Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-15

our Cod ma yturn his mercy loWdIu
US; for He win not forsake us utterly"
Now there was. that city widow
named Judith. She was beautiful and
when her husband died he left her what
we would call a vast fortune, and she
mourned for him three years and four
months. unen she heard that FIVE days
were given to see what the Lord was
going to do for them. she sent her walt
ing women that had the government Of
all things that she had to call Ozias
and Chabris and Charms, the ancients
of the city She told them that it was
not right to set a limit 10 Gods time
for delivering the city, that they had
tempted God and stood instead of God.
.Ye cannoth find the depth o. the
heart OF man, neither can We perceive the
things that he thinketh; then how can
We search out God, that hath made all
these things. and know His mind and
comprehend all His purposes? Do not
bind the counsels Of God; for God is not
as man that He may be threatened;
neither is He as the son of man. that He
should be wavering."
Then said Ozias to her: IAN that thou
hast spoken has been said with good
heart, and there is none to 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 nave ElADWh NAAg ntANNA oAeAAcr-aSf
the disposition Of thine heart is good"
He then told her how the people had
compelled him TO make the promise and
begged her TO pray to God for the peo-
pie.
She then promised him that il he would
stand in the gate Of the city that night
she would take one of her maids and go
forth and God would deliver into her
hand the enemy of her people. She went
l l. - 70 cd RI ha1n
Break down their stateliness by the
hand of a woman For thy power stand
eth not In multitudes, nor thy might in
strong men; for thou art Cody of the
afflicted an helper of the oppressed, an
upholder of the weak. protector of the
forlorn. a savior OF them that are with
out hope"
she then put of her mourning and ar
rayed herself in her prettiest garments.
her Jewels and all her ornaments, and
she and her maid went to the gates of
the city and there she met the ancients
and they worshiped God and she then
went on her way. She came at last to
i the first watch OF the Assyrians and
| they took her and questioned her. She
told them that she wanted to see the
chief captain. The men looked upon
her and saw what a beautiful woman
she was and took her to the camp OF
/ HOlOIeTneS. IneN IOlua HtL AiOt " DC
afraid that he would treat her well. Ii
began to be noised abroad that she was
there and many had occasion to go
there while she waited outside of Holo-
fernes' tent. and they decided tnat every
man IN the Israelitish country should be
killed if the women were that beautiful
for they would be a snare to the world
Hoiofernes lay in his tent when the
messenger went before him, the canopy
Of his bed was woven with purple ana
gold and emeralds and other precious
stones He went out with servant
holding silver lamps before him. He saw
the beautiful Judith and as she made
obeisance before him his servants aalteo
her up and he told her not to De afraid,
that he would see that no harm befeh
her.
To make long story short, Holofernes
fell in love with her. she would not con-
sent to receive his gifts nor to dwell IN
the camp but in a tent that he allowed
her and she and her maid spent the nigh.
praying to God. She had brought her
own food in a bag and her maid prepar-
ed il for her.
On the fourth day Holofernes mad ms
servants prepare a feast and invited none
of his officers TO the banquet, but he told
the man that had charge over all that ne
had to go and persuade Judith TO eat
and drink with him.
Judith said that she would do as the
great Holofernes wished, and she dressed
I in her finest apparel and all her wom-
ans attire. and went into the presence
IF Bolofernes She captured his fancy
ana SAT with him but she ate and drank
only what her own maid prepared for
her. AS for HoIofernes, he drank much
more wine than he had drunk at any
time In one day since he was born
Then the servants went TO their own
/ tents for they were all weary, ana
/ HoIofernes lay on his bed filed with
wine. Judith told her maid to stand by
the door. for they would go outside the
tent for prayers, and told the same thing
10 the man who had been sent to her by
Holofernes. Then when the tent was
! shut she went TO the bed and took the
sword hanging there and cut on the
head of the drunken man and took the
wonderful curtain and wrapped 1t up,
and as was their custom she went cut
of the city gates TO prayer.
She FASTENED on TO her own city. and
the watchers were looking for her, and
when she showed them lie head OF
| their chief enemy there was great re-
/ toicing. even unto Jerusalem, and IN the
morning when the death OF their chieI
captain was discovered the Assyrlans
were so overcome with fright that they
4 fed and left their spoiis. JuuAei Noo'N
her share of all they had and gave II 70
| the temple in Jerusalem.
Judith lived to be los years old. Ana
I when she died, the children OF Israel
mourned seven days, and buried her In
the grave of her husband Manasseh.
This is a bIoodthirsty story, but It lets
us see one phase of life in that country
before civilization had lighted It's lamps.
II also shows US in a crude way tnat
faith win be rewarded. Remember we
do not consider the apocrypha any more
than we do any other book or ancient
history. and to read as such it is very
interesting.
4 Faithfully yours,
i LIZZIE o. THOMAS.
THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED