268 ; BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

to think of him in an attitude of devotion. The whole
matter was very perplexing and probably disturbing to the
quiet, peaceful Galilean; and all the more so, viewed in
the light of the strange words of Simeon and Anna. In |
this frame of mind Joseph dreamed his dream, and lo! the
Angel of the Lord appeared to him, saying: “ Arise,
and take the young child and his mother, and _ flee into
Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for
Herod will. seek the young child to destroy him.”

We judge by the way the story is told that there was no
delay in obeying the warning of the dream. Joseph believed
this dream was from God, and there was, therefore, no hesi-
tation. He was not going forth at a peradventure. It was
a divine voice that spoke to him. It was clear and defi-
nite. “Herod will seek the young child, to destroy it.”
Joseph now understood the craft of Herod in pretending a
desire to come and offer worship at the feet of Jesus; and
now he understood also, why the Wise Men were warned
to “depart into their own country another way.”

We may be sure Mary did not need much persuading.
She would gladly have fled through the most inclement
weather, over mountains and through deserts to the very
ends of the earth, to save her child from danger.

Few preparations were necessary, for this was not an
age of luxury, and Joseph and Mary were but peasants. In
the silence and secrecy of the night Joseph saddled his ass,
put Mary and the child Jésus thereon, and started for the
land of the Pharaoh’s and the Nile.

Of the sojourn of Joseph and Mary and the child Jesus
in the land of Egypt very little is known with certainty.
The scriptures are almost entirely silent on this subject, and
what is said by the Evangelist Matthew is marked by great