But the daily sacrifice of the Temple, and all the services
and songs and benedictions in its courts, continued as usual, and
there was a greater crowd than ever within its walls. As the Boy
went thither with his parents they came to a place where a little
house was beginning to burn, set on fire by an overturned lamp. The
poor people stood by, wringing their hands and watching the flames.
"Why do they not try to save their house?" cried the Boy.
The father shook his head. "They can do nothing," he answered. "They
follow the teaching of the Pharisees, who say that it is unlawful
to put out a fire on the Sabbath, because it is a labor."
A little later the Boy saw a cripple with a crutch, sitting in the
door of a cottage, looking very sad and lonely.
"Why does he not go with the others," asked the Boy, "and hear the
music at the Temple? That would make him happier. Can't he walk?"
"Yes," answered the father, "he can hop along pretty well with his
crutch on other days, but not on the Sabbath, for he would have to
carry his crutch, and that would be labor.
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