"Nevertheless," said another, "an ox's goad in the hands of him with whom is the spirit of the Lord, were more than all the power of all the Herods. Remember Samson's jaw bone of

an ass.

"Let him who accuseth Herod look to it," cried an angry voice, "lest he fall into the jaws not of an ass, but a lion."

"That was the voice of Zadok," said one aloud.

"It was not the voice of Zadok," cried the Rabbi, as he stalked gloomily away, and left the crowd behind. At this moment those with whom we had been standing about the steps of the synagogue and between the building and the walls of the outer court, were drawn to the street, by the loud tones of some one declaiming to the people, where, raised above the crowds upon a stone at the corner of the market, he stood reporting news which he had heard of a prophet having risen up among the hills of Idumea, and to whom all in that region were giving ear. The throng thickened around him, eagerly listening to what he had to say, and making inquiries concerning the time and manner of his appearing. They were interrupted by the voice of another from the crowd, who exclaimed,

"Trust not these lying rumors, people of

Beth-Harem; give no heed to them. I am but just arrived from the hills of Idumea on the way to Tiberias, where the people knew nothing of this prophet. Listen to the instructions of your ruler Shammai, and run not after every shadow."

While this person spoke, the other, who had delivered the news with so much boldness, mingled with the crowd and disappeared, pursued by the cries of the people.

The

I now turned away, and leaving the city behind, bent my steps toward the Jordan. soft breath of the fresh air burdened with spicy odors, together with the calm aspect of nature, was like a medicine, healing the distempered body, and restoring the mind also, after the feverish heats of the assembly I had left. I sought at once the banks of the river, that I might move quietly along in the solitude of its deep shadows, rather than mingle with those who, on the highway, would be passing in the same direction with myself. The atmosphere was temperate, and so still, it hardly so much as made the leaves to tremble on the lightest boughs, or the tenderest flowers to bend their heads. Birds and insects enjoying the sacredness of the day which gave them security against their common enemy, saluted

the ear with their sweetest notes.

move on.

and discord.

The serpent,

who glided across my path, startling me by his fearful shape and glistening hues, seemed to dread me less than on other days, and went slowly by. Reaching the stream, I seated myself upon a rock lying within the fields of Onias not far from the grotto of which I have already told you, and leaning against the trunk of an aged willow, gave myself to the thoughts which the scenes before me, and those which I had just witnessed, in Beth-Harem, equally suggested. How peaceful is nature! I thought how calmly her various courses There is here no confusion, jarring, The sun, the moon, and the stars all wheel around us, and the ear cannot hear the sound of their going, neither do they ever cross each other's path. All is peace, order, and silence. The trees and herbs all grow to their full stature, yet we see not, we hear not, as they go up from strength to strength. But with man all is rage, disorder, and strife. Nothing is quiet; no motion is without noise, interference, or conflict. In the mind of each individual there is warfare, peace never; and for nations, it seems their chosen work to injure or destroy. Within their own borders they chafe even among themselves; being uneasy in every present state, and while they look about for

beneficial changes at least, for changes know not what to choose, nor where the good they seek after is to be found, and often in the pursuit of a fancied advantage plunge into deeper ill.

Why, and to what good end is this restTessness of our people? this discontent with the present, these expectations, this longing for a greater future, a wider kingdom? Is it of good? Is it of God? They are tossed, and sway to and fro, beating against each other, foaming with, as it seems, useless passion, even like the waves of the sea, driven by the winds like this river, now indeed calm and sending forth the gentle music of its murmur as it rolls over its bed, or winds among these rocks and aged roots on its margin; but anon rushing onward with full and overflowing banks, uprooting the giants of the forest, and carrying destruction to the fields of the husbandman. But what then, is not all alike? Is nature, always, calm and peaceful? Is she not, even like

man, subject to passionate outbreaks, to violent and sudden change, to uproar and wide-spread desolation? The sun and the stars are indeed quiet and still in their courses, and shed down wholesome influences; but, then the comet comes and glares upon the world, bringing with it pestilence, mildew, floods, and war. The

solid earth quakes, and whole cities are engulphed. The winds, which now cannot be heard, to-morrow rise in tempests, and forests are torn in fragments, ships dashed in pieces, and the proudest works of man levelled with the ground. Animals prey upon one another; and even the tender dove pursues her diseased offspring with cruelty. Is man worse than nature nature better than man? Are they different? Should they be? Doubtless the same being hath made the whole. We are all alike. There is evil everywhere — evil in nature and evil in man. Whence is this and why? Alas! who can tell?

But whither have I run?

the river's side,

I rose from my rock on and turned toward the house. I must needs

pass the grotto. As I drew nigh, I perceived some one within. It was Judith, who had there passed in seclusion the time which I had spent by the river. She bounded towards me as I passed the entrance, and joining me we went through the vineyards, prolonging our walk, and as we went plucked here and there a half-dried bunch of grapes, which had been left hanging on its vine.

"You went not," I said, "to the synagogue within the walls."

"No," she replied, "yet I joined our people