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 dise." His  thirst  for  souls  being  thus  sated  by one  sinner  saved.  He  then,  and  only  then,  becomes conscious  of  the  bodily  thirst  that  consumes  Him.  "  I thirst,"  He  moans,  and  two  forms  spring  forward  at the  word — a  soldier  who  dips  a  sponge  in  vinegar and  presses  it  to  His  lips — and  Mary,  unable,  poor soul,  to  relieve  His  thirst  unless  by  her  tears  or,  if need  be,  with  her  heart's  blood.  Ah,  how  the  tender heart  of  Jesus  throbs  with  pity  for  His  poor  Mother Mary!  What  will  become  of  her  when  He  is  gone! Will  she  go  back  heartbroken  and  alone  to  the deserted  home  in  Nazareth  and  pine  away  and  die  of very  grief?  Oh  for  some  one  to  be  her  comforter, some  one  to  entrust  her  to!  His  eyes  search  the crowd  beneath  and  He  sees  there  the  beloved  disciple John, and  He  calls  to  him:  "  John,  as  thou  lovest  Me be  a  son  to  My  Mother;  Mother,  for  My  sake  be  a mother  to  him." Then John  takes  her  by  the  hand and calls  her  Mother,  and  at  the  tender  word  she sobs and  moans  as  if  her  heart  would  break. And Jesus sobs  too, — moans  in  utter  desolation  of  spirit. He has  given  up  all,  even  His  own  beloved  Mother! Nailed on  His  cross,  abandoned  by  all  on  earth,  His humanity cries  out  to  heaven:  "  My  God,  My  God, have  you  too  abandoned  Me? 99  At  that  awful  sound a  hush  falls  upon  the  noisy  throng,  Nature  herself seems  to  hold  her  breath,  the  midday  sun  grows  dim, as  though  night,  with  a  veil  of  darkness,  would  fain shut  out  from  mortal  eyes  the  horrible  scene.  Darkness and  silence  over  all,  and  the  weird  horror  of  the scene  is  intensified  by  the  wails  of  Magdalen,  the  sobs