THE LITTLE TALLITH
After Jael, the fisherman, had seen the warring waves of the Sea of
Galilee calmed by an exercise of universal power, self-centered, the
desire of his heart had been to see again the childhood friend he had
called king. This, however, did not come about for a number of months.
Shortly after the storm, the Galilean Prophet had gone on a long
pilgrimage, rumor only telling where. Moved by his great hope for the
healing of Sara and impatient at long delay, Jael, when he chanced to
hear that Jesus had turned his face homeward, forsook his nets, and
burdened by no more possessions than his staff and the scrip he hung
over his shoulder, he set out on the Damascus road leading north. As
he went he inquired of travelers along the way for one Jesus, a
Galilean Prophet. But it was not until he reached Magdala that he got
news. Here he overheard a party of pilgrims who stopped for the night,
telling about a wonder worker who was camping on the Plain of
Gennesaret a few miles to the north. The blind son of one of the party
had received almost instant sight by the application of clay to his
eyes at the hands of this wonder worker.
With this information Jael hurried forward toward the Plain, sore of
foot, yet glad of heart, for he had no doubt the wonder worker was
Jesus. As he journeyed the twilight gave way to the dark, and
innumerable stars came forth. But it was not a light in the heavens
the eye of the fisherman watched for, rather a red glow near the earth
line. When he finally saw this it was as strength to his tired feet.
Soon the outlines of a tent became visible and the bodies of two men
lying by the fire. The approach of Jael was announced by the barking
of a dog which kept him at a distance until repeated shouting brought a
sleepy man to the tent door.
"Doth there rest here a Galilean, by name Jesus?" the fisherman called.
Before the tent dweller had answered, one of the men by the fire
called, "Jael! Jael--come hither!"
Forgetting the blisters on his feet, the stiff muscles of his legs and
the savage barking of the dog, Jael ran to the man by the fire
shouting, "Yea, Lord! I come! I come!"
With his head lying against his hand which was in turn supported by an
elbow resting on the ground, Jesus lay in his undergarment, his
traveling coat thrown over a tent stake near by. "Sit thee down and
rest, Jael," he said. "The friend at my side is a Hindoo of great
wisdom and knowledge of the stars. When I traveled in far lands he was
to me as a brother. Well be it thy steps have led thee to cross his
path while he travels with this caravan if thou wouldst gather
knowledge of Sara."
"Sara!" Jael exclaimed. "By what mystery is the desire of my heart
known to thee ere my lips have spoken?"
"Mystery?" Jesus repeated. "There is no mystery. There is only
understanding."
"Thy words have a sound but their meaning I know not, if thou art not a
miracle worker."
"All mind is one mind. He who knoweth himself knoweth also his
brother. If I loved the maiden Sara as thou lovest her, would not the
desire of my heart give me an understanding of the desire of thy heart?"
"If thou dost know a man's love for a maiden, then wilt thou of thy man
pity and thy god-power, give aid to Jael?"
"Hast thou aught of the maiden's which lay upon her naked body?" Jesus
said.
From his coat Jael took a small bit of cloth suspended like an ornament
on a neck cord and holding it toward Jesus said, "Her little _tallith_."
"Put it in the hand of the Wise Man."
Drawing himself into a sitting position, the Hindoo took the _tallith_,
pressed it into the palm of his hand and sat for a short time without
speaking.
"Her hair was abundant and dark," he presently said, speaking more to
himself than to Jael. "Her face was ruddy and her eyes were bright
like sunshine dancing on quick waters. She was supple of body and
worked among fish-nets. Overcome in a great struggle she was borne
away and made unclean of body and hopeless at heart. She wandered
about, an outcast, in the land of her fathers until at last she crept
away to die."
A curse broke from the lips of Jael and his hand moved quickly toward
his belt as he exclaimed, "When I find him--! But first I must find
her. Where is Sara now?"
"Even now doth she lie in a bed of rushes which the waves of Jordan
have washed against a bleaching sycamore. Here, while she waiteth
death, the serpent that hath wrought her downfall doth circle her
though she knoweth it not."
"God of my fathers!" Jael groaned.
"What is thy request, Jael?" Jesus asked.
"That Sara be made clean and given again to Jael."
"Dost thou know what thou asketh? From thee the woman hath been taken
by the serpent. If thou wouldst possess her, to the place of the
serpent must thou go and conquer him. Then shall the woman be free and
with the freedom of the woman shall come thy victory. Wouldst thou go?"
"Yea, yea! Direct my pathway."
"Hear then the words of the Wise Man of the East."
"Lift thine eyes to the heavens," the Hindoo said. "Seest thou Seven
Stars where they shine in their constellation?"
"Nay. But six I see."
"Look again."
"My eyes behold six."
"Thou must see seven."
After keeping his face to the sky some minutes Jael exclaimed, "Another
shineth afar. This is seven."
"The way thou takest will lead thee from the place of Seven Stars to
the place of the serpent. Look thou well into the eyes of the stars.
And when thou dost look into the snake's eyes that ever glitter,
remember that all light be one light though according to its use it
hath contrary powers."
He held the little _tallith_ against his forehead for a moment with
upturned face and said, "Thou wilt start thy journey under seven stars.
When they fade from the heavens stop by the roadside and take thy rest
in sleep. Thou wilt be awakened by the flutter of wings and on opening
thy eyes will see six birds. Follow their flight with the eye and thou
wilt look to the east from whence cometh the light. Keep thee on the
highway toward Bethsaida. When the sun is well risen shall thine eyes
behold five palms, strong and stately. When thou comest near thou
shalt see children playing where the tall palms cast their shades.
They shall be chasing lambs and throwing lilies and shouting with glad
voices. As thy feet pause here, remember this: All life is one life.
Beside this there is no other whether it seem to thine eye a palm tree,
a shouting child, a ewe lamb or a lily. Think on this as thou, the
man, doth seek the desire of thy heart, thy woman.
"When thou hast passed through Bethsaida and come out upon the other
side thou wilt overtake a herdsman driving four shabby and much
smelling goats. And the hands of the man shall be like unto the hoofs
of the beast for filth and his visage shall be like that of a wild
he-goat. Of this man inquire if there are those unclean beyond
Bethsaida and of his reply learn that a beast be not told by the number
of his legs. . . . .
"When thou dost draw near Capernaum three geese will seek to turn thee
aside. Thy toes will they peck at with much hissing and the hem of thy
garment will their necks lift angry beaks to. Tarry not, neither kick
nor curse them. They are but birds to tempt the foolish. Waste not
thy effort on them. . . . .
"When thou hast cleared the North Gate of this city, keep to the
Damascus road until it reach the walls of Chorazin. When thou reachest
the South Gate of the city two dogs shall draw nigh. And the one shall
be hairy and water-eyed; and the other shall be lean and warty. And
when thou passeth under the gate shall they likewise pass under, the
one before thee and the one behind. Close to the wall on the inside
shall the fore dog trot. Keep thou in his tracks. He goeth to a fish
stall. When thy feet reach this fish market let thine eyes look for a
hag that doth sit near a dung heap taking the heads from fish. When
she seeth the dogs she will curse. Then shalt thou help her drive the
dogs away and she shall speak. Forget not what she saith of the marsh
path, and beyond.
"When thou hast left Chorazin keep thee going until thou hath passed a
peasant thrashing with the drag. Here turn aside from the road to the
right and go straight until thou comest to a grove of carib trees. Now
rest thy feet but use thine eyes and ears. Thou art not far from the
Jordan. Searching to the right thine eyes will see the willows on the
banks and thine ear will hear the fall of water over stones. To the
right of the caribs turn and soon thou shalt come to a marsh. Remember
now the words of the hag and shortly shall the waters of the Jordan
greet thy eye. Thou wilt see a place beyond a flat stone where the
waters lie quiet as in a basin. Yet beyond this is a bed of rushes
washed against a dead sycamore. In the leaves look thou for the
serpent. In the bed lieth the woman whose enemy, though she knoweth it
not, doth encircle her. Like two sparks broken from the sun will the
eyes hidden in the rushes look into thy eyes. From the Seven Stars to
the Serpent hast thou now made thy way. If thou be victorious over the
serpent, back to the stars will thy feet be turned. If thy faith fail
utterly, the serpent will have victory over both man and woman and
there will come death instead of life."
"At thy strange words I wonder--but--" and he turned to Jesus: "Thou
art the King--thou art the wonder worker. By what means shall I gain
victory over this serpent that hath Sara encircled?"
"This be the victory--even thy faith, Jael," Jesus answered. "_What
things soever thou desirest when thou prayeth, believe that thou hast
them and they shall be thine_. To the woman, which I bid thee bring
again to me, carry thou this gospel of salvation--'As a man thinketh in
his heart, _so is he_.' There is no bondage to uncleanness or to
darkness when the mind of man thinks purity and light. He who thinks
_Strength_ is at last a _Conqueror_. Take now thy little _tallith_ and
if thy faith fail thee, from the touch of it may new strength come.
Go, Jael."
According to directions Jael made his way. He was aroused by the sweep
of wings passing toward the east. He heard the children singing
underneath the palms and beyond Bethsaida he overtook the herdsman.
"Are there those unclean beyond the city?" he asked him.
"Nay, for with dogs and staves drive we the unclean away. Sad was the
plight of the last who came this way. A woman she had once been. Now
came she like a creeping thing, lean of flesh, eaten of sores, and when
the dogs and staves of the city rabble had driven her far, then did my
goat with the broken horn butt her into a sharp ravine."
"Was her right leg swollen at the knee?"
"Yea, and the goat did break it with his head."
"And her right arm--had it sores?"
"Yea, sores until blow flies chased her even down there among the
rocks, and as she did lie, with a stone I broke her foul arm open! A
curse upon the scar-ridden bones of the unclean!"
"Verily a beast is not known by the number of his legs," said Jael
angrily as the herdsman turned across the plain.
When the fisherman reached Chorazin, the lean and warty dog led him to
the place where the hag gutted fish. When she saw the lean dog and the
hairy one which followed, she cursed.
"Vile dogs they are, yet there is one thing worse. Scarce a fortnight
ago and before the dawn of morning, there was a stirring up of the
lentil pods and melon skins cast upon the ground. And when the man of
the house looked out, in the light of the moon beheld he a sight
fearful to the eye, for one did cry 'Unclean! Unclean!' Wrapped was
this evil one in a fisherman's coat yet was she a woman. Then did we
shower her with fish long spoiled and with bitter curses, and she crept
away. On the evening of the next day came a pilgrim who did tell that
he saw one eaten alive of disease and uncleanness, creeping through the
marsh toward the Jordan. Feebly did she crawl as if life were all but
departed. And if she die not in the marsh then will the life be sucked
from her by serpents, for beyond the marsh dwelleth such snakes as
creep against the bodies of living things to seek warmth and take from
them the life that goeth to make the wisdom of the serpent." And when
she had said this, the hag returned to her fish cleaning.
With a sad heart Jael turned from her, yet not without hope. He
hastened on, keeping to directions. He saw the willows by the
watercourse and heard the murmur of the river. He cleared the marsh.
He came to the still pool. He saw the bed of rushes piled by the
spring flood against the bleached sycamore. All was as pictured by the
Wise Man of the East. Softly he made his way toward the bed of rushes
with eyes keenly watching for the serpent When he had come near he
stopped. A sore and loathsome hand lay over the top of the bed of
rushes. Underneath it two bright sparks suddenly appeared. Looking
close Jael saw the head of a serpent and that its body lay concealed
under the leaves, yet so like its surroundings was it that it seemed to
be but a part of them.
The eye of the serpent was both cunning and evil. Under its first
glitter Jael took a backward step. Emboldened by this move the serpent
thrust out a barbed and rapidly scintillating tongue. Instinctively
the fisherman thrust his fingers against the little _tallith_, the
touch of which aroused in him a mighty passion, for in the face of the
serpent he now saw the lust of the Roman who had taken Sara. A swift
and terrible wrath swept over him. He drew his knife and with an oath
sprang forward. As he did so there was a soft rustling of dead
rushes--and the sparks of light and the twinkling tongue were gone and
though he did not notice it, the hand resting just above where the
venomous head had lain, was trembling violently.
"Lord, I believe!" shouted Jael in trumpet tones. "Help thou mine
unbelief!"
The ringing voice broke the stillness sharply. It was an echoing wail
that called from behind the rushes, "Unclean! Unclean!"
"Knowest thou not who standeth near thee? Sara, lift up thy head!"
Slowly a head appeared above the bed of rushes. Dark eyes were sunken
deep in an emaciated and ashy face. "Jael!" The name was called with
great effort in a thin and rasping voice. "Unclean, Jael!"
"Nay, nay, my Sara!" He shouted with a glad voice. "Thou art not
unclean! Jesus of Nazareth _hath cleansed thee already_ if in thy
heart thou believest thou art clean. He hath bidden me bring thee to
him, clean, _clean_."
"Thou hast come too late!" the wailing voice called back. "Thou canst
do nothing for me."
"Nay. Nothing can I do. But he--Jesus of Nazareth--can do all things.
He hath all power on sea and land, in air and sky, in heaven and hell!
There is nothing this wonder worker can not do. Lift up thine arms as
thou wilt lift them before his face when thou comest into his presence.
Clap thy hands! Open thy mouth and shout! Shout, Sara!"
For a moment there was silence only broken by the running water of the
Jordan. Then the stillness was again broken by a scream and the one
word, "Jael!" The cry came from the bed of rushes and was in strong
contrast to the rasping effort of the moment before. "Jael! Jael!"
Again the sharp scream.
"What is it, my Sara?"
"My flesh is coming clean! What meaneth it?"
"Jesus of Nazareth is here. My eyes be holden that I can not see, yet
I _feel_ him."
"Jael! Jael!" Again it was a scream--a wild, glad, unearthly scream.
"My strength is returning. It is pouring into me like sunshine. Jael!
My knee! My legs! They are coming clean under my very eyes! Run to
me. Hurry! Hurry else the miracle thou mayest not see! The flesh
cometh clean _fast_. Fast! And the breath of healing bloweth over the
running sores! See! They are drying! Look, like scales they are
dropping away!"
Before Jael reached the bed Sara had risen on her knees.
"My Jesus!" he shouted in a voice that made the valley ring as he met
her face to face. "Sara! Thou art made _whole_!"
Even as he spoke she lifted herself with a great shout and left the
nest of rushes for the arms of Jael. For a moment he held her as if
between the woman and destruction there remained nothing but his arms.
Yet the lips of them both were dumb in the first moments of the
miracle. Then he held her at arm's length and looked into her face.
"Thou art Jael--surely Jael," she said, "but am I Sara?"
"Yea, yea. And every whit made whole. Feel thou thy hair. Feel thou
thy ruddy cheeks. Feel thou thy supple arms and strong young hands as
when they tossed the nets," and he drew his fingers over her hair and
face and arms.
Again she stood unable to speak. She looked back to the empty bed of
rushes and into the face of Jael.
"Feel for thyself," and taking her hand he made it stroke her long hair.
"Let mine eyes bear me witness," and turning toward the still pool she
ran fleet footed, and dropped on her hands and knees beside it. So
long and carefully she bent above the water, Jael came beside her and
looked in to see there her mirrored face. "Look, Jael," she whispered.
"Seest thou a face?"
"Yea, thy face, clean and whole."
"Nay--not mine. There is one altogether fair and more beautiful than
tongue can tell. It seemeth to look out from mine as though it had
always been there, yet it is not mine, but another. My soul telleth me
this mighty Jesus hath taken possession of thy Sara."
A moment they tarried by the pool of the Jordan. Then Sara sprang up
exclaiming, "Jael--I love thee! I love thee! But there is another I
love with a strong love that tongue can not speak. Come! Let us
hasten with winged feet to Jesus of Nazareth. Before his face would I
shout the joy of my salvation!"