NEUOFFENBARUNG← The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 2 · Contents
The Holy Family visits the teacher Dumas. Joseph narrates his story. The little Child with the school children. 9 August 1844
01] After a few private talks about pending carpentry work, the doctor accompanied Joseph to see another friend, a school teacher in Nazareth by the name of Dumas.
02] Upon arrival, the doctor returned home and Joseph went inside Dumas' house.
03] But after all these years, Dumas did not immediately recognise his old friend Joseph.
04] Joseph asked him, whether he really didn't recognise him anymore.
05] And Dumas scratched his head and said:
06] "There is indeed a striking resemblance between you and a certain Joseph, who had problems here because of a temple prostitute three years ago;
07] this otherwise very honest man had to go to Bethlehem to be registered and that with his whole entourage.
08] I do not know what happened to him afterwards.
09] And look, there is a great resemblance between you and this dear man, – but surely, you would not be that man?"
10] And Joseph said: "But what if I were indeed him, would you not give me any work in my old profession as a carpenter?
11] For look, I live in my old farmstead again!" 12] After Dumas heard this from Joseph, he said:
13] "Yes, now it is clear, it is you indeed, my old friend and brother Joseph!
14] But for Heaven's sake, where are you coming from now?"
15] And Joseph said to him: "Brother, first give me a wet cloth, so that I can clean my feet from the dust, then you shall hear everything that should be said!"
16] And Dumas immediately sent for a wet cloth and a jug of water and Joseph's whole entourage cleaned their feet and went into Dumas' school building.
17] Here Joseph briefly told his story of the past three years.
18] Meanwhile the Infant spent some time with a few school children, who happened to be there and were learning to read and write.
19] One of the school children read something to the Infant, but made a few mistakes.
20] The Infant just smiled and quickly corrected the reader's mistakes.
21] This was soon noticed by all the children and they asked Him when and where He had acquired such reading skills.
22] And the Infant spoke: "O I was born with it!"
23] All the children started to laugh and went to Dumas and told him all about it; now he became aware of the Child and began to ask Joseph about the Child's abilities.