penaz would meet them, address them, and enlighten them in regard to
the duties of their future course.

The four Hebrews were quietly seated in one of their apartments, each one
engaged in satisfying his curiosity by gazing at the richly carved
casings and highly ornamented articles of furniture.

"Well, cousins," said Daniel, with a smile, "I trust they will not
un-Hebrew us with their Chaldean mysteries."

"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem!" said Azariah, with feeling, "let my
right hand forget her cunning."

"Let my tongue be palsied if I forget, for a day, the loved ones at
home," said Hananiah.

"When the sweet memories of our beloved Prophet shall be obliterated from
this bosom," said Mishael, laying his hand upon his breast, "then let me
be utterly forsaken."

"The law of Jehovah shall be the rule of our actions," said Daniel; "to
him we yield our hearty and willing obedience."

The grand signal was heard below, and, without delay, the young men, from
different parts of the building, were seen hurrying to the commodious
apartment set apart for the occasion. Here they found a number of the
king's officers assembled, among whom the youths of Judah recognized the
pleasant countenance of Barzello. They were soon seated in perfect order,
and Babylon never witnessed, in personal appearance, a more interesting
group of youths. They were received by the officers with a smile of
satisfaction, and with a look of admiration. Presently, the dignified
form of Ashpenaz was seen moving slowly towards the rostrum; he ascended,
gracefully bowed to the officers on either side, and proceeded:

"It is of the utmost importance that those who are destined to minister
in the king's presence should be well initiated into the ways and
manners, maxims and customs of our nation, and be well versed in all the
learning of the Chaldeans. Nothing short of this can meet the demands and
reasonable expectations of our great monarch; and for this he has
carefully provided every facility. Your teachers are of the most superior
in the realm, and an ample period is appointed for the perfection of your
accomplishments.

"In addition to literary attainments, the king looks for moral integrity,
uprightness of character, and true amiability of deportment. Without
these, the most learned can never add to the real dignity of the court,
nor to the stability of the Empire; but, on the contrary, such a one
destitute of moral principle must prove a dan