And _Jesus_ entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, _there
was_ a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans,
and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not
for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before,
and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass
that _way_. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw
him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to
day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and
received him joyfully. And when they saw _it_, they all murmured,
saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And
Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my
goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man
by false accusation, I restore _him_ fourfold. And Jesus said unto
him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also
is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost.--_St. Luke xix: 1-10_.
* * * * *
_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_
_The sycomore tree referred to in the text is a species of fig
bearing small, coarse fruit, which is used as food only in cases of
necessity. Although occasionally of great size, the tree is easily
climbed, as the trunk is short, and the branches are numerous and
wide spreading. Jericho, rebuilt by Herod, was a somewhat fashionable
town. To signalize the despised tax-gatherer in such a way was to
teach a permanent lesson of absolute unworldliness_.