nough
for me in all things, except--oh, ask me not to wed my kinsman."

"Is it, can it be because another has a nearer place in your heart?"
said Hadassah. The fair countenance of Zarah became suddenly rosy as
the sunlit cloud, then pale as Lebanon snow, at the question.

"Oh, then, my fears are too true!" exclaimed Hadassah, in a tone not of
wrath but of anguish. "Must the sins of the father be visited upon the
innocent child! A Gentile--a heathen--an idolater! Would I had died
ere this day!"

"Be not angry with me, mother," faltered Zarah, wetting Hadassah's hand
with her tears.

"I am not angry, my poor dove," cried the widow. "Woe is me that I
have been, as it were, constrained to expose you to this cruel snare.
But you will break through it," she added, with more animation, "my
bird will rise above earth with her silver wings unsullied and bright!
Various are the temptations which the soul's enemy employs to draw away
God's servants from their allegiance; some he would sway through their
fears; others he would win by the love of the world, its wealth and its
pleasures; others he would chain by their hearts' strong affections.
But the Lord gives strength to his people, to resist and to conquer,
whether the temptation be from fear or from love. You are the worthy
kinsman of Solomona, who gave life itself for the faith."

"Perhaps the sacrifice of life is not the hardest to make," Zarah
dreamily replied.

"Solomona gave her seven sons," said Hadassah.

"Oh, what a mercy-stroke to her was that which let her follow them!"
exclaimed Zarah. "Had she been left to survive all whom she loved,
Solomona had been the most wretched woman on earth!"

"No; not the most wretched," said Hadassah, with deep feeling, "for
they all died in the faith. Better, all, far better to lose seven by
death, than one by--by treason against God!" And in an almost
inaudible voice the aged lady added, closing her eyes, "Must I know
that misery twice?"

"No, mother, mine own dear mother, you shall never know that misery
through me!" exclaimed Zarah with animation. "I will pray, I will
strive, I will try to put away, even from my thoughts, all that would
come between me and the faith of a daughter of Abraham, only guide me,
help me, tell your child what she should do," and the maiden
passionately kissed again and again the hand of Hadassah, and then
pillowed her aching head on her parent's bosom. Hadassah folded her
there in a l