Times-promoter., 1908-10-23


death in Egypt at the hands of the Jews
who had fled thither, and who had COM
PEELED him to go with them.
THE STORY.
THE clank of the heavy chains
i sounded with each step of the fet-
tered captives as they plodded slowly
over the dusty highway. Jerusalem
had fallen before the mighty prowess
of the army Of the king of Babylon,
and now the captives and the treasure
which had been gathered in the city
were being carried back to Babylon.
Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard
had taken good pains to see that the
choicest of the people and the best
of the treasure of the city were Sc
cured to take back as trophies of war
for his king. First came a detach-
ment of the Chaldean army, then fol-
lowed the long line of camels and
horses bearing their burden of the
spoil Of the city. Behind these slow
ly and painfully plodded the men In
chains, and with them the women and
children.
Among the number was the prophet
jeremiah. Fettered like the rest, he
plodded on over the road, groaning
within himself, and saying:
"Oh, if the men of the city had only
listened to the word of the Lord as l
spake unto them and had surrendered
peaceably to the king of Babylon, we
should have all been spared this suf-
fering. And fear now that the peo-
pie who still remain in Jerusalem will
not have learned the lesson but will
still further offend and will yet re-
ceive even worse punishment.
"And they counted me as an enemy
of the CITY," jeremiah continued to
muse to himself, because I counseled
submission to the one whom God had
chosen to punish the nation for its
sins. And now these mine enemies
have caused me to be taken. All, well,
God knows, and he will help. But
would be back in Jerusalem, for they
need me there"
1t was true as jeremiah had said.
His enemies had delivered him into
the hands of the conquering army, for
when the invading hosts .,had swarmed
through the city and the captains were
engaged in picking those who should
be taken as captives back to Jerusa-
lem he had been pointed out as one
whom they could not safely leave be-
hind in the city, and so fetters had
been placed upon his limbs, and he
had been marched out with the rest,
and after long, weary tramp, they
were nearing Ramah, the place where
they were to rest for the night
Nebuzaradan, the captain in COM
mand of the company, was riding in
his chariot, well satisfied with the
result of the expedition and planning
for the days ahead when he should
triumphantly enter the city of Baby
Ion with the splendid treasure and
the long line of captives.
"Who is there in yon column" he
asked of his servant as he waved his
hand in the direction of the captive
Jews. "They tell me they are the
choicest of the men Of Judah, princes
of the royal family"
Quite true" responded his servant,
with an obeisance, and he began to
name over those whom he knew to be
among the number of the captives.
And learned to-day that jeremiah is
also there he added.
Jeremiah? Jeremiah?" repeated
Nebuzaradan, thoughtfully. "The name
sounds familiar. Is he of the princes
royal?'
NO. replied the servant, with evi-
dent surprise, Surely thou dost re-
member the prophet of Jerusalem
who hath spoken SO favorably to his