ou have decided?"

"She knows, John, but in truth she is reluctant to go. She says, at
present, that if I stay she also will stay."

"I trust, father, that you will overrule my mother; and that you
will either go with her or, if you stay, you will insist upon her
going. Should you not overcome her opposition, and finally suffer
her, with Miriam and the older women, to remain with you, I hope
that you will send Mary and the young ones to my uncle. The danger,
with them, is vastly greater. The Romans, unless their blood is
heated by opposition, may not interfere with the old people--who
are valueless as slaves--but the young ones--" and he stopped.

"I have thought it over, my son, and even if your mother remains
here with me, I will assuredly send off Mary, and the young
maidens, to the mountain. Make your mind easy, on that score. We
old people have taken root on the land which was our fathers'. I
shall not leave, whatever may befall--and it may be that your
mother will tarry here, with me--but the young women shall
assuredly be sent away, until the danger is over.

"Not that I think the peril is as great as it seems, to you. Our
people have ever shown themselves courageous, in great danger. They
know the fate that awaits them, after provoking the anger of Rome.
They know they are fighting for faith, for country, and their
families, and will fight desperately. They greatly outnumber the
Romans--at least, the army by which we shall first be attacked--and
maybe, if we can resist that, we may make terms with Rome for,
assuredly, in the long run she must overpower us."

"I should think with you, father," John said, shaking his head, "if
I saw anything like union among the people; but I lose all heart,
when I see how divided they are, how blind to the storm that is
coming against us, how careless as to anything but the trouble of
the day, how intent upon the work of their farms and businesses,
how disinclined to submit to discipline, and to prepare themselves
for the day of battle."

"You are young, my son, and full of enthusiasm; but it is hard to
stir men, whose lives have traveled in one groove, from their
ordinary course. In all our history, although we have been ready to
assemble and meet the foe, we have ever been ready to lay by the
sword, when the danger is past, and to return to our homes and
families. We have been a nation of fighting men, but never a nation
with an army."

"Yes, father, because we truste