A VISION OF GALILEE

Evening Star, Issue 20053, 19 December 1928, Page 13

A VISION OF GALILEE

; And this, is .Galilee, the ,name which has echoed in our cars’.since childhood’s days! ■ How wo had conjured it all up in our minds, and wondered just what it would be like! Would wo be disappointed? Would our dreams be shattered ? Our expectancy grew as we passed Nazareth nestling among her hills, and as wo climbed higher and higher through, mountain passes, carpeted with blood-red roses of Sharon, delicately coloured mauve cyclamen, and a, perfect mass of huge daisies, wo almost held our breath as we wondered whether even Galilee could surpass in splendour this riot of colour. At last wo reached the summit, and lying in the hollow of the hills, like a fairy jewel, lay beauteous Galileo—bowitchingly, bewildering!}' beautiful. The morning haze had not lifted itself completely from her broad bosom, leaving a suggestion of still rarer beauties yet to be unfolded. We gazed spellbound at it all. None of us were by any means ultra-religious. We had laughed at many things wo had seen in tins country, had seen the funny side of many an incident, and had scoffed at much of the superstition, but when we saw Galilee, it seemed as though those who came to scoff remained to pray. As we made the descent we passed red tiled Tiberius, in all its modernity, Magdala and Capernaum, of which little now remains, and then we unanimously agreed that lunch must be partaken picnic fashion on the shore of the lake, for it was difficult to tear oneself away. It was a meal none of us will ever forget. The blue waters glistened in the noonday sun ami lazily caressed the shore; in fact, the whole atmosphere was such that even the sceptic of our party had to admit that here was as indefinable something which called to the deeps of one’s very nature. It seemed as though the presence of The Man of Galilee still lingered there. The fishing boats passed lazily by, the fishermen crooning their songs as they drew in their nets laden with fish, and one boatman, evidently imbued with the spirit of hospitality so characteristic of the East, drew in his boat to offer us some of his fish. Reluctantly we were compelled to leave -this fairest of spots, and once more climb the steep ascent. On reaching the summit we turned for one last long look at this haven of peace and rest, and the final vision we had was of snow-capped Hermon keeping ceaseless vigil over her priceless jewel —fair Galilee. —Irene Hughes, in the 1 Weekly Scotsman.’