"WE WELCOME, Father Zadok, welcome home!" said a handsome maiden, dark-eyed and of glowing complexion, standing on the threshold of her dwelling. With her left hand she supported a pitcher on her head, filled with water from the well. She wore the loose robe, and over it the veil, after the fashion of Jewish women in her day. He whom she thus greeted was a priest of her people, coming up the dusty road, staff in hand, and evidently returning from a journey.

The house was one of four, forming a detached group outside the little town.

My blessing to you, Sarah," responded Zadok the priest; "tell me about my wife and the children. These eight days I have been without news. Abel, the carpenter, with whom I fell in this morning at Jerusalem, had no tidings to give me."

"It is well with them," said the maiden. "Did Abel tarry behind you at Jerusalem?"

"Nay, we journeyed together as far as Rachel's

No. 1597.-DECEMBER 6, 1884.

sepulchre, where we rested from the noonday heat. I was sitting by the outer wall when Abel, who had gone in, came back to me, saying, he had met a friend with whom he would stay a while, and 1 left him."

"What friend?" said Sarah, wondering.

"A carpenter like himself, who had sought the shelter of the sepulchre, having his wife with him, I understood. They come from Nazareth; and being of the house and lineage of David, they are on their way to this city of Bethlehem to be taxed. They have travelled on foot all that distance, and the poor young wife looked weary Abel told me; she needed rest, and they will come hither in the cool of the evening."

"You rouse my pity. A long journey indeed for a tender woman, and the day was hot," returned Sarah. "But what care our hard-hearted rulers for the weariness and sufferings of our people! To prove the greatness of Rome, even the poor must undertake a great journey. The name and

PRICE ONE PENNY.

fame of the empire, that is all their desire, and they trample us in the dust. I hate the very look of their shining helmets, their dazzling arms; I hate their pride and their supercilious grandeur. Lords of the world, they call themselves are they indeed?"

"Yes, daughter," said the priest gravely. "Europe, Asia and Africa, call them masters, bowing to their rule. No wonder that they are haughty, despising the Jewish people; no wonder that it is greater honour with them to be a citizen of Rome, than being born a king."

Sarah's eyes glowed. "I hate them," she cried, her little foot stamping the ground. She had forgotten the pitcher on her head, it slipped from her hold, and broke to pieces as it fell.

"There now!" she said-" much use in getting angry! I shall have to get another vessel, and go back to the well."

"It will be on my way to go with you," said the priest, smiling at the girl's vehemence. She had soon provided herself with another pitcher, and together they moved toward the well, which was at no great distance from the group of houses; the way thither was shady with oliveand fig-trees, skirting the foot of the hill. Again it was the maiden who spoke first. "Tell me about Jerusalem, Father Zadok."

"What shall I tell you, child?" replied the priest. "The city is troubled, wise men from the East having arrived with camels laden with treasure for the King of the Jews. They have come to worship the new-born King, they say, having seen his star in the East.'

"Worship!" cried Sarah, amazed. "Can it be the Messiah they seek?"

"It must be so," said Zadok solemnly.

They reached the well by the Gate of Bethlehem-the well of Davie, who longed for a drink of its water, fighting the Philistines. It was a pleasant spot, beneath overshadowing palm-trees. Women and maidens had come with their pitchers, but all turned to the priest now, offering words of welcome. "The God of our fathers be with you, ye daughters of Israel," said he, passing on, anxious to reach the dwelling where his family awaited his return. Sarah remained by the well, some of those present being her own friends and neighbours of the four little houses-her sister Dinah to begin with, the two living together with a hunchbacked brother of theirs. Leah also was there, the wife of Abel the carpenter, with a merry babe in her arms; and Elizabeth, an elderly woman but active still, a widow with a kind motherly face who lived with her three sons, stalwart youths, these being shepherds. And lastly, there was little Miriam of but nine years old, who with her father and blind grandfather occupied the fourth of those lowly dwellings.

"Has Zadok brought any news from Jerusalem?" queried Dinah of her sister.

"Indeed he has," said Sarah, repeating forthwith what he had told her of wise men come from the East to seek and worship the King of the

* According to the law, Bethlehem was no proper dwelling for a Levite, forty-eight cities having been appointed specially, of which Hebron was the nearest.

Jews. None listened more attentively to the wonderful news than little Miriam; for young as she was, she had learned a great deal concerning the expected Messiah from her old grandfather, who before losing his eyesight had been wont to search the scriptures, and knew by heart many of the glorious prophecies that pointed to Him who should redeem His people. Miriam was an engaging child, the delight of two households, for her little heart clung to Sarah and Dinah, who in their turn loved the motherless maiden. To her own blind grandfather she was a very sunbeam, as he said, comforting his night; she was his guide and companion, flitting about him with happy laughter. A very sunbeam too the child was to the poor hunchback, often brightening with her joyous presence the humble chamber where for hours he would sit, gaining a modest livelihood by transcribing parts of holy writ. Her sympathy gladdened him, and she always contrived to bring him some flower or fruit from her father's garden.

Aaron, on the other hand, repaid her by teaching her to read and write, nowise a usual accomplishment with little girls in those days, when books were rare, costing large sums of money. And often he would read to her from the parchments he had transcribed, wondrous stories and promises concerning the Messiah, for whose coming the people waited. And thus even the little maiden, knew that a King should be given. It was late in the evening when Abel, the carpenter, returned to his home. Having left Rachel's sepulchre he had sped through gardens and vineyards, to finish some work at the inn. And he now told Leah how he had met his old friend, Joseph, with his espoused wife.

"I saw them again when they reached the inn," he added, "but there was no room for them! It grieved me to leave the poor young wife to spend the night in the stable. We are humble folk, and have little to offer; but let us go to-morrow and bring them hither."

CHAPTER II.

"Mother, mother! here is father. Samuel, let us run to meet him!"

And, suiting the action to the word, two slim boys flew down the green slope towards the road, on which the priest was seen walking. They were twins, eleven years old; and reaching their parent they received his tender, but solemn greeting.

"Have my sons been diligent in my absence?" inquired Zadok presently.

The lads were silent.

"Joseph, have you been diligent to learn?" he continued, turning to one of the boys, who outwardly was as like his brother as could be.

I am afraid, father, not over much," was the bashful reply.

The priest shook his head. What, then, was your occupation the while?"

"I was about the gardens, or over the hills. I love to roam in liberty, watching the husbandmen and the flocks."

"But what of next year, my boy? This will not fit you to begin your temple service at

Jerusalem. You will find no vineyards there, no hills to roam on!"

The boy hung his head: "Must I go, father? Must I be a priest like yourself?

"It is so, my son," said Zadok. "You are born a Levite, and to be a priest is your God-appointed. lot in life."

The boy met his father's eye, that rested on him lovingly, but grave and somewhat anxious.

"Father," he said, "when the time comes I will strive to be what I ought. But forgive me, if I am not like my brother; he is after your own heart I know!"

"He is gentle, and glad to learn," said the father, laying a loving hand on Samuel's head, whose pale face blushed crimson as he replied:

"Nay, father, I am not better than Joseph; if I am less inclined to run about and play, it is because I am not so strong as he. I am easily tired, that is why I delight more in books. I deserve no praise for that!"

"You may be right, Samuel," said father Zadok.

They reached the house, on the threshold of which stood Ketura, glad to welcome back her husband, whom the temple service had detained at Jerusalem for several weeks.

"Where is Rachel, my gentle daughter?" inquired Zadok, and the maiden appeared, adding her welcome to her mother's.

"Now we shall all be happy again," she said. "If you but knew, father, how we miss you when you are gone!"

"The child speaks the truth," assented Ketura. A young man came forward now, girded with a towel, and placing a basin of water before his

master.

Zadok, sitting down on a low couch that ran along the wall of the spacious apartment, had his sandals removed, and his feet washed by the servant; whereupon he retired to an inner chamber to exchange his travelling garment for

a white linen robe. In silence the children awaited his return. And when he came forth presently, he was met by an older woman, leaning on a staff.

Her clothing was similar to Ketura's, a loose woollen garment, and a veil descending from her head, the face only being visible. Zadok bowed to his mother, she kissed his forehead, laying her hand on his brow in token of blessing.

The family thereupon assembled round the table to partake of supper; not sitting on chairs, but reclining on low couches.

The meal consisted of meat with pickled olives, bread, honey, almonds and grapes. A pitcher of milk was there, and another filled with wine. Forks were not known, each one having his own knife, spoon and cup. The father gave thanks, and the meal was taken in silence. Children especially in those days would never have dared to open their mouths at table in their parents' presence. Supper being ended, the servant reappeared with water, all washing their hands. And now the grandmother proposed that they should spend the fine evening on the roof.

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Gladly," said Zadok, rising to hand her the staff, and assisting her up the winding stairs, which from one corner of the room led to the top of the house. The roof was covered with marble flags, carpets lay about and cushions to sit on, a few flowering plants adorning the low parapet. Zadok having arranged a comfortable couch for his aged mother, leant over the parapet, gazing thoughtfully upon the lovely landscape. The little town with its white houses nestled against the green slopes of the hill, and beyond it were the fields, where in olden times Ruth had gleaned after the reapers. There were trees in abundance, bringing forth almonds, olives and figs in their season. The fruitful tracts were watered by clear brooks, and vineyards clothed the slopes all about. The plain offered rich pasture for large flocks of sheep, a