Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Apocrypha of the New Testament/Gospel of Thomas: Latin Form/Chapter 11

Chapter XI.&#8212;How Jesus Made a Short Piece of Wood of the Same Length as a Longer One.

And Jesus reached the age of eight years.&#160; Joseph was a master builder, and used to make ploughs and ox-yokes.&#160; And one day a rich man said to Joseph:&#160; Master, make me a couch, both useful and beautiful.&#160; And Joseph was in distress, because the wood which he had brought for the work was too short.&#160; And Jesus said to him:&#160; Do not be annoyed.&#160; Take hold of this piece of wood by one end, and I by the other; I and let us draw it out.&#160; And they did so; and immediately he found it useful for that which he wished.&#160; And He said to Joseph:&#160; Behold, do the work which thou wishest.&#160; And Joseph, seeing what He had done, embraced Him, and said:&#160; Blessed am I, because God hath given me such a son.