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 ERY EARLY the next morning everyone in both houses had already arisen, and Salome was busy in her kitchen preparing a good breakfast of honeycakes, a tasty fish broth and several select fish,
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among which the trout, which were often caught there in the mountain streams, were really the best.
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When breakfast was ready, Salome hastened into the house of Joseph and invited Joseph and all the members of his household to breakfast.
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At this Joseph objected, 'But my dear lady friend, why do you go to so much trouble because of me?
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See, my sons also are already busy in the kitchen and are preparing an early meal;
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so you really could have spared your kind hospitality.'
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But Salome replied, 'Oh my truly esteemed friend! Please do not disdain the work of your handmaiden, and come.'
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Here Joseph was deeply moved, called everyone in his house together and went with Salome to her house for breakfast.
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At the doorstep Cornelius awaited them and welcomed them all in the most heartfelt manner.
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And Joseph was filled with joy because he fully recognized his friend Cornelius again in the sunlight.
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All now went into the attractive dining room where the breakfast awaited the guests.
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And when the little Child beheld the fish on the table, He smiled, ran over to Salome and said to her,
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'But whoever told you that I like to eat fish?
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There you have really made Me very happy, for that is above all my favorite dish.
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I do of course also like to eat the honeycakes, as well as the fish-broth with wheat bread;
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but I still would rather have the fish than any of the other foods.
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So it was very thoughtful of you to be so concerned for Me, and I now love you for it quite especially!'
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At this praise from the little Child Salome again was beside herself with joy and wept.
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Here the little Child said, 'Salome, see, it seems that you always weep when you are very happy about something;
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but you see, I am no friend of weeping. Therefore you must not always weep when something makes you happy, and I will be more fond of you still. -
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See, I really would like to eat the fish while sitting on your lap;
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but I just do not trust Myself to sit there, because you might weep entirely too much from all your joy!'
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Here Salome pulled herself together as much as she could and said to the little Child,
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'O Lord! Who indeed can behold You without tears in his eyes?'
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And the little Child answered, 'Just look at My brothers here, they also see Me daily and still do not weep when they see Me!'
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Thereupon Salome was calm again, and everyone went to the table where the little Child took His place on Salome's lap.
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