The Childhood and Youth of Jesus · Part 2 · Chapter 194

Cyrenius in the minister hole. The girl's discontentment. The 'King's' effective means of intimidation. The mice miracle. 26 April 1844

01] Cyrenius was again the first to toss, and his marble rolled into the ninth hole, and his children said:

02] "Father Cyrenius, this means that you have risen from child to minister, and that with the first toss!

03] If you toss again, you would surely reach the king hole!"

04] And Cyrenius spoke: "My children, I am satisfied with this rank; therefore just take the marbles and toss!

05] See to it that you frequently come into the child hole; for that is the most appropriate and best place for you!"

06] Thereupon Sixtus promptly tossed and ended up in the child hole and was quite happy about it.

07] Then the eldest girl tossed and again landed in the second mother hole.

08] At this, the girl grumbled again as before and said: "Oh dear, I have to be the mother once again!"

09] The Infant went there, took the marble from the hole, gave it back to the girl and spoke:

10] "There – toss one more time, you discontented girl; however, see to it that you do not become the mother once again!"

11] And the girl tossed again and came again into the same hole and started to cry in annoyance.

12] At this the Infant again went over to the girl and said: "O you tyrannical creature! Truly, the nature of the first woman shows in you!

13] What shall I do with you, you serpent nature, you lion's paw?

14] Just get a mouse quickly; it will really torment you; then you will act differently towards me!"

15] Here the girl instantly knelt down before the Infant, wept and spoke:

16] "My dearest Jesus, I beg you, anything but a mouse or rat; for I am terribly afraid of them!

17] I prefer to be a mother a thousand times than see even one mouse!"

18] The Infant said: "This time I will spare you the mouse;

19] but if you grumble before Me one more time, you will suddenly have ten mice over you, sniffing at your feet!"

20] At this, the girl was completely silent and looked on most patiently as the other children occupied all the other holes,

21] and did not bother, even when another girl occupied the father hole, while she would otherwise always be very annoyed if no boy came into that hole.

22] At the end, the Infant tossed again and came once more into the king hole.

23] The girl bit her lips in secret anger.

24] And the Infant smiled, took a small branch and dabbed all the marbles with it and then breathed over the little holes, and instantly there was a mouse, instead of the marble, in each hole.

25] As the girl saw the little animals, she began to scream and cry out in horror and ran away.

26] This caused Joseph to come out and ask: "What have you, my dear Jesus, once again done to the girl that she is screaming so much?"

27] And the Infant spoke: "She is, as usual, envious; so I have visited her once again with some mice!"

28] Here Joseph smiled and went to the girl to calm her down; the other children quietly continued playing their game, for they did not see the horrible mice at all.