Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1896-12-22
PRINCESS LILITH.

Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem Of
Jud,ea, in the days Of Herod the king, behold,
there came wise men from the east 20 Jerusa-
lem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the
Jews. For we have seen his star in the east and
are come 90 worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things. I
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribos Of the people together, he
demanded of tn m where Christ should be
born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of
Judea.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the
wise men, inquired of them diligently what
time the star appeared.
And he sent them 10 Bethlehem and said. Go
and search diligently for the young child, and,
when ye have found him, bring me word again,
that l may come and worship him also
Being warned Of God in dream that they
should not return 70 Herod, 'hey departed
into their own country another way.
Then Herod. when he saw that he was mock
ed of the wise men, was exceeding wroth.-
Matthew ii, lilo.
The Princess Lilith, daughter Of King
Herod, unused as she reclined upon
bed Of purple, and the negress Noun
waved fan of feathers over her fore
head, and the cat Astaroth slept at her
feet.
Princess Lilith was / 8 years Of age
Her eyes were as deep as the water Of
cistern, and her mouth was like a cyc-
lamen flower.
She unused of her mother, Queen Mir
lam, who died when Lilith was still
little more than a baby. She did not
know that her father had killed her in
fit of jealousy, but she knew that he
kept her body in the depths of secret
chamber, embalmed in honey and
spices, and that he still wept for her.
She unused upon her father, King
Herod, taciturn and always i'll. Some
times he shut himself up in his cham
Der, and there one could hear him
scream aloud. 1t was because he
thought he saw those whom he had
caused to die-his stepbrother, Kosto-
bar; his wife, Miriam; his sons, Aris-
t0bulus and Alexander, Lilith's broth
ers; his stepmother, Alexandra; her
son, Antipater; the doctor of law. Ba-
baben-BOuta, and many others. AL
though Lilith knew nothing of all this,
her father always inspired her with
great terror.
She unused upon the Messiah looked
for by the Jews and of whom she had
heard so much from her nurse, Egla,
now dead. And, although the Messiah
would be king in Herod's place, she
said to herself that she would very
much like to see him.
Lastly she unused upon little HOzaei,
the son Of her foster sister, Zebonda,
who lived in Bethlehem. Hozael was a
year old. He laughed merrily and was
beginning to talk. Lilith loved him
tenderly, and almost every day she Or
dered her mules to be harnessed into
her cedar chariot and went with the
negress Noun to visit the little Hozael
Lilith unused upon all these things,
and then it seemed to her that she was
very much alone in the world and that
without little Hozael she would be very
sad.
Presently Lilith went into the garden
to walk under the great sycamores.
There she met old Zabulon, who had
been formerly captain of the kings
guard. Herod had replaced his Jewish
guard by Roman soldiers, but having
confidence in old Zabulon he had given
him the care of that part Of the palace
inhabited by Lilith.
Old Zabulon, who had been feeble
for many years, sat summing himself
upon a stone bench. His back was so
bent with age that his long beard
reached to his knees.
Lilith said to him, "Thou art sad,
old Zabulon."
eyes, Princess Lilith, because have
learned from centurion that the king
has given orders to kill tomorrow morn.
ing at dawn all the children in Bethle.
hem under two years Of age.
"Why?"
"The wise men have announced that
the Messiah is born. But it is not
known how to recognize him, and the
wise men have not returned to tell
where they have found him. BY killing
all the babies in Bethlehem, the king is
sure that the Messiah cannot escape
him."
THAT is true" said Lilith. "That is
clever device" Then after "a moments
reflection, could / see him?
"Who?"
"The Messiah"
"In order to see him, one must know
where he is. And if we knew where TO
find him, the king would not be obliged
TO kill all the other little children OF
the town. ="
THAT is true" said Lilith. Then she
added in a low voice, as if she were
afraid of her own words, my father is
very wicked" Then suddenly, "But
little Hozael?'
Little Hozael," said Zabulon, will