"Never, Mr. Dinwiddie?"
"Never!"
"But it seems, often, to people, that they are wanting."
"Their eyes are so blinded by tears that they cannot see them,
sometimes. Even then, they can lie down and feel them, - feel
that they are in them."
"Are there any sycamore trees here now?" my father asked.
"Two or three poor old specimens; just enough to show for the
story. Those sycamore figs belong to the low and warm
situations; this is the proper place for them."
Papa felt so well that we determined to push on to the Jordan.
It was a hot, long ride, over a shadeless and barren plain;
and when we came to the river papa declared himself very much
disappointed. But I was not. Narrow and muddy as the stream
was, it was also powerful in its rapid flood; no one could
venture to bathe in it. The river was much swollen and had
been yet more so; the tracks of wild animals which the floods
had disturbed were everywhere to be seen. Papa and Mr.
Dinwiddie reasoned and argued, while I sat and meditated; in a
deep delight that I should see the Jordan at all. We took a
long rest there, on its banks. The jungle was a delicious
study to me, and when the deep talk of the gentlemen subsided
enough to give me a chance, I got Mr. Dinwiddie to enlighten
me as to the names and qualities of the various trees and
plants. They were of fine luxuriant growth. Poplars and
sycamores and other trees, willows, I think, and exquisite
tamarisks in blossom; and what I specially admired, the canes.
I understood then how people might go into the plain to see "a
reed shaken with the wind." Growing twelve to fifteen feet
high, with graceful tufts of feathery bloom which they bow and
sway to the breeze in a manner lovely to see.
Another day we rode down to the shore of the Dead Sea; papa
being none the worse for his Jordan excursion. Then the rain
visited us, and for two or three days we were kept in our
tents. With some difficulty I then persuaded papa to go
further south, to the shore of the Dead Sea, to some pleasant
camping ground by one of its western springs; there rain falls
almost never. So, first at Ain Feshkah and then at Ain Jidi,
we spent another couple of weeks; without Mr. Dinwiddie it
would have been impossible, but his society kept papa from
wearying and made everything as enjoyable as could be to both
of us. It was the middle of February when we returned to
Jerusalem.
The rainy season was not of course at an end yet; but a change
of beauty had come over the land. We found fruit trees in
blossom, almond and peach; and apricots just ready to bloom.
Corn up and green; and flowers coming and come. I had my own
plans, made up from the experience and counsels of my English
friends; but papa wanted to see Jerusalem, and I waited. Of
course I wanted to see Jerusalem too; and here again Mr.
Dinwiddie was our excellent friend and guide and instructor.
Papa was quite in earnest now; and went about the city
examining walls and churches and rock-tombs and all the
environs, with a diligent intentness almost equal to mine; and
he and Mr. Dinwiddie had endless talks and discussions, while
I mused. The words, "Constantine," "Byzantine," "Crusaders,"
"Helena", "Saracenic," "Herod," "Josephus;" with modern names
almost as well known; echoed and re-echoed in my ears.