the sea of sand, through the stubble ground, over the river and into the dark forest.

Suddenly, one of the women happened to think of the children, and opened a food basket to give them something to eat.  She called to them, but got no answer.  They had disappeared from sight.  Two of the men went to look for them.  Following the tracks which the many little feet had left in the sand, they went on into the woods, where they caught sight of the youngsters, marching along in line, two by two, a big child and a little child.  When the men called to them they did not stop, but kept right on.

The men ran to overtake them.  Then the children tried to run away, but the smaller ones could not keep up; they stumbled and fell.  Then all of them stood still—­wretchedly unhappy, and crying as if their little hearts would break.

“But, children, where are you going?” asked one of the men.  Whereupon the littlest ones set up a loud wail, and the eldest boy answered: 

“We don’t want to go to Jerusalem; we want to go home.”

And for a long time, even after the children had been brought back to the station, and were seated in the railway carriage, they still went on whimpering and crying:  “We don’t want to go to Jerusalem; we want to go home.”