Samuel Gobat, Bishop of Jerusalem, his life and work : a biographical sketch . to attendto business affairs ; he returned about four oclock in theafternoon, and made one of our circle, looking on atour merry open-air games. Sunday afternoons werebright spots in those times. Our father then returnedfrom the town about half-past one ; and when the coolof the evening set in, we repaired with our parents eitherto a neighbouring olive-tree, called by us the Sunday-tree, or to our yet more favourite resort, the great fig-tree on the slope of the hill, directly opposite to themountain, on the summit
Samuel Gobat, Bishop of Jerusalem, his life and work : a biographical sketch . to attendto business affairs ; he returned about four oclock in theafternoon, and made one of our circle, looking on atour merry open-air games. Sunday afternoons werebright spots in those times. Our father then returnedfrom the town about half-past one ; and when the coolof the evening set in, we repaired with our parents eitherto a neighbouring olive-tree, called by us the Sunday-tree, or to our yet more favourite resort, the great fig-tree on the slope of the hill, directly opposite to themountain, on the summit of which is situated NebiSamuel, the ancient Ramah of the Prophet this fig-tree lay great and small masses of rock,from among which each one of us selected a seat. Wethen had a childrens service with our parents. We all inturn recited a hymn, or chose one to be sung. Then ourfather examined us upon some text or in Bible history,after which our mother read aloud something for ourinstruction. In the intervals of our sacred occupations, !ililllii I iliilli f 4 ^. FAMILY LIFE. 319 our eyes would roam over the lonely rock-strewn valleyat our feet, or upwards to the dreamy heights of thesublime mountain of the Prophet Samuel; and ineradi-cable impressions, hardly clear as yet to our under-standings, were stamped upon our hearts, and all waspenetrated and sweetened by the blissful consciousnessof being encompassed with tender parental love. Melancholy reminiscences are also connected withthat stately fig-tree—reminiscences which can never beforgotten by us children. One Sunday afternoon, latein the summer of 1857, we were seated upon this ourfavourite spot. All were there; not one was wanting,not one beloved member. Father, mother, the sevenbrothers and sisters, all were there. Yet a deep sadnesshad fallen upon us. In a few days Benoni, who hadbeen at home for a visit of several months, was again toleave us in order to pursue his studies in England, andthe approaching
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