-day, to-morrow in the
grave; to-day elevated, to-morrow lowly; but the most Holy One endures
forever."

"See," continued the other, "thy brothers lie slain before thee; their
fate will be thine if thou refusest to do as I desire. See, I will cast
my ring to the ground, stoop thou and pick it up; that I will consider
allegiance to my gods."

"Thinkest thou that I fear thy threats?" returned the unterrified lad;
"why should I fear a human being more than the great God, the King of
kings?"

"Where and what is thy God?" asked the oppressor. "Is there a God in the
world?"

"Can there be a world without a Creator?" replied the youth. "Of thy
gods 'tis said, 'mouths they have, but speak not.' Of our God the
Psalmist says, 'By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.' Thy gods
have 'eyes but see not,' but 'the eyes of the Lord run to and fro in the
whole earth!' Thy gods have 'ears but hear not,' but of our God 'tis
written, 'The Lord hearkened and heard.' Of thy gods 'tis said, 'a nose
they have but smell not,' while our God 'smelled the sweet savor.'
'Hands have thy gods but they touch not,' while our God says, 'My hand
hath also founded the earth.' Of thy gods 'tis written, 'feet they have
but walk not,' while Zachariah tells us of our God, 'His feet will stand
that day upon the mount of Olives.'"

Then said the cruel one:--

"If thy God hath all these attributes, why does He not deliver thee from
my power?"

The lad replied:--

"He delivered Chananyah and his companions from the power of
Nebuchadnezzar, but they were righteous men, and Nebuchadnezzar was a
king deserving of seeing a miracle performed, but for me, alas, I am not
worthy of redemption, neither art thou worthy of a demonstration of
God's power."

"Let the lad be slain as were his brothers," commanded the tyrant.

Then spoke Hannah, the mother of the boys:--

"Give me my child," she cried, "oh, cruel king, let me fold him in my
arms ere thou destroyest his innocent young life."

She threw her arms around the lad, clasping him tightly to her bosom,
and pressing her lips to his. "Take my life," she cried; "kill me first
before my child."

"Nay," he answered, scoffingly, "I cannot do it, for thy own laws
forbid; 'Whether it be ox or sheep ye shall not kill it and its young in
one day.'"

"Oh, woe to thee," replied the mother, "thou who art so particular to
regard the laws." Then pressing her boy to her heart, "Go, my dear one,"
she said, "s