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

exhausted was he that soon he Joined the
innocent babe in sleep and for time for
got his own miserable self But the same
morning sun that fell upon Paulus also
crept into the cave, awakening him to his
wretched existence He was man OF
such violent passion that while it lasted
it almost deprived him of reason,
but conscience was by no means
dead in him, and as he awoke and
beheld the sleeping, homeless little
one, conscience also awoke, depicting his
crime to him in all it's enormity. To return
to Jerusalem with the child he feared would
be certain death, for how could he hope to
obtain mercy from the always hard hearted
man, whom he had so wronged! Yes, he
must wander on-on, but where. he
dreaded meeting and deceiving mis- daugh-
ter, and how could he shield himself in her
eyes! His pure, innocent child who rested
so confidingly on his shoulder, trusting
HIM as the noblest and best of men, as
surfing and re-assuring him that poverty,
while shared with him, could not but be
happiness to her. Rebecca was many miles
away, too, and he would be obliged to avoid
all direct rout3s; in fact, would at times be
obliged to take an opposite direction from
that leading to his destination. He knew
he would be pursued; he knew, too, that
Esias would know the man on whom to
lay his finger. Then, again, Aram trembled
as he thought of the child opening her eyes
and beholdins the scenes around her! He
knew not what to say to her. Thus he was
depressed with a sullied conscience, and
encompassed with every danger, when he
was1startled from his wretched reverie by
the child's voice calling ESTHER! Esther"
andl as she frightenedly looked around,
she commenced to cry piteously asking for
Paulus. Aram approached her gently,
telling her to follow him and he would take
her to her Paulus. She smiled through her
tears, confidingly gave him her little hand
and asked to go.
So on they went through forsaken by
paths, lonely woods and desolate fields,
resting only when worn out with fatigue
and hunger. Aram knew always how to
dry the little ones tears, by telling her that
soon they would be with Paulus. Then she
would laugh with childish glee, telling that
Paulus was her big brother; how he played
with her, what .he gave her, and ofttimes
she would thus fall to sleep, to awaken to
the very same dreariness which, FORUM
ately, she did not realize.
In the meantime Paulus saw his father
laid away, then started out to follow those
whom he had sent before to search for all
thatuwas dear to him on earth. He was
\; Fo+ ifx-Jry 4 nm.
in fact, knew naught of the man. He
knewLnot what had become of his sister.
He did know that it was not uncom-
mon for children to be stolen in those
DAYS, either through spirit of revenge
or hope IF gain. Willingly would Paulus
have given up all he owned to hold his dar-
ling sister once again in his fond embrace.
Paulus journeyed from city to village,
from village to hamlet, asking everywhere,
seeking everywhere, only to have the
wound of despair probed deeper and deeper.
Once at poor wayside inn, he heard of a
little child who had been there with an old
man, who seemed to answer the descrip-
ton, but the landlord continued, saying:
'The aged man claimed to be the child's
grandfather aud his tenderness would in
dictate some such strong tle."
But poor Paulus excitedly exclaimed
that to know Ruth was to love her, and
rushed forth in the direction indicated,
looking from side to side, and hardening
now and then if child's prattle might not
fall on his ear; but all to no avail. At the
next inn no old man and child had been
seen, for indeed, Aram took good care to
change his course when well out of sight,
after leaving any inn or village. AS there
seemed to be at least little hope in that
vicinity, Paulus continued to roam around
in it. and again he heard from an aged
traveller who had seen such pair, but
did not notice the direction they had taken.
Even so small ray of hope seemed to re
vive the young mans dropping spirits.
Again he started on, leaving babbling brook,
swaying palms, and rich fields behind him;
taking, however, little note of natures
beauty, so heavy was his heart. Now and
then he would stop to call the beloved name
of Ruth only to hear the distant hills echo
back the melancholy tone of his own sad
voice.