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le　Joseph　pointed　out　the　places　of　sacred　renown；　then　they　went　down　into　the　valley　to　the　well　which　was　the　scene　of　one　of　the　marvellous　exploits　of　David's　strong　men。　The　narrow　space　was　crowded　with　people　and　animals。　A　fear　came　upon　Josepha　fear　lest；　if　the　town　were　so　thronged；　there　might　not　be　house…room　for　the　gentle　Mary。　Without　delay；　he　hurried　on；　past　the　pillar　of　stone　marking　the　tomb　of　Rachel；　up　the　gardened　slope；　saluting　none　of　the　many　persons　he　met　on　the　way；　until　he　stopped　before　the　portal　of　the　khan　that　then　stood　outside　the　village　gates；　near　a　junction　of　roads。




CHAPTER　IX



To　understand　thoroughly　what　happened　to　the　Nazarene　at　the　khan；　the　reader　must　be　reminded　that　Eastern　inns　were　different　from　the　inns　of　the　Western　world。　They　were　called　khans；　from　the　Persian；　and；　in　simplest　form；　were　fenced　enclosures；　without　house　or　shed；　often　without　a　gate　or　entrance。　Their　sites　were　chosen　with　reference　to　shade；　defence；　or　water。　Such　were　the　inns　that　sheltered　Jacob　when　he　went　to　seek　a　wife　in　Padan…Aram。　Their　like　may　been　seen　at　this　day　in　the　stopping…places　of　the　desert。　On　the　other　hand；　some　of　them；　especially　those　on　the　roads　between　great　cities；　like　Jerusalem　and　Alexandria；　were　princely　establishments；　monuments　to　the　piety　of　the　kings　who　built　them。　In　ordinary；　however；　they　were　no　more　than　the　house　or　possession　of　a　sheik；　in　which；　as　in　headquarters；　he　swayed　his　tribe。　Lodging　the　traveller　was　the　least　of　their　uses；　they　were　markets；　factories；　forts；　places　of　assemblage　and　residence　for　merchants　and　artisans　quite　as　much　as　places　of　shelter　for　belated　and　wandering　wayfarers。　Within　their　walls；　all　the　year　round；　occurred　the　multiplied　daily　transactions　of　a　town。

The　singular　management　of　these　hostelries　was　the　feature　likely　to　strike　a　Western　mind　with　most　force。　There　was　no　host　or　hostess；　no　clerk；　cook；　or　kitchen；　a　steward　at　the　gate　was　all　the　assertion　of　government　or　proprietorship　anywhere　visible。　Strangers　arriving　stayed　at　will　without　rendering　account。　A　consequence　of　the　system　was　that　whoever　came　had　to　bring　his　food　and　culinary　outfit　with　him；　or　buy　them　of　dealers　in　the　khan。　The　same　rule　held　good　as　to　his　bed　and　bedding；　and　forage　for　his　beasts。　Water；　rest；　shelter；　and　protection　were　all　he　looked　for　from　the　proprietor；　and　they　were　gratuities。　The　peace　of　synagogues　was　sometimes　broken　by　brawling　disputants；　but　that　of　the　khans　never。　The　houses　and　all　their　appurtenances　were　sacred：　a　well　was　not　more　so。

The　khan　at　Bethlehem；　before　which　Joseph　and　his　wife　stopped；　was　a　good　specimen　of　its　class；　being　neither　very　primitive　nor　very　princely。　The　building　was　purely　Oriental；　that　is　to　say；　a　quadrangular　block　of　rough　stones；　one　story　high；　flat…roofed；　externally　unbroken　by　a　window；　and　with　but　one　principal　entrancea　doorway；　which　was　also　a　gateway；　on　the　eastern　side；　or　front。　The　road　ran　by　the　door　so　near　that　the　chalk　dust　half　covered　the　lintel。　A　fence　of　flat　rocks；　beginning　at　the　northeastern　corner　of　the　pile；　extended　many　yards　down　the　slope　to　a　point　from　whence　it　swept　westwardly　to　a　limestone　bluff；　making　what　was　in　the　highest　degree　essential　to　a　respectable　khana　safe　enclosure　for　animals。

In　a　village　like　Bethlehem；　as　there　was　but　one　sheik；　there　could　not　well　be　more　than　one　khan；　and；　though　born　in　the　place；　the　Nazarene；　from　long　residence　elsewhere；　had　no　claim　to　hospitality　in　the　town。　Moreover；　the　enumeration　for　which　he　was　coming　might　be　the　work　of　weeks　or　months；　Roman　deputies　in　the　provinces　were　proverbially　slow；　and　to　impose　himself　and　wife　for　a　period　so　uncertain　upon　acquaintances　or　relations　was　out　of　the　question。　So；　before　he　drew　nigh　the　great　house；　while　he　was　yet　climbing　the　slope；　in　the　steep　places　toiling　to　hasten　the　donkey；　the　fear　that　he　might　not　find　accommodations　in　the　khan　became　a　painful　anxiety；　for　he　found　the　road　thronged　with　men　and　boys　who；　with　great　ado；　were　taking　their　cattle；　horses；　and　camels　to　and　from　the　valley；　some　to　water；　some　to　the　neighboring　caves。　And　when　he　was　come　close　by；　his　alarm　was　not　allayed　by　the　discovery　of　a　crowd　investing　the　door　of　the　establishment；　while　the　enclosure　adjoining；　broad　as　it　was；　seemed　already　full。

〃We　cannot　reach　the　door；〃　Joseph　said；　in　his　slow　way。　〃Let　us　stop　here；　and　learn；　if　we　can；　what　has　happened。〃

The　wife；　without　answering；　quietly　drew　the　wimple　aside。　The　look　of　fatigue　at　first　upon　her　face　changed　to　one　of　interest。　She　found　herself　at　the　edge　of　an　assemblage　that　could　not　be　other　than　a　matter　of　curiosity　to　her；　although　it　was　common　enough　at　the　khans　on　any　of　the　highways　which　the　great　caravans　were　accustomed　to　traverse。　There　were　men　on　foot；　running　hither　and　thither；　talking　shrilly　and　in　all　the　tongues　of　Syria；　men　on　horseback　screaming　to　men　on　camels；　men　struggling　doubtfully　with　fractious　cows　and　frightened　sheep；　men　peddling　bread　and　wine；　and　among　the　mass　a　herd　of　boys　apparently　in　chase　of　a　herd　of　dogs。　Everybody　and　everything　seemed　to　be　in　motion　at　the　same　time。　Possibly　the　fair　spectator　was　too　weary　to　be　long　attracted　by　the　scene；　in　a　little　while　she　sighed；　and　settled　down　on　the　pillion；　and；　as　if　in　search　of　peace　and　rest；　or　in　expectation　of　some　one；　looked　off　to　the　south；　and　up　to　the　tall　cliffs　of　the　Mount　of　Paradise；　then　faintly　reddening　under　the　setting　sun。

While　she　was　thus　looking；　a　man　pushed　his　way　out　of　the　press；　and；　stopping　close　by　the　donkey；　faced　about　with　an　angry　brow。　The　Nazarene　spoke　to　him。

〃As　I　am　what　I　take　you　to　be；　good　frienda　son　of　Judahmay　I　ask　the　cause　of　this　multitude？〃

The　stranger　turned　fiercely；　but；　seeing　the　solemn　countenance　of　Joseph；　so　in　keeping　with　his　deep；　slow　voice　and　speech；　he　raised　his　hand　in　half…salutation；　and　replied；

〃Peace　be　to　you；　Rabbi！　I　am　a　son　of　Judah；　and　will　answer　you。　I　dwell　in　Beth…Dagon；　which；　you　know；　is　in　what　used　to　be　the　land　of　the　tribe　of　Dan。〃

〃On　the　road　to　Joppa　from　Modin；〃　said　Joseph。

〃Ah；　you　have　been　in　Beth…Dagon；〃　the　man　said；　his　face　softening　yet　more。　〃What　wanderers　we　of　Judah　are！　I　have　been　away　from　the　ridgeold　Ephrath；　as　our　father　Jacob　called　it　for　many　years。　When　the　proclamation　went　abroad　requiring　all　Hebrews　to　be　numbered　at　the　cities　of　their　birth　That　is　my　business　here；　Rabbi。〃

Joseph's　face　remained　stolid　as　a　mask；　while　he　remarked；　〃I　have　come　for　that　alsoI　and　my　wife。〃

The　stranger　glanced　at　Mary　and　kept　silence。　She　was　looking　up　at　the　bald　top　of　Gedor。　The　sun　touched　her　upturned　face；　and　filled　the　violet　depths　of　her　eyes；　and　upon　her　parted　lips　trembled　an　aspiration　which　could　not　have　been　to　a　mortal。　For　the　moment；　all　the　humanity　of　her　beauty　seemed　refined　away：　she　was　as　we　fancy　they　are　who　sit　close　by　the　gate　in　the　transfiguring　light　of　Heaven。　The　Beth…Dagonite　saw　the　original　of　what；　centuries　after；　came　as　a　vision　of　genius　to　Sanzio　the　divine；　and　left　him　immortal。

〃Of　what　was　I　speaking？　Ah！　I　remember。　I　was　about　to　say　that　when　I　heard　of　the　order　to　come　here；　I　was　angry。　Then　I　thought　of　the　old　hill；　and　the　town；　and　the　valley　falling　away　into　the　depths　of　Cedron；　of　the　vines　and　orchards；　and　fields　of　grain；　unfailing　since　the　days　of　Boaz　and　Ruth；　of　the　familiar　mountainsGedor　here；　Gibeah　yonder；　Mar　Elias　therewhich；　when　I　was　a　boy；　were　the　walls　of　the　world　to　me；　and　I　forgave　the　tyrants　and　cameI；　and　Rachel；　my　wife；　and　Deborah　and　Michal；　our　roses　of　Sharon。〃

The　man　paused　again；　looking　abruptly　at　Mary；　who　was　now　looking　at　him　and　listening。　Then　he　said；　〃Rabbi；　will　not　your　wife　go　to　mine？　You　may　see　her　yonder　with　the　children；　under　the　leaning　olive…tree　at　the　bend　of　the　road。　I　tell　you〃he　turned　to　Joseph　and　spoke　positively〃I　tell　you　the　khan　is　full。　It　is　useless　to　ask　at　the　gate。〃

Joseph's　will　was　slow；　like　his　mind；　he　hesitated；　but　at　length　replied；　〃The　offer　is　kind。　Whether　there　be　room　for　us　or　not　in　the　house；　we　will　go　see　your　people。　Let　me　speak　to　the　gate…keeper　myself。　I　will　return　quickly。〃

And；　putting　the　leading…strap　in　the　stranger's　hand；　he　pushed　into　the　stirring　crowd。

The　keeper　sat　on　a　great　cedar　block　outside　the　gate。　Against　the　wall　behind　him　leaned　a　javelin。　A　dog　squatted　on　the　block　by　his　side。

〃The　peace　of　Jehovah　be　with　you；〃　said　Joseph；　at　last　confronting　the　keeper。

〃What　you　give；　may　you　find　again；　and；　when　found；　be　it　many　times　multiplied　to　you　and　yours；〃　returned　the　watchman；　gravely；　though　without　moving。

〃I　am　a　Bethlehemite；〃　said　Joseph；　in　his　most　deliberate　way。　Is　there　not　room　for〃

〃There　is　not。〃

〃You　may　have　heard　of　meJoseph　of　Nazareth。　This　is　the　house　of　my　fathers。　I　am　of　the　line　of　David。〃

These　words　held　the　Nazarene's　hope。　If　they　failed　him；　further　appeal　was　idle；　even　that　of　the　offer　of　many　shekels。　To　be　a　son　of　Judah　was　one　thingin　the　tribal　opinion　a　great　thing；　to　be　of　the　house　of　David　was　yet　another；　on　the　tongue　of　a　Hebrew　there　could　be　no　higher　boast。　A　thousand　years　and　more　had　passed　since　the　boyish　shepherd　became　the　successor　of　Saul　and　founded　a　royal　family。　Wars；　calamities；　other　kings；　and　the　countless　obscuring　processes　of　time　had；　as　respects　fortune；　lowered　his　descendants　to　the　common　Jewish　level；　the　bread　they　ate　came　to　them　of　toil　never　more　humble；　yet　they　had　the　benefit　of　history　sacredly　kept；　of　which　genealogy　was　the　first　chapter　and　the　last；　they　could　not　become　unknown；　while；　wherever　they　went　In　Israel；　acquaintance　drew　after　it　a　respect　amounting　to　reverence。

If　this　were　so　in　Jerusalem　and　elsewhere；　certainly　one　of　the　sacred　line　might　reasonably　rely　upon　it　at　the　door　of　the　khan　of　Bethlehem。　To　say；　as　Joseph　said；　〃This　is　the　house　of　my　fathers；〃　was　to　say　the　truth　most　simply　and　literally；　for　it　was　the　very　house　Ruth　ruled　as