Autobiography

Mary was in her fourteenth year when she espied a beggar sitting by the wayside. She approached him and said, " Good father, may I bring you some food ? " He answered, "I am filled with God's food, even now. Come, angel, let me read your destiny." He reached out his hand, and she laid her palm in his. He then began: " Bright and joyous are thy childhood days, filled with peace and plenty, but you will marry in your eighteenth year. Your husband is even now in Judea; he is a carpenter by trade, rather tall, comely, hair dark brown, eyes hazel. There comes before me a beautiful boy, your first born; his hair is light and wavy, his eyes are like the ether blue, fair in every feature; child, he looks like you. I see your first-born hanging upon a cross in his thirty-fourth year; I see him, even now, before me, writhing in agony, and you, daughter, a poor bruised lamb, dragged about by your hair, even from the foot of the cross. Even while I gaze, I behold a sight that causes me to exclaim, God be praised, it is finished; an angel bright holds the spirit, folds him to her bosom, and passes out of sight, and you, Mary, wandering about not knowing whither to go; friends will feed you, but before the end of the coming season I see two angels bright come and bear you away beyond God's ether blue to the bosom of your husband, surrounded by your children. Many, many ages will pass away and you will all dwell together in that house of God's children, but earth will demand your presence again in God's own time to finish up what has been begun by the death of your family."