Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/255

Rh and repeated it to him for a long time; and he did not answer him; and Jesus said to him, If thou art indeed a teacher, and if thou knowest the letters well, tell me the power of Alpha, and I will tell thee that of Beta; and the teacher, being annoyed, struck him on the head; and the child was vexed and cursed him, and immediately he became senseless, and fell upon his face on the ground; and the child returned to the house of Joseph. And Joseph was grieved, and charged his mother, (saying,) thou shalt not send him outside the door, for they die who provoke him to anger.

after some time again another instructor, who was a near friend of Joseph, said to him. Bring me the child to school, perhaps I may be able with coaxing to teach him letters. And Joseph said. If thou art bold enough, brother, take him with thee; and he took him with him with fear and much inward conflict; but the child went cheerfully; and boldly entering the school, he found a book lying upon the desk, and he took it up but did not read the letters in it, but opened his mouth and spake by the Holy Spirit, and taught the law to those who stood around. And a great crowd assembled and stood by listening to him, and they wondered at the beauty of his