traveller from the East, and who had passed through the midst of Beth-Harem, reported, as from those who had knowledge, that all were well in the house of Onias. - Thou wast not, then, at the outbreak at Cæsarea, where the mad-cap Philip, son of Sameas, threw all the city into a blaze." My uncle frowned as he said, "Jael, thy soul is too much in thy purse. The Lord reward thee not according to thy zeal for him ; for thy lot were then truly but as that of the wicked." "Should I," said Jael quickly, “plough up a wheat field thick with full and milky ears only to try a better seed? Should I shave this beard, in hope that a comelier one might sprout? Should I take out a bill against my wife, that I might win perchance a better? My beard is well enough, my wife is well enough, my wheat is well enough. Ah what shall come of change and commotion but losses? Who suffer now? None but rogues and mischief makers. Who" - "I will not reason with thee," said my uncle with impatience. "It is well for Judea that some souls are made of other stuff." "In my belief," continued Jael, "the Jews of Cæsarea were dealt with after their deserts. A man now-a-days can live scarce a day in peace for these sons of Belial. But the blood let in Cæsarea may keep it cool in Jerusalem, so shall good come of it. Hast thou heard the news here on the Jordan, Onias? If we now bestir ourselves we may do greater things than they in Cæsarea." "What mean you?" said my uncle. "I speak," said Jael, "of John of Hebron, who hath taken pains to travel beyond the Jordan, and up and down in that region, some say, stirring up the people, but others only preaching. But who can stir the people more than he who preaches? The ears of the council or of Herod I trust will be open to take note of him." "But what mean you?" said Onias, "and of whom do you speak? Jest not after thy fashion." "I speak truly but what I hear," replied Jael, "and jest not. I have not seen this wanderer myself; but have heard somewhat from every one who hath come from beyond Jordan. Some even hold him a prophet; but it were nearer a truth, I doubt not, to hold him possessed of a devil. Prophets do not grow on every bush." "How is he followed?" asked my uncle. "From far and near,' answered Jael, "have people resorted to him, some even from Jeru salem. But that makes for nothing, seeing that they of Jerusalem are ever running after some new thing." "What," continued Onias, "is the manner of his life and appearance?" Jael could not say. He had heard a thousand varying accounts from travellers, but knew not which were true nor which were false. His belief was that he was one in part beside himself, and who was therefore just the kind of adventurer to amaze and seduce the people. With the help of a few magic arts, he would soon make himself great. The vociferations of new comers, now calling loudly upon Jael, put an end to our discourse; our host descended with reluctance to perform some of the duties of his office, and soon after, closing the folds of our tent, we fell asleep. VI. FATIGUED by reason of our journey of the preceding day, the sun was far advanced into the heavens before the noise of the inn-yard woke us from our slumbers, and we were ready for the pleasing labor yet before us. Crowds of travellers, in not more haste than ourselves, surrounded the gate-ways with their camels, asses, and other beasts of burden; some quarrelling with Jael on account both of their entertainment, and the sum he had demanded of them; some with each other about some idle distinction of nation or tribe; while a large number pursued in quiet their own affairs, or looked on and laughed at those, who, because life did not present enough of necessary evils, were seeking to multiply them. Jael moved among them a sort of monarch, from the power he possessed, not over others, but over himself, therefore indeed, over others also. He was not to be ruffled by any of the reproaches, which, whether justly or not, were showered upon him. Those who had abused him most he did not fail to dismiss from his dominions with some wish of peace, while from them he received, perhaps, only curses in return. "Jael," said Onias, as we stood beneath the shadow of a plane-tree, watching the scene, while Ziba was making the last preparations; "Jael is a man who lives for himself alone. Though you behold him so pliant, and so prompt to please and serve, and so patient under what seem undeserved reproaches, he is yet as void of faith, both toward man and God, as this pomegranate-shell is of meat. His aim is but one, his purse. And to fill this in the best manner he justly thinks, is to attract by his attentiveness and submissiveness to all, people of all names and nations, -Jew, Samaritan, Arab, or Roman, it is the same to Jael, and Jael is the same to them. He is just to one, as soon as to another; and will defraud one as soon as another. In what proportion he is knave, and in what honest, no one knows. When I am on this road, and weary with the way, my feeling is, and doubtless it is so with all, "here now shall I be certain of such observances as hardly my best friend could lavish upon me;" and I approach the roof of Jael as if it were another Beth-Harem. Behold there! how to that churlish Greek he returns smiles and parting salutations for railing." He then approached us as |