Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-03

know him. He can tell wonderful
stories, and ne knows about dreams
and about wars too. They came from
the west, these Hebrews, and per-
haps he has seen the great salt sea.
Let us bid him come and sit with US
on the rocks, and tell US about the
sea-"
And Darius, who was swift run
ner, sprang down the path, and, over
taking the black-eyed boy, said: Come
and tell us about the sea, and we will
give you peaches and nuts"
Now Zadok had no need to be afraid
Of the Persian boys, for their great
king Cyrus had been very kind to his
people. He was story-teller by ma
ture; so he scrambled up the rocks
beside Darius, and, sitting there with
the afternoon sun shining upon his
face, he told the Persian boys his
story.
"Tell us about the sea-" cried they:
~ have never seen it," answered
Zadok, 'but my grandfather used to
live near it, and he tells me about
the ships of Tyre that come with
their great white sails and long oars,
swiftly over the desert OF waters;
swifter than camels or horses, for it
is the wind, the breath of the Lord,
that drives them. They bring cedar
wood and gold, and purple cloth and
scarlet. My grandfather: came away
from the sea when he was boy ike
me, but he never forgets. And now
we are going back, back to our old
home. | shall see Jerusalem, and ]
shall know it we'll, though | never
saw it before"
"But why did your father come
away?"
"You see this great city of Babylon,
and the golden image of it's god Bel
The people of Babylon were worship
ers of idols, but our God is no craven
image, He is the Most High, the
Maker of heaven and earth"
eyes" said the Persian boys, so
is ours"
"And do you have prophets to teach
you?" asked Zadok with surprise.
"No." answered Darius, "it is the
holy Zoroaster, the golden star who
sheds light on the way we. must CO.
"But tell US about the Babylon
ians."
"When my father was boy" con.
tinued Zadok, "they came to this
country, broke down the walls of the
beautiful city, Jerusalem, entered the
holy temple where we worship Jeho-
yah, and carried away the gold and
silver vessels from the altar. Then
they took the. people, men. women,
and children, and carried them away
captive. Ny father had not lived in
Jerusalem, butt in that time of danger
al! the country people crowded into
the city. so he and all his family were
marched away across the desert, leav'.
ing behind them only the ruins OF
their homes" .----~. -.-... ....-.
"Why didn't they fight?' cried the
Persian boys. ,...
"They did fight, but the Lord de-
livered them into the hands of the
enemy"
+ 1"Then, this God Of yours is not so
strong as the golden image of Bel,
nor as our God, who makes US con-
querors," said Darius,
s. dyes He ';protested zadok: "ask
my father; he. will tell you. He is
King above all gods. He made US
captives, and He promised to bring
US safely again out Of our captivity,
and that is why He sent your king,
Cyrus, to set US free from the peo-
pie of Babylon.
The Persian boys. nodded to each
other. "That sitrue," they said, "for
we all heard the proclamation: Thus
saith Cyrus. king of Persia. The
Lord God of heaven hath given me
all the kingdoms of the earth. and
He hath charged me to build Him a
house at Jerusalem. Who is there
among you Of all His people? The
Lord his God be with him, and let him
go up and build it.
But the sun is setting and the boys
must go home. You know they have
to be up very early in the morning.
Do you think their mothers have
been anxious about them; that they
have saved a good supper, or at
least a bowl of bread and milk, for
the tired child who has been away
ever since yesterday evening?
No. indeed. Darius is twelve years
old. He is supposed to be able to take
care of himself, and his brother, who
is fifteen. enters tomorrow the army
of the king.
The mothers take care of the little
boys under. five years Of age,-that
is all
Darius sees no more Of Zadok for