St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-06-26

day, or to destroy us before our en-
emies Let us wait for salvation OF
him, and call upon him to help us"
All that thou hast spoken with q
good heart, and there is none that
may gainsay thy words, for this is not
the first day wherein thy wisdom Is
manifested; but from the beginning OF
thy days all the people have known
thy understanding, because the dispo-
sition of thine heart is good,' respond
ed Ozias, earnestly. "But the people
were very thirsty, and compelled lis
to do unto them as we have spoken.
And this oath which we have spoken
unto them, saying that if deliverance
came not within five days that then
we would open the gates OF the city
and surrender to our enemies-thts
oath we cannot break. Therefore,
pray thou for lis, because thou art
godly woman, and the Lord will send
us rain to fill our clsterns, and we
shall faint no more"
Hear me, we rulers Of the CITY,,
exclaimed Judith, as sudden resolve
formed within her heart, for l will
do a thing which shall go throughout
all generations to the children of our
nation Ye shall stand this night in
the gate and | will go forth with my
waiting maid, and within the five days
that We have promised to deliver the
city to our enemies, the Lord will visit
Israel by mine hand"
\ aicin
hand with an emphatic gesture, in
quire not We of mine act; for will
not declare it unto you till the things
be finished that / do"
The puzzled looks upon the faces of
the men before her gave place to one
of confident expectancy as she I'm
ished speaking, and Ozias said:
go in peace, Judith, and the Lord
God be before thee to take vengeance
on our enemies"
Having thus spoken he, with the
other princes, bowed themselves out
and returned to their homes.
Then Judith fell upon her face and
put ashes upon her head, and uncov-
cred the sackcloth wherewith she was
clothed, and about the time of the
evening sacrifice in the temple at
Jerusalem and the burning of incense
she lifted her voice in prayer and
cried:
"Oh, Lord God of my father Simeon.
behold the Assyrians are multiplied
in their power. They are exalted with
horse and man. They glory in the
strength of their footmen. They trust
in shield and spear, and bow and
sling, and know not that thou art the
Lord that breakfast the battles; the
Lord is thy name. Smite by the deceit
of my lips. Break down their state
Illness by the hand of a woman. Make
my speech and deceit to their wound
and make every nation and tribe to
acknowledge that thou art the God Of
all power and might, and that there is
none other that proteeteth the people
of Isreal but thou"
The prayer ended, peace and conf
dence came to her heart, that conf.
dence which comes from inner faith
that God has heard and will answer.
went down into the house wherein she
had abode during the glad season Of
the feast days. And she put off the
sackcloth which she had on and laid
aside the garments of her widowhood.
And when she had bathed she anointed
herself with precious ointment and
braided the hair of her head, and put
thereon most gorgeous raiment,
wherewith she was clad during the
life of her husband, Manassas. And
she put sandals upon her feet and put
about her her bracelets and her chains
and her rings and her earrings, and
all her ornaments, and she decked her
self bravely, to allure the eyes of all
men that should see her.
Then calling her maid she COM
manded her that she should bring
bottle of wine, and a cruise of oil, and
fill bag with parched corn, and
Jumps of figs, and with fine bread.
Thus adorned and accompanied by
her maid, laden with the provisions
for their Journey, they set forth and
came to the gate of the city, where,
according to appointment, she found
Ozias and the other princes of the
city standing. And when they saw
her, that her countenance was altered
and her apparel changed, they won
dered at her beauty very greatly and
said unto her:
1.-THE God of our fathers give thee
favor and accomplish thine enter
prises to the glory of the children of
Israel, and to the exaltation of Jeru-
SALEM"
And following this benediction upon
this lovely and devout woman they
fell upon their faces and worshiped
God:
Command that the gates be opened
unto me-" she directed, simply.
And when they had done SO Judith
passed out, and her maid with her.
And the men of the city looked after
her until she had gone down the
mountain. Then, with straining eyes
they watched her cross the valley and
at last fade from view into the hazy
mist of the far side of the deep valley.
"She is gone" they said with rev.
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