He often remained out longer than he ought, and came back with glowing cheeks, excited by some pleasure about which he said nothing.

When he had eaten his figs or dates, and lay in his little bed, his father and mother sat close by, and spoke of the land of their fathers, or told ancient tales of their ancestors until he fell asleep.
Joseph instructed the boy in the Jewish writings; but it was soon apparent that Joseph was the pupil, for what he read with difficulty from the roll, little Jesus spoke out spontaneously from his innermost soul.

So he grew into a slender, delicate stripling, learned the foreign tongue, marked the customs, and followed them so far as they pleased him.

There was much in him that he did not owe to education; although he said little, his mother observed it.

And once she asked Joseph: "Tell me, are other children like our Jesus ?" He answered; "So far as I know them--he is different." One day, when Jesus was a little older, something happened.