was the vision reported, and beside that, the appearance of a bright star, pointing to the very spot where the child lay, that many believed, and it came to be a rumor throughout the city and all the parts round about, that he who was to be King of the Jews was at last born. This coming soon, as it could hardly fail to do, to the ears of Herod, alarmed him not a little; for it was not unknown to him, that the people were constantly looking when this future king should come and assume his throne. Nay, there were not wanting flatterers, who persuaded Herod that he himself was the looked for Messiah.

But he believed them not.

Yet not being ready

to surrender his power into the hands of any other, and fearing, lest there might be some truth in the tales which were passing from one to another, and filled the city, he, according to his nature, determined upon a cruel measure for allaying his apprehensions; for he gave sudden and secret orders for all the children in Bethlehem to be seized and slaughtered, that so the new-born king might perish with them. Yet the order was not so secretly given, but that a warning came to many in season, who escaped the intended destruction. Among them, it was affirmed by some, was the young child, though by others it was asserted that it had perished. But since, it has been well

known that they fled the parents and the

child to their native place, where they have

dwelt, he who was to be a king, quite forgetting his high dignity, living and laboring humbly enough, subject to his father as a carpenter. Wherefore the wonders related of his birth are thus shown to be delusions or worse. The only thing we know to have been real was the destruction of innocent children by the king, of which the parents of the child were the cause, either by their own acts and delusions, or the delusions and acts of others, which they could not prevent. Their own safety they effected, but left behind others miserably to perish through their means."

"This is a strange story," said I.

"Not so strange to us," replied Onias, "who are ever greedy of what is marvellous, and who dwell on the borders of the land of fables."

"Who," asked Judith, "were these people from Nazareth, that they should pretend to the glory of being parents of the Messiah? Is it not our belief, that he shall come of the House of David? Surely their lineage might be

traced."

"So much was true," replied Onias. "It was found, that they were in truth of that family, though poor and unknown.'

"What, father, was the name they bore? asked Judith.

"nor

"I have forgotten," answered Onias; do I remember that of the child; though among other feigned things it was sent abroad, that an angel had announced the name by which it should be called.

"Were there many who gave their faith to such pretences?" I asked.

"It cannot be denied," said Onias, "that very many believed, and more waited in hope to see what might come of it. But the more wise and prudent saw not, in any of the things affirmed, the signs that should fitly announce the Messiah of Judea. Especially was it clear, that he, upon whose shoulders was to rest the government of Israel and of the world, would not first breathe in the feeding trough of a camel. It is not so kings are born; much less the King of kings. How should the people of God know their sovereign in such a form, and how should they be guilty, should they reject or destroy him? After a time no more was heard of this wonder of Bethlehem; and by the generations of to-day it is forgotten that such events have been."

"So, you will have us to believe," I said, "will it be with this John of Hebron."

"That," Onias replied, "is what I would say. The signs of Judea's deliverer are not more in this baptizing wanderer of the wilderness than

they were in that peasant's child. And when the people have run after him, and fed their foolish hopes on chaff, they will return to themselves, and wait. Many times have our hopes been cast down, and they will be again if in our folly we fasten them on this new preacher. A good man he may be, but no more. He who is to come hath not yet come; nevertheless he may not be far off, but standing in the midst of us while our eyes see him not. John indeed speaks of one to follow him. But neither is

it he."

Saying this, Onias rose and withdrew.

When he was gone Judith said, "My father will not believe until such an one appears as he looketh for, and John is far from that.

But so

Alas! for

What to

I, Julian, cannot judge. Are we to say how a messenger of God shall manifest himself to men, or what form, whether that of a servant or a king, his Messiah shall take? me a king were a small gift indeed. me were it if David again came forth from the grave, or his greater son, or any of the Prophets, and erected here in Judea the throne which so many are impatient to behold? Of what avail were such an one to me? My soul—and, Julian, I am not alone hungers for somewhat more nutritious, that can feed and support a higher life than that of the body for an entertainment

-

richer and more divine than could ever be had in a king's palace. We have kings now, and courts of luxury. I could resort to Herod, or Pilate, or Philip, but what should I find there that I want?"

But, dear Judith," said I, "do you not now in saying this yourself commit the error which you have just noted in Onias? He turns away from this wild man of the wilderness, this son of thunder, this unlettered and humble child of nature, this stern preacher of righteousness, because he does not agree with the picture he has formed in his mind of the Prophet whom God will send, when he sends forth his Messiah; and do not you also make your own thought the measure of what God shall do, when you refuse your homage to a king? Yet, surely, when the prophets speak of him who is to come, it is of one who is to govern Israel, and rule over the kingdom of David it is ever of the Christ, as King."

"Yes, Julian," she replied, "without doubt I have condemned myself. I am wrong. I should have no judgment in matters too high for the reach of our poor thoughts. And yet how can one, who feels the darkness within, cease to conjecture and hope, and look forward for that which the heart, as God hath made it, pants for, as the spent hart for the water-brooks?