The Project Gutenberg EBook of Joshua, Complete, by Georg Ebers

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Title: Joshua, Complete

Author: Georg Ebers

Last Updated: March 9, 2009
Release Date: October 16, 2006 [EBook #5472]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOSHUA, COMPLETE ***

Produced by David Widger

JOSHUA, Complete

By Georg Ebers

Translated from the German by Mary J. Safford

PREFACE.

Last winter I resolved to complete this book, and while giving it
the form in which it now goes forth into the world, I was constantly
reminded of the dear friend to whom I intended to dedicate it. Now I am
permitted to offer it only to the manes of Gustav Baur; for a few months
ago death snatched him from us.

Every one who was allowed to be on terms of intimacy with this man feels
his departure from earth as an unspeakably heavy loss, not only because
his sunny, cheerful nature and brilliant intellect brightened the
souls of his friends; not only because he poured generously from the
overflowing cornucopia of his rich knowledge precious gifts to those
with whom he stood in intellectual relations, but above all because of
the loving heart which beamed through his clear eyes, and enabled him to
share the joys and sorrows of others, and enter into their thoughts and
feelings.

To my life's end I shall not forget that during the last few years,
himself physically disabled and overburdened by the duties imposed by
the office of professor and counsellor of the Consistory, he so
often found his way to me, a still greater invalid. The hours he then
permitted me to spend in animated conversation with him are among those
which, according to old Horace, whom he know so thoroughly and loved
so well, must be numbered among the 'good ones'. I have done so, and
whenever I gratefully recall them, in my ear rings my friend's question:

"What of the story of the Exodus?"

After I had told him that in the midst of the desert, while following
the traces of the departing Hebrews, the idea had occurred to me of
treating their wanderings in the form of a romance, he expressed his
approval in the eager, enthusiastic manner natural to him. When I