Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/319

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THE ARABIC GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY.
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CHAPTER XXXVII.

On a certain day, as the Lord Jesus was running about and playing with, the boys, he went by the shop of a dyer, whose name was Salem; and he had in his shop many cloths which he was going to dye. The Lord Jesus therefore entering the shop of the dyer took all these cloths and cast them into a vessel full of Indian blue. When Salem came and saw the cloths spoiled, he began to cry out with a loud voice and to scold the Lord Jesus, saying, O son of Mary, what hast thou done to me? Thou hast rendered me dishonourable among all my townsmen; for every one wished for the colour that suited him, but thou hast come and ruined all. The Lord Jesus answered, Of whatever cloth thou wishest the colour changed, I will change it for thee, and he began at once to take the cloths out of the vessel, each of them dyed the colour which the dyer desired, until he had drawn them all out. The Jews who saw this miracle and prodigy praised God.[1]

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Now Joseph went about through all the city and took with him the Lord Jesus, since men sent for him on account of his craft, to make for them doors,

  1. This tradition is still current in Persia and other Eastern countries.