and, where good, obedient
children go, and of enchanted princesses, singing trees, crystal
castles, golden bridges, laughing water-fairies.... But suddenly in the
midst of these pleasant tales, which began to send forth notes of music
and to gleam with lovely light, Beautiful Sara heard the voice of her
father, scolding the poor aunt for putting such nonsense into the
child's head. Then it seemed to her as if they set her on the little
stool before her father's velvet-covered chair, and that he with a soft
hand smoothed her long hair, smiling as if well pleased, while he rocked
himself comfortably in his loose, Sabbath dressing-gown of blue silk.
Yes, it must be the Sabbath, for the flowered cover was spread on the
table, all the utensils in the room were polished like looking-glasses,
the white-bearded usher sat beside her father, eating raisins and
talking in Hebrew; even little Abraham came in with a very large book,
and modestly begged leave of his uncle to expound a portion of the Holy
Scripture, that he might prove that he had learned much during the past
week, and therefore deserved much praise--and a corresponding quantity of
cakes.... Then the lad laid the book on the broad arm of the chair, and
set forth the history of Jacob and Rachel--how Jacob raised his voice
and wept when he first saw his cousin Rachel, how he talked so
confidingly with her by the well, how he had to serve seven years for
her, and how quickly the time passed, and how he at last married and
loved her for ever and ever.... Then all at once Beautiful Sara
remembered how her father cried with merry voice, "Wilt thou not also
marry thy cousin Sara like that?" To which little Abraham gravely
replied, "That I will, and she shall wait seven years too." These
memories stole like twilight shadows through the soul of the young
wife, and she recalled how she and her little cousin--now so great a man
and her husband--played together as children in the leafy tabernacle; how
delighted they were with the gay carpets, flowers, mirrors, and gilded
apples; how little Abraham caressed her more and more tenderly, till
little by little he began to grow larger and more self-interested, and
at last became a man and scarcely noticed her at all.... And now she
sits in her room alone on a Saturday evening; the moon shines in
brightly. Suddenly the door flies open, and cousin Abraham, in traveling
garb, and as pale as death, enters, grasps her hand, puts a gold ring o