rom the direction of the scene of
the struggle. They made many halts by the way, for Martha was
scarcely able to retain her seat on the donkey, and even Mary was
greatly shaken by the event of her captivity and rescue. During the
heat of the day they remained under the shade of some trees, and
the sun was setting when they approached the farm.

Simon and the men hurried out, when the sound of the asses' feet
was heard. Martha burst into tears, as he assisted her to alight.

"What ails you, wife? I trust that no evil has befallen you by the
way. Where are the maids?

"Why, Mary, my child, you look pale, too!"

"No wonder, uncle, that aunt is shaken, and that I look pale. For
John, and I, and Jonas were taken captives by the Romans, who
carried us off to sell as slaves, leaving poor mother behind."

"And how then have you escaped, child?"

"John and Jonas got away from them, and raised all the country; for
the Romans had done much harm, killing, and carrying away captives,
and burning. So when he called them the men took up arms, and fell
upon the Romans at night and slew them all, and rescued me, and
some fifty other captives who had fallen into their hands."

Simon asked no further questions, for the time, but helped Martha
into the house, and then handed her over to the care of Mary and,
half an hour later, she had recovered sufficiently to return to the
room; and sit there, holding Simon's hand in quiet happiness, and
watching Mary as she resumed her accustomed tasks, and assisted old
Isaac in preparing supper.

"Everything looks just as it was, mother. I could hardly have
believed things would have got on so well, without me to look after
them. And there are quantities of grapes on the vines, still. They
are too ripe for wine, but they will last us, for eating, for
months, and that is ever so much better than making them into
wine--"

She stopped, for Simon had taken his place at the head of the
table; and offered up thanks, in the name of the whole household,
for the mercies that had been vouchsafed to them; and especially
that they were all, once again, assembled together in their house,
without there being one vacant place.

Then the meal began. While it was eaten, many questions were asked,
on both sides; Simon inquiring about his brother-in-law, and his
family, and the life they had led at the farm; Martha asking after
their neighbors--who had suffered, and who had escaped without loss
or harm. Whe