Middletown transcript., 1897-12-25
Princess

King or the jews. F0r we nave Soeh
his star in the east and are come to
worship him.
When Herod the King had heard these
things, he was troubled, and all Jeru'
salem with him.
And when he had gathered all the
chief priests and scribes Of the people
together, be demanded of them where
Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, in Bethle-
hem Of Jud@a.
Then Herod, when he had privily
called the wise men, inquired of them
diligently what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem and
said Go and searth diligently for the
young child, and, when ye have found
him, bring me word again, that may
come and worship him also.
Being warned Of God in dream that
they should not return to Herod, they
departed into their own country another
way,
Then Herod, when he saw that he
was Knocked of the wise men, was ex-
ceeding wroth. Matthew ii, 1-16.
The Princess Lilitb, daughter of
King Herod, unused as she reclined
upon a bed Of purple, and the negress
/ Noun waved fan of feathers over her
forehead, and the cat Astaroth slept at
her feet.
| Princess Lilith was 15 years of age.
Her eyes were as deep as the water of q
cistern, and her mouth was like eye.
lamen flower.
She unused of her mother, Queer
Miriam, who died when Lilith was still
little more than bady. She did moi
know that her father had killed her ir
fit of jealousy, but she knew that be
kept her body in the depths of secret
chamber, ,embalmed in honey and spices
and that be still wept for her.
| She mused 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 hin
scream aloud. 1t was because h'
thought he saw those whom he haC
caused to die-his stepbro ther, Kosto
bar; his wife, Miriam; his sons, Aris-
tobulus and Alexander, Lilith's broth
ers; lis stepmo.her, Alexandra; he
son, Anlipatei; the doctor of law, Ba-
baden-Bouta, and many others. AL
though Lilith knew nothing Of al this
her father always inspired her witt
fgreat terror.
She mused upon the Messiah looked
, for by the Jews and of whom she ha
heard so much fIom her nurse, Egls
now dead. And, although the Messia
would be king in Herod's place, sh
said to herself that she would yer
much like to see him.
Lastly she unused upon little Hozael
the son of her foster sister, Zebondi
who lived in Bethlehem. Hozael was
year old. FL laughed merrily and wa
beginning to talk. Lilith loved hil
tenderly, and almost every day she OIL
dered her mules to be harnessed int
her ceader chariot and went with Il
negress Noun to visit the little Hozse
Lilith unused upon all these thing!
: and then it seemed to her that she WI
very much alone in the world and th;
without little Hozael she would be yer
sad.
Presently Lilith went into the garde
to walk under the great sycamore
There she met old Zabulon, who ha
been formerly captain OF the king
!, guard. Herod had replaced his JEWS
It guard by Roman soldiers, but havin
confidence in old ZabniOn he had give
him the care of that part of the palac
inhabited Ey Lilitb.
Old Zabulon. who had been feebl
for many years, sal summing -himsel
upon stone beLch. His back was {
bent with age that his long bear
reached to his knees.
Lilith said to him, @rhou art sat
old Zabulon."
"Yes, Princess Lilith, because / ha,
learned from centurion that the kin
- -s...... a. l.fi4 4 !.