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The Little Maid of Israel.

BY

Emma Howard Wight.

SECOND EDITION

    ST. LOUIS, MO., 1910
    PUBLISHED BY B. HERDER
    17 SOUTH BROADWAY
    FREIBURG (BADEN)      LONDON, W. C.
    GERMANY       68, GREAT RUSSELL ST.




    Copyright, 1900, by Jos. Gummersbach.

    -- BECKTOLD --
    PRINTING AND BOOK MFG. CO.
    ST. LOUIS, MO.




THE LITTLE MAID OF ISRAEL.

BY EMMA HOWARD WIGHT.




CHAPTER I.


In the Land of Israel, not a great distance from the city of Samaria,
dwelt Ezra with his wife, Sarah, and their two children, Isaac and
Leah. The sun was sinking behind the hills as Ezra and Sarah sat before
the door of their humble dwelling resting after the labors of the day.
On a couch in the doorway reclined a youth with a pale, sickly face and
emaciated limbs. Isaac, the eldest-born of Ezra and Sarah, had been
a <DW36> from birth. His eyes, dull and languid from constant pain,
tired and sad, were fixed eagerly upon the wide white road stretching
away in the distance until it was lost among the hills.

At length, with an impatient sigh, he turned his pale, wan face towards
his mother and said:

"See, mother, the sun has nearly set; why tarryeth Leah so long? 'Twas
but sunrise when she did set out for Samaria, surely she should have
returned ere this."

"Thou dost forget, my son, that thy sister had much to do in Samaria,"
replied Sarah, soothingly. "First to dispose of the fruits and then to
purchase necessities for our household; also the ass of our neighbor
being old and stiff, can travel but slowly."

"All that thou urgeth be true, mother," exclaimed the lad, petulantly.
"But my sister has ever the same tasks, still she always returned
from Samaria before the setting of the sun. I fear that some ill hath
befallen her," and his lip quivered with pain while his large, soft
eyes dilated with fear.

"How now, lad! why dost thou frighten thy mother with thy sickly
fancies?" cried Ezra, impatiently, as Sarah's cheek grew pale. "What
ill could have befallen thy sister?"

"She may have fallen into the hands of the Syrians, whom thou knoweth
do make raids into our country and carry off captives," answered the
lad, tremulously. "Oh, if I were only as other lads these burdens
should not fall upon the weak shoulders of a maiden. 'Twould be I who
would journey into Samaria with the fruits," and tears of bitter pain
and humiliation filled his eyes.

Sarah leaned forward and gently smoothed back the dark, curling hair
from his white brow.

"Speak not thus, my son," she murmured, with infinite tenderness. "Thy
mother loveth thee but the more tenderly because of thy affliction,
and well dost thou know how thy sister's heart yearneth over thee."

A faint smile touched the lad's pale lips.

"Ah, mother," he said, "it is wicked of me to repine at my affliction
when thou and my sister, Leah, do love me so well. But, oh, mother, if
I were but strong and whole," and, covering his face with his hands, he
sobbed aloud.

"Look up, lad, and dry thy tears, for yonder cometh our Leah," cried
Ezra.

With an exclamation of joy, Isaac obeyed, and, lifting himself eagerly
upon his elbow, watched with joyous eyes, the slow approach of an ass
upon which was seated a maiden.

Ezra went forward and lifted her to the ground.

"Leah! sister! thou art come at last!" cried Isaac.

She ran to the couch and bent over him; his weak arms clasped her neck,
his eyes looked lovingly into her face.

The brother and sister had the same fine-cut features and beautiful,
soft, dark eyes, but the lad's face was white and wan, while the rich
bloom of health  the cheeks and lips of the maiden. Her dark
hair, curly and silken, fell to her waist; she was slenderly built, but
erect, graceful and quick of movement.

"Why didst thou tarry so long, my child?" asked Sarah. "Thy brother has
sorely fretted, fearing that some ill had befallen thee."

"I am sorry that thou didst fret, brother," said the maiden, bending to
kiss his pale brow.

"Hadst thou trouble in disposing of the fruits, maiden?" asked Ezra.

"No, dear father," replied Leah, turning towards him with a smile. "I
was but a little while selling the fruits and making the purchases for
my mother."

"Then it was the slowness of