Volume 2

The Precious Pearl
175
nearest pearl or stone. The shock received by this one
communicated itself to the rest, which rolled into the
other furrows or dropped through the holes into the compartments
in the interior of the box. When all the pearls
and stones had been shot from the surface, the table,
which was upon rollers, was agitated to and fro, by which
movement the contents fell into other little compartments
which could be drawn out at the edge. Each of these little
drawers had previously been assigned to one of the players,
so that when the holy women drew them out, they saw
at once what they had won for their new undertaking or
which jewel they had lost. Obed had died not long before
and his widow was still mourning for him. Before the
baptism, he had been at Lazarus's with Jesus.
During the game the holy women lost a very precious
pearl that had fallen down among them. All moved back
and looked for it most carefully. When at last they found
it and were expressing their joy, Jesus came over to them
and related the parable of the lost drachma and the joy of
the owner upon finding it again. From their pearl, lost,
carefully sought, and joyfully found, He drew a new
similitude to Magdalen. He called her a pearl more precious
than many others that, from the lottery table of holy
love, had fallen and were going to destruction. "With
what joy," He exclaimed, "'will ye find again the precious
pearl!" Then the women, deeply moved, asked: ""Ah,
Lord! Will that pearl be found again?" and Jesus
answered: "'Seek ye more earnestly than the woman in the
parable sought the lost drachma, or the shepherd his stray
sheep." Profoundly touched at this answer, all promised
to seek after Magdalen more diligently than after their lost
pearl, and assured Him that their joy upon finding her
would far exceed what they now felt. Some of the women
begged the Lord to receive among His disciples the young
man of Samaria who, after the Pasch, had besought this
favor of Him on the road to that city. They praised his