The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-19
EZRA's DISAPPOINTMENT
CA Christmas Sketch)

CA Christmas Sketch)
1t is night. On Mount Moriah the
gold colored temple has lost its bril-
liancy. 1t rises, sublime and dark, on
the lonely hillside; its main building
is tall, well proportioned, and as
strong as the palm trees. and the fir
trees. and the cedars of Lebanon can
make it. Through the narrow
streets of Jerusalem the Angel of Sleep
has passed. and each house that he
smote with his sword is silent. Over
in the Garden of Gethsemane, the huge
gnarled trees droop heavily. Their
old, old hearts are sad with the fore
knowledge of the agony that Christ-God
will suffer beneath their branches.
Near Bethlehem of Judea, some dozen
shepherds are watching their sheep.
They are Hebrews. Two of them have
left the crowd. They lie upon the
damp grass of little knoll and talk,
privately, the one to the other.
abba" says Ezra. "Raboni spoke
truth in the temple to-day, and the
Roman money changers bit their lips
when they heard him." What was
the burden of his discourse, lad?" asks
the elderly man. as he looks at the son
by his side; large. athletic, with that
strength of muscle. Of limb and of
sinue which comes from much exercise
taken in the fresh air. The young
mans face is beautiful. There is
something poetic in the prominent
forehead, with the black brows and
the dark eyes fraught with all the
fervor of the Jewish nature. There is
something strong and aggressive i'll
the sensitive nose; something passion
ate and determined in the full strong
lips and the square cut chin. Long,
coarse black hair falls almost to the
shepherds shoulders and relieve the
sun embrowned skin of the face.
The boy continues: '.IIe read that
scripture which saith Thou Israel art
my servant, Jacob, whom l have
chosen, the seed of Abraham. my
friend. Fear thou not for | am with
thee; be not be dismayed, for am thy
God. | will strengthen thee, l will
help thee, l will uphold thee with the
right hand OF my Righteousness. Be-
hold all they that were incensed against
thee, shall be ashamed and COMPOUNDED.
They shall be as nothing, and they that
strive with thee shall perish Thou
shalt fan them and the wind shall carry
them away, and the whilwind shall
coattor than, apd tbn,, Oha II ,.a;o;oo -,
the Lord. and thou shalt glory in the
Holy One of Israeli"
Then Raboni told us, that although
the law a sadducee does not
believe in the resurrection, he also be-
lieves that ON this earth God will raise
up king, from among our people.
This king be said, will smite the
naughty Roman Empire into destruct-
on, ST. that it will become as Sedan
md Gomorrah, by-word and a shak-
ng of the head to the nations. lie
will build him & palace more gorgeous
han was Solomon's in the olden days.
His army, will be moIe mighty than
vas King David.s. And Abba, Ga
,reat earnestness. comes into the
Iouth's voice). when that day does
come, and it is near at hand. win, !
marry Miriam aud l will Kill the
mooth face Pharisee that wants her to
70 his slave"
Hush, lad, thou has devil" says
lis father. But on his face there is
u admiration, for the boys decision.
lie knows well, the life Ezra has led,
AS colored his character; that there is
n the young mans soul somewhat of
he splendor of the crimson sunsets.
1hich, while tending his flocks, he has
cen evening after evening tinge the
Id Judean hills. The boy does not
nswer, but his lips are close set and
rm.
While Ezra was talking, several of
ne shepherds had gathered around
i'm. They laugh at his enthusiasm at
is hope for the King of Israel. Too
lany years they had borne the tyran-
y of the Romans. Now, they ac-
apt their fate and deem it un-
lterable. The small crowd scatters.
ach weary heardsman lays him down
} rest. The earth, the sky, the air,
re hushed and still. Suddenly, in an
lstant, in the twinkling of an eye, the
savens are rent, a binding white
ght shines over the world. and the
NIGEL Of the Lord appears unto the
Fear not. for behold / .
ring you good tidings of great JOY.
or unto you is born this day, in the
~ of David, Saviour. which is {
hrist the Lord The music of an ]