Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/18

6 wisdom of men such as Solomon and David. How the heart doth leap with joy, and then doth faint with grief! To what end is all this? For death alone? Nay, I cannot think so, Lazarus.

"The Romans say a man's life is given him but to teach him how to die," said Lazarus. 'Think, too, Nicodemus, how powerless a thing is man when death approacheth; he is no more than the grass of the field, green to-day, faded to-morrow. What, then, of all his heart-beatings?"

"Aye, truly death, death of this fleshly body; but there is another life within. I know it, I feel it, Lazarus."

Nicodemus seemed carried away by his own argument, as though he had himself been preaching and were fired by his own reasoning. 'Mindest thou not the words of Job? 'The Spirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.' Surely the breath of God can never die, but will return to Him laden with the praise and worship of them that love Him."

More moved than he would have it to appear, for he was not a demonstrative man, Lazarus walked on in silence till they reached the gates of his house at Bethany. Here they were met by the ever anxious Martha, who feared some accident to her beloved brother.

'What fearest thou ever?" said Lazarus, smiling at her anxiety.

'I know not; but the night is dark, and ever since Barabbas did waylay the Pharisee, I fear me for thee on the lonely road, lest maybe some robber, such as he, should fall upon thee and take thy jewels."