Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-11-29
Fro the Ladies' Companion.
HEROINES OF SACRED HISTORY.
UMBER I
THE HERoIsM OF QUEEN ESTHER.

THE HERoIsM OF QUEEN ESTHER.
CHAPTER Y.--THE FALLEN QUEEN,
''Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water, for
the destruction If the daughter of my people.
SAMUEL g. AS,
The voice of mourning was heard
In Persia, when the kings cruel decree
was known; the Jews tasted and wept, "and
the city of Susa was perplext." The jew
Ish people had lived SO long among their
conqnerors, and demeaned themselves SO
well that they had found favor in their eyes,
and were bound to them by many ties of
friendship and kindness. How then could
they arise in cold blood and say this inno-
cent and fororn people? But the kings
decree could not be disputed, and all pre-
pared to obey it. The despair of Mordecai
was great. He rent his clothes, and putting
on garment of sackcloth, covered his
head with ashes, and placed himself before
the king gate uttering loud means and
lamentations.
The queen, meanwhile, was ignorant Of
all that was 10 befaIl her people, nor knew
she of her uncle s distress, until informed
of it by her maids and chamberlans who
beheld him as he mourned at the gate. Una
BILE to divine the cause of his sorrow, she
Imagined it poverty, and sent him by a
confidential attendant, an assortment Of
rich clothing, which she requested. he
would substitute for the black goats hair
robe and rope girdle which he wore. He
refused this, but related to Hatac all Ha-
man had devised against the Jews, and
sent by him copy of the kings decree
TO the queen. He implored his niece,if she
would save her people, to sue to the king
for mercy. The lovely Esther was much
distressed at this news and knew not how to
obey her uncle,s request, for she knew
it was death for any one to enter the king S
presence nncalled, and thirty days passed
since she had been sent for How, then,
could she see him to implore mercy. This
she caused Hatach to report to Mordecai
who wrote in reply these words:
"Think not thy life is endangered solely
by entering the kings presence, Remem-
Der thou art a Jewess, secret of which
Haman is possessed, and which his hatred
to me and my nation will induce him to re-
veal to the king .!Then hope not, by holding
thy peace to escape. Thou and thy fathers
house will be destroyed. Fear not, Esther;
God hath sent thee to the kingdom, at tins
time that thou highest be dclverance to
Israeli
Esther hesta'ed no longer, but resolved to
offer her life as sacrifice to her country.
She would brave the kings laws and per-
| h,ns fall icti ~ he hnt bo
should have made an effort TO save Judah
from destruction, and, her duty doAe, she
could die in peace She returned this answer
to her uncle.
$50 gather together all the Jews that
are present in Susa, and fast ye for me.
Eat not, nor drink for three days, night nor
day. and my maidens will also fast,
and then will 60 to the king, which is
against the law, and i'll perish-I perish. F"
The unhappy queen laid aside her royal
apparel, and clothing herself in robes of
mourning, entered her closet and uttered
the following prayer.
i" OH Lord God of Israel! thou only art
our king-help me, desolate woman, who
has no helper but thee-it satisfeth not
our enemies that we are in bitter captivity,
| Dut tney nave StTICketi ndnuS WIFI tHeH
idols, that they will abolish the faith that
thou hast ordained and destroy thy people,
and stop the mouths of them that praise
thee, and quench the glory of thy house
and thy altar! Give me eloquent speech in
my mouth before the lien: turn his heart to
hate him that'fghteth against us, that there
may be an end of HIM, and Of all that are
fike-minded to him. Thou knowest all
things oh Lord thou knowest that hate the
glory of righteous, and abhor the bed Of
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES detest the sign
Of my high estate which is upon my head
and that have not esteemed the king IS
feast, nor drink of wine-offering
hath thy handmade any joy since the day
that was brought hither-but in thee, oh,
Lord God of Abraham Then hear the voice
of the forlorn, and deliver us out of the
hand ofthe mischievous! AmenP'
Three days did the sons of Israel in
Susa, fast and pray to God TO avert the
calamity, and to soften the heart of Artax-
erxes, that the queen might find favor in
his eyes. On the fourth day, Mordecai di-
rected his steps to the palace. 1t was yet
early, and the palace gates were not open.
| Weary and faint with three days of fasting
and of woe, he threw himself upon the
ground and concealed bv the pillows of the
gate, INDUCED in mournful meditation and
prayer.