The Little Maid of Israel.
BY
SECOND EDITION
ST. LOUIS, MO., 1910
PUBLISHED BY B. HERDER
17 South Broadway
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ST. LOUIS, MO.
BY EMMA HOWARD WIGHT.
Chapter I.
In the Land of Israel, not a greatdistance from the city of Samaria,dwelt Ezra with his wife, Sarah, andtheir two children, Isaac and Leah.The sun was sinking behind the hillsas Ezra and Sarah sat before the doorof their humble dwelling resting afterthe labors of the day. On a couch inthe doorway reclined a youth with apale, sickly face and emaciated limbs.Isaac, the eldest-born of Ezra andSarah, had been a cripple from birth.His eyes, dull and languid from constantpain, tired and sad, were fixedeagerly upon the wide white roadstretching away in the distance untilit was lost among the hills.
At length, with an impatient sigh,he turned his pale, wan face towardshis mother and said:
"See, mother, the sun has nearlyset; why tarryeth Leah so long? 'Twasbut sunrise when she did set out forSamaria, surely she should have returnedere this."
"Thou dost forget, my son, thatthy sister had much to do in Samaria,"replied Sarah, soothingly. "First todispose of the fruits and then to purchasenecessities for our household;also the ass of our neighbor being oldand stiff, can travel but slowly."
"All that thou urgeth be true,mother," exclaimed the lad, petulantly."But my sister has everthe same tasks, still she always returnedfrom Samaria before the settingof the sun. I fear that some ill hathbefallen her," and his lip quiveredwith pain while his large, soft eyesdilated with fear.
"How now, lad! why dost thoufrighten thy mother with thy sicklyfancies?" cried Ezra, impatiently, asSarah's cheek grew pale. "What illcould have befallen thy sister?"
"She may have fallen into the handsof the Syrians, whom thou knowethdo make raids into our country andcarry off captives," answered the lad,tremulously. "Oh, if I were only asother lads these burdens should notfall upon the weak shoulders of amaiden. 'Twould be I who wouldjourney into Samaria with the fruits,"and tears of bitter pain and humiliationfilled his eyes.
Sarah leaned forward and gentlysmoothed back the dark, curling hairfrom his white brow.
"Speak not thus, my son," shemurmured, with infinite tenderness."Thy mother loveth thee but themore tenderly because of thy afflictio