The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-12-23

be rhe Messiah? Hc il the son Of my
foster sister. "
ASK your father TO spare him. said
Zabulon.
81 dare not" said Lilith. Then she
resumed: - shall go myself with Noun
and get little Hozael and hide him in
my room. Then he will be very safe.
for the king almost never comes there. "
Lilith ordered the mules to be har-
messed into her cedar chariot, sped to
Bethlehem with Noun, entered the
home of her foster sister Zebonda and
said 1T is long time since / have
seen Hozael. should like to carry him
to my palace and keep him for day
and night The baby is weaned and
has no longer need of thy care will
give him dress of hyacinth and col-
lar of pearls" She said nothing to Ze-
honda of what she had learned from
Zabulon, so afraid was she of the king.
But she noticed that Zebondas face
shone with unwonted JOY.
why art thou SO joyous?"
Zebonda hesitated moment. then
replied, Il am joyous. Princess Lilith,
because you love my son. Z"
"And thy husband-where is hep"
Again Zebonda hesitated and an
swered, He has gone TO gather his
flocks upon the mountain side.
Noun hid the little Hozael under her
long wells. and Lilith and the good ne
gress returned to the palace just as the
sun was setting.
When Lilith reached her chamber,
she took Hozael upon her lap. and the
baby laughed and tried to pull the little
princess long ear pendants. But sud
denly Noun, who was preparing some
corn Cruel for the child in the next
room, rushed in crying THE king!
Here comes the king
Lilith had only time t. hide Hozael
in large basket and cover him with "a
pile of silks and bright woods before
King Herod entered with slow, heavy
tread, the chains and plates of gold,
with which he was covered, shaking
with each movement His back was
bent, and his bloodsl!ot eyes glare6 in
his terrible face. His chin shook SO with
the palsy that his bristly beard seemed
TO shudder. He said to Lilith. Whence
CONTEST thou"
She replied, From Jericho. And
she raised toward the king her eyes, as
calm as the water of II cistern.
'Oh, how she resembles herl" muir
INJURED Herod.
At this moment little cry came
from the basket.
will you keep quiet?' said Lilith TO
the cat Astaroth, who slept on the rug.
Then she said 10 the king My father,
you seem troubled Would you like me
to sing TO you"
And taking her either, she sang him
a song about roses.
And the king murmured, "Oh, that
voice.
Then he fed. as if struck with fear.
because Lilith's voice and eyes recalled
TO him the voice and eyes of Queen Mir
lam.
Lilith went into the garden and found
old Zabulon weeping
why dost thou weep, old Zabulon:'
You know the cause. Princess Lilith.
| weep because the king wishes TO kill
the little child who is the Messiah. !"
but, f" said Lilith, ''if he is really
the Messiah, men cannot have the pow
er to kill him
God wishes us TO help him, replied
Zabulon. princess, you, who are so
good and SO compassionate, should warn
the father and mother of this little
child. "
but where shall find them:''
Question the people of Bethlehem. "
But ought i TO save one who will
chase my father from this palace. one
by whom l may some day become a
poor prisoner or a beggar in the streets? ;
THAT day is far removed, said Fab
ulon, and the Messiah is now only IA
tiny babe, more helpless even than lit
tie Hozael "
But are you sure that he is the
Messiah?" demanded Lilith.
Yes. said Zabulon, because he
was born in Bethlehem at the time ap-
pointed by the prophets and the wise
men have seen his star.
He must be very beautiful, although
he is so small. Don't you think SO. Fab
ulon?"
1T is written that he shall be the
most beautiful among the children of
men. "
Il shall go to zee him." said Lilith.
When night came, Lilith enveloped
herself in long black wells, and the
bracelets and circles of gold upon her
arms and ankles, the collars about her
neck and the precious stones with
which she was covered shone through
her wells as softly as the stars in the
sky. And thus Lilith resembled the
night, whose name she bore, for in He
brew "Lilith" signifies 1.-THE night. F"
She left the palace secretly with the
negress Noun. and as she walked she
unused II should not want the Messiah
to take the crown from my father be-
cause it would be very hard for me not
to live in beautiful palace any more