me all the names of your actors; and first, when did the Emperor Decius reign? I am sure Mrs. Bernard did not fail to tell you that.

Amy was a little startled by this unexpected question; but, after considering a little, replied, "Some time in the third century. I believe he was the thirtieth emperor, and succeeded Philip, who had favoured the Christians, but had not openly professed our religion. Not even the cruel Emperor Domitian so barbarously persecuted the Christians as Decius did, and partly, it is thought, because Philip had favoured them. The seven youths were traced to their cave, and the cruel Decius ordered its entrance to be walled up. There they remained for a hundred and eighty-seven years, till the time of Theodosius the younger, when the wall of the cave was accidentally taken down. The sun then shone strongly into the cave, and awoke the youths, who had been sleeping there ever since, like the Sleeping Beauty in the wood. They felt very hungry, and sent out Jamblicus, one of their number, to try to procure them some food. He set out with great fear and caution, and thinking that Decius was still reigning, was much astonished to see the sign of Christianity on what he

had recollected as the heathen temples of Ephesus. This gave him courage, and he went into a shop to buy some food, but every thing was changed, and the people scarcely understood what he said or what he wanted; and when he offered some of the Emperor Decius's coin in payment, they concluded, from the strange account he gave of himself when interrogated, that he had unlawfully possessed himself of some hidden treasure, and they took him to the magistrates to be examined. His strange dress, and his strange story, surprised the magistrates, who took him to the emperor. Theodosius himself, accompanied by the Bishop of Ephesus, went to the cave to ascertain the truth, and when he got there the seven youths (as they appeared to be, though they were more than two hundred years old) just lived to hear of the establishment of their divine religion, gave their benediction to all present, and peaceably expired."

Charlotte. What a pretty story; but can it be true, papa?

Mr. Austin. No: Amy told you it was only a Monkish legend. It was, however, universally believed by the Christians of the middle ages in Abyssinia, Italy, and the remotest parts of the

north of Europe; and not by Christians only, but by Mahommedans, for Mahommed introduced it into that tissue of fables called the Koran, which he compiled by the assistance of a renegade Monk and an apostate Jew; and thus this pretty story has been repeated by every nation in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and is constantly alluded to in Oriental and European literature. To reward Amy, as I know her prédi lection for any thing Eastern, I will tell you an Oriental tale, brought to Europe by Doctor Russell, in a collection of Oriental apologues from Aleppo.* It is as descriptive of Eastern manners as any of the Arabian tales, or even the modern Hadji Baba, which afforded us so many entertaining selections last winter. I shall take my usual liberties with it, abridging or enlarging as I like.

Mrs. Austin. I know the story you alluae to. It is a long and an interesting one; and as we are unusually late, perhaps you had better defer the recital till to-morrow evening. Edward is tired with the long ride he had with you to-day, and it would be better for him to join the usual juvenile party of the Seven Sleepers.

* Translated by Beloe.

Edward. Thank you, mamma: I am very tired, but still I could listen, I am sure, and to-morrow will be Sunday, and papa won't tell it to us then.

Mr. Austin.

An additional reason: there is

no reprieve now. heads running all day to-morrow on an unfinished tale, which would be as injurious to you as a Saturday night's play or opera is to your seniors. But you are yawning even now, and that you know always entails good night.

I should not like to have your

CHAP X.

SUNDAY EVENING.

Mr. Austin.

I promised you last Sunday evening a sketch of the history of the Jews, from their restoration after the Babylonish captivity, and the building of the second temple under Cyrus, to their banishment from Palestine under Adrian, and the destruction of every fragment of even the foundation of the temple, under Julian

the Apostate. But before I begin, tell me, Florence, what you know of the captivity.

Florence. The people of Israel, as the first Samaritans were called, were carried into captivity by Salmanazar, king of Assyria, above a hundred years before the two tribes, which composed the kingdom of Judah, were conquered by Nebuchadnezzar.

Mr. Austin. These ten tribes of Israelites never returned to Palestine. Their lands were taken possession of by colonies of Assyrians. These strangers, in time, became proselytes to a sort of imperfect Judaism, and worshipped on Mount Gherizim, in opposition to the Jewish temple on Mount Moriah.

Florence. Nebuchadnezzar came three times against the Jews, as the two remaining tribes were now first called, and before he carried them all away to people his great city of Babylon, he burned the temple, and destroyed the city of Jerusalem.

Amy. Were all the Jews taken into captivity?

Mr. Austin. A few poor vine-dressers were left to cultivate the earth, but they shortly after fled to Egypt. Then the land of Judah was