, 1875-06-05

q nature peculiarly suited 10 me sGoduess VI
Love and Beauty. Perhaps, Aleonlssa addeo'
Berenice would feel the sacrifice OF her halr
much more, than the offering OF one or more
precious jewels, Of which she possessed an over"
abundance.
This last argument decided Berenice. She
acknowledged that Kleonissa was light In her
estimation of the worth Of such a sacrifice,
Euergetes, who was aware OF her vow and would
not withhold from the Gods whatever was due
to them, soon consented to Berenice's proposal.
He would certainly have preferred offering any
part of bis wealth and possessions, instead OF
the charming adornment his wife possessed IN
her hair; but it would not do to chatter with
the Gods.
The King and Queen proceeded to the tenn
pie of Aphrodite Zephyrites. Ia the presence
Of the whole Court and after several sacred
ceremonies, Kleonissa cut off the Queer's hair,
down to the very roots. In stately procession
the hair was then conveyed into the Sanctuary
and assigned a prominent place among the
other offerings.
Scarcely had the devout believers lett the
precincts of the temple, ere KleOnlSsa entered
the Sanctuary. 1t is, indeed, excellent, SAID
she to herself, that there are religious people
who will perform the vows they make. Berenlce
has now parted with her splendid adornment
and it will be long before her hair can grow
out again as thick and as long as it was
Meantime, her gift may be Transformed INTO a
very fine CAagn0n for my own head. PeoPie
will believe that it is my own hair, and sur
prised at the rapid and thick growth, they Will
exclaim: "Our Priestess has been abundantIy
and signally blessed by the bright AphrodIte'"
King Euergetes found it no light task to
forget the loss his wife had sustained. The
following day after the ceremony he returned
to the temple, to have a look once more on
those dear locks that had been sacrificed from
love to him, in gratitude for his safe return.
The King called for the Priestess and de-
manded that she should shew him into the
Sanctuary and let him see Berenice's hair.
Kleonissa was in an awful predicament she
endeavoured by all sorts Of excuses to prevent
the King entering the Sanctuary. The King
at length grew annoyed at her making so many
objections; at last, he gently pushed the
P~riestess aside and without further ceremony
entered the Sanctuary.
Here he found every thing in proper order;
but the locks of hair deposited the foregoing day
had disappeared.
"What has become of the Queens hair g. he
enquired angrily.
"The mighty Goddess has a%ssuredly perform
ed miracle" -repIied Kle0nissa, quickly regain
ing her wonted p~lacidity flor no one has been
in the Sanctuary, but still the Queens plaits
had disappeared this morning"
"Why was it not reported to me at once 2
asked Elergetes.
Exceedingly great is the power of
the Goddess whom I serve; no mortal
can comprehend or fathom her mira
cles''-said the Priestess. "Not a little as
founded was / at not finding the hair in it's place.
All the search / made, led to no
result only a divine Power could remove
any thing from this sacred place; perhaps
the extraordinary value of the gift has been
the cause of its Disappearing"
The King shook his head. He knew not
what to say, and the supposition which
the ch,gnon loving Priestess had awakened
within him was certainly very fattering to
him. If only it were really so!-Not being
able to arrive at any positive conclusion, he
turned away III silence, and left the temple
The Priestess had a good friend, the Court
Astronomer Konon. To him she ,betook
herself in her need and conided the secret.
She was afraid that the King might come
again aud would make further enquiries into
the matter, and then she would be in a still
greater plight. For now she could neither
replace the hair on the altar, nor set it up in
. CAsgnon, after the goddess had disposed
OF it herself.
SWELL soon arrange that" said Konon
""people are very prone to believe whatever
hatters their vanity. But then you must
give up oil thoughts of your C~Aigm0n."