The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-25

in an eager impulse she raised her hand to
her eyes to let all the soft evening light
possible fall on the bent figure she saw ad-
vancing. Love is never long in doubt. In
moment she was wildly rushing forward.
In another she was in her fathers arms.
But in spite of her delight she drew back
frightened when she saw how changed he
was. How old, how haggard, and what a
vacant, frightened stare in that once ami
mated eye! Brokenly Aram told how his
journey to Jerusalem had been fruitless :
he had lost all his money and was obliged
to travel home on foot. More lovingly
than ever Rebecca chung to her father, say
ing that love and tenderness could assure
much more happiness than the shifting
cold goods of the world. She cited old
Rachel as an example of one who had
toiled from youth but still was the calmest
and most peaceful of creatures. If Aram
thought his child longed for what she did
not possess he knew not her heart, and she
felt confident that the great God of Israel
who always watched over and protected
his chosen people would not forsake his
old and faithful servant, Aram. She I'M
he looked into himself and saw naught but
sullied soul.
Rachel received him as patriarch of old,
and she and Rebecca labored to smooth
some of the wrinkles from his brow, and to
bring back little of the old light to his
eye. Physical strength improved some
what, but indeed he was a broken man in
spirit and heart, and never was he free
from fear and anguish. He had not as yet
made any mention of Ruth. Evidently he
had left her in good hands, or had per-
suaded himself that she was safe.
One day when Rebecca had finished with
her daily work, she sat by her fathers
knee singing song he was wont to love,
in her sweet, melodious tones. He re-
manned, however, untouched, uninterested,
always absorbed, as he was, in his own dark
troublesome thoughts. 1t then occurred
to her to relate the history of the youthful
stranger, scarcely daring to hope that he
would as much as give it his attention. At
any rate she began by saying: Father, is
it not sad to see youth laden down with
sorrow-youth that should be so bright and
happy! One evening as the sun had just
gone down, handsome, noble young stran-
ger came to our door to seek hospitality for
the night; and, father, it was heart-rending
to hear his pitiful tale of grief. He is an
orphan and was then seeking all through
Judea for the only one dear to him on earth,
lost child-his little sister,"
Probably the only words that Aram had
thoroughly heard were ''a lost child" He
started, violently clutching the little hand
that was smoothing his own withered one
Rebecca knew that she was usually fore
most in her fathers thoughts she expected
then, although she was surprised, that he
was picturing what his grief would be if
deprived of his daughter With trem-
bling voice he said: sWell, what then,
child!"
Rebecca continued: "He lived in Jeru-
salem and the same sad night robbed him
of both father and sister. The former died,
and the little one, he suspected, had been
stolen by some one who entered the house
amidst the confusion. Twice during his
wanderings he heard of an aged man who
was travelling with a little girl with dark
eyes and lovely hair, but he both times es-
capped him. Oh. father he loved the child
so dearly and in spite of having been so
grievously wronged, he never showed any
resentment when speaking of the wretch
who had deprived him of life and joy"
"But, child" said Aram, all interest
and excitement, 'you said that the youth
is an orphan. Was the loss of the child