The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-01-28

tHNt ~Rt " W Htttotn Va Nh'tHttA"A'
In which the accusing voice OF con-
science is heard chastising the soul for
its perhdy So 1t was with the parents
of little Esther Many times after they
had watched the faithful Jews depart
had there come troubled thoughts into
their hearts. and when the father lay
dying his last words had been OF re-
gret that he had not gone back to Jer
usalem.
1T might all have been different"
cried the Dereayed mother over and
over again And the little one. stand
ing at her knee and only balf realizing
all that the death OF her father meant
to her wondered about II all and tried
to comfort her in her simple. childish
way.
The days which followed were days
OF hardship and privation. Il was such
struggle as many a mother before
and since has known when the father
has been taken and the burden OF the
livelihood falls upon the mother.
Esther's mother knew Of her husbands
nephew Mordecai, who was connected
with the royal establishment but she
was too proud and independent to let
him know of'her need. and"she strug-
gled on.
But the pressure OF the burdens
from without and the troubled con.
science within sapped the none too
great supply Of strength OF the
mother, and one day she fell sick, and
when she realized that she would
never again get well and that she must
leave the beautiful little daughter, an.
gnish that almost drove her mad filled
her heart.
"Oh, had we only gone back to the
land OF our fathers, the land where
God has promised his people blessing
II might all have been so different il
is but the hand Of cursing upon us for
our sin"
Little Hadassah listened In awed
wonder TO her mothers words OF re
proach upon herself and. without know.
ing just what they meant, but with a
tender, loving heart which longed TO
speak comfortingly. she said:
But, mamma, can't God be in this
land. too? He was with the great
Daniel. and he win be with us when
we need him so much"
The mother stopped her convulsive
sobbing and, turning her head so that
her eyes we're full upon the face OF
her daughter, she lay for some min
utes as II trying to get hold OF the
thought which the child had expressed
with but a half consciousness OF all
that her words meant
Perhaps he will" whispered the
mother, wearily. and then she closed
her eyes and little later the friends
who had come in led the little girl
away, telling her gently that her
mother was dead.
Has she gone back to the land
where she said God was?" she asked,
wonderingly. And when they tried to
explain to her that her mamma had
gone to be with the God of Abraham,
and Isaac, and Jacob. little smile
broke over her face and she said, sim
pyl:
May go to see her some timer
Poor little motherless girl. What
was TO become of her? She had but
one living relative of whom anyone
knew, and that was Mordecai. the man
who served in the gate of the kings
palace. But what could he do with
her, he who had maintained such devo-
tion TO the king that he had estab-
lished no home of his own, but had
continued in the palace. where he
could know day and night who passed
through the gate to the palace.
When tidings of the death of his
uncle's wife reached Mordecai. he went
at once to the home, wondering what
could be- done with the little girl. 1,
troubled and vexed him. He felt in nc
position to look after her. If he did
not, however, what would become Of
her? Perhaps fate worse than death
would overtake her 1t was struggle
all the way across the great city tc
the home where death had come, but
when he had reached the threshold he
had mastered the selfshness of his
own heart and had brought himself tc
the point where he had solemnly
vowed that he would look after the lit
tie girl and strive to bring her up tC
fill life Of usefulness and honor.
That was the beginning of a new
life for Hadassah. What new won
der world the near life to the palace
proved to her, and how, with the devel
opment of the grace and beauty of thu
young girl, there came the refining, un
folding influences of the larger life Il
which her uncle's station admitted her
SO the years came and went, ant
the little motherless and fatherles
girl had developed into a woman o
rare beauty and winsome grace. s.
that, as Mordecai looked upon her, h
found himself marveling and wonder
ing how much longer he could kee
her as the joy and brightness of hi
own home
"She is veritable queen" he ha
thought to himself, but how could