286 BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

We have already referred to the legends that attributed
such remarkable doings to Jesus, when an unconscious infant
in Egypt. If those legends were absurd, much more absurd
and clumsy are the legends that have been invented of the
period of his boyhood.

Boys will do well to remember this always, that through
all the public ministry of Jesus, he never wrought a miracle
that was not a dignified and merciful use of power. He
never did a wonderful thing for the mere sake of astonish-
ing people. That would have been vulgar, and because
vulgar, un-Christlike. All sorts of foolish miracles are said by
these legends to have been wrought by Jesus when a boy.
Such for example as carrying water in a robe, and causing
some boys who angered him to become blind, or making a
board longer that was too short. These legends are too
foolish for a moment’s serious attention. One simple legend
about Jesus and the children of Nazareth making clay spar-
rows is so pleasantly told, that we are sure boys will be
glad to read it:—

I like that old, old legend
Not found in holy writ,

And wish that John or Matthew
Had made Bible out of it.

How the little Jewish children,
Upon a summer’s day,
Went down across the meadows
2 With the child Christ to play.

‘And in the gold green valley,
Where low the reed grass lay,
They made them mock mud sparrows
Out of the meadow clay.

So when they all were fashioned,
And ranged in rows about,
“Now,” said the little Jesus
We'll let the birds fly out.