SCENE:--_The Carpenter’s shop is a low, broad chamber built of wood. At the back to the left-center a wide open doorway reveals a level stretch of landscape. It is late afternoon, but the air is still pale with the heat of day. To the right of the door is a small square window with wooden shutters thrown wide; before it stands a carpenter’s bench upon which lies a wooden door frame nearly finished. The carpenter and his assistant are quietly at work planing, and boring holes for the fitting in of the rivets; beneath them the floor is strewn with shavings, saw-dust, and odds and ends of wood. Away to the left, near a spinning wheel, sits an aged woman combing flax. Against the wall to the same side of the doorway sits_ MARY, _the carpenter’s wife, with a book upon her knees; on the other side her son stands against the door-post, with his back to the interior, looking out into the sunshine._ _After the scene has opened the carpenter raises himself from a stooping position, and hands over to_ REUBEN, _his assistant, a beam of wood, which the latter lays aside._ CARPENTER. ’Twill soon be done. Nay, we’ll not need that now. Yes, speak on. If you read slowly enough, I can give heed. MARY. (_Reading_). “Because his visage was so marred, many did marvel at him then, for more than most his form was scarred, yea, more than all the sons of men. Yet him shall all the nations hear, and kings shall shut their mouths for fear.” CARPENTER. (_To_ REUBEN) Be careful, now the cross-beam’s laid. OLD ANNA. What cause have kings to be afraid? MARY. (_Reading_) “Who hath believed our report? To whom is the Lord’s arm revealed? He shall grow up in tender sort, and as a root from a dry field, having no form nor comeliness, that men who see should scorn him less.” CARPENTER. Hold it fast, now! Nay, don’t let go. MARY.-- “He is rejected and despised, A man of sorrows, grief his lot, He came to us unrecognized, Despising, we esteemed him not. Surely our sorrows he hath borne, And for our sins hath felt the rod, Wherefore he seemed a shape for scorn---- One smitten by the hand of God. But he was wounded for our sins, For our iniquities was scourged, By chastisement our peace he wins, And with his stripes mankind is purged. All we like sheep have gone astray, Turned everyone to his own way. And upon him the Lord doth lay The iniquity of all.” (OLD ANNA _touches her daughter, and points toward the child_.) MARY. (_After a pause, watching him_) My son, what yonder dost thou see, That holds thy gaze so steadfastly? Come hither, child, and tell it me. CHILD.-- I see the land all parched and dry, And sheep, without a shepherd nigh, And surely some look like to die. ANNA. I see no sheep. MARY.--