with boys of his age, and the rocky walls of their cave
were covered with his lessons; but to-day he added nothing



42 ASAPH

to their number; he seemed to be wholly absorbed in some
mental struggle.

" Yes, 1 will appeal to their fear," he murmured. " It
must be right. Yes, yes!" a/id still he paced the cave.

" What is it, my son, that troubles thee?"

" 1 was thinking of the awful sacrifices of the grove "

" Banish it from thy thoughts, my sou; the thinking
will only make thy life one long day of pain. The evils
we can not remedy were best forgotten."

The reverence he bore his mother a characteristic of
the children of Israel precluded his discussing what was
so near his heart; but he determined ho would make an
individual effort to stop these inhuman sacrifices. So
when he had arranged in his mind a plan of action, he sat
down by his mother and said:

" Now let me help thee, my mother, and hear thy
words of wisdom as we work."

So he helped her with the spinning, she instructing him
the while till time for dinner; then he kindled a fire while
she kneaded cakes made from the grain they had gleaned
together many a night by starlight. He ground the grain
into flour between two stones he would allow his mother
to do none of the hard work now of their daily life, he
felt so strong and proud of his advancing years.

" Rest, my mother," he said, when the meal was
ended, " and tell me about Jerusalem."

He was never tired of listening to her descriptions of
their old home and of the beautiful Temple, and the im
mense pools on which pleasure boats danced in the sun, of
the lovely bazaars or fairs in which objects of beauty and



ASAPH. 43

use from all over the world were offered for sale. Asaph
had only a slight remembrance of the home of his birth.
His life in the woods and caves had developed him into a
boy of magnificent stature and strength and still more
glorious beauty. The memory of the few years he had
passed in Jerusalem were compressed into the experiences
of that terrible day in the grove.

His mother would look at him at times with almost
awe, especially when she told him of the old-time wander
ings of their people, and he would denounce the wrongs of
which they had been guilty in the impassioned tones of
one inspired. She would think of his descent from " one
of the sons of God " on his father s side, and wonder what
would be his destiny in this great world. Thus they
passed the day, for it would have been unsafe to have been
seen in the valley in daylight, even to tend their flock of
goats, on a day of sacrifice. So when she knew the gates
of Jerusalem were closed they walked forth fearlessly hand
in hand, and attended to their delayed duties, and housed
their flock in the first great cave; then they went to the
brook and purified themselves, then sat in the beautiful
moonlight and discoursed till time for sleep.

His mother had taught him somewhat of the stars; but
in these years of observation in which he delighted he had
far outstripped her in the knowledge of their ways, and
used to beg to sit each night a little while alone to meditate.

To-night he remained longer than usual, and on going
to the cave found his mother asleep. He kissed her gen
tly, but she awoke, so light is a mother s sleep, wishing to
guard her loved ones, even in her dreams.



44 ASAPH.

" Ah, Asaph, good-night, darling."

"Peace be with thee, my mother," he replied; and
now she sunk into a deeper sleep, knowing her boy was
there.

As soon as Asaph thought she would not notice his de
parture, he wrapped his mantle around him and went into
the valley. He took his way by the Kedron, and when he
came to the bridge he quickly crossed and soon came to
the walls of the king s garden.

All was quiet in the grove. He was agile as a young
athlete, so approaching a tall tree that threw its branches
almost into the clustering vines that trailed over the wall
and somewhat down its side in its luxuriance, he climbed
quickly into its wide-spreading branches, then sprung into
the vines and so drew himself to the top; from here he
could see the windows of the palace, but all were dark
save a faint light from one. For a moment he sat still,
hid by the vines; then he cried in impassioned tones:

" King Jehoiakim! King Jehoiakim! Woe, woe, woe
to thee for the innocent blood! Didst thou not hear the
babes cry in their agony? Oh. oh, o h!

This he wailed so pitifully that soon one window, then
another, held a human face. He continued to cry:

Woe, woe, woe to Jerusalem for killing her babes!
and woe to the king for breaking the laws of the mighty
Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel! \V-o-e! w-o-e ? "

The sound was heart-rending, and soon King Jehoiakim
came to his window with a terror-stricken face, and still
Asaph continued to cry. Then the lovely face of a child
appeared at the window where the light shone.



ASAPH. 45

Asaph started; he had never seen anything so beautiful
before. Was this the princess for whom he had been
about to die? He arose and gazed at her. Just then the
moon burst from behind a cloud and gleamed on his
golden hair and radiant face. She saw him and started,
bat King Jehoiakim cried: "It is his spirit! * and fell
back on to the floor of his chamber in a death-like swoon.



46 ASAPH.



CHAPTER VII.

KING J E H O 1 A K I M .

ALL was confusion in the palace; the physicians were
hastily summoned, and for awhile it was feared Jehioakim
was dead. Some of his servants could hardly conceal their
joy, for he was a cruel master, and the least fault cost the
ollender his life, sometimes, too, by the most cruel torture.

The old officers and relatives of his deposed brother
cried:

" Our despoiled king is avenged! Glory, glory to Mo
loch and Baal!"

But when Jehoiakim regained consciousness these
shrunk away in sullen silence.

The Princess Elia and her mother had hastened to the
king s couch, and bent over him, weeping, and Coniah,
his son a mild youth of some fifteen summers uttered
prayers to all the gods that were worshiped in Syria, and
sometimes the name of Jehovah, his father s father, the
good Josiah s God, fell from his lips.

When the king regained his speech his children prostrat
ed themselves before him, touching their foreheads to the
floor. When he saw them he smiled faintly, and said:

" Is is it you, my children? What what has befallen
me?"

" Only a faintness, my lord and father," replied his
son, kissing his hand.



ASAPH. 47

" Elia, my Rose of Sharon, didst thou not see was it
not a spirit?"

" No, my gracious lord; it was but a beauteous boy
standing in the moonlight!"

" It it was his spirit. The boy was being offered to
great Moloch for for thy prosperity, but he escaped with
his mother to die in the wilderness."

" Most gracious lord, I do not think that was aught but
a living being we saw, said Elia s mother.

" Astarte be praised! He did not die that cruel death
for me/ cried the princess.

The king groaned:

" Why does Moloch allow his spirit to return to vex me?
But but if he lives, Duinah shall seek him."

" Oh, my gracious king and father, do him no harm!
What advantage could his death avail how add to my
happiness? If J have thy love I need naught else. *

The king smiled and said:

" Thou hast that, my daughter, but woe to them of this
house that hate me, and would league with others to de
stroy my peace of mind!"

Elia dared not venture further, but pressed her father s
hand, and seeing that he wished to sleep, she made obei
sance to him and left the chamber.

In her own dainty room she sat and thought. The
Ethiopian maid lay on a mat at her feet; she had not even
been aroused by the running of many feet. These chil
dren of the torrid sun, though faithful like dogs, are heavy
sleepers, and their watch is with their heart more than
their eyes.



48 ASA PH.

" If the boy lives, 1 must warn him. 1 would not that
my father should be guilty a second time of his blood. 1
do not think the peaceful Astarte would wish it!"

Then she laid herself down to sleep with the goddess s
name upon her lips.

Soon (he palace was again sunk in slumber.

The morning dasvned on Jerusalem, peaceful and beau
tiful, but the palace was full of ugly rumors of the night
before.

" Eliakim is being punished for being the servant or
Egypt Egypt, whom Jehovah despised and chastened
with plagues and death for our sakes!" cried an old white-
headed Beiijamito, who had never forsaken the true God.
" Aha! Jehovah s will be done!"

This was immediately reported to the king, and in an
hour the evil birds were feeding on his poor dismembered
body, that had been dragged asunder, then thrown over
the walls into the valley of Hinnon. Then the other in
mates of the palace were more cautious, and the shakings
of the heads and knowing looks only passed between

friends.

*******

The king, in gorgeous robes, sat on his throne in the
judgment-hall, a curious temple, raised up on pillars in the
midst of a great apartment of the palace buildings.* It
had a frieze of beautifully sculptured stone, the plants and
trees so closely copied from nature that the leaves seemed
to stir with the wind.f The ceiling was beautifully painted

* Or else the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
i Josephus.



ASAPH. 49

in colors. Here also was the magnificent ivory throne of
Solomon, with the fourteen guarding lions, and the bul
lock against which he leaned, all bound together and re
splendent with gold.

On each side of the throne, but lower down, were his
armed body-guards, his officers, princes, and eunuchs.

Before him, prostrate on the floor, were those who came
to plead for justice or mercy. Kear them, in almost as
abject attitudes, were his servants and petty officers.

The king was burning under a sense of injury, and to
day none found mercy at his hands; a look, a motion, and
each was borne away to punishment.

Even this seemed to irritate him more, and he cried:

" Bear the wretches to their doom! I will hear no
more!"

And the struggling, screaming people, men and women,
were hastened away by spear-thrusts and borne to the
mysterious subterranean chambers from which no one re
turned.

Then the king said:

"Bring Dumah, Moloch s high priest, and all begone
save my guard."

For awhile he sat silent. Soon the high priest was brought
between two officers, looking frightened, but as sinister as
Jehoiakim himself.

Why hast thou done this thing, oh, priest! to vex thy
king and master?"

Dumah prostrated himself, but not as humbly as the
others had done.

" I have done naught to vex my lord."



50 A8APH.

" Didst thou not find the boy that escaped great Moloch
long years ago?"

For a moment Dumah hesitated, then his cheek flushed
red.

" Ay, most gracious king; he and his adulterous mother
hud fled to the tomb of the good Queen Jezebel, and thus
was the slaughter of the priests and prophets of great Baal
avenged, for the people tore them limb from
limb!"

In these days a falsehood was considered justifiable on
the least pretext; even those considered to be the prophets
of the most high God deceiving and lying without a blush
of shame, they even besmutching, as much as man could
do, the fame of the great God of Truth by charging Him
wiih accomplishing His purposes by employing lying
spirits, thus intimating that He was not all-powerful, but
had to call to His aid disreputable spirits that lived ip the
heavenly kingdom.*

" Then it was his spirit 1 saw. Canst thou not propiti
ate great Moloch with a splendid offering of many an
ottering he shall not despise so that he will leave me in
peace?"

The priest s eyes glistened.

" Ay, most mighty king; such an offering as shall
shame to nothing aught that has gone to him before/

" Make thy preparations then. Send couriers through
the cities and the villages that still belong to us, and bid
the people hasten magnificently attired to the sacrifice."

* II. Chronicles, xviii Chapter, 14 to 23 verses.



ASAPH. 51

Just then hurried steps were heard, and an Israelite
entered with an armed escort of the palace. He prostrat
ed himself before the king. His clothes were torn and
travel-stained; thus he lay, with his face touching the
floor, without uttering a word.

" Arise! Speak! Wherefore this haste and these marks
of travel from afar?" asked the king, haughtily.

* Oh, gracious, mighty king! Seven days ago, as thy
servant was tending his flock upon the mountain-side
toward the great Euphrates, a dust as of a whirlwind arose
from the valley. When the sun rose high the cloud
lifted, somewhat drawn by his power, and there, glitter
ing in his rays, marched a myriad armed and warlike
men, their faces set toward Jerusalem. Thy servant hasted
day and night, faint for lack of food, to warn my gra
cious lord!"

As he ceased speaking, he fell to the floor, foaming at
the mouth.

For a moment Jehoiakim was speechless with astonish
ment, then he said :

" Give yon wretch good care. Mark ye, do not let him
die. I would learn more."



52 ASAPH.



CHAPTER VIII.

ASAPH MEETS THE PKINCESS.

])r.MAH hastened into the valley of Hinnon. He had
heard all the particulars, much exaggerated, of the night
before, and felt convinced that Asaph still lived.

" This time he shall not escape Moloch, but he shall not
pass to the great god s arms. No; his beauteous limbs
shall feed the fires of sacrifice!"

Then he gathered together those of the priests he felt
\vere bound to his interests, and imparted to them the
great secret, and dividing up the valley, gave each a por
tion to search minutely.

Little Elia, who was a great favorite in the palace, on
account of her gentle disposition and her influence with
the king, had learned everything.

Oh, how should she warn the boy? The thought of
harm befalling him on her account made her almost ill.

She wandered in the garden all day long, and gazed at
the place where she had seen him stand so glorious in his
beauty in the moonlight.

" 1 will not rest to-night, but watch at my window, so
that should ho come again, I will bid him hide and save
himself."

liut she was so young that before the night was spent
she tell asleep at her post, and the Ethiopian maid laid her
upon her couch.



ASA PH. 53

Asaph, expecting something might result from his weird
visit, kept himself closely concealed all day, first obliterat
ing all evidence of habitation by strewing leaves and bram
bles all around, then drawing the trailing vines over the
opening to their cave. They were careful to make no fire
for the smoke to betray thrni through the cleft in their
rocky ceiling, and he listened intently to hear if any foot
passed that way.

" What has happened, my son, that we must be more
careful this day over any other?" Helah asked.

Asaph took her hand, and said imploringly:

" Trust me this once, my mother, without an explana
tion."

Just then little showers of dust and rock fell down
through the rift in the top of the cave.

" Ah! men or beasts are passing above. Listen!"

{Soon they heard the steps of several, and caught the
words:

"Armed men toward Jerusalem."

" Ah!" cried Helah; but Asaph laid his hand upon her
arm, and whispered:

" Sh!" pointing to the opening.

When the crunching of their steps had died away, she
cried :

" Oh! is beautiful Jerusalem, the city of my love, to be
again besieged by her cruel enemies? So have the proph
ets cried again and again, but none would listen! Woe,
woe is mo!"

And she stooped and poured handfuls of dust upon her
head, and moaned and wrung her hands in mental agony.



54 ASAPH.

Asaph comforted her as best he could, but remembering
so little of Jerusalem, he could not fully understand her
sorrow. The armed force coming toward the city was the
reason of her son s extra vigilance, she thought, and won
dered at his wisdom.

When the gates of Jerusalem were closed they stole
quietly out into the beautiful night. Xearing the walls,
they noticed an extra number of watchmen were guarding
them, and that the towers were full of light and the noise
of busy men.

" We must lay up much stores, my mother; for when
armed men fill this valley it were dangerous for thee to go
abroad."

So they gleaned till late. Asaph knew where the wild
bees had their homes in many a hollow tree and rock, so
he brought great combs and filled earthen jars for future
use.

When his mother had sunk to sleep he quietly left the
cave.

Soon he was in his place of the night before on the walls
of the king s garden. Immediately he began his moaning
and crying.

"Woe! woe! woe! for the innocent blood! Woe to
Jehoiakim! Woe to the priest of Moloch!"

Again the window fillud with faces, again the king
looked forth in terror.

" Oh, ye people, ye shall be broken to pieces! Woe
unto them that rob the widow of her children!"
The king trembled and shook with horror.



ASAPH. 55

44 Spare the babes, oh, king! Their blood crieth out
against thee. Oh h!"

Elia stood at her window and made a sign. Asaph arose
to his full height in the moonlight, then in a moment he

disappeared.

*******

Asaph awoke early the next morning before the gates
were opened, and wrote upon the wall this message:

"My mother, I beseech thee, stay in the cave to-day.
Fear not for me. I go to learn the news. 1 will be pru
dent and return when it is not dangerous/

Then he hastened to the king s garden, and hid himself
among the vines upon the wall. Soon the beautiful little
Elia came to the window; he arose full in her view; she
looked terrified, arid made a sign of danger, then pointed
to the garden.

Quickly he climbed down the hanging vines, but they
could not sustain his weight, but broke in his hands, so he
jumped and fell, striking a small rock. He lay for a mo
ment stunned and slightly bleeding.

Elia, who had watched at her window since day-break,
hastened to his side.

"What! dead?" she cried, as he lay motionless; then
she gently turned his head, and saw the terrible scar of the
burn and the trickling blood.

"Moloch has conquered! he has died for me at last!
and she bent over him weeping. The tears falling on his
face aroused him.

" I I am not hurt only my jump was almost a
fall," he said, sitting up.



56 ASAPH.

She took the corner of her robe and stanched the
blood.

" Astarte be thanked! thou livest!" she cried, with joy.
" But quick, let me hide lliee; for any moment the slaves
might come, and then I shudder to think what might
happen to thee. "

She led him into a beautiful little garden inclosed with
a high hedge. The air was heavy with the perfume of
flowers and fruit trees. Delicate palms gave refreshment
and shade, and in the midst was a small building made in
the Egyptian style, substantial but highly ornate. The
interior was florid with their peculiar decorations of ibis,
lilies, flamingoes, storks, and papyrus reeds, and the pict
ured Nile and pyramids.

" Here, gentle boy, is my bower. None dare enter
without my word not even my slave Cleo. "

Then she brought him wine and fruits and little cakes,
and with cool water from the fountain by the door she
bathed his face.

Asjiph saw everything as in a dream.
Thou art very beautiful," he said at last; but Elia
was too young to blush at admiration, so she said:

44 Eat and drink; then we will talk."

lie took a little cake, and, breaking it, he smiled and
gave her half.

She took it with a pleased obeisance.

" Art thou a prince?" she asked.

" 1 know not," he ivpliu!, " but my name is Asaph."

" Did they once try to give thee to Moloch for my
sake?"



ASAPH. 57

"Ay! I remember it as it were yesterday; but my
mother fled and saved me."

" Astarte be thanked! I like not Moloch; the children
cry so pitifully going to his arms that it makes me weep.
My father fears thou art a spirit; but thou art not is it
not so?"

" I am but a body of flesh and blood as thou art; but as
my mother and myself walk in the valley the agonized
crying of the babes makes us weep also, and so I tried, Je
hovah helping, to stay the cruel sacrificing."

" Who is Jehovah? Is he a mighty king? I heard my
brother Coniah speak his name with Baal and Astarte."

" I scarcely know. But my mother said that, years
ago, when Jerusalem was much more glorious than it is
this day, He was the God whom all Israel worshiped, but
that lie was so dreadful in His anger that now they pray
to gods that can not punish them."

" I fear my father means thee harm; so come no more
with thy sad cries to the wall, lest he have a guard lying
in wait for thee. 1 will plead for the poor babes, for my
father loves me well. But Moloch s high priest is very
powerful and very cruel. Even now they are preparing
for a great sacrifice to propitiate the gods and keep the
mighty King of Babylon away from Jerusalem."

" Oh, that I dare go through the city and warn the
people!" cried Asaph.

" Wouldst thou like to see Jeiusakm, and dost thou
not dare?"

" Ay; but only for my mother s sake, for if 1 were dead
she would have none to console her."



58 ASAPH.

" Stay till to-night, and I will disguise thee in Cleo s
garments, and we will go together."

There was a great deal of freedom permitted the wives
and maidens of Jerusalem, and they went about and visit
ed much with their faces covered or uncovered as it pleased
them. Children also were permitted to play freely on the
streets indeed, the more children^seen thus enjoying them
selves the greater was considered the prosperity and hap
piness of the people.

Asaph s heart leaped with joy at the thought of seeing
Jerusalem and the holy Temple.

" Oh! princess, thanks!" and he made a deep obeisance;
but she raised him quickly.

" 1 am Elia to thee. Cleo, my slave, is faithful we will
tell her." Going to the door she gave a peculiar call, and
the Ethiopian came to her smiling. " Cleo, this is a son
of the gods; do not betray that he is here; he will help
both me and thee."

The black slave showed her teeth, and her eyes shone
bright.

Him beautiful! Him go to Moloch!" she said.

Quick as a flash the little princess struck her on the
mouth; but she withdrew her hand with a look of pain
she had bruised it on the slave s teeth.

" Wretch!" she cried, " how dare you? He is a god, I
say! Are you not afraid of his anger?"

Cleo fell prostrate to the floor, and taking one of Elia s
feet, she placed it on her neck.

" Let Cleo no die!" she cried. She was of those



ASAP11. 59

Ethiopians fat and sleek who cherish no thoughts of re
venge, but, like a dog, loves tha hand that chastises them.

" Arise! I hate thee not. But remember, let him be
as myself to thee. Here, eat these cakes for peace be
tween us."

Cleo liked the good things of this world, and needed no
second bidding. Soon Asaph said:

" Let me return now to my mother, lest she fear "

" Nay, they are searching for thee. Cleo brought me
word the valley is full of armed priests to secure thee for
the wicked Dumah. Stay till the gates are closed and
danger past. I must go to the palace now. Cleo will be
thy guard till I come again." Then looking at her, she
said, " Remember, as myself, slave!" and hastened away.

Cleo prostrated herself at his eet. For awhile he gazed
at her; she must be his friend; then he said:

" The princess has told thee true. I am descended from
one of the sons of God so my mother has often told me."

" Ay, him hair is like the sun-god, and him eyes shine
like Astarte s. Cleo am him slave!" and she put his foot
upon her neck.

" Enough. Do not betray my presence here to the
king or to aught other living being here. Serve me, and
good will come to thee. Dost like honey?"

" Ay, master," she said, smacking her lips.

" And figs and pomegranates and sweet spices?"

" Ay, good master."

" To-morrow will 1 bring thee what my hands can
carry; but be faithful to me."

" Cleo s master unto death," she replied.



60 ASA PH.

Asaph looked about; the grandeur delighted him: the
soft couches, the beautiful Persian rugs, the lovely work
of the potter s art. He remembered nothing of all this in
Jerusalem, or so very faintly it was like a dream one
strives in vain to remember in one s waking moments.

The coloring of the walls was a little too vivid, and
slightly jarred upon his sensitive perceptions; but it was
all so new that this feeling was absorbed in the pleasure
he felt.

When the princess returned he was resting on a couch,
and Cleo was on her knees fanning him with a great bunch
of peacocks " feathers.

" Master sleeps," she said.

Elia stood and gazed upon him.

" How beautiful! I did not think a human being could