Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-11-15

to place his peerless niece upon the list oil
VIRGIN candidates, he lost no time IN seek
j inc her. As he approached her apart
ments. he heard her voice accompanied by
the Psaltery. She was singing monrniul
song written by the prophet jeremiah, tell
inc of the sorrows and wrongs of her coun-
try. t
How Iane'y stteth Zion now!
How mournfnl and how desoate!
As some sad widow er whose brow,
Stern sorrow rules in gloomy state.
| She who was princess o 'er the land,
| And saw proud nations own her sway,
| Now seeks in vain some plying hand
Her weary, fat'ring steps to stay
There is no feasting IN her hall
There is no laughter in the street.
| Her madens sigh in captive thrall-
Her friends are scatter d ne 'er to meet
"Nav. Haddassah p cried Mordecai,
bursting in, cease thy mourning and sing
song of Joy and thanksgiving. The
Lord will have pity upon Judah, and Israel
will again flourish as the cedar of Leba-
non!" Hadassah gazed with surprise in her
tuncle's face. He was completely changed
No longer detected and mournful, he was
now Joyous and triumphant.
"What hath thus excited thee, my UNI
cle?' she asked In an exultlng tone, he
related the disgrace of Nashti, and the
kings command that the fairest virgins
should be brought to the palace, that the
king might choose from them a queen.
And where shall he find fairer than my
Haddassahr' exclaimed heruncle. "Where
is there a skin oil more delicate tint? where
more glowing cheek where more lus-
trous eyes and glossy hair, or more stately
formi"
Haddassah sank into seat, and the
boasted,g glow faded from her cheek.
"Why how now, silly maiden!" said
Mordecai, "why is this; wilt thou not be
queen!"
"Alas, no, UNCLE" she said Spare me
this trial. My spirit shrinks from the giddy
height YOU would bid me attain. What.
leave my dearest uncle-my quiet home,
and mingc with the corrupt and gIided
slaves of COURT"
al looked not for this aversion, liadassah!
Hast thou no ambition? Think what it is
to be the bride Of a monarch! to outshlne
all the maidens Of this vast land y
"Uucle wouldst thou have me wed the
uncircumcised. the enemy of our faith and
oDpressor of our people 1t cannot be that
thou shoudst counsel this, mine uncle!"
al is for thy faith, and for thy people
would ask it, girl. Thou art an instru-
rnent of the Lord for the salvation of Ju-
dab A Jewish maiden upon the throne,
and the horn of Judea will be once more
exalted. In my soul feel that thou wilt
be chosen of the king, and then what pow
or will be thine The injuries and extor-
lions inflicted OH our race, will cease, and
we shall obtain instead, benefits. perchance
release from captivity. Arouse thee, la
dassah! Jehovah sends thee forth to save
thy people! Like Deborah and Judith, thou
wilt stand forth in our annals as saviour
of our country, What Hebrew maiden,
and refuse to obey her God!'
The gentle maiden had always looked
upon Mordeca as her father, and obeyed
/ his commands without a murmur-now ur-
oed BY him, and called of God as she i'm
ARMED she no longer resisted, but sacriil-
chg her private feelings, placed her fate IN
his hands.
otis we'll, nv child" said her uncle,
fondly. 81 will Immediately take MEASURES
for thy appearance in the palace But let
me impress upon thee, my daughter, the
necessity of concealng thy faith and ma
ton, or thou wilt not be received among
those who despiso US. No longer, Haaas-
sab, my Hebrew myrtle, thou must now be
Persian Star for in future shall thee
Esther"
The next day Mordecai sought Hegaal'
the Lord Chamberlain, in whose care the
candidates were placed Concealing his
relationship, he told him of jewel "wor'h
all her tribe, !" Of whose abode he was ac-
uuainted, and offered to lead her TO him,
when he might Judge if she were fit to enter
the ranks of the candidate maidens. He
gal appointed time and place for the meet
ing ,and the sangulne Hebrew spent his last
beral in purchasing rich robes to deck his
fayorite The day arrived, and Mordeca
led Esther into the room where Hega
} awaited them, and throwing off the vel
, which covered her person, gazed triumph
antly into the face of the eunuch Ano
seldom, was there veil Withdrawn from be-
, fore so perfect and face. Clad in graceful
: robes, her rich, dark hair confined with ,