hat is saying much. Then they must have been very
different from their royal relation, of whom thou speakest."

"Thou hast well said, my daughter. Happy would it have been for that
distracted nation if one of those youths had graced the throne of Judah,
instead of the profligate Jehoiakim."

"Then it appears, surely," said the daughter smilingly, "that true
excellence and superiority are not confined to Chaldea. But I hear
nothing in praise of Judah's maidens."

"The maidens of Judah are fair--some of them exceedingly fair. Thou wilt
wonder, perhaps, to hear that the peculiar grace and artless eloquence of
one of these maids of Judah so affected thy father's heart, that he could
not refrain from shedding tears."

"And have these interesting captives arrived in the city?"

"Yea, my daughter, they are already in Babylon."

"And shall not thy daughter have the pleasure of seeing this orphan maid
of Judah?"

"Yea, verily! this day thou shalt see her; and if thou art well pleased
with her and with her society, she may be an inmate of my house, and a
companion for my daughter."

"But can the young maiden converse in Chaldee?"

"She speaks our language, my daughter, with a degree of fluency that is
really astonishing. It is evident that her attainments are quite
superior, and that all the advantages which Judah's capital could afford
have been lavished upon her."

"Oh! it will be delightful to learn beautiful stories of other lands, and
have such a sweet and lovely creature for my companion; I am almost
impatient to see her."

"I will have her conveyed hither without delay. If I mistake not, the
maiden will be delighted to tarry under the roof of one whom she calls
her 'bountiful benefactor.' Thy father will now leave for a short season,
to attend to some business matters of importance. In two hours I return."
And kissing his sweet Jupheena, the soldier hurried out of the apartment.
A chariot stood ready at his door, into which he stepped, and was hurried
away to another part of the city.

CHAPTER IX.

THE royal captives, on arriving in the city, were conveyed, according to
the strict orders of Barzello, to certain appropriate apartments,
prepared for their reception, and nothing requisite to their comfort and
entertainment was left wanting. On the very first day of their arrival
the God-fearing youths found themselves to be favorites in a land of
strangers. The God in whom they trusted gave them adequate s