The Peep of Day

by Favell Lee Mortimer

Yes, said these good men, we are talking of something sad. Did you never hear of Jesus? What wonderful things he did, how he cured the blind, and dumb, and sick; and how he taught people about God? And all the people loved him; but at last he was crucified. We thought he had been the Son of God: but now we are afraid he was not, for he is dead, and we are afraid that we shall never see him again.

The kind stranger was sorry to see these good men cry. He began to talk to them, and to tell them that Jesus was the Son of God, and that he had been crucified to save men, and that he would rise again, and go back to his Father.

This kind stranger said a great deal more. He knew all the verses in the Bible, and told these men a great many things they did not know. They liked to listen to the stranger, they did not feel so sad while he was talking.

At last these men came to their own house: it was in the country. The stranger seemed as if he was going on: but the good men said to him, Pray stay at our house; it is getting dark. Come and sup with us, and sleep here: pray, pray come in.

Then the stranger said he would come in.

The men went into a room where there was a supper. They all three sat down together around the table. The stranger took some bread and broke it, and began to pray to God; and then the two men found out who the stranger was.

It is the Lord! they cried; and so it was. They looked towards him, but they could see him no more. He opened not the door, but yet he was gone.

Then the men thought of all that Jesus had said. How sweetly he talked to us! they said; did we not feel our hearts quite warm, while he talked to us? they said; did we not feel our hearts quite warm, while he was speaking about the Bible, and telling us the meaning?

Do you think these men went to bed that night? O no! they could not sleep. Let us go, said they, and tell the disciples about our seeing Jesus. So they left the supper, and set out in the night. They walked quickly, and soon came to Jerusalem.

The disciples were all shut up in a room together. They had locked the doors to prevent the wicked people getting in: but they let these good men come in. The disciples were at supper.