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BY 
 
 CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH, 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 PUBLISHED BY M. W. DODD, 
 
 BRICK CHURCH CHATEL, 
 Opposite the City Hall. 
 
 1843. 
 
• »."•• • 
 
 
 4 
 
 track that she had just seen her uncle point out on 
 a chart with the features referred to by Ahck, and 
 very attractive they would have been in her eyes had 
 not all other considerations been lost in the para- 
 mount one which evidently was omitted in her kins- 
 man's catalogue of anticipated dehghts. Syria — 
 Palestine — Mount Zion — ^these were ever prominent 
 to the view of that Hebrew maiden. Gladly would 
 she have trod the whole route, a fettered and blind- 
 folded captiVCj to have found herself at the end of it 
 within sight of Jerusalem, with permission to weep 
 over its departed glories. Her thought by day, her 
 dream by night, was of the dispersion, the degrada- 
 tion of her people ; and while the occasional out- 
 bursts of higher patriotism which she could not con- 
 trol were good-humouredly smiled at, and herself 
 regarded as a pretty enthusiast by the members of 
 her uncle's household, she was altogether isolated 
 in the midst of them, by the consciousness that this, 
 the deepest feeling of her heart, was totally unshared. 
 Reading, meditation, and a strict attention to all the 
 prescribed forms of her religion were therefore the 
 elements on which her zeal was chiefly fed: and 
 Esther Cohen, though amiable in a high degree, and 
 universally beloved by all around her, would not 
 have shrunk from, but rather have gloried in, the dis- 
 tinction of being a most rigid and bigoted Jewess. 
 
 Her uncle, the younger brother of her deceased 
 father, was, on the contrary, a complete liberal in 
 rehgion. He came of high lineage among the de- 
 scendants of Abraham, and certainly prided himself 
 in the unmixed character of his pedigree, which 
 
JUBAH S LION. 5 
 
 owned no Gentile intermarriage throughout its long 
 and wide ramifications ; but he was, to all intents 
 and purposes, a man of the world, prosperous in a 
 lucrative and honourable branch of traffic, devoted 
 to the pursuit of such advantages as he deemed most 
 desirable for his family, and above all things solicit- 
 ous to see his people relieved from the pressure of 
 civil disabilities, and exalted to a place in, the legis- 
 lature. Confident that this would soon be the result 
 of the efforts in progress, he had brought up his son 
 with a special view to rendering him eligible for such 
 distinctions ; and to this end he had liberalized to an 
 extent by no means approved among his stricter 
 brethren ; who considered that their young kinsman 
 might occupy his expected station among Gentile 
 senators and officials without being unmindful of 
 his own peculiar privileges as a Hebrew of the 
 Hebrews. 
 
 Nathan Alexander Cohen, however, gave himself 
 very little concern with regard either to the prog- 
 nostics of his father or the scruples of their friends. 
 Full of animal life, buoyant in spirits, frank, sociable, 
 and impetuous, he found himself possessed of all 
 the advantages that this world can bestow upon its 
 votaries, and sported like a young colt in the wide 
 pleasant field assigned for his pasturage and play. 
 Proud he was to excess ; but his pride was quite 
 distinct from that of Esther or his father. Jealousy 
 of his personal honour and privileges formed its chief 
 point ; to which he added a nationality quite foreign 
 to the general character of his people ; for he deemed 
 it his chief glory to be an Englishman. Vain were 
 
 1* 
 
his cousin's indignant remonstrances, and the occa- 
 sional reprimands of elder friends ; the boy had been 
 brought up in a large school, where all religious 
 differences were smoothed down after the most ap- 
 proved fashion of modern indifferentism ; and little 
 as his father was suspected of any fanatical attach- 
 ment to the Mosaic law, the son gave promise of 
 holding it yet more loosely. Extensively as virtual 
 infidelity is eating into the core of professing Chris- 
 tianity among us, it pervades no less deeply the mass 
 of the Jewish people at this day. 
 
 Among other things, the name of Nathan had been 
 wholly dropped by the younger Cohen, and that of 
 Alexander, the surname of a Hebrew connexion 
 which had been given him, was shortened into Alick, 
 and thus assisted to Gentihze him. But in one re- 
 spect he was found inveterately Israelitish, for the 
 contour of his face, its olive tint, brightened into 
 richness by the glow of health and animation, the jet 
 black of his sparkhng eyes and hair, all proclaimed 
 what his manners, his education, his habits declined 
 to confirm, that Alick Cohen was decidedly a Jew. 
 
 Idle, volatile, and self-willed, he had loitered in 
 his studies: and now, at eighteen, having just been 
 emancipated from the hands of a private tutor, en- 
 gaged to finish what the school had failed in, it rather 
 puzzled his father what step to take next. A German 
 university was decided on; but circumstances, where- 
 in pleasure and profit were equally concerned, led 
 Mr. Cohen to plan a tour in the East, where a wide 
 field for commercial speculation had opened to him. 
 Alick found no difficulty in obtaining permission to 
 
accompany him ; and this gave rise to the expression 
 of envy from Esther, who regarded as most desirable 
 that part of her cousin's anticipated gratifications 
 which he himself scarcely even numbered among them. 
 
 The evening before their departure Alick went to 
 pass an hour with a neighbouring family, where he 
 found two or three other guests assembled : his pro- 
 posed route being alluded to, a young lady whose en- 
 thusiasm appeared greatly roused by the subject, 
 asked him if he expected to visit Jerusalem and the 
 surrounding spots ! and on his replying in the affir- 
 mative, entreated him to bring her some relic from 
 those hallowed places ; on which another remarked, 
 ' You had better ask for a sprig from one of the an- 
 cient cedars of Lebanon ;' And Alick, ever ready to 
 oblige, promised to bring home a choice collection of 
 those venerable trees. When he related this to Esther 
 at home, to his surprise, she burst into tears, ex- 
 claiming, * Do not, Alick, rob our glorious mountain 
 of its few surviving honours, to indulge the childish 
 fancy of a vain Gentile !' 
 
 ' You are an odd girl, Esther ; what can be the 
 harm of taking a leaf or two out of a cluster of crazy 
 old trees?' 
 
 ' Well, I shall not dispute the matter with you. 
 Nevertheless, Alick, I shall pray to the God of Abra- 
 ham that before you reach that spot you may have 
 learned to shrink from the sacrilege you now speak of 
 so lightly.' 
 
 But there was another in that house besides Esther, 
 supplicating the God of Abraham on the youth's 
 behalf, and with a better knowledge both of whom 
 
8 judah's lion. 
 
 she addressed and of what she asked. This was an 
 old Christian servant, truly a Christian, who for her 
 fidelity had been long installed in a sort of demi- 
 official character, an office created for her in Mr. 
 Cohen's household, as overlooker of the linen de- 
 partment, and superintendent of all packing, un- 
 packing, and similar operations, in which she con- 
 ceived herself profoundly skilled. She was a simple 
 creature, without a particle of this world's learning 
 or wisdom, held in some disdain by the modern do- 
 mestics for the unsophisticated homeliness of her 
 ways and apparel, but by her harmlessness, good 
 humour and obliging disposition, overcoming all pre- 
 judice. She could not even read ; for having neg- 
 lected to acquire the accomplishment in her youth, 
 nothing could persuade Susan it was attainable in 
 declining years, though Alick had frequently offered 
 to stake his best play-things on his success in 
 teaching, if Susan would become his pupil. ^ No, 
 no, master Alick,' she would reply, ' I'm too old to 
 learn ; and what need of it while you are so good 
 as to read me a scrap of news out of the paper, and 
 Miss Esther a fine tale out of a story-book 7 It ill 
 becomes the likes of me to set up for a scholar in my 
 old age.' 
 
 Latterly, however, a great change had passed on 
 Susan's tastes and feelings. The gospel was intro- 
 duced into the parish pulpit by a new minister ; she 
 heard, believed, and in the midst of her simplicity 
 and ignorance, became wise unto salvation. News- 
 papers and story-books lost their charm: she pre- 
 ferred to feast her mind on what she could remember 
 
of the last sabbath's scripture and sermons ; but it 
 was only within a week or two that her warm interest 
 had been excited on behalf of the family she loved so 
 well and served so truly. 
 
 A sermon had been preached for the Jews' Society, 
 and Susan, with awe-struck wonder, heard for the 
 first time of the privileges, the sins, the chastisements, 
 the hopes of Israel. Her whole soul became wrapt 
 up in the one anxious desire to see her master's 
 household converted to Christ ; and Alick, as he had 
 ever been her chief favourite, now stood foremost in 
 her hopes and prayers. The sudden tidings of his 
 intended voyage, which to her simple apprehension 
 was a stupendous undertaking, beset with perils in- 
 numerable, sent her in dismay to the minister, who 
 calmed her fears and soothed her anxiety by putting 
 up a very fervent supplication for the young Jew. 
 
 When Alick came to her for the double purpose of 
 ascertaining the state of his packages, and bidding a 
 kind farewell, he was touched by the trembling ear- 
 nestness of her injunctions to avoid all danger, and 
 to keep away from all bad companions. ' Oh, never 
 fear, Suke,' replied he, ^ I know better than to risk 
 my precious neck without cause ; and as for bad com- 
 pany, I shall not disgrace my family by mixing with 
 people beneath me.' 
 
 Fain would she have pointed to a higher and purer 
 motive, but she had never yet ventured upon any dis- 
 course of the kind with her master's family ; and be- 
 fore she could muster resolution he Was called away. 
 * Good bye, Susan ; take care of your old bones, that 
 I may find them safe and snug in their comfortable 
 
10 judah's lion. 
 
 case when I return.' He held out his hand; the 
 faithful creature clasped it between her's, and her 
 feelings broke forth in a scriptural phrase, quoted in 
 the minister's prayer for him, and which she had 
 often since repeated in her own, " The God of his 
 father Abraham, the Angel that delivered Jacob from 
 all evil, bless the lad !" AHck looked at her with 
 some surprize ; but he only said, ' Thank ye, Susan ; 
 I hope he will,' and bounded away. 
 
 The person who had called him was his cousin 
 Esther. Discouraged in her exclusive feelings by 
 those around her, and particularly shy of provoking 
 Ahck's bantering drollery, she had repressed many a 
 rising exhortation where she deemed it greatly 
 needed ; but now that he was on the very eve of 
 departing on such a pilgrimage, she resolved to dis- 
 charge her conscience, and to set before him his duty. 
 Accordingly she began by inquiring if he could 
 really proceed on a journey to Jerusalem with no 
 greater emotion than if he were going to Paris or to 
 Berlin 7 
 
 'Why, no; I don't say that, Esther. Without 
 bringing up useless distinctions in the way you do, 
 one must feel something in going for the first time to 
 visit what is certainly the land of his fathers, though 
 it is not his own.' 
 
 'Not his own, Alick Cohen? Who shall dare to 
 say of that land that it is not at this moment the pro- 
 perty of every Hebrew on the face of the earth?' 
 
 ' A very unprofitable property, coz. For any good 
 it yields me, or any business I have with it, I might 
 
11 
 
 just as well point to Sir John's park yonder, and call 
 it mine.' 
 
 ^ If Coleby Park had belonged to your ancestors 
 from time immemorial, and was entailed on you, the 
 sole heir, and had been forcibly taken possession of 
 by a gang of robbers, who held it by mere strength of 
 arm, defying both law and justice, would you not 
 still call it yours V 
 
 ' Ay, and soon get it out of their rascally clutches, 
 I'll warrant you. But your simile does not hold 
 good ; for the property you speak of, yonder in the 
 East, has certainly been made over by the Great Pro- 
 prietor above to other tenants.' 
 
 ^ Alas, alas 1' said Esther, ' it is too true. Our sins 
 have forfeited the possession, and we shall never, 
 never regain it while remaining thus careless, impe- 
 nitent, hardened under the Divine rebuke.' Then 
 suddenly fixing on him her eyes, which she had be- 
 fore shaded with her clasped hands, she sternly added, 
 ' It is such as you who stand between the tribes and 
 their inheritance ! The very temple of Mount Zion, 
 in all the magnificence of its glory, would not out- 
 weigh with you the glitter and the pride of a little 
 wealth, display, and power in the midst of an infidel 
 nation.' 
 
 Alick was roused ; he darted back a look equally 
 proud and angry as her own, but his eye presently 
 fell beneath the lofty scorn of her's ; and with a short 
 laugh he carelessly remarked, ' One must not be too 
 severe with a pretty girl when she gets into " Ercles' 
 vein," by way of variety.' 
 
12 judah's lion. 
 
 ^ No, cousin Alick, I do not vary, and you know it. 
 My feeling, however suppressed out of deference to 
 those above ine, is always the same. A daughter of 
 Jerusalem by right, I never will forego the lofty pri- 
 vileges of that character, though the loftiest of them 
 now be that of weeping over the ruiiis of Jerusalem, 
 the desolation, the degradation of her degenerate sons.* 
 She turned away in tears: then again facing him said, 
 with greater animation, ^ You will have a new charac- 
 ter to sustain ; hitherto you have lived in a charmed 
 circle, where a golden talisman secures you from all 
 that you must shortly expect to encounter. Unless 
 with the honourable name of Nathan you mean to 
 drop and wholly to deny your blood and hneage, you 
 will yet find yourself reviled, taunted, thrust out, 
 trampled upon, in the character of a despised Jew.' 
 
 Colouring with anger, the youth haughtily replied, 
 ' Jew or Gentile, no living man shall dare to despise 
 me.' 
 
 Esther shook her head compassionately, ' Ah, so 
 you think, but time will undeceive you. Apostacy 
 alone can save you from your share of the national 
 curse — the scorn of the Gentile ; and I don't think, 
 Alick, I don't think,' she deliberately repeated, ' that 
 you are yet prepared to stamp that open brow with 
 the foul brand of a cowardly apostate.' 
 
 The youth was excessively provoked ; but affecting 
 a louder laugh than before, he apologised for not hav- 
 ing time to answer her pleasantry, and left her with 
 apparent good humour. Esther almost regretted hav- 
 ing pursued so rough a course, when a little manage- 
 
judah's lion. 13 
 
 ment might have led to better results; but it was 
 past, and no opportunity presented itself of repairing 
 the mischief A brief good-bye was all she could in- 
 terchange with Alick, before he started with his father 
 for the port whence they were to sail, in a ship of the 
 line, for the Mediterranean. 
 
 2 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Adverse winds detained the ship for some days in 
 the Channel ; after which they coasted leisurely west- 
 ward, the captain having to communicate with the 
 Admiral at Cove. Every thing in the shape of delay 
 was agreeable to Alick, who found in the sea an ele- 
 ment so delightful, and in the sprightly young middies 
 associates so congenial to him, than an order to cir- 
 cumnavigate the globe in that company would have 
 been welcome. Mr. Cohen, who suffered greatly 
 from sickness, had not even made his appearance at 
 the captain's table ; but Alick, a general favourite, 
 had already experienced the hospitality of all the 
 messes ; among which he certainly preferred the gun- 
 room, where, at a slip of table thirty feet long, as- 
 sembled the gallant array of midshipmen, varying in 
 years from fourteen to more than twice that age, a 
 schoolmaster, two assistant surgeons, and very fre- 
 quently a warrant-officer as guest. The early dinner- 
 hour of noon allowed Alick to accept the almost daily 
 invitations as to a lunch, though the abundance of 
 choice viands served up usually tempted him to make 
 it a full meal ; and his keen perception of character 
 ensured him endless amusement among such society. 
 
 Alick Cohen had never loved study, so far as books 
 were concerned ; but he was naturally of an inquiring 
 
15 
 
 turn, and impressed not only vividly but deeply v^dth 
 whatever was presented to him through the medium 
 of common occurrence or conversation. Far from 
 being deficient either in sense or talent, his mind had 
 remained comparatively inert, more for lack of any 
 suitable stimulant to force it into action than from in- 
 dolence. At home he had known no wish that could 
 not be gratified by touching a bell-rope ; and at school 
 a well-filled purse wrought its wonted effects. The 
 society wherein he had moved was of that polish 
 which wears away, from the surface at least, all irre- 
 gularities of character ; and thus he had been becalm- 
 ed on the smooth waters of a rich citizen's life, long 
 enough to render the present contrast enchanting. 
 
 Some of his young friends in the gun-room were 
 highly bred ; a title, more than one Honourable, and 
 several of his own class, ranked among them; but 
 though some affected the fine gentleman, and strove 
 against the infection of their comrades' blunt hilarity, 
 they could not succeed in chilling the genial atmos- 
 phere around them; more particularly as such at- 
 tempts were pointedly put down by the captain and 
 first lieutenant, two disciplinarians of the old school, 
 and still more effectually checked by an individual of 
 subordinate rank ; but who, perhaps, possessed more 
 real influence among the middies than any other man 
 on board. 
 
 This was the gunner, a fine old seaman, who had 
 risen by sterling merit to that important post, and 
 whose thorough knowledge of his profession, peculiar 
 aptitude for communicating it, and unbounded kind- 
 ness in afibrding valuable information, had rendered 
 
16 
 
 him an oracle among the inexperienced officers. He 
 was rough and unceremonious, but never harsh or 
 rude. His broad, honest face beamed with intelli- 
 gence, benevolence, and manly decision, while his 
 quick eye seemed formed at once to detect and to re- 
 prove anything reprehensible. Alick took great note 
 of him, seldom losing a remark that he uttered; for 
 in his heart he had already resolved by some means 
 to enter the service ; and the information that any at- 
 tentive listener might derive from Gordon's general 
 discourse on nautical subjects was likely to prove of 
 material use. The grand feature, however, in the 
 gunner's character he did not comprehend, for Gordon 
 w^as spiritually-minded; a true, firm, and consistent 
 believer. 
 
 The senior midshipman, a disappointed and discon- 
 tented man, openly broached infidel principles, in 
 which he was covertly supported by one of the assist- 
 ant surgeons, who prudently refrained from commit- 
 ting himself directly on that point. The school-mas- 
 ter, well read in Paley's Evidences, and armed with 
 such Christianity as man may learn from man, con- 
 stantly met and repelled all serious assaults on reveal- 
 ed religion ; but allowed the sneer, the laugh, the 
 banter, to pass unheeded. Gordon, whose constant 
 care it was to uphold the relative authority of each 
 officer in the ship, refrained from interposing when 
 the schoolmaster came forward ; but many a rebuke 
 did he administer on occasions when, but for him, the 
 ground would have been undefended. Sharpe, the 
 infidel, was much disliked by his comrades, who re- 
 lished seeing him wincing under Gordon's lash ; and 
 
17 
 
 what between well-merited love, and salutary dread, 
 of the old gunner, the latter enjoyed an exemption 
 from those petty persecutions which too often are the 
 lot of a Christian in his situation. 
 
 Alick's Hebrew origin had not been surmised. In 
 the little billets occasionally handed to him he was 
 usually addressed as ' Coane,' and he himself be- 
 stowed no thought on the matter. It happened as 
 they were beating off the Cove of Cork that he 
 strolled into the gun-room with one of his young 
 friends, just as the debate was running high between 
 Mr. Sharpe and the schoolmaster. The former, it 
 seemed, had denounced the whole Bible as a tissue 
 of falsehood and folly ; while the latter was, with 
 more earnestness than usual, upholding its divine 
 authority. A group of middies surrounded the com- 
 batants, of whom one was drawing a caricature sketch, 
 while Gordon was delighting a mere child, just en- 
 tered as a midshipman, by superintending the carving 
 of a ship's hull with his penknife. Alick took his sta- 
 tion in the midst of the listeners. 
 
 ^ All that you have said is vastly fine, Mr. Cowper,' 
 said Sharpe, ' but it amounts to just this ; certain pre- 
 dictions appear in the Old Testament, and their ful- 
 filment is recorded in the New ; so you make the 
 two parcels of the Bible reciprocally prove each other ; 
 whereas I take leave to regard them both as parts of 
 one great forgery, framed so to support one another's 
 pretences.' 
 
 ' Setting the New Testament aside altogether,' re- 
 plied the other, ' I refer you to the fulfilment of pro- 
 phecy in the nations around us. 
 
 2* 
 
18 judah's lion. 
 
 * Of which a great deal took place before the pro- 
 phecies were written,' said Sharpe contemptuously, 
 ' and the rest would have come to pass in the natural 
 course of events, even had they not been so shrewdly 
 guessed at, and, as you called it, foretold.' 
 
 * Impossible !' said Cowper, ' no human sagacity 
 could have foreseen the occurrences that have fallen 
 out, exactly as foreshewn in the pages of inspiration. 
 But leaving all others, I will take up one point alone ; 
 what think you, sir, of that universal problem, the 
 outcast, miserable, degraded Jews V 
 
 * Why, I think them a pack of very great vaga- 
 bonds,' answered Mr. Sharpe. 
 
 ^ Undoubtedly they are ; the very offscourings of 
 the world, a by- word, a hissing, a scorn, and a re- 
 proach ; but was not this foretold V 
 
 ' Yes, and in the same way I could sit down and 
 write a prophecy that Poland should be dismembered 
 by the Russians.' 
 
 ^ Well, sir, but supposing the Bible to be ever so 
 modern a book as you fancy it, only a few centuries 
 old, still I maintain that the lapse of those few centu- 
 ries was sufficient, nay certain, in the common course 
 of events, to have obliterated all natural trace of such 
 an outcast race, amalgamating them with the various 
 people of the earth, or exterminating them altogether 
 by the many and severe persecutions that they have 
 undergone. Instead of which, you find no country 
 under heaven without the Jew, bearing the brand of 
 his crime, the curse of God, and the universal con- 
 tempt of his fellow- creatures.' 
 
 * Look at Sharpe, how he is posed and caught, 
 
judah's lion. 19 
 
 whispered a middy to another who was leaning on 
 Ahck's shoulder. 
 
 ^ Ay,' responded the other, * fairly caught in the bag 
 of an old-clothes' -man, and Jewed out of his prime ar- 
 gument.' This excited a laugh among those who 
 heard it, and a variety of witticisms were bandied 
 about, all deriving their point from some malicious or 
 contemptuous allusion to the Jew. 
 
 Sharpe replied, but Alick heeded not his words : a 
 sensation of wrath and shame, such as he had never 
 before experienced, thrilled through him. The latter, 
 however, predominated for the moment ; he felt 
 abashed, crushed beneath a weight of odium the more 
 cruelly bitter because it was wholly free from any per- 
 sonal allusion.. All the epithets of scorn bestowed on 
 his people, and which seemed to be generally ad- 
 mitted by those who heard them as words of course, 
 belonging to himself as one of that despised nation ; 
 and he felt that, as a Jew, he must rank in the esti- 
 mations of companions who now considered him fully 
 their equal, as inferior to the least — ay, probably, to 
 the sailors before the mast. The feeling that over- 
 whelmed the young Israehte was that '' sorrow of 
 heart" peculiar to those on whom it falls as a stroke 
 from above. He smothered it in his own bosom, and 
 gladly followed one of the young men who, tired of 
 listening to a subject that did not interest him, went 
 on deck. 
 
 When Alick withdrew to his berth for the night, 
 and found himself alone, he strove to avoid all un- 
 pleasant recollections ; or rather to banish their recur- 
 rence after being pretty well stifled in the mirth of an 
 
20 
 
 evening party. Despite all efforts, his thoughts fell 
 into that train, and a new sentiment sprang up in liis 
 mind, from which it had hitherto been wholly free — 
 dislike to Christians. ^ It was to prove the truth of 
 his own rehgion that he dared to speak so insultingly 
 of us,' thought Alick, as he recalled the purport of 
 Mr. Cowper's argument ; ^ and though those officers 
 care little enough about it in general things, yet being 
 Christians, they all joined in joking and jeering at the 
 Jews. Oh, how mad Esther would have been!' and 
 he could not forbear smiling, as the remembrance of 
 their last discussion mingled with the picture that his 
 fancy drew of her presence in the gun-room. Sleep 
 soon terminated his cogitations, and at early morning 
 the bustle of casting anchor in the fine harbour of Cork 
 obliterated every unpleasant recollection. 
 
 But Alick was not to remain long in this untroubled 
 state : the captain had manned his gig, and gone off 
 to the flag-ship, and the usual laxity of discipline 
 connived at in port gave admission to many strangers. 
 One of the miiddies, a mischievous lad of sixteen, 
 who had been peering into the numerous boats that 
 surrounded the vessel, and descried in one of them 
 an object likely to afford him some sport, approached 
 the schoolmaster, then leaning on a gun-carriage, 
 explaining some local phenomena to a party of 
 listeners, among whom was Alick, and said, ' Here, 
 Sir, I have brought you a choice addition to your 
 stock of evidences : you had better keep him to pro- 
 duce on your next discussion with Sharpe :' and he 
 pushed forward a most squalid little object, of un- 
 questionably Jewish aspect, with a shaggy grey 
 
21 
 
 beardj ragged clothing, and a net of oranges in each 
 hand. A shout of laughter welcomed the visitor, 
 who seemed perfectly at his ease ; and one said 
 ' Well, my little Moshesh, vat ish your bishnesh here V 
 
 Sharpe, just then passing, paused, joined in the 
 laugh, and asked with a sneer, ' Which of your pro- 
 phets prophesied of him, Mr. Cowper V 
 
 The Jew's brow contracted : he evidently felt the 
 insult, but instead of noticing it, held up his nets, 
 proclaiming the cheapness of his fruits. 
 
 ^ Confess you stole them, Moshesh,' said one. 
 
 ' I did not, upon my conscience. Sir, answered the 
 man. 
 
 ^ Conscience ! a Jew's conscience ! what a notable 
 thing to swear by,' shouted another. Alick's blood 
 was beginning to boil: he looked round, as if to 
 single out some object for a burst of resentment, 
 when the gunner approaching, said, ^ By your leave, 
 gentlemen, as nobody seems disposed to buy, I will 
 stow away the Jew's cargo. Well, my friend, what 
 are your terms ?' 
 
 The nets were presently emptied, and Gordon 
 resumed, ' From what part of the world do you 
 come V 
 
 ^ From Plymouth, Sir : very few of our people visit 
 Ireland, and I am here but for a short time.' 
 
 ' I wonder at that : it is well known Ireland is the 
 only country that never persecuted your race.' 
 
 ' They had not the opportunity,' said the Jew with 
 a half grin, ' for we have not dwelt among them.' 
 
 * Aye, but what kept you away ? The poverty of 
 the country you will say perhaps.' The Jew nodded, 
 
22 
 
 ' Then poverty has been a great blessing there/ con- 
 tinued Gordon, pointing to the land, ' since it was the 
 means of preserving at least one nation from the deep 
 curse of afflicting God's ancient people/ 
 
 He spoke the word curse with such deliberate em- 
 phasis, and accompanied it with so keen a glance 
 round him, that no one could avoid noticing it. 
 
 ^ Nay,' said the schoolmaster, ' I am no apologist 
 ^or persecution ; far from it ; it is the feature of a 
 barbarous age, and wholly unsuited to these enlight- 
 ened times. Still, as the Jews are certainly accursed 
 by the word of the Almighty, I don't see any parti- 
 cular sin in giving them their share in the troubles of 
 a troublous age.' 
 
 The gunner never contradicted Mr. Cowper in 
 public ; he therefore only said, ' I noticed it, sir, as 
 a matter of thankfulness to the Irish people ; be- 
 cause, though many nations were allowed, in old time, 
 to oppress the Jews for their disobedience, yet all 
 those who afflicted them were heavily judged.' 
 
 * Aye, but that was before their last unpardonable 
 sin of crucifying our Saviour.' 
 
 ' I cannot see. Sir, that even that fearful sin is un- 
 pardonable ; for Paul the apostle, who was himself a 
 persecuting, blasphemous Jew, bears witness : " And 
 they also, if they abide not in unbehef, shall be grafTed 
 in: for God is able to grafl'them in again." ' 
 
 * Of course ; individuals are sometimes converted ; 
 or at least profess to be so. Some people indeed 
 doubt whether a real conversion from Judaism ever 
 takes place.' 
 
JUDAH's LION. 23 
 
 It never does,' muttered the orange-merchant in a 
 bitter tone. 
 
 ' No V exclaimed Gordon, fixing on him one of 
 his most reproving looks. ' Is then the race of Abra- 
 ham fallen low enough to practise such a base hypo- 
 crisy — to acknowledge as God one whom they still 
 believe to have been a condemned and executed 
 malefactor V 
 
 The Jew hung his head : and one of the Middies, 
 throwing himself into an attitude, theatrically ex- 
 claimed, 
 
 * Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.' 
 
 Other quotations were also appHed, in a jesting 
 rather than an ill-natured spirit; and the school- 
 master remarked, ' All this only shews the fulfilment 
 of prophecy, and triumphantly estabhshes my proof 
 of the divine inspiration of the Bible.' 
 
 ' It does, Mr. Cowper,' answered the gunner, who 
 appeared not a little moved at the scene before him ; 
 ' and blessed be God ! it proves still more ; for if the 
 threatenings are thus accomplished to the very letter, 
 as we see they are, so shall the promises be. He 
 who has said, " This people have I formed for myself, 
 and they shall shew forth my praise," will yet be 
 glorified in them before the face of all nations. " For 
 the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet 
 choose Israel, and will set them in their own land." 
 " He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take 
 root ; Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face 
 of the world with fruit." ' 
 
 * So, then, you are one of those sanguine people 
 
24 judah's lion. 
 
 who expect to see the Jews restored to Palestine V 
 said the schoolmaster j smiKng. 
 
 ' I hope I am one of those believing people who 
 dare not doubt that what the Lord hath spoken he 
 will surely bring to pass. I heard your argument, 
 Sir, yesterday, with Mr. Sharpe, and what you said 
 could not be overthrown ; but while you rested on 
 that point, the present degraded state of Israel, lying 
 under the curse, I look forward to the closing of their 
 day of calamity, and thought upon the promise, " All 
 nations shall call you blessed; for ye shall be a de-* 
 lightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts." I can't 
 despise a Jew, gentlemen,' he added, looking round 
 him ; ' I can't add the weight of my finger to the 
 burden that God has laid on him. I know he is a 
 standing miracle of judgment, and I know too that 
 he will, at least nationally, be a standing miracle of 
 mercy. He is a branch of the olive-tree, broken off 
 through unbelief; but I am commanded, " Boast not 
 thyself against the branches." Gentile as I am, I 
 look upon a son of Abraham with respect ; ay,' he 
 added, raising his voice, as he saw some of the youths 
 glance laughingly at the ragged Jew, upon whose 
 shoulder he at the same moment laid his hand, ' Ay, 
 sirs, I look upon this poor man with the respect due 
 to a race whom God chose, and blessed, and distin- 
 guished among all people — a race that, say what you 
 
 will, are the aristocracy of the earth ; who,' here 
 
 a loud call v^^as heard for the gunner ; and he hastened 
 away. 
 
 ' Well, now,' said a good-humoured lad, who had 
 checked a laugh on hearing the earnest tone of Gor- 
 
judah's lion. 25 
 
 don, * well, now, let's do something to keep up the 
 external credit of the aristocracy. Who'll add another 
 to this ?' holding up a half-crown, ' to purchase a bet- 
 ter coat for this sprig of nobility V 
 
 Several responded to the call ; and a good handful 
 of silver was presently collected in the cap of the 
 young man, who held it last to Alick, shaking its con- 
 tents, and saying, ' Come, Coane, give us a specimen 
 of Gentile generosity.' 
 
 ' That I cannot do,' answered Alick, as with cheeks 
 of the deepest crimson, and swelling veins, he added 
 a piece of gold to the collection : ' I am no Gentile, 
 but a Jew : my name is not Coane, but Nathan Co- 
 hen ; and what from you is generosity is simple jus- 
 tice from me.' 
 
 He turned away immediately, half glad, half re- 
 gretful that the confession had been made under cir- 
 cumstances so peculiar. It was, in truth, a burst of 
 nationality that surprised himself when he reflected 
 upon it. ' It is as well, though,' thought he : ' for 
 they would have gone on snarling at our people till 
 some accident betrayed what neither my father or I 
 ever dreamed of concealing, and then they would 
 have remembered their impertinent speeches, and 
 nothing but quarrels could ensue. As it is, I've shewn 
 them that I am neither ashamed nor afraid to speak 
 out : and I suppose good manners will keep them 
 silent for the future. But why was I born a Jew ? 
 he continued, as mortifying recollections crowded upon 
 him : ' or why should such distinctions be kept up 
 among Engli.shmen? I should not mind turning 
 Christian to get rid of the stigma; but then they 
 
 3 
 
26 judah's lion. 
 
 would call me ^ a converted Jew,' which is worse still. 
 And, after all, what right has anybody to despise us ? 
 we are a wealthy race, and our men are as fine, our 
 women as handsome as the best of them. How such 
 vulgar prejudices can exist among gentlemen, I can- 
 not conceive ; at any rate, they must now hold their 
 tongues in my presence.' 
 
 And so they did: the schoolmaster assured the 
 young men that it was unworthy the genius of the 
 nineteenth century to keep up such antiquated illi- 
 beral prejudices ; to which they readily assented ; and 
 while some frankly apologized to Alick for the unin- 
 tentional offence given, others strove by redoubled at- 
 tention and respect to do away with the remembrance. 
 Still the witlings could not refrain from indulging their 
 leading propensity at his expense ; and he was often 
 vexed and irritated by casual discoveries of their jokes. 
 In reference to the gunner's expression, his father was 
 privately called the Duke: himself the Marquess; 
 their little cabin, ^ Duke's Palace,' with sundry other 
 ludicrous allusions, very annoying to a proud spirit, 
 which was apt to chafe at trifles. 
 
 When next Gordon met him, he touched his cap 
 with one hand, and extending the other, said, ' I ho- 
 nour you greatly, Mr. Cohen, for the avowal you made 
 at such a time, and in such a way. I, for one, never 
 had an idea of your being a Hebrew.' 
 
 Alick shook heartily the offered hand, and thanked 
 him for supporting the character of his people. 
 
 * I doubt, young gentleman, whether I did that ! I 
 only repeated God's promises, and declared my own 
 faith in them. And may I ask, sir, whether you too 
 
2r 
 
 are looking forward to the glorious things promised to 
 your race V 
 
 ' Why, indeed, Mr. Gordon, I am so thoroughly the 
 Englishman that I know of no country preferable to 
 that in which I was born — no distinction greater than 
 the citizenship of her great metropolis ; all the privi- 
 leges of which I hope one day to enjoy, when Parha- 
 ment has done away with the obstacles that now en- 
 cumber our path. We shall soon rise above the petty 
 carpings that we now cannot quite silence ; and all 
 these invidious distinctions will be forgotten.' 
 
 The old seaman looked at him with compassionate 
 interest : he had much to say, but knew not how to 
 introduce it ; nor did the time or place allow of pro- 
 longed discourse. They parted, therefore, Alick pro- 
 ceeding to the quarter-deck, and the gunner remark- 
 ing to himself, ' What a blessing that fine boy would 
 become among his people if the Lord were pleased to 
 make him indeed a Jew.' 
 
 Gordon was not one of those who imagine that a 
 Jew when Christianized must needs be Gentilized 
 also. He had very high, because very scriptural, 
 views of the peculiar privileges secured to the chil- 
 dren of Abraham, and which he knew were not an- 
 nulled but confirmed by their becoming subjects of 
 Messiah's kingdom. He longed to open the matter 
 to Alick, in such a way as to engage his attention, 
 with the purpose of leading him to the feet of Him of 
 whom Moses in the law and the prophets did w^ite ; 
 and he hoped that in the course of their voyage such 
 opportunity would be given. 
 
\^:*4C^,Ji^. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 * There is one thing that I can't understand,' said 
 Alick to a Midshipman, with whom he was parading 
 the deck, ' and that is the rank held by your friend 
 the Gunner. He seems to me to belong to every 
 class, and yet to form a class by himself Seeing what 
 disciplinarians you are, and how rigidly you all observe 
 the distinctions of rank, it often puzzles me to see 
 this Gordon an exception from all rules.' 
 
 ' You are right,' answered the Middy. ' The Gun- 
 ner is individualized among a ship's company : his 
 office is very important, though more akin to a 
 non-commissioned officer in the army than any 
 other, and attained in the same way. He is a picked 
 seaman of courage, conduct and experience, and so 
 necessary to us that we could not get on without him. 
 Gordon would be a regular character in any situation, 
 but the one he holds is just made for him ; and he is 
 thoroughly good-natured. When I was but half re- 
 covered from a sharp fit of illness, nervous, restless, 
 and all that, he let me go to his cabin, night after 
 night, and read, talk, or hold my tongue, as the fancy 
 might be, by his cheerful lamp, when all the rest was 
 darkness.' 
 
 ' Why is he exempt from the barbarous regulation 
 of " hghts out "—at half past eight V 
 
judah^s lion. 29 
 
 ' Yes : the Gunner has always leave to burn his till 
 ten.' 
 
 * Nay, then, I must make friends with him,' said 
 Alick: ' for you can't think how 1 hate the extinguish- 
 ing system.' 
 
 ' Take care, however, Cohen : for he'll certainly 
 make a Methodist of you,' said the young man smil- 
 ing : and then, as if a sudden thought had flashed 
 across his mind, he blushed, stammered, and hesita- 
 tingly added, ^ I — I beg your pardon.' 
 
 ' For what V asked Alick staring : * for thinking I 
 could be made a Methodist of?' 
 
 * No, no : only I forgot just then — I — oh, by the 
 way, do you know to-morrow is a royal birth-day, and 
 as there's a frigate in company, we shall treat you 
 landsmen to a little gunpowder at sea.' 
 
 What could put him so out of countenance all on 
 a sudden? was Alick' s mental inquiry: and then the 
 conviction struck him that his being a Jew had re- 
 curred to his companion's mind, in some connection 
 with the word Methodist : probably as being alike 
 terms of reproach. It ruffled him, and produced the 
 usual effect of an increased feeling of estrangement 
 from all around him. Meanwhile a very different 
 conversation, of which he was the subject, was go- 
 ing on in another part of the ship between Gordon 
 and an old sailor, no less devout and zealous than 
 himself, but by no means so partial to the Jewish 
 cause. 
 
 ' I can't see what difference it makes,' remarked 
 Tom Miller, ' his being Jew or Gentile so long as he 
 is not a Christian. All you have to do is to seek his 
 
 3* 
 
30 judah's lion. 
 
 conversion, and then, be his birth and lineage what 
 they may, he becomes Abraham's child, and an heir 
 according to promise. That's my mind. Gunner.' 
 
 * In one sense, I agree with you, Tom ; as regards 
 the spiritual privilege, we are all equal. Sinners alike 
 by nature, lost and ruined : saved alike, wholly and 
 entirely by grace ; in which salvation there is no dif- 
 ference put between us, God purifying our hearts by 
 faith. Children of wrath together, lying under the 
 curse, until we receive together the adoption of chil- 
 dren, becoming equally heirs of God, and joint heirs 
 with Christ.' 
 
 ^ Ay : what a wonderful work is there,' said the old 
 sailor ; * choosing such wretches as you and I, taking 
 us out of the mire, from the dunghill of sin, and ex- 
 alting us among the princes. Glory be to redeeming 
 grace !' 
 
 ' Amen, brother ! And now, having agreed in this, 
 let us look a little farther, and we shall see that even 
 in a family of children where all are to inherit pro- 
 perty, there is a distinction belonging to the elder, 
 and this I claim for the Jew. You know how Paul, 
 having shewn to the Romans the universal sinfulness 
 of our race, and that the national privileges or supe- 
 rior knowledge of the Jew will not save him, puts the 
 question, as from one taking your view of the matter : 
 " What advantage then hath the Jew, or what profit 
 is there in circumcision ?" and replies to it, " Much 
 every way ;" going on to shew that the unbehef of 
 individuals could not make the promise of God of 
 none efiect. For, Tom, they are still beloved for tho 
 fathers' sakes.' 
 
judah's lion. 31 
 
 ' You don't mean, any how, that an unbeheving 
 Jew will be saved for the fathers' sakesf 
 
 ' No, Tom, no. I speak of Israel as a nation, now 
 a sapless trunk indeed, blighted and naked, and to all 
 appearance dead: but for the sake of the root, which 
 was holy before God, he will once more cause life to 
 circulate, and the old tree to put forth leaves and 
 branches yet again ; ay, and such branches too as 
 shall overshadow the whole earth !' 
 
 ' Well, I shan't argue with you, seeing I have not 
 half your knowledge, Mr. Gordon ; but my poor prayers 
 are offered for yonder dear boy, that he, at any rate, 
 may grow up as a young plant in the courts of the 
 Lord's house.' 
 
 It was the peculiar trial of the good Gunner to meet 
 with very few, even among enhghtened Christians, 
 who could enter into his views respecting God's de- 
 clared purpose towards his ancient people. Those 
 views he perfectly well knew to be scriptural ; but he 
 also knew that their reception was by no means ne- 
 cessary to the spiritual well-being of a believer: though 
 again he was aware that to overlook any plainly re- 
 vealed truth, cannot be well-pleasing to Him w^ho has 
 given us no idle or unnecessary words to perplex us. 
 He rather loved, when with his fellow- Christians, to 
 be building themselves up on their most holy faith in 
 things absolutely essential, than to be engaged in con- 
 troversy on matters that were not so ; but seeing how 
 manifestly the reception of these truths quickened the 
 zeal and heightened the enjoyment of such as were 
 enabled to perceive them, he could not altogether keep 
 silence. The feelings with which he regarded the in- 
 
32 judah's lion. 
 
 teresting young Israelite on board were probably 
 strengthened by being pent up within his bosom, and 
 certainly were prepared for an explosion on the first 
 opportunity. 
 
 The day noticed as a royal birth-day was also the 
 Christian Sabbath ; and Alick, who had never wit- 
 nessed the sight of a ship's company assembled for di- 
 vine service, readily accompanied the superior officers 
 on their round of inspection at divisions. The clean, 
 handsome, healthy appearance of the men, their be- 
 coming deportment, and all the beautifully-ordered ar- 
 rangements, down to the graceful disposition of the 
 Union Jack, throwing its thick folds over the grog- 
 tub and log-board that formed the pulpit, all attracted 
 his admiration ; and he sat, a quiet, if not an interested 
 auditor, during the hour of prayers. 
 
 The first lesson for the day was that sublime portion 
 of Scripture, the 23d and 24th chapters of Numbers. 
 It arrested his attention more than once, by the re- 
 peated mention of Jacob and Israel, and the abun- 
 dance of the reiterated promises : but such was his 
 ignorance of every thing connected with the Bible, 
 that he did not know it formed a part of the ancient 
 Scriptures ; much less that it was the writing of Moses. 
 At one time he caught the old Gunner's eye fixed al- 
 ternately upon the reader and on him, with such an 
 eagerly-animated expression, that it made him anxious 
 to know what might be the reason ; he listened, and 
 heard the words, " God brought him forth out of 
 Egypt ; he hath, as it were, the strength of a unicorn: 
 he shall eat up the nations, his enemies, and shall 
 break their bones, and pierce them through with his 
 
33 
 
 arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as 
 a great Hon: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he 
 that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee." 
 
 The wind was whistling among the sails, which in- 
 duced the chaplain, whose feelings did not appear to 
 be so much roused by what he was reading as those 
 of some of his auditors were, to elevate his voice con- 
 siderably, while uttering this passage ; and a perfect 
 lull of a few moments occurring at the same time, 
 gave strong effect to the concluding words. Some 
 who remembered the Gunner's expression a day or 
 two before, when the poor Jew was on board, could 
 not help stealing a look at Alick, who was an object 
 of more interest, perhaps, than any thing else among 
 them. Service being concluded, a general stir took 
 place, for, in honour of the day the royal standard 
 was to be hoisted, and saluted with twenty-one guns. 
 
 A light, fresh breeze was stirring, the sun shone 
 brilliantly ; and the sails, whitened by a morning 
 shower, looked, as Alick remarked, like the plumage 
 of a swan, as the noble ship rolled gracefully through 
 the waves. While gazing upwards with admiration 
 at the beautiful contrast between a very deep blue sky 
 and the snowy canvas outspread to catch the breeze, 
 he suddenly beheld what is ever dear to the heart, 
 and glorious in the eye of a Briton, the magnificent 
 standard of England, unfolding its gorgeous blazonry 
 in glowing contrast to both, and casting a ruddy gleam 
 upon the water beneath. There was something in 
 the very act of unfurling this flag at sea, that together 
 with the splendid effect produced, transported Alick 
 to a fit of enthusiasm. He took off his hat, and loudly 
 
34 
 
 cheered the flag. The first heutenant passing at that 
 moment, touched his shoulder, saying with a smile, 
 ^ A little patience, Mr. Cohen : wait for the salute.' 
 This was presently given: the thunder of the guns, 
 the wreathing of the hght blue smoke, as it rose and 
 curled away ; the strong vibration of the ship's side 
 against which he leaned, and theToud, long, measured 
 cadence of three hearty cheers, given at the full pitch 
 of some seven hundred manly voices, altogether kin- 
 dled the fire of Alick's spirit, as it had never been kin- 
 dled before : he was in the height of that enjoynnent 
 which to a young and ardent mind outweighs all that 
 wealth and power can bestow. He w^anted but one 
 thing — he longed to trace a fellow-feeling somewhere, 
 that he might be tempted to speak out the delight 
 which swelled his heart ; but he was alone ; no one 
 just then beside him, nor did any body appear to be 
 at all excited by what occasioned him so great emo- 
 tion. Again he gazed upon the crimson flag: and 
 presently was greeted by the loud cheerful voice of 
 Gordon, abruptly exclaiming, ' Ay, Mr. Cohen, there 
 floats the Lion of Judah.' 
 
 ' The Lion of England, I suppose you mean,' said 
 an officer somewhat sharply, who had caught the 
 remark as he passed. 
 
 'The Lions of England, Sir, and the Lion of 
 Judah also, I beheve,' answered the Gunner, touching 
 his cap, ' I have heard it so remarked, and by one 
 well read in heraldry.' 
 
 'Holloa, Sharpe!' cried the other, 'come, here's 
 this fellow Gordon making Jews of us all!' 
 
 ' Pardon me, gentlemen,' said the Gunner, as se- 
 
JUDAH S LION. ^ 35 
 
 veral gathered round at this summons, ^ I believe yoa 
 will find on examination, that the arms of England 
 contained only two lions, until our Richard the first 
 added a third, after his conquest in Palestine, and 
 that third lion he prohahly adopted as the well-known 
 standard of the country where his greatest exploits 
 were performed, and a chief type of Him, " the Lion 
 of the tribe of Judah," whose cause he professed to 
 uphold against the infidel Saracens.' 
 
 ^ This is all conjecture,' said one of the gentlemen, 
 laughing, ^ and a very wild conjecture too.' 
 
 ^ So it is,' observed another : ' and yet I have known, 
 grave volumes of history founded on conjecture more 
 improbable than this.' 
 
 A great debate followed, embracing various topics 
 of history, heraldry, and other matters, to which nei- 
 ther the Gunner nor Alick staid to listen : the former 
 proceeded to his post ; the latter went and leaned 
 over the stern, watching for the glancing reflection of 
 the banner on the silver spray. 
 
 ' Judah's Lion !' thought he ; ' what a strange idea 
 that is ; and yet 1 don't see but it may be perfectly 
 correct. Richard bore the title Cceur-de-lion^ and 
 might, in consideration of that distinction, clap a 
 third lion upon his shield. He might, to be sure ; 
 but on the other hand, how very natural it would be 
 that he, who became by his conquests lord of Pa- 
 lestine, should incorporate that trophy with his own. 
 Judah's lion!' he again repeated, chuckhng as the 
 thought arose, ^if so, why England fights under our 
 banner — she may point to the standard of the de- 
 spised Jew, and say, " In hoc signo vinces." I'll go 
 
36 
 
 this very night to the Gunner's cahin, and get some 
 further information from him. 'Twill be better at any 
 rate than turning into bed at such an unreasonable 
 hour.' 
 
 And Alick, happily for him, kept his resolution. 
 No sooner were the lights extinguished, than he pro- 
 ceeded to the snug little cell, tapping at the door, and 
 being told to walk in, found the Gunner seated at a 
 small table, with a large book before him. ' I beg 
 your pardon, Mr. Gordon: I won't interrupt you, as 
 you are reading.' 
 
 ' Reading or not, you don't internipt me, young 
 gentleman : I am delighted to see you here.' 
 
 ' May I sit with you a little while, Mr. Gordon ? 
 May I ask you a few questions about the Lion?' 
 
 The Gunner sprang from his seat, bolted the door, 
 and said in a voice that faltered with suppressed emo- 
 tion. ' As long as you please you shall sit here, and 
 nobody shall interrupt us while we talk, as by God's 
 blessing, we will talk' — and he clasped his hands to- 
 gether as he leaned them on the Bible — ' on the most 
 stirring, the most glorious of all subjects — " the Lion 
 of the tribe of Judah!'" 
 
 ' You are very fond of our people, Mr. Gordon,' said 
 Alick, smiling. 
 
 * Sir, I owe to your people more than my hfe : I 
 owe to them this book, the writings of Moses and the 
 prophets, who were all Jew^s; the writings of the 
 EvangeHsts and Apostles, who were all likewise 
 Jews : and through them the knowledge of my Lord 
 and Saviour, the King of the Jews, God over all, 
 blessed for ever !' 
 
37 
 
 This was more than Alick Cohen could under- 
 stand: hut he did not mean to enter into any theolo- 
 gical discussion ; therefore he only said. ^ I am glad 
 you love us, Mr. Gordon, and I'm sure I love Chris- 
 tians ; at least such as you are. But now about the 
 Lion on the standard, and king Richard adopting it.' 
 
 ^ You heard this morning all I knew of that,' re- 
 plied Gordon. ' My small stock of information was 
 soon communicated. I saw you looking at the royal 
 standard, with feelings that I very well understood; 
 for I have served under that flag, Mr. Cohen, ever 
 since I was a little boy — a little cabin-boy, blacking 
 the officers' shoes: for though, by the goodness of 
 God, I have risen to a responsible and respectable 
 station, and am treated so kindly by gentlemen born 
 and bred, yet, sir, I sprang from very humble pa- 
 rents, the poor of this world, only rich in faith, who 
 could'nt have afforded me the means of learning to 
 read. I came first on board a ship, hoping just to 
 pick up a few crumbs of biscuit by doing any menial 
 work — an honest little vagabond, afraid to steal, and 
 ashamed to beg while my small fingers could work. 
 But you see, sir, I have had a good Master to serve, 
 and after some hard rubs, he has brought me to 
 honour, as I may call it. And now Mr. Cohen, I ad- 
 vise you to serve the same Master, who will be equally 
 gracious to you. To return to the standard, as I 
 said, I saw you looking on it, with the heart of an 
 Englishman ; and perhaps not knowing that it had 
 its commendation to the heart of an Israelite too.' 
 
 ' I was quite ignorant of it, indeed : and I should 
 like to know more about our old Lion.' 
 
 4 
 
38 judah's lion. 
 
 ^ You remember,' said Gordon, ^ how your great 
 ancestor, Jacob, blessed his twelve sons, the heads of 
 the twelve tribes, before he died ; and the particular 
 mention of the lion in Judah's blessing?' 
 
 Alick did not remember, because he did not know 
 a word about it ; however, his curiosity was excited, 
 and he said, ' To tell you the truth, Mr. Gordon, I 
 have been rather a bad student. I read what was put 
 into my hands, but never gave proper attention to it : 
 so though I may have seen it all before, any thing 
 you see good enough to tell me will be as new to me 
 as if I had not' 
 
 ' Well, come here, and look at this page, where 
 the whole is related by your great Lawgiver, Moses.' 
 He turned to the forty-ninth chapter of Genesis, and 
 saying in a low but distinct voice, ' May the God of 
 Jacob bless it to our souls for Jesus Christ's sake,' he 
 pointed out the eighth verse, requesting Alick to read 
 it, who, colouring with a feeling that he could not de- 
 fine, began, " Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren 
 shall praise, thy hand shall be in the neck of thine 
 enemies, thy father's children shall bow down before 
 thee. Judah is a lion's whelp : from the prey, my son 
 thou art gone up : he stooped down, he couched as a 
 lion, and as an old lion ; who shall rouse him up?" 
 Alick here exclaimed, ' Wby, we heard that in the 
 morning.' 
 
 * Yes : but not in the same part of the book ; we 
 will see to that presently : go on, if you please.' Alick 
 resumed. 
 
 ' " The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a 
 Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; 
 
39 
 
 and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 
 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto 
 the choice vine ; he washed his garments in wine, 
 and his clothes in the blood of grapes ; his eyes shall 
 be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk." 
 This is prose, but really I never read poetry so beau- 
 tiful, Mr. Gordon. The sceptre is departed from Ju- 
 dah, alas!' — and that sigh was the first Alick ever 
 gave to the desolation of his people — ' but I don't 
 know who Shiloh is. In fact I feel I am shamefully 
 ignorant of things I ought to know. Please to tell me, 
 Mr. Gordon, who is Shiloh V 
 
 As the boy turned his bright eyes on his companion, 
 the expression of humility, submission, and earnest- 
 ness upon his ingenuous countenance so touched the 
 warm heart of the old christian sailor, that for the 
 moment his voice failed him. He pointed upwards, 
 and then said, ' Pray that you may know him.' 
 
 Alick dropped his eyes, looking disappointed, and 
 Gordon resumed, ' I will point out something remark- 
 able to you. These words spoken by Jacob could not 
 be known to that heathen idolater Balaam, when the 
 king of Moab sent him to curse Israel ; yet see how 
 similar are the terms he uses ; in fact the same ;' 
 and he turned to the twenty-fourth of Numbers, point- 
 ing out the 9th verse, " He couched, he lay down as a 
 lion, and as a great lion, who shall stir him up?" ^ That 
 is singular,' said Alick, ^how do you account for it?' 
 
 ^ By the fact, that both spake as they were moved 
 by the Spirit of the Lord ; Jacob willingly ; wicked 
 Balaam against his will : and this not only confirms 
 the prophecy, but makes it doubly observable.' 
 
40 
 
 ' That's true. Do you see, too, it is said here that 
 he, that is Jacoh, " hath as it were the strength of an 
 unicorn." The unicorn also is in the royal arms of 
 England.' 
 
 Gordon smiled, delighted at finding the youth thus 
 interested. ^ I never thought of the unicorn before, 
 I acknowledge, hut your remark is true. And now 
 see another prediction of Shiloh : " There shall come 
 a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Is- 
 rael ;" this star, this sceptre is Shiloh.' 
 
 ' How can that be V asked Alick quickly. ' The 
 sceptre was to depart when Shiloh came ; how then 
 can Shiloh be a sceptre.' 
 
 * I'll tell you,' said Gordon, with increased anima- 
 tion, ^ and oh, what a privilege it is to tell you things 
 on the knowledge of which depends the salvation of 
 your immortal soul ! This sceptre of Jacob — ' 
 
 Before he could add another word, a rap at the 
 door was followed by a summons to attend the first 
 Lieutenant immediately. Gordon's countenance had 
 never looked so clouded, as it did on hearing this ; he 
 rose heavily, and Alick said, ' Never mind : you'll let 
 me come another time, I know, and then you can tell 
 me more of this. I am very, very much obliged to 
 you, Mr. Gordon, indeed I am. I'll try to become a 
 better scholar, and at all events I'll never rest till I 
 find out all that is to be found out about Judah's Lion.' 
 
 ' Dear boy !' thought the Gunner as he hastened 
 upon deck, ^ you little know how true a word you have 
 spoken. Rest, indeed, can never be yours till you 
 come to a right acquaintance with the Lamb that was 
 slain-—" the Lion of the tribe of Judah ?" ' 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Man's enmity against the truth is the most active 
 principle within him. He may affect to despise, but 
 in reahty he fears while he hates it, and stoutly resists 
 every accession to the ranks of true believers. He 
 that is born after the flesh, naturally desires to perse- 
 cute a brother born after the Spirit ; and there was 
 no exception to this rule on board Her Majesty's ship 
 ; though as yet the pious Gunner had not expe- 
 rienced its operation, beyond a few petty annoyances, 
 which he scarcely felt. 
 
 But who with impunity shall stretch forth the hand 
 to unwind the web in which Satan holds captive a 
 lost sheep of the house of Israel ! Judaism, the shell 
 wherein lies, concealed and useless to its possessor, 
 the rich kernel of the gospel, and Popery, the worth- 
 less husk from which that kernel has been privily 
 eaten out, are the objects of his peculiar vigilance. 
 To reveal to the Jews the undiscovered riches, and to 
 the Papist the unsuspected hollowness of what he 
 grasps, is to shake the pillars of that throne whereon 
 the Prince of darkness sits ; for well he knows that 
 the restoration of Israel and the destruction of Popery 
 are the appointed signals for fettering him in the bot- 
 tomless pit. 
 
 Sharpe the infidel was a ready tool in the work of 
 
42 
 
 hindering the truth. He really dreaded no man on 
 board in an argument except Gordon, for he alone 
 wielded the sword of the Spirit against him. The 
 only instance in which he had been effectually silenced 
 by the learned but unenlightened schoolmaster, was, 
 when the latter appealed to the state of the Jews as a 
 living testimony to the verity of God's word; and the 
 way in which Gordon followed it up increased his an- 
 noyance. He noticed, with sullen dislike, the grow- 
 ing cordiality between the Gunner and Ahck Cohen, 
 and without caring a straw whether the boy continued 
 a Jew or became a * Methodist' — for Mr. Sharpe, like 
 many better and wiser people, fancied that in becom- 
 ing a Christian a man must cease to be a Jew — he 
 resolved to make it an occasion for punishing the ob- 
 jects of his malice. 
 
 He easily managed to convey to Mr. Cohen some 
 hints on the unsuitableness to his rank in life of the 
 intimacy his young son seemed disposed to form ; with 
 an as&urance that if allowed to continue it he would 
 be seduced, not merely from the religion of his fathers, 
 but to join a sect so extremely bigotted, narrow-mind- 
 ed, and despised by all sensible people, as to become 
 a scoff among respectable Christians. This exceed- 
 ingly alarmed Mr. Cohen : he sent for Alick, and be- 
 stowed on him a reprimand for losing sight of his sta- 
 tion in society, and without making any allusion to 
 religion, prohibited him from further acquaintance 
 with the waiTant-ofRcer, in whose cabin he heard he 
 had been sitting after the lights were out. 
 
 ' That was the very reason, father,' said Alick, who 
 had no desire to put it on any other footing. ' Do you 
 
judah's lion. 43 
 
 blame me for availing myself of a good candle, in- 
 stead of going to bed at nursery-hours V 
 
 ' You are not obliged to go to bed ; 'tis very pleas- 
 ant on deck in the evening.' 
 
 ' I'm v^alking the deck all day,' said Alick, fret- 
 fully ; ^ and a little quietness at night, vi^ithout being 
 shut up vi^holly in the dark, I may surely enjoy.' 
 
 ^ Nonsense ! you have companions of your own age 
 and rank, every way suitable, and may be well con- 
 tent to do as they do. Hold no further intercourse 
 with this Boatswain, or whatever they call him ; and 
 remember it is but for a short time. You will soon 
 be ashore, and may burn candles all night : and all 
 day too, if you please.' 
 
 Alick smiled: his father's good-humoured way of 
 speaking had always influenced him more than any 
 principle of obedience would have done ; and he re- 
 solved to follow his own inclination without ^ vexing' 
 a parent whom he loved, by open rebellion. 
 
 Meanwhile Sharpe, having satisfied himself that 
 Mr. Cohen would not sanction any farther intimacy 
 between his son and the Gunner, went to the first 
 Lieutenant, who was on deck ; and Sharpe was glad 
 to perceive the Captain so near as to be v^dthin hear- 
 ing. He mentioned to the Lieutenant that their wor- 
 thy passenger was made exceedingly unhappy by dis- 
 covering that Gordon, whom every one knew to be a 
 fanatic in religion, was tampering with his son's creed. 
 ^ A Jew,' continued he, ' feels his disadvantage among 
 so many Christians : but he is really a gentleman, and 
 as such' — 
 
 ' Of course, of course, Mr. Sharpe,' interrupted the 
 
44 
 
 Captain ; and Sharpe, seeing his words had produced 
 the desired effect, touched his cap and retreated. 
 
 Gordon was summoned, reprimanded, and informed 
 that any farther interference with the young gentle- 
 man would be considered an act of insubordination, 
 and treated accordingly. 
 
 'Alas!' thought the Christian sailor, as he slowly 
 withdrew, ' how many are the foes that rise up against 
 Israel! Must I withhold my hand from a work 
 brought to me in a way so remarkable and unexpect- 
 ed ? I can't think it a part of my duty to obey this 
 order: there's nothing in the articles of war to au- 
 thorize it ; and if I suffer unjustly, not for a breach 
 of duty, but for righteousness' sake, I lose a little 
 worldly profit and credit, but not the blessing of the 
 Lord.' Raising his eyes, he saw Alick among the 
 rigging, laughingly exulting in having, by his superior 
 agility, outstripped a fat, titled Middy in a climbing 
 race. ' The noble boy ! No, I won't give him up : 
 I won't,' repeated the Gunner, stoutly. 
 
 But the next day Alick, watching an opportunity, 
 eagerly accosted him. ' Mr. Gordon, hush ! I'm for- 
 bidden to speak to you ; so tell me when and where 
 I may do it without fear of discovery.' 
 
 ' Who forbade you, Mr. Cohen V 
 
 ^ My father.' The Gunner's countenance instantly 
 fell, and he looked so distressed that Alick anxiously 
 continued. ' It is all through the malicious spite of 
 some blackguard or another — very likely that Sharpe ; 
 and though I wont displease my father openly, it shall 
 not hinder my talking with you as much as I can.' 
 
 * No, Mr. Cohen : the law of Moses, or rather of 
 
judah's lion. 45 
 
 God, the law which Christ came not to destroy but to 
 fulfil, the immutable law of the ten commandments, 
 bids you honour your father and your mother. Obe- 
 dience to parents is a duty that none may neglect. 
 Your father commands, you must obey.' 
 
 ^ But this command was unjust and unreasonable ; 
 besides, I see no cause why I should be in leading- 
 strings to anybody. I'm old enough to think for my- 
 self 
 
 Gordon drew a small Bible from his pocket ; and 
 turning to the twenty- first chapter of Deuteronomy, 
 requested Alick to read the eighteenth and three 
 following verses, saying, ' That command was given 
 to your father.' 
 
 The youth read it in silence ; then turning rapidly 
 over the leaves of the volume, and glancing at the 
 title-page, he, suddenly looking up, said, with a manly 
 bluntness that had more than once struck the Gunner 
 as characteristic of growing decision — ' Mr. Gordon, I 
 wish you would lend me this book.' 
 
 * Lend it you ! Ay, that I will : and I'll lend it you 
 till you have read every word in it, and can say you 
 have no more use for it : which will not come to pass 
 till the Lion of the tribe of Judah take to him his 
 great power and comes to reign. The book is yours, 
 Mr. Cohen : read it, and all the treasures of wisdom 
 and knowledge are yours.' 
 
 ' But now,' said Alick smiling, ' suppose Papa 
 catches me at it, and says, " I forbid you to read it," 
 what shall I do?' 
 
 ' Obey God rather than man. You must obey your 
 parents, because God has commanded it : but if they 
 
n' 
 
 46 jtjdah's lion. 
 
 order you to do anything contrary to his command, 
 they do away with their own authority which is 
 founded on his command.' 
 
 * And does God command me to read this book V 
 
 ' He does, sir, as you will soon find if you examine 
 it. The ^\e first books, the Pentateuch, or books of 
 the law, were written by Moses himself: and every 
 king of Israel was required not only to read, but with 
 his own hand to write out the law as there given. At 
 this day it is read in your synagogues, and held in the 
 deepest veneration.' 
 
 * What ! is this the law, the Thorah of our people ? 
 I had no idea of that. Will it tell me any more about 
 the Lion of Judah V 
 
 * Everything, if you will but pray to have your eyes 
 opened, and your understanding enlightened: and now 
 farewell, Mr. Cohen ; my dear young friend, I hope I 
 may say. No farther conversation must we have ; 
 but I'll pray for you day and night, in the name of the 
 King Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.' And he turned 
 away, scarcely able to restrain his tears, but rejoicing 
 in heart, while Alick, after warmly shaking his hand, 
 pocketed the little Bible and walked off 
 
 ' How sinful I was,' thought the Gunner, ^ to doubt 
 that everything would be better ordered than I could 
 have devised or dreamed of There he has got hold 
 of the great scripture principle of obedience; and his 
 poor blind father, in depriving him of such a broken 
 cistern as I should have been, has put him in the way 
 of drawing direct from the fountain of living waters. 
 I dared not hope I should persuade him to accept a 
 Bible, and he has asked me for it !' 
 
JUD All's LION. 47 
 
 Sharpe, who expected a very difTerent expression 
 of countenance, was sorely perplexed to see Gordon 
 look so contented, and even joyous. He narrowly 
 watched to detect any clandestine doings, but in vain. 
 Nothing of the sort took place ; the only dissatisfied 
 countenance that he saw was in his looking-glass : all 
 against whose peace he had practised were pleased 
 and happy. 
 
 Alick first found, and re-perused the prophecy of 
 Balaam ; and then resolved to read the book regu- 
 larly through. This was not an easy task on board 
 ship ; and as his father overcame the first effects of 
 the sea, he kept him much with him. We all know 
 how many ways Satan has of hindering the study of 
 God's word ; and no marvel if poor Alick expe- 
 rienced many an interruption. Reading as opportu- 
 nity served and inclination prompted, he had just fin- 
 ished the book of Genesis, when they neared the straits 
 of Gibraltar ; and thenceforward he had no eyes or 
 thought, save for the look-out. They soon anchored 
 in the noble harbour of Valetta, and disembarking, 
 took up their temporary abode ; the ship being detain- 
 ed for the next packet, which was expected soon, with 
 dispatches from Malta. 
 
 Here Alick was destined to encounter the grand 
 stumbling-block of his people, against w^hich Gordon 
 had intended to warn him. Strolling about with one 
 of the Middies, the day after their arrival, he descried 
 at some little distance a long line of procession, per- 
 sons robed and cowled, bearing banners, and what 
 greatly surprised him, lighted tapers that glared with 
 a strange sickly aspect under a briUiant sun. Before 
 
48 JUDAH S LION. 
 
 reaching them, the procession turned off into a cross 
 street, and AUck asked his companion what it was. 
 * The host, I suppose, by the manner in which the 
 people reverenced it. By the way, if ever you meet 
 it, be sure to take off your hat, and stand still till it is 
 past.' 
 
 ' With all my heart : but why?* 
 
 * Why ! because every-body does ; that is, all Chris- 
 tians do, and I suppose all other people.' 
 
 ' I have seen many processions in London,' ob- 
 served Alick: *but, except to cheer the Q.ueen, or the 
 Duke, or some big-wig, I never took off my hat' 
 
 * They don't carry the host about in London,' said 
 the Middy. 
 
 ^ Well, but what is tliis host ? What is it made 
 of?' 
 
 ' 'Tis made of a wafer, but they think it is God.' 
 Alick stared most wildly at his companion, who, feel- 
 ing his deficiency in theological learning, changed the 
 subject. However, the young Jew questioned his 
 father about it in the evening, who carelessly said, 
 ^ Most of the people here are Catholics, and their re- 
 ligion is more openly professed than in England, where 
 liberality holds a very slow march. We have nothing 
 to do with it, Alick ; but as a matter of good-breeding 
 and policy, we must show the same respect to it that 
 others do.' 
 
 ' Well, but, father, explain to me what this host, or 
 wafer, is.' 
 
 ' A thin cake, I believe, which the priest, by speak- 
 ing some words, pretends to turn into the body of 
 Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified with others, as 
 
-.r-' 
 
 JUDAH S LION. 49 
 
 a malefactor, nearly two thousand years ago, and 
 whom the Christians call their God. Therefore they 
 worship the wafer, or host.' 
 
 Alick made no reply : in reality he was enraged. 
 The little he had read of the Scriptures had impressed 
 him with high and reverential views of the Creator ; 
 and with a feeling approaching to filial appropriation 
 of the God of his father Abraham. He had a vivid 
 imagination, a conception of the beautiful, and still 
 more of the sublime ; and all that Gordon had said 
 tended to enlarge his apprehension of the great power 
 and majesty of the Most High. His father's state- 
 ment seemed to imply a double profanation, that part 
 which concerned the wafer being equally monstrous 
 in its absurdity as blasphemous in its impiety : and the 
 whole absolutely irritated him against Christianity to 
 a degree that surprised himself He recollected hav- 
 ing been arrested by a verse addressed to Israel, when 
 turning over the leaves of the Bible, which he thought 
 bore on this point : and locking himself up, he took 
 out the book, and soon found it in Deuteronomy iv. 
 He read the chapter with wonder and delight, until 
 coming to the twenty-seventh verse, he found, " And 
 the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye 
 shall be left few in number among the heathen, 
 whither the Lord shall lead you. And there shall ye 
 serve gods, the works of men's hands, wood and stone, 
 which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell." 
 Here he started up, and exclaimed aloud, ' Never ! 
 God of Abraham, I never will. Scattered we are, 
 and few in number among these heathen, but never ., 
 will I be guilty of such a vile sin ! Call a wafer Je- 
 
50 judah's lion. 
 
 hovali, and bow down before it ! Why the bare idea 
 is enough to bring a judgment upon me. What fools 
 these Christians are, to circulate a book that shows 
 their wickedness in such a strong light. Only for this 
 book, I might have done as they do.' He read no 
 farther, but carefully restoring the volume to its hiding- 
 place, he lifted up his hand to heaven, and solemnly 
 repeated, ' I never will !' 
 
 Next day he went out, with a young military 
 officer, and had not proceeded far when they descried 
 a procession approaching, more showy than the for- 
 mer, with a richly-gilded canopy held aloft. ' Here 
 comes the host,' observed the officer : ' now we must 
 be on our good behaviour, and salute it.' 
 
 * I'll be hanged if I do,' said AHck. 
 
 ' Pho, you must : 'tis a necessary piece of civility 
 that everybody shows.' 
 
 ' I am a Jew ; and I will not disgrace my religion.' 
 
 'And I'm a staunch Protestant, and ashamed to 
 yield, I confess: but really we must. Or, stay; shall 
 we go into this shop, and so avoid it ?' 
 
 ' You may,' replied Alick, quietly. 
 
 The young man misunderstood him ; and supposing 
 he would follow, immediately turned into the cigar- 
 shop ; and to be further out of the way, walked 
 straight on, to the very back: while Alick coolly 
 pursued his path along the street, and met the pro- 
 cession in a more open space. Every head was un- 
 covered ; several poor people knelt; all showed 
 respect to the idolatrous abomination : but like Mor- 
 decai in the presence of Haman, young Cohen re- 
 mained erect, and covered. 
 
51 
 
 * Take off your hat !' sliouted the people who had 
 congregated there, some in EngHsh, some in ItaUan, 
 and various other dialects. ' You had better take 
 your hat off,' whispered a gentleman to Alick, in a 
 friendly, persuasive tone. 
 
 ' You had better put yours on,* was the retort. 
 Menaces followed : the host was now just on a line 
 w4th him ; several hands were raised, and one brawny 
 fellow struck the hat from Alick' s head, who catching 
 and instantly replacing it with his left hand, at the 
 same moment knocked the assailant down with his 
 right, who fell so near the feet of a torch-bearing friar 
 as to endanger the upset both of himself and his 
 flambeau. Great tumult ensued: and Alick was 
 being very roughly handled, when on one side, the 
 young military officer, and on the other two or three 
 of his late shipmates, ran up, and with the help of 
 some bystanders, who in their hearts admired the 
 boy's spirit, succeeded in extricating him without 
 further violence. He had however, severely sprained 
 his ancle, and was scarcely able to walk back to his 
 quarters, where Mr. Cohen slightly reprimanded his 
 illiberal conduct, and secretly congratulated himself 
 on being the father of such a fine fellow, who, when 
 a little sobered down, would doubtless shine in the 
 world. 
 
 Such scenes sometimes occur in Malta, and other 
 places where, while naval and military men are com- 
 pelled either to violate their pledge of obedience to 
 earthly powers and forfeit their commissions, or to 
 transgress the law of God by an act of idolatrous 
 homage to an accursed thing, — a private Protestant 
 
52 JUDAH's LION. 
 
 is occasionally foiind sufficiently bold in the faith to 
 defy the consequences of refusing it. But this was 
 the act of a Jew: and it spread through the place 
 with numberless additions. 
 
 In the evening, while Alick reclined on a couch, 
 for the repose of his bandaged ancle, a lofty person- 
 age entered, whose countenance at once proclaimed 
 his nation, while his picturesque costume, more Asiatic 
 than European, though not altogether so, and the 
 beard that with jet black curls almost concealed the 
 lower part of his face, struck the youth with mingled 
 surprise and curiosity. He looked round for a moment, 
 while Mr. Cohen rose with his accustomed politeness, 
 and returned his courteous salutation ; then advanc- 
 ing to the sofa, he said, in English, but with a very 
 foreign accent, ' I am a stranger in Malta ; but tell 
 me, is this stripling the son of Israel who dared to 
 brave the rage of assembled Gentiles rather than 
 humble himself before their idol V 
 
 * Yes, sir,' answered Alick. * I know no God but 
 the God of Abraham.' 
 
 The stately Jew spread his hands over his head, 
 pronounced a blessing in the Hebrew tongue, and sat 
 down beside him. 
 
m^ 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 It has already been noticed that Mr. Cohen's object 
 in AHck's education, was to fit him for legislatorial 
 and other functions of public life, where national 
 pecuHarities would be laid aside ; or rather his na- 
 tionality as a Jew altogether merged in his English 
 citizenship. The general state of those among whom 
 they principally associated, was that of a money-get- 
 ting and money-loving race, who held their own par- 
 ticular religion much as the same class among nomi- 
 nal Christians do, that is to say, as a mere accident — 
 they happened to be born in such a communion, just 
 as they happened to be born when periwigs were out 
 of date ; so they neither wore periwigs nor abandoned 
 the creed of their fathers. Taking it for granted that 
 others held their religious profession by the same loose 
 tenure, they were perfectly content to let them retain 
 it ; and were far too well-bred to make it a matter of 
 animadversion ; far less did any idea of building 
 personal objections upon it enter their minds. 
 
 The only instance in which Mr. Cohen felt as a 
 Jew, w^as in reference to his poor brethren, the lower 
 class of Hebrews in London ; and many a time did 
 he, as a Jew, address them in language of warm re- 
 monstrance, and speak of them to others in that of 
 severe censure, and almost downright repudiation. 
 
 5* 
 
54 judah's lion. 
 
 He could see no reason, he said, why a people of 
 most unquestionable antiquity, once the glory and 
 dread of the whole earth, and still the most wealthy 
 of all, should forget their proper position, and sub- 
 mit to be classed with the least respectable of those 
 among whom they dwelt, their equals or inferiors. 
 On this point he was eloquent; and what was far 
 more, he really laboured to reclaim some with whom 
 his business brought him into contact, by appealing to 
 what he supposed to be their strongest feelings, but in 
 vain. Poor Cohen did not know, he would not search 
 into the Book and read, that his race was doomed to 
 this fate ; that to be a proverb, a by-word, a hissing, 
 an astonishment among the nations, was the penalty 
 denounced on them for aggravated transgressions, 
 until they should turn again to the Lord who smote 
 them. Sometimes he was reminded by his more con- 
 sistent brethren that their people were scourged for 
 their sins, and scattered because of their transgres- 
 sions as of old : but this he regarded as a mere ex- 
 cuse, unworthy of rational beings ; and persisted in 
 believing that an effort on their part would at once 
 raise them to a level with their fellow-subjects ; * and 
 above the level,' he added : ' for half the ingenuity 
 that they now practise, would, if properly directed, 
 soon overstep all competitors, and give them the lead 
 in every department of honourable industry.' 
 
 Such language Alick had often heard from his 
 father's lips ; and that he did not immediately forget 
 it, M-as owing to Esther. She would sit in profound 
 silence, her head bent over her embroidery or paint- 
 ing, to conceal from her imcle the vaiying colour of 
 
■0^' 
 
 55 
 
 her cheek, and the displeasure that her frequent frown 
 betrayed ; then, when alone with Alick, would give 
 vent to expressions that amused him greatly, claiming 
 such high honours and privileges for the most de- 
 graded subject of Mr. Cohen's complaint, that the 
 youth would say, ^ Well, Esther, I am happy in being 
 a Jew, or you would not allow me to loll in my chair 
 in your august presence. If all trades fail, I have 
 only to mount a greasy beard, and shoulder an old- 
 clothes bag, and then instead of falling I shall posi- 
 tively rise in your estimation.' 
 
 It had never yet been Alick' s lot to meet with one 
 among his own people who took the view that Gor- 
 don did of their real position ; but there was some- 
 thing in his secret mind that responded to it. He 
 had begun to think that Christianity — such as it 
 appeared in Gordon — was a refined and elevated 
 species of Judaism, and under this impression he was 
 prepared to read the New Testament with an unpre- 
 judiced, inquiring mind : but the view that he had 
 now taken of a system that falsely usurps the name 
 of Christianity, and under pretence of honouring the 
 Lord, degrades him more effectually than the utmost 
 blasphemies of an open enemy can do, made him 
 recoil as from the brink of a precipice ; while the 
 total absence of sympathy on all sides, was a burden 
 to his ingenuous disposition. 
 
 When the strange visiter, whose aspect very much 
 prepossessed him, had made some kind enquries into 
 the extent of Alick' s hurt, he returned to Mr. Cohen, 
 and asked after the welfare of their bretliren in 
 England. 
 
56 
 
 ' Nothing material has occurred among them,' re- 
 pUed Mr. Cohen : ^ but may I ask how long it is since 
 you were there ? ' 
 
 * Never : I have not been in England.* 
 
 ' No ! you speak the language well.' 
 
 ^ I have been much used to traffic with Europeans, 
 and learned many languages : English among them.' 
 Then turning to Alick, he said, ' Thou hast been well 
 taughtj my son, in the law of our holy commandments, 
 abhorring the idolater. Cursed be he !' 
 
 Alick heartily assented ; but his father frowned. 
 ' Where he has been taught I know not : no such les- 
 son of illiberality, no such bigotry and intolerance, can 
 have been learned under my roof They are wholly 
 subversive of good citizenship, and can only tend to 
 bar his advancement' 
 
 The visiter gazed at him in evident perplexity ; but 
 whether the sentiment utterred surprised him, or the 
 language that conveyed it baffled his limited compre- 
 hension, was not clear. Before any further remark 
 could be made, a servant entered to place in his mas- 
 ter's hand a card inscribed with the name of one 
 whom he knew to be a convert, and a zealous mission- 
 ary among the Jews, and Avho requested to see the 
 young gentleman. 
 
 ^ Show him in,' said Mr. Cohen, in any tone but 
 that of satisfaction ; and then muttered, as he turned 
 on his heel, ' Upon my word, this boy's iblly will bring 
 upon us all the fanatics in Malta !' 
 
 The missionary entered, and with that frank un- 
 ceremonious manner that defies repidse, walked up to 
 
W' 
 
 57 
 
 the couch, saying as he extended his hand, ^ My young 
 friend, you have done well to-day.' 
 
 ^ That, sir,' said Mr. Cohen, who began to feel that 
 his authority was likely to he set aside, ' may admit 
 of a question. I consider that he has done ill.' 
 
 ' Are you his father V 
 
 ' Yes, I am.' 
 
 ' Are you a Jew V 
 
 ' Yes.' 
 
 ' What is WTitten in the law of Moses, concern- 
 ing the maker of an image, and the worshipper 
 thereof?' 
 
 • A great deal, no doubt, that it is necessary for the 
 teachers of the law to be well acquainted with ; but 
 with which a school-boy has nothing to do.' 
 
 ' True,' said the first comer, who had regarded the 
 missionary from his entrance with an unfriendly eye, 
 ' True ; for it is written in the Hilehoth Talmud 
 Torah, '' Women, and slaves, and children, are exempt 
 from the study of the law." ' 
 
 The missionary smiled, and laying his hand on the 
 Jew's shoulder, said, ' My worthy Josef Ben-Meichor, 
 you with your Talmud are as far astray from the law 
 of Moses as the poor Papist with his wafer-god is 
 from the gospel of Christ.' Then addressing Mr. Co- 
 hen, he added, ' Hear, brother, what Jehovah saith : 
 ^' These words which I command thee this day shall 
 be in thine heart : and thou shalt teach them diligently 
 unto thy children, and thou shalt talk of them when 
 thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by 
 the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou 
 risest up." To our fathers were these words addressed, 
 
58 
 
 and our fathers heard, and obeyed, and it was well 
 with them. But after a while they forgat: they 
 ceased to treasure in their hearts the commandment 
 given ; they taught it no longer to their children, 
 neither spake they of it when sitting in the house, or 
 when walkuig hy the way ; when lying down or rising 
 up. The word was put away from their remembrance, 
 so that when crafty men crept into Moses' seat, they 
 found it easy to twist and corrupt the divine law, add- 
 ing thereto many inventions and idle devices of their 
 own until they had actually made void the law with 
 their traditions; and Rabbinical corruptions prevailed 
 over the inspired teaching of Moses the man of God. 
 And what followed ? They had quenched the lamp 
 of their feet, the written word was set aside, and when 
 the living Word, even the Bread of life, even the 
 Lord from heaven, came, him they crucified and slew. 
 Ay, Josef Ben-Melchor, it was your Talmud, your 
 oral laws, your vain superstitions received from your 
 fathers, that brought on our people blindness of heart, 
 till they sinned that great sin which caused our city 
 to be destroyed, and the sword to be drawn out after 
 us. And His anger is not turned away, but His hand 
 is stretched forth still!' 
 
 The missionary spoke with the look and action of 
 a man whose heart goes along with every word he 
 utters. To interrupt would have been nearly impos- 
 sible ; it was a burst of feeling not to be stayed in its 
 course. Mr. Cohen heard impatiently. Ali(k with 
 eager attention, and Josef with ill suppressed rage. 
 His dark eye assumed an expression of fierce displea- 
 sure, his brows were knit, and his lip trembled. When 
 
^m 
 
 .f^,' 
 
 judah's lion. 59 
 
 the missionary concluded, he said, in a deep hoarse 
 tone, far unlike that in which he had before spoken, 
 ^ The curse of the wicked be upon thee, Dog ! Thou 
 hast sold thyself to the evil one ; thou hast committed 
 the idolatry that this young boy's spirit could not suf- 
 fer, and therefore he is wounded and sick. Thou 
 pratest of Moses, blessed be he ! and the Holy One, 
 to whom be praise ! while a crust of bread is thy god, 
 and thy honour is to that which thou eatest. Away, 
 Dog!' 
 
 ' It is untrue,' said the missionary with indignant 
 warmth, ' I abhor the idolatrous abomination, and I 
 would that the same heart were in us all, that moved 
 this young Israelite to scorn the deceitful aspect of re- 
 verence for that which we ahke condemn. You call 
 me dog, brother Josef .' 
 
 Here Mr. Cohen gladly availed himself of the ri- 
 sing colour in his son's cheeks, and pointed out to the 
 disputants what he termed a symptom of fever ; and 
 then he civilly, but very decisively, requested that 
 they would adjourn their debate to some^place where 
 no invalid was likely to occasion such an interruption 
 as he was sorry now to give. Josef rose, and again 
 spread his hands over Alick, pronouncing another 
 Hebrew blessing, to which the missionary in the same 
 language added an Amen. He had not been seated : 
 and now, standing at a little distance, he gazed on 
 the youth with affectionate interest for a moment, 
 then raising his hands and eyes prayed that he might 
 be preserved from every snare, and led into the fold 
 of the Shepherd of Israel, there to rejoice for ever- 
 more. Ben-Melchor the while was speaking in a low 
 
'^ 
 
 60 
 
 earnest voice to Mr. Cohen, who bowed and thanked 
 him with cold pohteness ; and stepping to the door, 
 after touching the bell, continued to bow out both his 
 guests, on whose departure he flung himself into a 
 chair exceedingly irritated, but unwilhng to vent it on 
 Alick; who after a short pause, said ' Don't be un- 
 easy about me, Papa: I assure you I am not feverish 
 in the least: if I reddened, it was from an incHnation 
 to laugh at hearing how our new friend be-dogged 
 the other gentleman.' ' It was perfectly disgusting, 
 Alick,' said his father : ^ and I am glad you view 
 them all with the contempt they merit. I hope too 
 that a sense of the impropriety of your own conduct 
 may be awakened, now that you perceive by what 
 class of men it is applauded. At your age, a lad will 
 sometimes get into mischief, and signalize himself in 
 a row ; but never let it be on the score of religion : 
 nothing lowers a gentleman so much in the eyes of 
 the world. Be as decided as you please in your 
 private ophiions on such matters, but keep them to 
 yourself: when they cease to be private you lose your 
 caste in society, and are numbered with bigots and 
 fools.' 
 
 Alick smiled : for he was then acting such a part, 
 though not exactly in the way his father meant him 
 to do. Every thing that passed added to his anxiety 
 for a full insight into the very subject that he was ad- 
 vised to keep clear of: and he had made up his mind 
 to discover the truth for the purpose of openly declar- 
 ing and maintaining it. ' Somebody must be right,' 
 thought he, ' and all the rest wrong. If ours is the 
 true reUgion, — and that I am sure it is, — we ought 
 
jxidah's LtoK 61 
 
 not to be the most oppressed and degraded people in 
 the world : and that I'll prove by and by, to Jew and 
 Gentile. If dear old England is so far identified with 
 us as to bear our Lion in her arms, and to favour us 
 as she does, I'll stir up the English to help us in re- 
 covering our own land. If,' , here he paused, 
 
 and became agitated, and then muttered in a more 
 hasty way, ' No, no: he can't have come : our Mes- 
 siah put to death by the Gentiles — impossible ! and 
 by the Jews, more impossible still. Some devilish 
 sort of craft must be in Gordon and that missionary, 
 to conceal and deny their worship of the wafer, when 
 this young fellow told me, and I myself saw, that 
 every Christian took off his hat to it. I get so per- 
 plexed when I think of the Christians ! I'll stick to 
 my own people, and read the Books of Moses only. 
 But then how could the Jew be right, who said, 
 ^' Women and children and slaves should not study 
 the law ?" What the other quoted was certainly from 
 the Pentateuch, for I remember dipping into it. How- 
 ever, I'm neither woman, child, nor slave, and study 
 it I will, for I never feel clear on any of those points 
 except when I'm reading. To-morrow or next day I 
 will try to find out the missionary, and see how far he 
 and Gordon agree : and also what he knows about the 
 Lion.' 
 
 The next day, however, wholly changed Alick's 
 plans : Mr. Cohen, dreading lest the notoriety that his 
 protest had led to should entangle his son farther in 
 polemics, went privately and ascertained that a light 
 vessel was to sail on the morrow for Smyrna, in which, 
 though it was far out of his projected route, he resolved 
 
 6 
 
62 judah's lion. 
 
 to proceed. The small quantity of luggage which he 
 resolved to take from on board ship, was easily ob- 
 tained ; an apology tendered to and accepted by the 
 Captain, who was on shore ; and Alick to his great 
 surprise, learned at the breakfast- table that they 
 would embark at noon. The glee with which he 
 received the tidings pleased his father, and nothing 
 interfered with their respective wishes, until they were 
 fairly settled in the new berth. The vessel was 
 small, and presented, to be sure, a marked contrast to 
 the noble ship of war ; the only good cabin was occu- 
 pied by a lady, who, the master informed them, was 
 European ; and their sleeping accommodations were 
 exceedingly bad. This gave little concern to either 
 of the Cohens, the elder being intent on his son's 
 rescue ; and the younger bent on experiencing all 
 possible variety of adventures, of which this little 
 bark, with its motley crew, promised him a good speci- 
 men. In Malta he had no wish to remain, being fully 
 determined to make no concession whatever to idola- 
 try, and yet unwiUing to vex his father as he must 
 needs do. 
 
 All was ready, sails set, the anchor weighed, and 
 the vessel beginning to work her way, when she was 
 hailed to take in another passenger, who presently 
 arrived in a boat, and after short parley, in Italian, 
 mounted the deck. Great was Mr. Cohen's dismay 
 at scrutinizing at once the voice and the features of 
 Josef Ben-Melchor : but at the same time a qualmish 
 feeling came over him, occasioned by the motion of 
 the vessel, which contrived to roll unsteadily even on 
 the smooth surface of that beautiful sea ; and he was 
 
63 
 
 glad to retire to his narrow berth, leaving Alick to 
 receive and return the cordial greeting of the Jew. 
 
 On the first day of their voyage, nothing material 
 passed : each was fully occupied in contriving to make 
 himself tolerably comfortable : and Alick soon ascer- 
 tained that to bouviac on deck would be infinitely 
 preferable to any other mode of taking rest. The 
 lady did not show herself, though he directed sundry 
 inquisitive looks towards her little cabin, as he passed 
 it to visit his father : but early the next morning it was 
 ajar, and a round face, adorned with short close 
 auburn curls, and two very bright hazle eyes, peeped 
 out upon him. Alick was fond of children : he had a 
 little brother at home, and with involuntary eager- 
 ness at the sight of such a pretty playmate he said, 
 ' Will you come on deck V 
 
 The rosy face disappeared: he supposed it was 
 from alarm at hearing a strange language : but be- 
 fore he could leave the spot, he was delighted by the 
 sound of a lusty little voice shouting out, ' Mamma, 
 may I go on deck?' 
 
 ' With whom, my love V returned a very pleasing 
 female voice. 
 
 ' With me, ma'am,' said Alick, putting his mouth 
 close to the door ; ' an English traveller : and I'll 
 take good care of him.' 
 
 There was a momentary bustle inside, and then the 
 door half opened, and a lady appeared, clad in a 
 wrapping-gown and morning cap, her hair combed 
 back from a very fine, open brow, and with much good 
 humour depicted on a very fair countenance. On 
 seeing Alick, she smiled, and remarked, ' My little 
 
64 
 
 boy ir^fefy giddy : will it not tax your kindness too far 
 to take such care of him as he requires V 
 
 ' Oh, no, ma'am : I am quite a nursery-maid, I as- 
 sure you, and celebrated for taking care of such people 
 as my little friend there. I promise you to bring him 
 back perfectly safe.' 
 
 * The Lord permitting,' added the Lady, with a 
 more serious look. ' Well, Charley, since the young 
 gentleman is so kind, you shall go : but be very heed- 
 ful — don't leave him for a moment' She kissed the 
 little fellow — ejaculating, ' God preserve my dear 
 boy !' and then holding out her hand to Alick, thanked 
 him, and closed the door. 
 
 His prize was soon carried on deck : and Alick be- 
 gan, ^ So Charley, you're an Englishman, after all.' 
 
 * No, I ain't : I'm an Irishman.' 
 
 * Oh, its the same thing: where do you come from?' 
 ^ Out of Ireland, and Malta, and Alexandria, and 
 
 London, and all sorts of places. Papa is out there, 
 where 
 
 * The Cedars wave on Lebanon, 
 But Judah's statelier maids are gone.' 
 
 He sang, or rather chaunted the two lines, and 
 Alick felt such a rush of emotion through his frame 
 as he could not account for. He pressed the child to 
 his side, and asked, ^ What is Papa doing ?' 
 
 ' He is looking after the Jews — do you love the 
 Jews?' 
 
 ' Yes.' 
 
 ' I'm glad of that. Do you know any Jews?' 
 
 < Oh, lots and lots.' 
 
judah's lion. 65 
 
 ' Do you ever tell them about the Messiah, the 
 Lord Jesus Christ V 
 
 Alick was silent : and the little boy seizing him by 
 the button on each side his jacket, pulled him to and 
 fro, saying, ' Do you? Do you? And if you don't, 
 why don't you?' 
 
 Alick was really confused : but at last said, " I am 
 a Jew myself, and I have nothing to do with Jesus 
 Christ.' 
 
 The boy loosed his hold, stepped back a pace, and 
 with a look full of sorrow and rebuke said, ' Then 
 you will never go to heaven.' 
 
 A movement of the vessel made him stagger, and 
 Alick catching him, set him on his knee, and half 
 provoked, said, ' How do you know that ? what busi- 
 ness have you to shut me out of heaven?' 
 
 ' I can't, for I haven't got the key ; but Jesus Christ 
 has : and it is he will let you in, or shut you out.' 
 
 * That is not true, Charley : God has the key.* 
 ' I know it ; and Jesus is God.' 
 
 The young Jew shuddered as he looked at the little 
 blasphemer, as he considered him : but Charley's arm 
 was round his neck, and his bright face turned to him 
 with so much love, that he could not help stroking it 
 as he said, ' My httle lad, you are too young to med- 
 dle with these things yet.' 
 
 * Am I too young to die, Mr. Jew V 
 ' Why, no.' 
 
 ' And if I die, mustn't I wish to go to heaven? and 
 how can I get in without knowing who keeps the key, 
 that I may ask him to open the door ?' 
 
66 
 
 ' Well, I don't believe that he of whom you talk is 
 in heaven at all.' 
 
 ' Don't youj don't you? Oh dear! I wish I had 
 my Testament here : I'd soon show you.' 
 
 ' Can you read?' 
 
 ' Read ! why I'm near six : I could read at four.' 
 
 «Well, Charley, I'U try you. Here's a Bible,' 
 cautiously drawing it forth from his breast-pocket, 
 ' and now read me something to prove that Jesus 
 Christ is in heaven,' 
 
 Charley tumbled the leaves over in great haste,-and 
 came to the book of Revelation, when he read the 
 sublime words in the first chapter ; " And he laid his 
 right hand on me, saying, Fear not, I am he that hveth 
 and was dead, and beliold, I am alive for evermore, 
 and have the keys of death and of hell. Amert' " 
 Then turning to the fifth chapter, he went on, — ^ and 
 look here, Mr. Jew, what a beautiful thing is here : 
 " And I wept much because no man was found worthy 
 to open and to read the book, neither to look there- 
 on. And one of the Elders said unto me. Weep not ; 
 Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of 
 David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loos^ 
 the seven seals thereof And I beheld, and lo, in the 
 
 midst of the throne," ' At this moment Alick, who 
 
 with breathless eagerness was listening to words so 
 unexpectedly startling to him, caught a glimpse of 
 Ben-Melchor, and shutting the book, thrust it into his 
 bosom again, saying, ' Hush, hush, dear Charley, for 
 the present. We will read all the rest by and by: 
 say nothing more now: and don't call me Mr. Jew, 
 
67 
 
 but Alick Cohen. Not that I'm ashamed of being a 
 Jew.' 
 
 ' How would any body be ashamed of being one of 
 God's own dear Israel?' said Charley, with surprise. 
 Alick kissed him, and again enjoined silence. He 
 heartily wished Josef in Malta, but received his greet- 
 ing very courteously, and gave a good report of his 
 ancle, after which the Jew kindly enquired, with some 
 severe reflections on the Christian idolators, who in- 
 flicted the injury. Charley seemed disposed to 
 speak ; but another ship passing, Alick directed his 
 attention to it, and after a little more talk with the 
 prejudiced Ben-Melchor, he carried Charley back to 
 his mother, and promised to call for him again in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 Nothing had ever before so touched him as this 
 little child's conversation. The youth of his teacher 
 threw him completely ofi* his guard : and he longed 
 to read the Bible with him : to see that little, dim- 
 pled finger pointing along the lines as he read, and 
 resting under words that most forcibly conveyed his 
 meaning : to hear the lisping tongue confessing and 
 glorifying Him who had been referred to by the Gun- 
 ner, and now seemed clearly set forth as the Lion of 
 the tribe of Judah. Alick's heart was deeply engaged ' 
 in the work : and without being aware of it himself, 
 he was following on to know the Lord. ,^ 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 When the hour arrived for again summoning 
 Charley on deck, AHck Cohen felt a little shy of ap- 
 proaching the cabin door ; anticipating from the mo- 
 ther something in the way of instruction, which he was 
 better inclined to seek, or rather to accept, from the 
 child. In this way he was mistaken : Mrs. Ryan was 
 gifted with that rare wisdom which can discriminate 
 in the matter of spiritual teaching, and rightly judge 
 what particular mode will best suit the character of 
 the individual. She had listened with wonder and de- 
 light to Charley's relation of what had passed, ending 
 with the discovery made by the shrewd little fellow 
 from Ben-Melchor's conversation, that Alick was the 
 bold protester whose Maltese adventure was already 
 well known. From the latter circumstance she rightly 
 gathered that young Cohen was of a manly, deter- 
 mined, and very independent turn ; and that he would 
 probably not relish the idea of female dictation. Ac- 
 cordingly she resolved to leave the matter as it stood, 
 earnestly praying that her little son might be made a 
 partaker in the blessedness of conveying a blessing to 
 one of God's peculiar people. 
 
 She could not, however, conceal from Alick the 
 affectionate interest thus excited in her mind ; there 
 was a cordiality of manner so marked, a tenderness 
 
judah's lion, 69 
 
 so maternal in tlie look with which she regarded him, 
 when he presented himself at the door, which Charley 
 flung wide open at his first approach, that Alick, who 
 had been much petted at home, could not resist its 
 influence. With the frankness of a school-boy, and 
 the politeness of a gentleman, he said, " Will you 
 allow me the pleasure, ma'am, of escorting you also 
 on deck? you would find it refreshing, and perfectly 
 safe. Besides, we are likely to come within view 
 of Cape Matapan before night, and you will like to 
 take a look at the southernmost point of Europe, I 
 dare say.' 
 
 ' Thank you, Mr. Cohen ; but this evening I must 
 devote to finishing some papers that my dear husband 
 wished me to transcribe. To-morrow, if I may then 
 plead your present kind willingness to take charge of 
 us both, I shall greatly enjoy going on deck.' 
 
 ' Could I be of any use to you, ma'am, in the wri- 
 ting way ? I am terribly idle ; and it really is a cha- 
 ritable act to give me something to do.' 
 
 Mrs. Ryan smiled : ^ Come in, and I will tax your 
 ingenuity to help me out of a dilemma.' 
 
 With great alacrity Alick obeyed ; and she showed 
 him her writing-desk, completely set fast by the 
 wrenching of a hinge, so that she could not open it 
 beyond a few inches. ' Oh, carpentering is as great 
 a hobby to me as nursing : so, Charley, just reach me 
 me that chisel.' The desk was righted in a very 
 short time, and the amateur carpenter seated himself, 
 saying, ^ Now, ma'am, by way of a remuneration, will 
 you be pleased to tell me something I am very curious 
 to know.' 
 
70 JUDAH^S LION. 
 
 ' Surely : that is, if I am better informed myself 
 ' Why, then, I happened to get a peep just now 
 into the captain's cabin ; and there, to my surprise, I 
 saw what my friend Charley would call an ugly over- 
 dressed little doll, with a lamp before it, though the 
 sun shone brightly on its tinselled petticoats. Now, 
 as I know there are no children on board except this 
 young gentleman, I am puzzled ; and half afraid we 
 are under the command of a person not right in his 
 mind.' 
 
 Mrs. Ryan coloured very deeply, and before she 
 could speak, Charley cried out, ' Oh, that ugly doll is 
 the Virgin Mary.' 
 
 * Hush, hush, my love, not so loud,' said his mo- 
 ther. * Unhappily, Mr. Cohen, your surmise is so 
 far correct that the captain, and probably all his crew, 
 are possessed with the spiritual madness of idol-wor- 
 ship. Did you not see something of it in Malta.' 
 
 ' Yes, but not like this,* replied Alick, his counte- 
 nance becoming overcast as his recent perplexities 
 about Christianity suddenly recurred to mind. * I 
 was knocked down in Malta the other day for not 
 taking off my hat to a bit of biscuit ; and if they re- 
 quire me to show any respect to the doll, I am in 
 a fair way of being knocked overboard ; for do it I 
 won't.' 
 
 Charley laughed, and rubbing his hands : ' That's 
 right, Mr. Alfred; we are Protestant boys, ain't we 
 mamma V 
 
 Say Alick, not Alfred, my lad : or I shall suffer 
 martyrdom under a wrong name.' 
 
 Mrs. Ryan looked sad : ^ Martyrdom has indeed 
 
JUD All's LION. 71 
 
 been the lot of many and many a one who, hke you^ 
 protested against these fearful idolatries ; but who 
 shall find grace to be a martyr in the spirit of Him 
 through whom alone we can conquer not only the fear 
 of temporal, but the powder of eternal death V 
 
 ' Well, ma'am, at any rate I am glad we agree in 
 detesting these things. Now, shall I take Charley 
 on deck 1 remembering that you are to be of our party 
 to-morrow/ 
 
 After many thanks, he was allowed to depart, and 
 Charley, who seemed in riotous spirits, amused him 
 so much that he soon forgot his vexation, for such it 
 really was. He exceedingly liked Mrs. Ryan, and 
 wished to be sociable ; but this idol- worship among 
 Christians was a continual check on his warm feel- 
 ings. He hated it with a Jewish hatred, grounded 
 on his apprehension of the divine Being, as set forth 
 in the writings of Moses ; and he could not believe 
 that two parties professing the same faith, really dif- 
 fered so irreconcileably on the most vital point as he 
 found the Romanists and Protestants seemed to do. 
 He resolved to pump Charley to the utmost ; but the 
 little boy, like all children, had his frolicsome moods ; 
 but what with his droll remarks, enriched by a pretty 
 brogue, his innocent questions about all that he saw, 
 and the romping play that required no small atten- 
 tion to keep him from danger, he put any serious dis- 
 course out of the question. Alick, too, was both boy- 
 ish and light-hearted ; so the whole time would have 
 been lost, had not the appearance of Josef Ben-Mel- 
 chor with his face turned towards Jerusalem, and 
 
72 
 
 evidently praying in that direction, recalled the old 
 train of thought too forcibly to be repressed. 
 
 ' Charley, Charley,' cried Alick, as the Jew moved 
 off, ' come here ; be quiet, do, for a moment, and tell 
 me again those two lines you repeated in the morning.' 
 
 « What two hues ?' 
 
 * About the cedars waving on Lebanon.' 
 
 The right chord was touched ; Charley sprang on 
 his knee, threw his arm, as before, round his neck, 
 and shaking his head from side to side, as he sorrow- 
 fully looked in his friend's face, slowly chanted 
 
 ' The Cedars wave on Lebanon, 
 But Judah's statelier maids are gone.* 
 
 * Where did you learn that, Charley ?' 
 
 * I'll tell you. There was a meeting for the Jews, 
 you know, in Cork, and so we went to it. Papa was 
 making a speech, and he said those lines, and some 
 more to them ; and some ladies cried ; and I thought 
 them so pretty, I asked papa to teach them to me. I 
 was but a little thing then,' added Charley, with an 
 important look, ' and didn't know much : so papa 
 talked a deal to me about the Jews ; and ever since 
 I have been studying, that I might be a missionary to 
 the poor dear Jews.' 
 
 ' And how long ago was that, Mr. Missionary ?' 
 
 * A great long time ; almost a year. Papa and 
 mamma were abroad before that ; and now they are 
 abroad again, and I too.' 
 
 ' Is your papa a clergyman V 
 
 ' Oh, no ; he is a half-pay officer.' 
 
 * How odd !' thought Alick. ^ Here's an officer go- 
 ing out to look after us, and a six-year old, by way of 
 
73 
 
 a missionary, to preach to us. Well, Charley, can 
 you repeat any more lines V 
 
 ' Not all. Mamma says a bad man wrote them, 
 and she would rather I learned a hymn : but I'll tell 
 you the last verse — it is so sad, and so pretty !' And 
 then with a wild sort of pathos he recited it : — 
 
 * But we must wander witheringly, 
 
 In other lands to die ; 
 And where our fathers' ashes be 
 
 Our own must never lie ; 
 Our temple hath not left a stone ; 
 And mockery stands on Salem's throne !' 
 
 * Pho ! pho!' said Alick, hastily turning his head 
 away, as if to deny to himself that the tear which 
 was ready to start could have been called up by a few 
 lines of poetry repeated by a child. 
 
 ' Why then, Mr. Alick, its a shame of you to say 
 pho ! pho ! and you a Jew. Ah ! but it's all truth, 
 for the Lord Jesus said they would not leave one stone 
 upon another in the temple that shouldn't be thrown 
 down ; and down they all came ; and Jerusalem, — • 
 and— and — oh, the wicked cruel Turks do mock the 
 poor Jews, when they go on a Friday to sit and weep 
 under a broken bit of the old wall : so that's mockery 
 on Salem's throne, isn't it V 
 
 ' What fairy-tale have you been reading V 
 
 ' I never read fairy-tales : the poor Papists at home 
 believe in fairies, but I know better.' 
 
 ' Perhaps the Captain's doll is a fairy, Charles?' 
 
 ^ No, it's the Virgin Mary — they call her the mother 
 of God.' 
 
 ' They he 1' exclaimed Ahck, vehemently. 
 
 7 
 
74 
 
 ^ So they do : she wasn't the mother of God, how 
 could she be ? she was the mother of Jesus.' 
 
 * Yet you said in the morning that Jesus was God.' 
 
 ' He is God, and he is man,' said Charles, firmly : 
 * and Mary was his mother when he was made man : 
 but as God, he could not have a mother.' 
 
 ' Well, I do wonder to hear such a slip of a boy 
 talk like an old bishop in a wig.' 
 
 'I was taught it, Mr. Alick, as soon as I could 
 think at all ; for, you see, there's lots of Popery at our 
 place, near Cork ; and papa and mamma always talk 
 to the poor people about their foolish religion ; so I 
 heard it every day almost, and I must be stupid in- 
 deed not to know it before now.' 
 
 Here there was a pause. Charley had become as 
 grave and as intellectual looking as ever, and seemed 
 perfectly ready for any discussion ; but Alick knew 
 not what to say to him. All on a sudden he saw his 
 father's head emerging from below, as he slowly as- 
 cended the ladder ; so after an exclamation of surprise, 
 he whispered to Charley, in a very decided tone, 
 ' Now don't say one single word about any of these 
 things before that gentleman — my father — or you will 
 make him very angry ; and then perhaps I shan't 
 play with you any more.' 
 
 Wondering, and half frightened, the little boy looked 
 up, expecting to see a very alarming person ; but Mr. 
 Cohen, delighted to find his son in such safe company, 
 smiled on him, patted his head, and began to talk 
 very pleasantly to him, while Alick admired his dis- 
 creet rephes, when questioned about his parents, his 
 
judah's lion. 7^' 
 
 destination, and so forth. ^ We must show some at- 
 tention to his mother,' said Mr. Cohen. 
 
 AHck assented ; related the adventure of the desk, 
 and then led to other topics. 
 
 When night closed, and he was alone, on his tem- 
 porary couch, looking up to the cloudless sky with its 
 myriad lamps, he recalled the events of the day, and 
 regretted the unsatisfactory close of his conversations 
 with little Charley. He thought again and again of 
 the sealed book, that none could open hut the Lion 
 of the tribe of Judah ; and heartily did he wish for 
 the lamp that was so idly flaming before the Cap- 
 tain's idol. Suddenly, he recollected that the strict 
 rules of a man-of-war did not apply to such vessels as 
 the one he was in ; and going to the helmsman he 
 inquired in Italian, if he might have the use of a light. 
 He was directed where to find a lantern, and securing 
 it to the ship's side against which he lay, he opened 
 at the book of Revelation, and read the first Rve 
 chapters ; than which the whole Bible does not con- 
 tain a more awakening, encouraging, instructive por- 
 tion. Its unmeasured sublimity enraptured him : he 
 did not, he would not admit it as of divine authority, 
 and had the book been his own, he would gladly have 
 it torn from between the covers that enclosed the 
 writings of Moses and the Prophets ; but though the 
 word, not being mixed with faith, did not then profit 
 him savingly, it impressed him more than any thing 
 he had ever before read. He was much struck by the 
 expression, " He that is holy, he that is true ; he that 
 hath the key of David ; he that openeth, and no man 
 shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth." It 
 
76 judah's lion. 
 
 was evident to Alick that this passage fully sanctioned 
 little Charley's doctrine of the key of heaven, even 
 more than the text the child had referred to in the 
 first chapter. The very wrong translation into 
 *' beasts " in the fourth chapter, of what should be 
 rendered " living creatures," perplexed him ; but the 
 fifth almost conquered his unbelief, so strongly did he 
 feel impelled to join in the ascription of praise to " the 
 Lion of the tribe of Judah," the " Lamb as it had 
 been slain." Again and again he read that chapter; 
 then, pressing the closed book to his forehead as he 
 laid himself down, he mentally said, ^ If I could fan- 
 cy, like Gordon, that all these things are true, and 
 that they concerned me, how little should I care 
 which way the world went with me ! If, like Char- 
 ley, I was sure that I had a friend in him who keeps 
 the key to all these glorious sights and sounds, it 
 would be a small matter by what sort of a road I was 
 proceeding towards such a home. Well ; every part 
 of this book that I have read lulls me like soft nmsic ; 
 and I'll read it oftener, particularly at night' He 
 soon slept, and his first waking thought was of the 
 promised visit of Mrs. Ryan on deck. 
 
 Mr. Cohen felt unwell ; the sea never agreed with 
 him — and Alick had his friends to himself He found 
 the lady had been a traveller, as Charley had told 
 him before ; and in that quarter too ; and from her 
 he gained a good deal of information respecting the 
 places he was about to visit. At length, Jerusalem 
 was named, and he inquired whether she had been 
 there. 
 
 ' I have not ; but my husband has twice, 1 do 
 
JUDAH*S LION. 77 
 
 humbly hope in the spirit of his blessed Master, " be- 
 held the city, and wept over it." Jerusalem is indeed 
 a desolation, and Zion trodden under foot.' 
 
 ' Pardon me, but may I ask to whom you alluded 
 as being Captain Ryan's master? ' 
 
 The lady and her child both answered in the same 
 breath, ^ Jesus Christ.' 
 
 ^ Did he weep over Jerusalem ? why ? surely it was 
 not desolate in his time.' 
 
 Here was a leading question from a Jew ! Mrs. 
 Ryan closed her eyes, and her lip moved in secret 
 prayer ; but before she could speak, Charley thrust 
 his hand into the little pocket of his stuff frock-coat, 
 and with great bustle drew out a small Testament, 
 saying, ^ I'll show you why he wept, and what he 
 said.' 
 
 ' What is that little book?' 
 
 ' The New Testament : it's the same you have got 
 in your Bible.' 
 
 ' They ought never to be separate,' observed Mrs. 
 Ryan ; while Alick, in his heart, thought they should 
 never have been joined together. Charley soon found 
 the words his mother had referred to, " And when he 
 was come near, he beheld the city and wept over it. 
 saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this 
 thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace ! but 
 now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall 
 come upon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench 
 about thee, and compass thee in on every side, and 
 shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children 
 within thee ; and they shall not leave in thee one 
 
 7* 
 
78 
 
 JUD All's LION. 
 
 stone upon another ; because thou knewest not the 
 time of thy visitation " 
 
 AHck had spontaneously taken the httle fellow on 
 his knee, as soon as he opened the book ; and while 
 Charley read aloud and pointed as usual, along the 
 lines, he closely marked every letter of every word. 
 Mrs. Ryan gazed on them, as well she might ; for it 
 was a lovely spectacle. The child's soft, rosy cheek 
 almost rested on the dark clear olive of his com- 
 panion's : the golden locks shone as they mingled 
 with Alick's raven clusters ; and when, at the close 
 of the passage, Charley raised his eyes, of the mildest 
 hazel, yet remarkably strong and bold in their expres- 
 sion, to meet the keen, eagle-gaze of the young Jew, 
 whose jet black eyes sparkled with eagerness to gather 
 all the information his little teacher could impart, her 
 heart yearned over them, and she inwardly pleaded 
 with the King of the Jews that immutable word, re- 
 specting his loved, but wandering Israel, " Even so 
 have these also now not believed, that through your 
 mercy they also may obtain mercy." She recalled 
 the hour when the little one, resting on his father's 
 knee, had made his first request to be brought up, ' a 
 Missionary to the Jews :' she remembered that to 
 deepen the feelings of his young heart towards Israel, 
 they had decided on making him the companion of 
 their present voluntary labour in that glorious cause : 
 and she owned, in the depth of a grateful heart, that 
 her babe was at that moment exercising the office to 
 which they had looked forward on his behalf through 
 a long vista of years. 
 
 ^You see, Mr. Alick,' said Charley, "what the 
 
JUDAHS LION. 79 
 
 Lord said : and that was ever so many years before 
 the wicked Romans destroyed Jerusalem, and every 
 word came true.' 
 
 ' It certainly did,' answered Alick : ' and if really 
 spoken before the event, it was a remarkable pro- 
 phecy. But now, Charley, I'll puzzle you. You told 
 me this Jesus was God : if so, he had power to prevent 
 the ruin of our city ; and if he had the will to prevent 
 it, why did he not ? and if he did not choose to hinder 
 its destruction, why did he weep about it?' 
 
 Charley looked sadly at a loss : and Alick smiled 
 at his supposed easy victory. Stroking the child's face, 
 he was going to say something playful, but Charley 
 hastily said, ' No, no, don't laugh. I know that it is 
 all true ; but ask Mamma, and she will tell you how 
 it is all true.' 
 
 Alick looked at Mrs. Ryan, who remarked, ' I will 
 refer Mr. Cohen to the Prophets for a solution of the 
 difficulty, if he has his Bible here ;' and he produced 
 it immediately. She showed him first Ezekiel xxxiii. 
 10, 1 1. " Therefore, O thou Son of. Man, speak unto 
 the house of Israel, thus ye speak, saying. If our trans- 
 gressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away 
 in them, how should we then live ? Say unto them, 
 as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in 
 the death of the wicked ; but that the wicked turn 
 from his way and live : Turn ye, turn ye from your 
 evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" 
 Then turning to Luke xiii. 34, she made him read, 
 " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, 
 and stonest them that are sent unto thee ; how often 
 would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen 
 
80 judah's lion. 
 
 doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would 
 not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate: 
 and verily I say unto you, you shall not see me, until 
 the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that 
 Cometh in the name of the Lord." When he con- 
 cluded, she asked, ' Do you not perceive an agreement 
 between the various passages we have looked at ?' 
 
 ^ Why, yes, I do. Here is a declaration that God 
 is unwilling the house of Israel should die ; and to 
 prevent it, he bids them turn from their evil ways — 
 I suppose because justice required their punishment 
 if they did not. Then, in the other place, we find 
 one, who according to you is God, lamenting that 
 tliey had finally refused to obey his call. So the 
 punishment, I suppose, was inevitable.* 
 
 * And would not he, who had implored them to 
 turn that they might live, be grieved that they had, 
 by refusing to the last, compelled him to smite them?' 
 
 Alick was silent : pride, equally with unbelief, was 
 striving against the humbling truth ; but Mrs. Ryan 
 saw him slyly turning down the edges of the leaves at 
 the different passages, and rejoiced to think he would 
 study them when alone. At last he spoke : 
 
 ' Pray don't think me rude, or ungrateful for your 
 kind wish to teach me : but I cannot see these things 
 as you do, and I won't be a hypocrite.' 
 
 ^ You must pray,' said Charley, ' and say as king 
 David did, " Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold 
 wondrous things out of thy law." ' 
 
 ^ How do you know that king David said so V 
 
 ' Here it is, Psalm cxix. 18 ;' and Alick marked 
 that also. 
 
judah's lion. B1 
 
 The sun was now near setting, and sonie tittle stir 
 w^as made on deck, which attracted their attention : 
 the captain took the hehii ; the crew gathered round, 
 one man heing employed in mending a sail, others 
 picking oakum, splicing a rope, and such like inci- 
 dental occupations, or leaning on the ship's side ; 
 while two cahin-boys placed themselves at a little 
 distance. All at once they broke out into a beautiful 
 chaunt, the deep mellow bass of the men being 
 answered by the sweet soprano of the two boys ; and 
 altogether the effect was equally fine as unexpected. 
 Alick, who delighted in music, would have listened 
 with unmixed pleasure, had not the expression of Mrs. 
 Ryan's countenance informed him that she was 
 greatly pained: he attended to catch the words, 
 which were Latin ; and quickly made out their pur- 
 port. It was the Litany of Loretto. 
 
 Happily, perhaps, for Alick, his father had been 
 attracted by those harmonious sounds, and came on 
 deck just as his passion was rising. He at once saw 
 the danger of provoking any rebuke, as Mrs. Ryan 
 would surely take part with him, and so lead to ano- 
 ther prohibition. He therefore turned to the sea, 
 leaning over the bulwarks, where he sat, and feasting 
 his eyes on the glorious splendors of a Mediterranean 
 sunset. The lofty sky, unblemished by a single cloud ; 
 the bright orb sinking to rest in its majestic beauty ; 
 the sparkling sea, strewn as it were with diamonds 
 on a surface of the purest blue ; and far distant, some 
 dark rocky outlines just varying the horizontal line ; 
 while vessels, like white sea-birds, gleamed here and 
 there to give hfe to all the loveliness around them — 
 
82 
 
 this was the view, calculated to fill his heart with 
 high imaginations of the divine power, if not with 
 thankful acknowledgments of divine love, while de- 
 spite himself, his ear drank in the sounds of base, 
 degrading, idolatrous worship, ascribing to a creature, 
 to a woman, the attributes of Deity itself The pre- 
 fatory anthem was sung; 'We fly to thy patronage, 
 O holy mother of God, despise not our petitions in 
 our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O 
 ever-glorious and blessed Virgin!' &c. <kc. 
 
 Then followed some supplicatory sentences, run 
 over with incredible volubility, and next the famous 
 string of blasphemous titles, chaunted forth by the 
 captain, each being answered by the ' Ora pro Nobis' 
 of the rest. Alick heard them all as follows. ' Holy 
 Mary — Holy Mother of God — Holy Virgin of virgins 
 — Mother of Christ — Mother of divine grace — Mother 
 most pure — Mother most chaste — Mother undefiled — 
 Mother inviolate — Mother most amiable — Mother 
 most adorable — mother of our creator — Mother of 
 our Redeemer — Virgin most prudent — Virgin most 
 venerable — Virgin most renowned — Virgin most pow- 
 erful — Virgin most merciful — Virgin most faithful — 
 Mirror of Justice — Seat of wisdom — Cause of our joy 
 — Spiritual vessel — Vessel of honour — Vessel of sin- 
 gular devotion — Mystical rose — Tower of David — 
 Tower of Ivory — House of gold — ark of the covenant 
 — Gate of heaven — morning star — Health of the 
 weak — refuge of sinners — Comfort of the afflicted — 
 Help of Christians — dueen of angels — Q,ueen of pa- 
 triarchs — Glueen of prophets — Glueen of apostles — 
 dueen of martyrs — Q,ueen of confessors — Glueen of 
 
JUDAH S LION. 83 
 
 virgins — Queen of all saints,' — and between each still 
 came the melodious chorus, ' Ora pro Nobis !' 
 
 ' Christianity!' thought Alick, " What kind of hea- 
 thenism can be more degrading than this? A Chris- 
 tian I never will be, so to dishonour and blaspheme 
 Him whose hand spread out all this watery expanse 
 around me, and stretched yonder blue arch over me, 
 and is now guiding that bright orb to enlighten another 
 hemisphere, and then to revisit us again. God of my 
 father! keep me from such a sin!' He raised his 
 eyes, and met those of Josef, who was evidently watch- 
 ing him ; and Avho, turning a look of supreme con- 
 tempt on the group, with a special glance at Mrs. 
 Ryan, muttered in a whisper, " Such are they all ! 
 Not content with worshipping the crucified, they give 
 divine glory to the woman his mother, the fishermen 
 his followers, and to every knave who has helped to 
 spread the lie among them.' He then walked away ; 
 but his remark had affected Alick diflerently from 
 what he intended. Conscience told him that Mrs. 
 Ryan certainly dissented, as cordially as he did, from 
 these idolatries, and that they ought not to be charged 
 upon her individually. He rather inchned to think 
 that there was a small body whose natural sense 
 enabled them to throw off the grosser parts of the 
 general system, which, from the countenance given 
 to it in Malta, he concluded to be that of acknowledged 
 Christianity. He came to the resolution of fairly and 
 unreservedly talking the matter out with Mrs. Ryan, 
 and as they expected to be yet five days at sea, he 
 hoped for sufficient time to do it. Meantime, his 
 father had entered into conversation with that lady, in 
 
84 judah's lion. 
 
 reference to the classic Isles of Greece, among which 
 they had to steer their way, and the approach to 
 which had roused his poetical feelings. He found her 
 so well-informed, so agreeable, and so perfectly the 
 lady, that on parting with his son at night, he warmly 
 commended his taste in choosing such society, spoke 
 very slightingly of Ben-Melchor, and gently cautioned 
 Alick to avoid offensively noticing the * harmless 
 absurdities' of the Captain and his crew. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " If any man among you lack wisdom, let him ask 
 of God, who giveth unto all men liberally and upbraid- 
 eth not, and it shall be given him." We are naturally 
 destitute of this heaven-descended wisdom, and habit- 
 ually negligent in asking it. Happy are they who, 
 like Alick Cohen, fall in with a teacher whose con- 
 duct presents an exception to this general rule ! 
 
 Mrs. Ryan had no fixed plan of proceeding with 
 those who, in the course of events, were brought be- 
 fore her : she knew that each one is a little world in 
 himself, with many distinctive peculiarities in his 
 character, views, circumstances, which render it im- 
 possible for the eye of a casual observer to penetrate 
 the veil of outward conformity to the habits of those 
 about him. Accordingly she was accustomed to ask 
 help in studying individuals as such : and direction in 
 dealing with them. She had closely watched Alick, 
 during their brief interviews, and remarked in him 
 that freshness of feeling, and energy of thought, which 
 are always delightful to deal with, when the person 
 seeking to do good is not cramped by rules, and fet- 
 tered to systems. She had marked his ill-suppressed 
 emotion when listening to the blasphemous Litany, 
 and rejoiced that her task was not to rouse a cold in- 
 different mindj but to direct into the right path one 
 
 8 
 
86 
 
 evidently on tlie stir, and perplexed by the crossings 
 that beset his way. Thought and prayer brought her 
 to the decision that she ought to take into her own 
 hands what httle Charley had begun, and when they 
 met on deck the following day, she lost no time in 
 commencing. 
 
 ' Well, Mr. Cohen, have your thoughts been travel- 
 ling with the ship, eastward, towards the land of your 
 fathers V 
 
 ^ Indeed, Ma'am, they have. You must know that 
 yesterday, I marked down several of the passages that 
 you directed me to when we were talking ; indeed, 
 all of them: and I have been reading them over, 
 with a great deal besides. I got little sleep last night, 
 what with poring over, and pondering on the Bible.' 
 
 * Then you will know the blessedness of which king 
 David speaks,' remarked Mrs. Ryan, turning to the 
 first Psalm. ' See his description of the happy man : 
 " His delight is in the law of the Lord ; in his law 
 doth he meditate, day and night." What is the result 
 of your study?' 
 
 ' I have found out that I am very ignorant' 
 
 * I rejoice to hear it, my dear young friend. When 
 God is about to teach his children, he begins by shew- 
 ing them how greatly they need such instruction. 
 But on what point is your ignorance made so mani- 
 fest?' 
 
 ' On every point connected with this book ; but 
 chiefly as it concerns my ov^ti people, who seem to be 
 the main subject of it ; for I cannot turn over two 
 leaves without meeting with the words Israel, Zion, 
 and so forth. I have heard it whispered to my father,' 
 
judah's lion. 87 
 
 he added, smiling, ^ that reading the Bible would make 
 me a Christian : it is more likely to make me doubly 
 a Jew.' 
 
 ' My dear husband would be delighted to hear you 
 say that. He is very jealous for the nationality of 
 your race, and asserts that a Jew who embraces 
 Christianity is three times a Jew. An Israelite ac- 
 cording to the flesh, an Israelite according to the 
 faith, and an Israelite according to the territorial 
 promise.' 
 
 ' I am not going to embrace Christianity,' said 
 Alick, colouring : ' but please to tell me what you 
 mean by the territorial promise V 
 
 ' The unrevoked, unrevoke able assurance given to 
 Abraham, that his seed should possess the land of 
 Canaan as an inheritance for ever. An assurance 
 confirmed by the pen of prophets and apostles, and 
 the fulfilment of which it is sinful to doubt.' 
 
 ' Then you think we shall, as a people, re-possess 
 Judea V 
 
 ' I should hesitate to say that I think we are now 
 at sea, because I positively know that we are : in like 
 manner, though not by sight but by faith, I know you 
 will again, as a nation, inherit the land, and that your 
 Jerusalem shall be a praise in the whole earth.' 
 
 ' Now tell me, Mrs. Ryan,' said Alick earnestly, 
 ^ how comes it that while you evidently look upon us 
 as a people specially blessed, once the chief of the 
 nations, though now so fallen and obscured — while 
 you hold our book of the law, prize it, and frame your 
 religion on it, you should still desire us to forsake that 
 religion? You, as Gentiles, cannot become Jews; 
 
88 judah's lion. 
 
 why do you wish to make the Jew a Gentile ? — for, 
 put it how you will, Christianity is a Gentile religion, 
 and therefore we cannot adopt it without forfeiting 
 our privileges as Jews. Now, pardon me if what I 
 say offends you, — I read this book at the persuasion 
 of Gentiles, or at least by their example and through 
 their means : I read passages of your own pointing 
 out ; and because I felt deeply, ay, personally inter- 
 ested in them, I read many a page besides. Hours 
 and hours I read ; and when I show you what I read, 
 you cannot blame me for wondering how you, who 
 know the book so well, should expect me, after study- 
 ing it even for a few hours, to descend — that is, I 
 mean — to remove from my place, as a descendant of 
 Abraham — an Israelite/ 
 
 He spoke the last word emphatically, and proceeded 
 to turn over the leaves of his Bible : his hand trem- 
 bled, and the flashing of his eyes was singularly 
 bright. Mrs. Ryan spoke not a word, but gazed on 
 him with delighted interest, pressing little Charley 
 closer to her bosom, who, seated on her lap, had 
 become drowsy till the altered tone of A lick's voice 
 roused him, and he too looked and listened. The 
 passage was found, Alick smiled triumphantly, lifted 
 the book, threw back his head, and with a highly 
 poetic effect read aloud these words, ' " Arise ! shine ! 
 for thy light is come ; and the glory of the Lord is 
 risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall 
 cover the earth, and gross darkness the people : but 
 the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be 
 seen upon thee." To whom is this addressed, Mrs. 
 Ryan?' 
 
judah's lion. 89 
 
 ' To the Jewish church, unquestionably.' 
 
 AUck smiled again, and resumed; ^"And the 
 Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the 
 brightness of thy rising." It proceeds in the same 
 strain ; thus, '* And the sons of strangers shall build 
 up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee : 
 for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have 
 I had mercy on thee. Therefore thy gates shall be 
 open continually ; they shall not be shut day nor 
 night ; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the 
 Gentiles ; and that their kings may be brought. For 
 the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall 
 perish ; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted." 
 Again, " The sons also of them that afflicted thee 
 shall come bending unto thee ; and they that despised 
 thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy 
 feet ; and they shall call the city of the Lord ; the Zion 
 of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas thou hast been 
 forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, 
 I will make thee an eternal excellency, the joy of 
 many generations. Thou shalt also suck the milk of 
 the Gentiles ; and shalt suck the breast of kings : and 
 .thou shalt know that I am thy Saviour, and thy Re- 
 deemer, the Mighty one of Jacob." Has this ever 
 been fulfilled, Mrs. Ryan V 
 
 ' Never.' 
 
 ^ Will it be?' 
 
 ' As surely as yonder sun shall rise upon us to-mor- 
 row, it will be fulfilled, literally, abundantly fulfilled 
 to Israel.' 
 
 He look steadily at her, and she met his proud gaze 
 with one of affection and humility : then after a mo- 
 
 8* 
 
90 judah's lion. 
 
 merit's silence said, ' Will you listen patiently to me 
 for a few minutes, while I strive to explain our seem- 
 ing inconsistencies V 
 
 ' I will indeed, ma,am ; and I hope that in showing 
 you how I must cherish this great privilege of being a 
 Jew, I have not been disrespectful or rude to you.' 
 
 'Far from it: I bless God even the God of Abra- 
 ham that he puts it in your heart to value these pre- 
 cious words. But now to my statement : you are 
 aware that Abraham was called out of his own country 
 and blessed, and had two special promises made to 
 him. One was, that his children should possess the 
 whole land of Canaan and inherit it for ever ; the 
 other, that in his seed should all the families of the 
 earth be blessed. These promises were confirmed to 
 Isaac, then to Jacob ; with the further intimation that, 
 of his twelve sons, Judah was one of whose lineage 
 the promised seed, the Messiah, the Deliverer and 
 King of the whole earth should come. After a long 
 while, Canaan was conquered, and divided among the 
 twelve tribes, and they, in process of time became 
 two kingdoms, known as the kingdoms of Judah and 
 Israel.' 
 
 * Pardon me for interrupting you ; but in what his- 
 torical work can I find all these particulars V 
 
 ' In the book you hold in your hand : I will show 
 you everything distinctly set forth. Judah and Ben- 
 jamin united, formed the kingdom of Judah ; the other 
 ten who had first revolted, soon fell into idolatry, and 
 after much sinful rebellion against the Lord, they were 
 given into the hand of the Assyrian, carried away cap- 
 tive, and so scattered among the nations that scarcely 
 
91 
 
 a vestige visibly remains of tliem at this day. Ju- 
 dah, notwithstanding this fearful example, continued 
 to sin in like manner, and was given up to the Baby- 
 lonians, who destroyed the Temple of Solomon, broke 
 down the walls of Jerusalem, and carried Judah away 
 captive into Babylon, where they remained seventy 
 years. They were then res^pred ; that is to say, Judah, 
 with a few individuals from among Ephraim, as the 
 ten tribes are called ; the temple rebuilt, and for five 
 hundred years the Jews repossessed their land, never 
 again relapsing into idolatry, which had caused their 
 chastisment. At length, the most dreadful calamities 
 overtook them ; and after a long period of oppression 
 under the Roman yoke, they were slaughtered, or car- 
 ried away captive ; the city razed, the land laid waste, 
 and for nearly eighteen hundred years has Judah been 
 an outcast ; not mingled and lost among other people, 
 like the ten tribes, but miraculously preserved, to be 
 restored and re-established in the sight of the whole 
 world by the arm of their Jehovah ; who will also col- 
 lect and bring in together the scattered tribes of Israel. 
 This is what we may call the political history of 
 Israel — the national experience, past and to come, of 
 God's faithfulness in the promise of the land. Now 
 we arrive at another branch of the subject : the pro- 
 mise that in Abraham's seed, in the progeny of Isaac, 
 Jacob, Judah, should all families of the earth be blessed. 
 " The great object for which your nation was so 
 set apart, was, that they might be the depositories of 
 God's word, treasuring up his prophecies, that in their 
 fulfilment he might be openly glorified. Laws were 
 given, and rites were appointed, every one of which 
 
92 judah's lion. 
 
 was calculated in a lively manner to keep the atten- 
 tion of the people fixed on the one great object, the 
 promised seed, the Messiah, whose office it was to 
 make atonement to God for the sins of men, offering 
 a sacrifice that would be a sufficient substitute for the 
 guilty sinners whose misdeeds had forfeited their souls, 
 and who stood exposed to the just wrath of God. In 
 this sense he was to be a deliverer, a blessing to all 
 the families of the earth ; and winning back the world 
 from Satan, he would be acknowledged as universal 
 king — in an especial manner king of the Jews, of 
 whom, after the flesh, he should come : the promised 
 seed of Abraham, as to immediate Hebrew descent ; 
 and also the promised seed of the woman — Eve — the 
 mother of all flesh. God, having set apart the chil- 
 dren of Israel, and mightily delivered them out of 
 bondage, and made them an independent nation^ 
 miraculously inspired their leader Moses, to write 
 down the marvellous history of the creation, of man's 
 sin, of the promised seed who should bruise the ser- 
 pent's head, and of all his marvellous dealings, from 
 the beginning of the world to that time ; with a dis- 
 tinct prophecy of one who was to come, a prophet like 
 unto Moses, to whom they were to give heed at the 
 peril of their souls. Thenceforth the voice of prophecy 
 ceased not through many ages, always testifying of 
 him who was to come ; and showing plainly that his 
 work was the redemption of man by the sacrifice of 
 himself; after which he should again come, no longer 
 a sorrowful victim, but a majestic rejoicing conqueror, 
 to destroy his stubborn foes, and to reign gloriously 
 for ever. Satan, the great enemy of God and man, 
 
93 
 
 knowing how intimately all these things were inters 
 woven with the destiny of Israel in particular, never 
 ceased to tempt them to every kind of provocation 
 against the Lord, hoping thereby to frustrate his gra- 
 cious purposes. Knowing idolatry to be of all things 
 the most abominably and outrageously insulting to the 
 Most High God, he especially tempted Israel to that 
 crime : and when, after the return from Babylon, he 
 found them proof against it, he chose another snare — 
 he led them so to add to the oracles of God, which 
 they dared not alter, that by the traditions, the inter- 
 polations, the vain superstitious ordinances of man, 
 they made it vain ; the pure tenor of prophecy was 
 no longer understood ; and when their Messiah, — him 
 to whom gave all the prophets witness, — came ex- 
 actly at the appointed time, and exactly in the ap- 
 pointed way, as foreshown by Isaiah, David, and other 
 prophets, they knew him not — they rejected, they 
 crucified him. For this deadly sin they were driven 
 forth from their goodly heritage, scattered among all 
 nations, and exposed to the wrath of God, until they 
 shall turn to him who smites them, and casting from 
 them the vain traditions of men, believe the word of 
 God, as declared by their own inspired prophets, and 
 acknowledge the Saviour who once sufiered for them, 
 who shall again come to reign over them — their own 
 Messiah, their King, their God !' 
 
 During this long address, — which was uttered from 
 an overflowing heart, with all the animation of one 
 whose long pent-up feelings have at last found vent, — 
 Alick listened with a depth of earnest attention im- 
 possible to describe. For some time he kept his eyes 
 
94 judah's lion. 
 
 steadily fixed on the speaker ; but as he proceeded, 
 they sunk to the book which he held still open ; and 
 unconsciously he took in the purport of a verse on 
 which they fell, just preceding what he had read, — 
 " And he saw that there was no man, and wondered 
 that there was no intercessor ; therefore his arm 
 brought salvation unto him, and his righteousness it 
 sustained him." Alick shut the book, and continued 
 gazing on the cover, till Mrs. Ryan concluded. After 
 a short silence, he said, without looking up, ' Then you 
 think we shall not recover our own land unless we be- 
 come Christians V 
 
 ' I do not say so,' replied Mrs. Ryan : ^ the word of 
 prophecy rather leads me to think your people will na- 
 tionally repossess it in their present state ; but enjoy 
 it you never can, nor will you be left in peace, or know 
 an hour of real prosperity or happiness, until you turn 
 to the Lord Jesus, acknowledge him, mourn your own 
 sin, and rejoice in his salvation.' 
 
 * But suppose we never do this?' 
 
 ' Oh you will, you will!' exclaimed little Charles, 
 almost in a scream ; ' look in your Bible, Mr. Alick ; 
 look at the twelfth chapter of Zechariah, the tenth 
 verse — here, I'll find it for you.' He did so, and Alick 
 read, — " And I will pour upon the house of David and 
 upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace 
 and of supplication ; and they shall look upon me 
 whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for 
 him as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in 
 bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his 
 firstborn." And now just look at the thirty-sixth of 
 Ezekiel, the twenty-third vers« ; " And I will sanctify 
 
JUD All's LION. 95 
 
 my great name, wlilcli was profaned among the hea- 
 then, which ye have profaned in the midst of them ; 
 and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith 
 the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before 
 their eyes. For I will take you from among the hea- 
 then, and gather you out of all countries, and I will 
 bring you into your own land. Then" oh, mind that, 
 Mr. Alick — " then will I sprinkle clean water upon 
 you, and ye shall be clean : from all your filthiness 
 and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new 
 heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put 
 within you ; and I will take away the stony heart out 
 of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 
 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to 
 walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments 
 and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I 
 gave to your fathers ; and ye shall be my people, and 
 I will be your God." There, what do you say to 
 that?' asked the little fellow, triumphantly; and 
 Alickj in the attempt to answer, while stroking the 
 dimpled hand that pointed out the blessed words, burst 
 into tears. 
 
 Charley jumped on his knee, and kissing away the 
 drops as they fell, said, ^ My own darling Jew, Jesus 
 Christ loves you.' 
 
 ^ I think,' said Alick, as, smiling, he passed his hand 
 over his forehead, ^my night's study has been too 
 much for my nerves, idle truant as I have long proved 
 myself You see, Charley, I am a naughty boy, hav- 
 ing neglected my books ever since I was at school ; 
 and now I am no better than an overgrown baby.' 
 
 * No, no,' said Charles gravely, ' it is not that. You 
 
96 judah's lion. 
 
 are going to enter the kingdom of heaven; and so 
 you are become as a little child." And then he bustled 
 over the leaves, and showed him our Lord's words. 
 
 ' The things you have said to me, Ma'am,' said 
 Alick, * are really quite overpowering to the mind. 
 So many matters, new and strange, and important, are 
 contained in your statement that I really don't know 
 what to say or think. I only wish I was half as wise 
 as this little oracle,' clasping Charley to him, with a 
 look so full of affection, that Mrs. Ryan thought she 
 had never seen a more fascinating countenance. 
 * Look, my dear young friend,' she suddenly said, in 
 a low voice, ^ yonder is one of your nation, a rigid 
 Talmudist, who holds those blinding additions and 
 commandments of men, to the exclusion of the light 
 that would shine upon him from this glorious word. 
 He is now, no doubt, engaged in some work of sup- 
 posed merit ; and while scorning the idolatry of the 
 poor Romanists whom you heard last evening at their 
 degrading creature-worship, he is wrapped in the same 
 net that entangles them — obedience to man, rather 
 than to God.' 
 
 ' Does Ben-Melchor admit the divine authority o 
 this book. Ma'am?' 
 
 ' Of the Old Testament fully. Do you understand 
 Hebrew V 
 
 ^ Yes : I learnt it very young. I can read and 
 speak it.' 
 
 ' Will you take the trouble of fetching me a basket 
 that stands on the table in my cabin V 
 
 Away went Alick ; and Mrs. Ryan, catching Char- 
 ley to her bosom, said, 'My love, pray, pray! there 
 
 le 
 
 ■4 
 
JUDAH'S LION. , 07 
 
 is a briglit and blessed hope for this sweet young 
 Israehte.' 
 
 ' Am I your httle Missionary, Mamma? am I?' 
 
 ' Yes you are, vein of my heart! But you must 
 pray for wisdom and boldness, you know.' 
 
 ' How pleased Papa will be, won't he ? but hush, 
 for here comes the darling Jew.' 
 
 Smihng her thanks, Mrs. Ryan took the basket, and 
 unlocking it, produced a beautifully printed copy of the 
 Bible in Hebrew ; which Alick rather seized than 
 took, exclaiming, ' What a splendid type !' and eagerly 
 commenced reading the first verse, with a fluency of 
 pronunciation that delighted Mrs. Ryan ; while 
 Charley cried out with much glee, ' That's the lan- 
 guage they spoke in Eden/ 
 
 ' Accept that book, Mr. Cohen, said his friend ; 
 ' and trust me, Ben-Melchor will not call a word of it 
 in question. Do study it, and with prayer.' 
 
 ^ Dear Madam ! how shall I thank you for such a 
 gift!' 
 
 ' How shall I thank 7/ou, Mr. Cohen, for that pre- 
 cious book? To your nation were committed the 
 oracles of God ; and but for their fidelity to the sacred 
 trust, we Gentiles must have perished. They lost all 
 things, but they kept this ; they have guarded it 
 through the brightest day of prosperity, and the dark- 
 est night of adversity. When Popery would gladly 
 have annihilated such a living witness against her 
 abominable perversions, she could not, for the Jew 
 preserved it : when she would have mutilated and 
 made it speak the language of her own falsehood, she 
 could not, for the Jew protected it. Trust me, Mr. 
 
 9 
 
98 JUDAll's LION. 
 
 Cohen, when a Gentile hands to a Jew that holy and 
 blessed volume, he does but an act of such imperative 
 duty, that the wilful omission would be recorded 
 against his soul. We thank you for the Bible — with 
 our inmost hearts we thank you for the Bible !' 
 
 Mrs. Ryan and Charley now left the deck, and 
 Alick, pocketing both his treasures, walked straight 
 up to Ben-Melchor, who had been standing us usual, 
 with his eyes fixed on the water, muttering rapidly 
 some unintelHgible words. ' Do I interrupt you?' 
 ksked the youth. 
 
 ' No : my hours of study are over till the sun has 
 set.' 
 
 * Would it not be good for your health, sir, to pass 
 more time on deck ? I should grudge as many hours' 
 confinement in a close cabin with this bright sea 
 about me.' 
 
 ' What availeth the body's health, young man, 
 compared with the soul's welfare V 
 
 ' May they not be promoted together, sir ? 1 can 
 hardly think God gave us all these delightful things 
 to turn our backs upon.' 
 
 ' Wisdom is not with youth, but with men of ripened 
 age. Very painful are the studies that fit the soul for 
 blessedness ; and very sore the discipline appointed 
 for mind and body to make us worthy thereof 
 
 Alick thought of becoming as "little children," and 
 felt how dissimilar were the two ways pointed out to 
 him. He resumed, — * Would it be presumptuous to 
 ask the nature of your studies V 
 
 * The law, youth, the holy law, which is given to 
 make us wise.' 
 
JUD All's LION. QQ 
 
 Alick drew forth his Hebrew Bible, and found the 
 first Psalm, from which he read the two first verses. 
 Ben-Melchor looked at him in astonishment, then si- 
 lently, took the book, and examined it with great care: 
 he then closed it, laid it reverently to his lips, pressed 
 it to his bosom, and said in a solemn tone, ' It is a 
 prohibited book.' 
 
 Alick thought the words and actions of his country- 
 man strangely at variance : however, he only asked, 
 * By whom is it prohibited?' 
 
 ' By the Rabbins.' 
 
 ' I have the greatest respect for the Rabbins, but 
 they shall not hinder me from reading this.' 
 
 ' Youth is presumptuous,' remarked the Jew. 
 What authority hast thou for disobeying the Rab- 
 bins?' 
 
 ' I have God's authority, ay, and his command, to 
 study this book.' 
 
 ' Boy ! the Holy One (blessed be he) speaks not to 
 the unlearned. When heardest thou his voice V 
 
 ' I have it here,' said Alick, turning over with 
 strange delight the leaves of his new Bible. ' Our 
 great prophet, Moses, delivered to us the command ;* 
 — and he read the passage from Deuteronomy. 
 
 ^ The memory of Moses is blessed,' said the Jew. 
 ' But see, the sun is setting, and I must to my cabin. 
 Peace be with thee ! but read not that prohibited 
 book.' 
 
 ' Indeed I will,' thought Alick, as he courteously 
 returned the parting salutation, and then, pacing the 
 deck, devoured the word of life in a language of 
 
100 JUDAH'S LION. 
 
 wliich he seemed never before to have felt the beauty 
 or the power. 
 
 * Ahck,' said Mr. Cohen, as he bade him good night, 
 * to-morrow I must be on deck all day. We .shall be 
 passing among 
 
 The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece, 
 Where burning Sappho loved and sung ; 
 
 And I must enjoy with you the many classic reminis- 
 cences that cannot fail to brighten our track/ 
 
 Alick bowed ; but the words that would, a little 
 while before, have been so congenial to his taste, ac- 
 tually grated on his ear, exciting a feeling of disgust. 
 Whence could it be ? He did not know : but with 
 redoubled zest he betook himself to the contents of 
 his Hebrew Bible, and fell asleep with his finger on 
 the page, and his mind filled with the sublime ima- 
 gery of Isaiah. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The Hebrew Bible which Mrs. Ryan had given to 
 Ahck had been for some time in her husband's posses- 
 sion ; and he had marked, faintly but distinctly, by a 
 pencil line down the margin, sundry passages, to which 
 he wished especially to refer^ when discussing with 
 Jews the word of prophecy and of promise. Alick did 
 not at first perceive these marks : but on discovering 
 one over against a glowing description of Israel's fu- 
 ture glory, he eagerly sought for more ; and reading 
 wdth the ardent perseverance of one who is not ful- 
 filling a task, or seeking out hidden mysteries, but 
 hoping to gather valuable information from the pages 
 before him, he took in the purport of a vast body of 
 evidence, while his heart now melted, now glowed, 
 now trembled ; as sorrow, hope, awe, alternately bore 
 sway over his deeply-excited spirit. ' What upon 
 earth,' thought he, as with a gesture of impatience he 
 struck his hand on the volume, ^ What upon earth 
 have the Gentiles to do with this book ? from begin- 
 ning to end it concerns us, and us alone : how came 
 they to possess it, while among us it is scarcely heard^ 
 of?' He turned over the leaves, and his eye falling 
 on the nineteenth Psalm, he recognized it at once as 
 forming part of the synagogue- worship ; in which he 
 had often joined, but too heedlessly to take note of 
 
102 judah's lion. 
 
 anything but a few specimens of what he considered 
 highly poetical language and imagery ; among which 
 he had particularly admired this. ' So,' said he, after 
 carefully reading it over, ' this portion cf the Bible 
 is actually in daily use among us. Have the Goim* 
 translated it, I wonder? He looked into Gordon's 
 Bible, and found it correctly given ; then returning to 
 the Hebrew, he recognized many other passages, as 
 being interwoven with his hturgy. * How I wish I 
 had my prayer-book here ! I used to despise the men 
 and lads around me, who pored so closely over their 
 book, and joined so devoutly in the responses, while I 
 was peeping up through the gallery-screen to see the 
 ladies coming and going ; or amusing myself with 
 Esther's angry glances as she saw me so inattentive. 
 Poor dear Esther ! her heart is with her people, 
 mourning over their afflicted state, and longing, pray- 
 ing, believing — Oh, how far superior is she to me, 
 who do not deserve to be called a Jew !' In this way 
 he went on, reading, remembering, and soliloquizing 
 over the inspired word ; his prevailing wish being for 
 some one with whom to discuss, in free, full, vigorous 
 argument, what seemed to increase his perplexity 
 wdth every line he read. He remembered that one 
 of the sentences he was accustomed to hear in public 
 worship was, " Blessed art thou, O Lord ! our God, 
 king of the universe, who hath not made me a wo- 
 rnan." And he secretly confessed that to be such a 
 woman as Mrs. Ryan would be no great disadvantage. 
 Yet he longed for a man to reason with him out of 
 the Scriptures, and felt confident that he could estab- 
 * Gentiles. 
 
JUDAH S LION. 103 
 
 lish the exclusive title of Israel to every good thing 
 mentioned in them. 
 
 In this mood his father found him when he came 
 on deck early, to enjoy the scenery. Ben-Melchor 
 had also, it seemed, a respite from his severe services, 
 for he appeared more carefully attired, and with a 
 mind evidently more disengaged, than on any of his 
 precedent transient visits. Alick could not account 
 for the pugnacious feeling of which he was inwardly 
 conscious, and which seemed almost equally ready to 
 vent itself on any convenient ohject. It was the proud 
 spirit of stiff-necked Judaism rising within him — the 
 tossings of a mind breaking loose from its former moor- 
 ings in the stagnant waters of lazy indifference, and 
 caught in conflicting billows without being able to 
 reach the stedfast anchor of well-grounded hope and 
 assured faith. 
 
 Mr. Cohen appeared unusually cheerful and sociable 
 with Ben-Melchor, whom he wisely determined to 
 make as agreeable as he could, since there was no 
 avoiding him ; and the latter related some particulars 
 of the recent proceedings of Mahomet Ali, the turbu- 
 lent old Pasha, which interested Mr. Cohen by their 
 political bearing, and set Alick considering whether 
 the singular character and arbitrary proceedings of the 
 Egyptian Chief might not be turned to the advantage 
 of the Jews. He had, w4iile seeking out psalms con- 
 nected with the synagogue-worship, recalled to mind 
 how incessantly their prayers turned on the point of 
 the national restoration ; and this, combined with the 
 confident predictions of Mrs. Ryan and Charles, con- 
 vmced him that it was the bounden duty of every 
 
104 judah's lion. 
 
 Jew to make it the principal object of his most stren- 
 uous efforts. But on this subject nothing was said ; 
 and Ahck was just meditating an escape from such 
 uninteresting society, when he was reheved by seeing 
 his friend Charley came bustling up the ladder. 
 
 ' Well, my little man,' said Mr. Cohen, ' is not your 
 Mother coming to enjoy this fine weather on deck T 
 
 ' No, sir : Mamma is busy in the cabin ; and I am 
 come to play, if Mr. Alick will take care of me.' 
 
 ^ That I am sure he will,' remarked Mr. Cohen ; 
 and Alick jumped up and ran off with Charley to the 
 farthest corner of the deck. 
 
 * Have you been reading ? asked the child, eagerly. 
 
 ^ Plenty, Charles : and well I may, for the whole 
 book is about us, the people of God, and nothing else.' 
 
 ' We are the people of God too, Mr. Alick.' 
 
 " Then why is there nothing about you in the 
 Bible V 
 
 ' There is plenty about us in the New Testament. 
 We are the children of Abraham by faith,. as you are 
 by birth.' 
 
 ' But Abraham's faith was quite different from 
 yours.' 
 
 ' No, it was the same. You know, the Lord Jesus 
 says to the unbelieving Jews, ' Your father Abraham 
 rejoiced to see my day ; and he saw it, and was 
 glad." ' 
 
 ' That proves nothing, said Alick, fretfully.' 
 
 ' Do you think Abel went to heaven, Mr. Alick ?' 
 
 ' What ! the son of Eve, whom his brother slew ? 
 yes, I have no sort of doubt as to that, poor fellow.' 
 
 ^ And Enoch did, we are sure ; and Noah, and all 
 
105 
 
 that loved God before Abraham's time ; but none of 
 them were Jews, for Abraham was the first.' 
 
 Alick felt ashamed to be so easily corrected by a 
 mere infant : Charles continued : ^ If good people 
 were saved before there were any Jews in the world, 
 why not now, Mr. Alick V 
 
 ' Fickle boy ! Yesterday you were all for the Jews, 
 and now you turn against us.' 
 
 ' No ; but I was saying something to Mamma, very 
 much like that you said to me just now ; and so she 
 reminded me of Abel, and the rest of God's Gentiles, 
 you know.' 
 
 Alick looked steadfastly in the smiling face of the 
 child, and after a moment's pause warmly said, ' Well, 
 Charles, if it please God to fulfil his merciful pro- 
 mises to Israel while you and I live, I'll share with 
 you every blessing I get in that good land. And I'll 
 tell you something more, my boy : you talk of per- 
 suading the Jews to become Christians ; if ever that 
 be done, it will be by such people as you and your 
 dear Mother, with hearts full of love, and lips full of 
 kindness to the Jews : — to '' Zion whom no man 
 seeketh after," ' he added in a lower tone, and turning 
 in the direction of the city he was beginning so deeply 
 to yearn over. 
 
 Charley laughed with pleasure : ^ How nice it is to 
 hear you talk like the Bible, Mr. Alick? you did not 
 talk like the Bible when I saw you at first.' 
 
 ^ Because I did not think like the Bible, Charley. 
 Oh, how I wish you could talk to me in Hebrew!' 
 
 ' Sure, ain't I learning it as fast as I can? Mamma 
 gives me a lesson every day. Stop, I'll be back in 
 
106 
 
 less than no time,' cried the merry httle fellow, as he 
 hounded away, and hurried down to his cabin ; whence 
 he presently returned with a Hebrew grammar, and a 
 Psalter in the same language. 
 
 While Alit k with dehglit bent over him, and cor- 
 rected the few inaccuracies of pronunciation w'\i\i 
 which he went over an easy little lesson, Mr. Cohen 
 and Ben Melchor approached; the former saying, 
 ' That's right, Alick ; you could not be better em- 
 ployed:' then glancing over the child's head, he 
 exclaimed, '' Hey-dey ! why you're teaching him 
 Hebrew. That's urging oi> the march of intellect in 
 double quick time. Had you riot better begin with 
 English V 
 
 ^ He reads English, sir, as well as I do :' said 
 Alick, proud of his young friend's acquirements ; 
 * and I have only now discovered that he is making 
 a progress in Hebrew, wonderful for his very tender 
 years.' 
 
 ^ I can speak Irish, too,' said Charley, the innate 
 pride of whose heart was roused by all these commen- 
 dations. 
 
 ' And who taught you, my brave fellow?' asked Mr. 
 Cohen. 
 
 * I learnt Irish among the people at home at our 
 place near Cork. Nurse talked it more than Enghsh. 
 Papa thought me too young for Hebrew ; but I 
 coaxed Mamma to let me try a little bit, and sure it's 
 easy enough!' Then with no small self complacency 
 he opened his Psalter, and read of[' a verse very cor- 
 rectly. 
 
 * He is evidently a genius,' observed Mr. Cohen ; 
 
JUDAll S LION. 107 
 
 % 
 
 'but his father is right, and tlie mother, as women 
 usually are, is wrong. French would be far more use- 
 ful to him.' 
 
 Charley, whose cheeks had crimsoned on hearing 
 his mother blamed, now looked up at the reprover, 
 and said with some bitterness, ' God didn't write the 
 Bible in French.' 
 
 The sudden pressure of Alick's arm, which was 
 round him, as he sate on his knee, and which proba- 
 bly indicated a wish to caution him, induced him to 
 turn and clasp the neck of the youth, ejaculating in 
 the same breath, ' He wrote it in Hebrew, didn't he, 
 darling V 
 
 ' Upon my word,' said Mr. Cohen, turning to Ben- 
 Melchor, ' this is a most extraordinary child.' 
 
 The Talmudist, in w^hose countenance strong pas- 
 sions had been working all along, now burst out in 
 fierce invective against the infidel Goim, who were 
 using the holy language as a snare to destroy the 
 souls of Israel ; and on whom he invoked all the 
 curses of the law, with such loudness of voice and ex- 
 travagance of gesture, that Charley clung to his friend 
 in terror, hiding his face in the vest of Alick, who trem- 
 bled as much, though from a different cause. Mr. 
 Cohen strove to slip in a few qualifying words, but to 
 no purpose. Hebrew, Arabic, Italian, were all put in 
 requisition by the enraged Jew ; and at last he had re- 
 course to English, in which he was obliged to speak 
 slower, while uttering fearful blasphemies against the 
 Name at which every knee shall bow. On hearing 
 this, the little Christian boy lifted up his head, and, 
 still keeping fast hold of Alick, looked round, exclaim- 
 
108 
 
 ing in a shrill cry, ^ You are a wicked man to speak 
 against the Lord Jesus !' 
 
 The Jew redoubled his invectives, and Charley, 
 with all the fire of his race fully kindled, fixed a stern 
 look in the distorted countenance of the blasphemer, 
 saying, ' He is your King for all that, and he will 
 judge you.' 
 
 ' Little serpent !' said the Jew, in a suppressed tone, 
 more frightful than his former vociferations, ' I could 
 toss thee upon the wave, and send thee to Gehenna, 
 ere thou doest more mischief 
 
 ' Do !' said Charles, jumping off Alick's knee, ' Do 
 if you like ! Little Cyril was no bigger than me when 
 he was a martyr for the name of the dear Lord Jesus 
 Christ : and if you kill me, I'll only go the sooner to 
 him. He is your Messiah !' For a moment he kept 
 his eye on the face of the threatener ; but it was too 
 much for his infant strength : he threw himself again 
 into Alick's arms, and sobbed and cried most piteously. 
 
 Mr. Cohen was a man of sense, and of generous 
 feeling so far as he allowed himself to feel ; he was 
 also a fond father and a perfect gentleman, and all 
 these things combined to make him unusually angry 
 on poor little Charley's behalf Before, however, he 
 could express his indignation, a new turn was given to 
 the matter ; for some of the Jew's Italian remarks had 
 reached the ear of the sailors, who called up the Cap- 
 tain from a devotional office before his image. Tlieir 
 looks, to which Mr. Cohen failed not to direct Bcn- 
 Melchor's attention, wrought a great change in his as- 
 pect: the fate that he had contemplated for little 
 Charles was not unlikely to overtake himself, if he ex- 
 
JUDAH'S LION. 109 
 
 asperated those wild-looking devotees. He bent his 
 eyes to the ground, and stood silent, while Mr. Cohen 
 soothed the irritated mariners, by assuring them that 
 the remarks, which he said must have been imper- 
 fectly heard, had no reference whatever to their reli- 
 gion. This excuse, backed by a hint of some intended 
 largess, as a compensation for the wound their pious 
 feelings had suffered, though needlessly, had the de- 
 sired effect : and Mr. Cohen haughtily told Ben-Mel- 
 chor he might be thankful to escape with no worse 
 than a pecuniary infliction : then left him to his reflec- 
 tions. 
 
 But why had Alick, the fiery Alick, been silent? 
 Had he no sympathy with the courageous fidelity of 
 his little companion, no pity for his natural terrors ? 
 More, much more than this was swelling in Alick' s 
 bosom : the expressions that roused the child's resent- 
 ment had smote on his heart, making it recoil as from 
 something dreadful; while the words of the baby mis- 
 sionary, ' He is your King, and he will judge you : 
 He is your Messiah,' seemed to awaken an echo there. 
 Overpowered by the consciousness that a belief which 
 his people held so deeply accursed was fast gaining 
 on him, he felt paralyzed : and the child's momentary 
 boldness, his spring upon the deck, his fearless bear- 
 ing in the face of an opposer so formidable, and the 
 reference to a martyr of his own age, all struck the 
 young Jew as something supernatural, sent to confirm 
 his wavering thoughts. When the seamen approached 
 with looks so evidently hostile, he lifted Charley in 
 his arms, ran down to his mother's cabin, and saying, 
 ' There ; thank God for what he has given you,' 
 
 10 
 
110 
 
 hastened back in time to hear his father's plausible 
 excuse, and to witness the retreat of the crest-fallen 
 Ben-Melchor ; after which, Mr. Cohen said, ' Alick, 
 a sad insult has been put on that nice woman in the 
 person of her little son. We really must, as gentle- 
 men, disclaim any participation in the vulgar, violent 
 prejudices of this strange fellow. Come down with 
 me to her cabin.' 
 
 Alick obeyed, half reluctantly indeed ; for nothing 
 was so insupportable to him as the idea that some- 
 thing might lead to a prohibition of farther intercourse, 
 Mr. Cohen sent in a most polite request for five 
 minutes audience, by Mrs. Ryan's servant: and on 
 being admitted they found that lady, witli traces of 
 tears on her cheeks, and Charley looking most sorrow- 
 fully downcast in a corner of the little apartment. 
 An ample, and indeed a very feeling apology was 
 immediately tendered by Mr. Cohen, to which she 
 warmly replied that it was wholly unnecessary, since 
 she could not for a moment believe that it was other- 
 wise than painful and distressing to them to witness 
 what no one could have prevented. She added that 
 her chief regret was on Charley's account, who by his 
 own confession had shown a very improper spirit in 
 replying to what was so wTathfully spoken. 
 
 ' My dear Madam, you astonish me. The boy's 
 spirit was admirable ; and though of course I could 
 not take this view of the question, right proud should 
 I be to have a boy twice his age, equally bold and 
 faithful to his convictions.' 
 
 ^ Charles, come hither,' said Mrs. Ryan ; and the 
 
Ill 
 
 little fellow came to her knee, ' Did you speak the 
 truth to the person who was reviling our Lord T 
 
 ' Yes Mamma, I did.' 
 
 ^ Did you speak it in love, Charles? Did you bear 
 in mind that " the man of God must not strive, but be 
 gentle unto all men ; patient j in meekness instructing 
 them that oppose themselves ;" and did you as far as 
 a little boy could do, exhibit the spirit of a man of 
 God?' 
 
 Charles hung his head. 
 
 ^ What did our Lord do when he was reviled ?' 
 Charles looked up, and softly repeated, ' " Who, when 
 he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, 
 he threatened not ; but committed himself to him that 
 judge th righteously." Please forgive me !' he added, 
 looking round with tearful eyes. 
 
 ^ I profess myself wholly unable to see what there 
 is to forgive,' said Mr. Cohen with some warmth. 
 ^ My countryman, a great fellow, with a formidable 
 countenance, talked of pitching this child into the sea 
 around us, which he could have done in a moment, 
 (you need not look so fierce, Alick,) and instead of 
 running away, or screaming out with terror, the gal- 
 lant little fellow faced him most manfully, declaring 
 his readiness to lay down his life for what he believes 
 to be the truth. I repeat, were he mine, I should 
 glory in him : and richly reward him too. I will not 
 any longer intrude on you, dear Madam, but permit 
 me to hope that you will join us on deck in the even- 
 ing, when we shall pass the noble spectacle of the 
 ancient Sunium, and I need not add that no annoy- 
 ance will be suffered to approach you.' 
 
112 
 
 Mrs. Ryan promised : and heartily thanked him for 
 his kindness to her and the child, as he took a friendly 
 leave ; then turning to Alick, who still sat absorbed in 
 thought, she said, your father is all benevolence and 
 real courtesy, Mr. Cohen.' 
 
 But Alick's pent-up emotion could bear restraint no 
 longer ; he burst out into sudden vehemence, exclaim- 
 ing, ' Oh Mrs. Ryan, I cannot bear to hear that Name 
 reviled ! Nobody must do it, nobody shall do it in 
 my presence — I can't bear it, and I won't bear it !' 
 and he started up and threw himself into another seat, 
 while Mrs. Ryan gazed in silent surprise, and Charley 
 running to him said, ' Why, do you love the Lord 
 Jesus ? Do you ? do you V 
 
 ' I don't know that I love him, but he was good and 
 merciful ; though he is not my Messiah.' 
 
 * Either your Messiah, or a deceiver, an impostor, 
 and a blasphemer,' said Mrs. Ryan, firmly and so- 
 lemnly. ' He applied him.self to all the predictions of 
 the prophets, he declared himself the Son of God, the 
 King of Israel, the I AM, the Pre-existent, before 
 Abraham was, before the foundation of the world — 
 that world of which he announced himself to be the 
 final Judge. No, Mr. Cohen, there is no middle way : 
 either the strongest expressions of your countryman 
 fall far short of the truth, or else he of whom we speak, 
 Jesus of Nazareth, is your own Messiah, your Saviour, 
 your King, and your God.' 
 
 ^ Mrs. Ryan, don't say any more ; I will not rest till 
 this point is settled in my mind ; but my head is too 
 bewildered to think at present. Don't speak about it 
 when my father is by ; for though he is so liberal he 
 
113 
 
 might forbid my conversing with you : he did on a 
 former occasion with one who first taught me to think 
 on these subjects.' 
 
 ' Then you have been spoken to before V exclaimed 
 Mrs. Ryan eagerly. 
 
 ' Yes : by the person who gave me, or rather lent 
 me the English Bible, on board the ship we came over 
 in. It arose from his saying that the third Lion in 
 our British arms was the Lion of the tribe of Judah.' 
 
 ' Oh, I do hope it is !' cried Mrs. Ryan. ' It would 
 indeed be a token of security, honour, and triumph 
 for England, if her standard bore that unconquerable 
 badge.' 
 
 Towards sunset, the voyagers assembled on deck, 
 where, by Mr. Cohen's orders, a handsome awning 
 had been put up, and refreshments set out, to which 
 Mrs. Ryan, Charley, and Ben-Melchor were invited. 
 The latter appeared anxious to render himself more 
 agreeable to his companions, who avoided any recur- 
 rence to the past, and all was cordiality and good- 
 humor. They obtained a splendid view of the re- 
 markable spot which Mr. Cohen was so anxious to 
 survey, — Cape Colonna, from the bold high cliff of 
 which, abruptly rise the marble pillars that once sup- 
 ported a magnificent temple of Minerva. Bathed in 
 the light of a western sun, these beautiful ruins shone 
 like burnished gold, extorting exclamations of delight 
 from more than one of the party. 
 
 ' How imposing is that desolate wreck of the glories 
 of ancient Greece !' said Mr. Cohen. ' It is the first 
 object that has really interested me since I left home. 
 The familiarity acquired in early days with these classic 
 
 10* 
 
114 
 
 scenes and names, invests them with an endearing 
 claim on the affections, so that the first gaze fixed on 
 them seems rather the recognition of something long- 
 loved and lost, than the discovery of a new object. I 
 am looking on Sunium,' he added, ' andhowprohficis 
 imagination in filling out what now, alas ! is lacking to 
 that bare but lovely outline, and peopling the solitary 
 cliff with forms of armed warriors, and of white-stoled 
 priests ; while the song of devotion, and the shout of 
 defiance seem borne in mingled power over these now 
 silent waters.' 
 
 ' Will Greece ever rise again to any eminence 
 among the nations ?' asked Alick. 
 
 * Not under its present government,* replied Mr. 
 Cohen ; * nor while the character of her sons continues 
 so miserably deteriorated. The ancient spirit of free- 
 dom must be rekindled, with all its glowing patriotism 
 and scorn of wrong, ere we can look to witness another 
 Marathon.' 
 
 After a few more remarks on the past and present 
 state of Greece, the conversation turned on the rela- 
 tive position of Turkey and Egypt, the evident pur- 
 pose of Mehemet Ali ultimately to throw off the Sul- 
 tan's yoke, and to establish an independent dominion, 
 which Mr. Cohen remarked, he would extend to the 
 uttermost of his power. 
 
 ^ And what, in that case,' said Mrs. Ryan, * is to 
 become of Syria ? what of Palestine ?' 
 
 Ben-Melchor looked at her for a moment, then 
 dropped his eyes: but the glare of that glance was 
 startling. She, however, resumed. ^ My own convic- 
 tion is strong and immoveable : all these disputes, 
 
judah's lion. 115 
 
 these conflicts and commotions in the East, are hut 
 the means which God will overrule to accomplish the 
 restoration of his chosen people, his Israel, to their 
 own land.' 
 
 Mr. Cohen looked astonished, Alick dehghted, and 
 Ben-Melchor averted his face. 
 
 ' Tell rne,' she resumed, ^ do you not yourselves 
 look for this?' 
 
 ' Why, I beUeve the expectation has always been 
 cherished among us,' said Mr. Cohen ; ' but I cannot 
 say that, as yet, I see any indications of its being well 
 grounded. The time may come, though not in our 
 day : meanwhile we have little to complain of in our 
 present state ; and under the light of the nineteenth 
 century, I expect the few remaining prejudices will 
 wholly subside, and we shall take our place, divested 
 of all invidious distinctions, among the nations where 
 now we hold a somewhat unfavorable and anomalous 
 position.' 
 
 ' I cannot agree with you,' said Mrs. Ryan. ' The 
 writings of Moses and the prophets distinctly point to 
 a national restoration, not only of Judah and Benja- 
 min, but of the scattered, long lost Ten Tribes, again 
 to inherit the land which God gave to Abraham ; to 
 build up the old wastes, to restore the desolations of 
 many generations ; and your daily services in the syn- 
 agogue so hinge upon that prediction, that you can 
 scarcely point out a prayer which does not plead the 
 promise of God to bring you back.' 
 
 Alick had never seen his father look so perplexed ; 
 yet there was not much dissatisfaction in his counte- 
 nance. Mrs. Ryan's was glowing with eager anima- 
 
116 judah's lion, 
 
 tion ; and Ben-Melchor looked the personification of 
 pride. Mr. Cohen suddenly turned to him, and said, 
 ' You are hetter ahle to decide this question than I.' 
 ' What question, brother V 
 
 * Whether our people are to repossess the land of 
 our fathers.* 
 
 * Is yonder sun to rise again?' asked Ben-Melchor. 
 ^ Not more surely,' said Mrs. Ryan, ' than Israel is 
 
 to repossess the land : for the Lord has said that if the 
 ordinances of the sun, moon, and stars depart from 
 before him, then may Israel cease from being a nation 
 before him, for ever : and again, ^ If ye can break my 
 covenant of the da)', and my covenant of the night. 
 and that there should not be day and night in their 
 season ; then may also my covenant be broken with 
 David my servant, that he should not have a son to 
 reign upon bis throne ; and with the Levites tho 
 priests, my ministers." And once more, " Thus saith 
 the Lord ; if my covenant be not with day and night, 
 and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven 
 and earth ; then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, 
 and David my servant, so that I will not take any of 
 his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, 
 and Jacob : for I will cause their captivity to return, 
 and have mercy on them." ' 
 
 ' If those words are in our law,' said Mr. Cohen, 
 * they are very encouraging.' 
 
 * The words are truth!' ejaculated Ben-Melchor ; 
 ^ the Ho]y One (blessed be he) hath spoken them.' 
 
 ' Have you, sir, a copy of your liturgy with you ?' 
 asked Mrs. Ryan, who seemed roused to shame the 
 coldness of this liberal Jew. 
 
judah's lion. 117 
 
 * Why it happens that in looking out some things 
 for this trip, I transferred a prayer-book from my 
 larger trunk, and it is now in my cabin.' Without 
 waiting for another word, Alick, whose caution seemed 
 all to be forgotten, flew down stairs, and brought up 
 the liturgy in constant use among them, to which he 
 had never given the smallest attention. Mrs. Ryan 
 took the book, and turning to the concluding part, the 
 office of the Hosanna Rabba, read as follows : ' The 
 voice of (Elijah,) who bringeth glad tidings and said 
 — Thy salvation will I strengthen when he (Messiah) 
 Cometh ; it is the voice of my beloved, coming, and 1 
 will declare the glad tidings. It is the voice of him 
 who Cometh with myriads of saints, standing on the 
 mount of Olives, and I will declare the glad tidings. 
 It is the voice of him, (Messiah,) when he cometh at 
 the sound of the great cornet when the mountain will 
 divide ; and I will declare the glad tidings. It is the 
 voice of him (Elijah) proclaiming the redemption 
 from captivity, and the (Messiah) coming with all his 
 pious ones with him ; and I will declare the glad 
 tidings. It is the voice of the Bathkol roaring from 
 Zion, proclaiming freedom to the whole world ; and I 
 will declare the glad tidings. It is the voice of com- 
 passion pressing on the seed (Israel) for they will be 
 deemed innocent as infants in the womb of their 
 mothers; and I will declare the glad tidings.^^ ' She 
 passed over a few words, and continued, ' " It is the 
 voice of the pure one who worketh and beholdeth all 
 these things ; and I will declare the glad tidings. It 
 is the voice of salvation, proclaiming the welcome 
 period of the earth's acknowledging the unity of his 
 
118 
 
 name ; and I will declare the glad tidings. It is the 
 voice of the Mighty One of heaven and earth, ex- 
 claiming, Can a nation he horn at once ? and I will 
 declare the glad tidings. It is the voice proclaiming 
 the period of redemption ; and the people shall see 
 light, ^ and it shall come to pass, at even-tide there 
 shall be light,' and I will declare the glad tidings. It 
 is the voice of the Saviour's going up to mount Zion, 
 who will heal the sick, and will redeem the children 
 of Zion, and I will declare the glad tidings. It is the 
 voice that shall be heard in all thy borders, to enlarge 
 the places of thy dwellings ; and I will declare the glad 
 tidings. It is the voice crying to make thy residence 
 unto Damascus for the reception of thy sons and thy 
 daughters; and I will declare the glad tidings. It is 
 the voice to make glad the rose of Sharon ; for they 
 shall rise who sleep in Hebron, and I will declare the 
 glad tidings. It is the voice crying. Turn ye to me, 
 for on the day ye hearken, ye shall be saved \ and I 
 will declare the glad tidings. It is the voice of the 
 man whose name is the branch, and this selfsame 
 branch is David ; and I tvill declare the glad tidings. 
 It is the voice proclaiming, rise ye up from the dust, 
 awake and shout, ye who inhabit the dust ; and I will 
 declare the glad tidings. It is the voice of the multi- 
 tude praising the reign of the Messiah, making great 
 the salvation of his kingdom ; and I loill declare the 
 glad tidings. It is the voice exclaiming, the name 
 of the wicked shall perish, but he will show mercy to 
 his anointed one, even David ; and I will declare the 
 glad tidings. It is the voice of granting salvation to 
 
119 
 
 Ills people for ever, even to David and his seed to 
 everlasting." '* 
 
 The silence that reigned while the lady, with equal 
 solemnity and animation, recited this remarkable 
 portion of Hebrew worship, was unbroken. Her 
 auditors listened, almost breathlessly ; and the very 
 sailors as they passed and repassed, trod lightly on 
 the planks. Closing the book, she said, ' This is your 
 hope, and this is ours. O that He, the God of 
 Abraham, may hasten that glorious day when there 
 shall be one King over all the earth, and his name. 
 One ! Do not forego this prospect : do not let the poor 
 advantages that may be obtained among Gentile 
 nations divert your eyes from looking, your hearts 
 from longing, for the consolation of Israel. The 
 promise is given: "though it tarry, wait for it — it 
 will surely come and not tarry." There, Mr. Cohen, 
 is your book, some parts of which are indeed con- 
 trary to Scripture ; but there are very few prayers in 
 it to which I cannot respond with a fervent amen ; far, 
 far unlike are they to the idolatrous abominations that 
 lately on this very spot pained our ears, insulting the 
 Most High God. Oh, that you would seek to the 
 Fountain-head of all truth, where the water of life 
 flows freely, unmingled with man's inventions ! Then 
 should 5^ou understand the counsel of the Lord, then 
 should you clearly see what precious things are re- 
 
 * " The form of daily prayers, according to the custom of the 
 German and Polish Jews, as read in their synagogues, and used 
 in their families." — Printed and sold by Abrahams, Hounsditch. 
 A. M. 5596. 
 
120 
 
 served for you; and hear indeed the voice saying 
 ^' Turn ye to me, for on the day ye hearken ye shall 
 be saved!"' 
 
 Without giving time for any one to reply, she took 
 Charley by the hand, and with an obeisance not only 
 courteous but respectful, she quitted the deck, and de- 
 scended to her cabin, to pour out a full, and on this 
 occasion, a thankful heart. 
 
 Alick looked at his father : he had never seen him 
 wear so solemn an aspect. Mr. Cohen had opened 
 the book, and was attentively reading the passage 
 over. Ben Melchor suddenly exclaimed, ' That wo- 
 man hath studied the law, which was not made for 
 women to study ; yet it hath given her wisdom : she 
 will pervert many. Youth, beware of her!' 
 
 ' I wish he may never meet with anything more 
 needful to beware of,' said Mr. Cohen abruptly, 
 ' Come Alick, I want you to read to me : we have 
 been too little together of late, considering in how 
 small a space we are cooped up.' Then, bowing to 
 Ben-Melchor, he took Alick' s arm, led him to his 
 cabin, and to the youth's great astonishment desired 
 hinn to begin and read aloud the Hebrew Liturgy, 
 which he did with extreme readiness, and with in- 
 creasing wonder that he should have been so insen- 
 sible to its bearing on the point that of late had 
 almost exclusively occupied his thoughts. He longed 
 unspeakably to discuss it with Mrs. Ryan ; and in the 
 meantime, after leaving his father, occupied himself 
 in ascertaining that the Psalms and other scriptural 
 portions contained in that book exactly corresponded 
 
121 
 
 with his Hehrew Bihle, and the latter with the Eng- 
 lish. He seemed to have now something tangible, 
 both as regarded Judaism and Christianity, and re- 
 solved to make use of it in deciding the momentous 
 question, of which he felt that the importance hourly 
 increased. • 
 
 11 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 All restraint was now completely removed, as re- 
 garded the main subjects of Alick's conversations with 
 Mrs. Ryan and Charley. It was a plain question 
 between them, whether real Judaism was or was not 
 Christianity ; and to this end she especially urged 
 upon him what he felt to be a very powerful argu- 
 ment, — the sinfulness of man's nature, of which, 
 through the application of God's law to his secret con- 
 science, he already began to feel more than theoreti- 
 cally convinced, — the absolute necessity of some 
 atoning sacrifice for that guilt ; and, supposing that 
 any one could really believe that the blood of bulls 
 and of goats had power to take away sin, the compul- 
 sory cessation of those ordinances prescribed in the 
 Mosaic law, and the consequent condemnation of the 
 whole world, Jew and Gentile alike, for seventeen 
 centuries. Having established this, she proceeded to 
 show in a very simple and beautiful manner, how 
 perfectly every type was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus ; 
 and how distinctly he is set forth as " the end of the 
 law for righteousness to every one that believeth," 
 not only in the writings of the Apostles, but of the 
 Prophets. Alick's mind was of a fine order, and pe- 
 culiarly fitted for deep investigation ; and being now 
 for the first time really interested, it was for the first 
 
judah's lion. 123 
 
 time fairly drawn out : so that the present topic en- 
 grossed it with exclusive power. Ben-Melchor had 
 distinctly established the authenticity of the Hebrew 
 version of the Old Testament which Mrs. Ryan had 
 given to him ; but at the same time denounced his 
 study of it, in that pure state, as contrary to the law 
 of the Rabbins ; his father, on the contrary, assured 
 him that it was very frequently used among the Jews 
 of their own acquaintance who were at all inclined to 
 obtain credit, as he said, for theological learning and 
 piety : and that their little devotee, Esther, was con- 
 stantly poring over it in her retirement. From all 
 this Alick gathered that he might with perfect con- 
 fidence refer every question to its decision, and as 
 Mrs. Ryan was well pleased to do the same, their 
 arguments went mainly to establish the correspond- 
 ence or the discrepancy of the New Testament with 
 the Old. One great advantage was gained by the 
 early acquaintance into which Alick had been brought 
 with the idolatrous errors of Popery : he could himself 
 disprove many of them by very plain passages in the 
 Bible ; and she took occasion 'by this to show him 
 how similarly unfounded and unscriptural were the 
 doctrines and traditions of the Talmudists. 
 
 For instance, on a strict fast-day, which occurred 
 while they were at sea, after a night of very trouble- 
 some navigation, when the poor sailors, greatly need- 
 ing refreshment, looked quite wan and dejected for 
 the lack of it, and the captain was particularly audible 
 and voluble before his image, Alick remarked that it 
 was doing a great injustice to the character of the 
 Most Merciful to suppose that He could take any 
 
124 JUDAH^S LION. 
 
 pleasure in seeing them crawling about the ship, 
 hungry and uncomfortable. Mrs. Ryan warmly as- 
 sented, and added, ' They really believe it is an 
 acceptable service, and very efficacious in atoning for 
 sin.' 
 
 ' Well,^ said Alick, ^ they did not learn such a notion 
 out of my Scriptures, at any rate, whatever the other 
 book may say.' 
 
 ^ The other book,' rephed Mrs. Ryan, ^ which by 
 the way, is not another, says, " Bodily exercise pro- 
 fiteth little," and stigmatizes as " doctrines of devils" 
 the ^' forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain 
 from meats." ' 
 
 * Then, so far we agree ; for look here, what Isaiah 
 says, " Is it such a fast as that I have chosen? a day 
 for a man to afflict his soul ? is it to bow down his 
 head like a bull-rush, and to spread sackcloth and 
 ashes under him ? wilt thou call this a fast, and an 
 acceptable day unto the Lord ?" ' 
 
 ' Will you read the eleventh verse of that fifty- 
 eighth chapter?' said Mrs. Ryan eagerly: *it is to 
 show what shall be the consequence of your people's 
 forsaking these empty forms of erring devotion, and 
 worshipping and serving the Lord, according to liis 
 own will.' 
 
 Alick read — ' " And they that shall be of thee shall 
 build the old waste places : thou shalt raise up the 
 foundations of many generations, and thou shalt be 
 called. The repairer of the breach. The restorer of 
 paths to dwell in." This refers to our restoration, 
 certainly ; but I don't see how it applies ; for we are 
 quite free from such Gentile abominations.' 
 
judah's lion. 125 
 
 ' No, she replied, ' look at your prayer-book, and 
 read in the afternoon service for the fast, what you 
 appear not to have noticed. It is at page 37.' Alick 
 presently found it, and read, ^' Sovereign of the Uni- 
 verse ! it is clearly known unto thee that whilst the 
 holy temple was established, if a man sinned, he 
 brought an offering, of which they only offered its fat 
 and blood, yet didst thou in thine abundant mercy 
 grant him pardon ; but now, because of our iniquities, 
 the holy temple is destroyed, and we have neither 
 sanctuary nor priest to atone for us. O may it there- 
 fore be acceptable in thy presence that the diminution 
 of my fat and blood, which hath been diminished this 
 day, may be accounted as fat offered and placed on 
 the altar, and thus be accepted of me." ' I can't say 
 that I like that, Mrs. Ryan : really it does savour of 
 Popery, I am sorry to confess.' 
 
 ' True, and it does not savour of the Bible ; for 
 look how the Lord rejects something very similar to 
 it, Micah vi. 6 — 8. " Wherewith shall I come before 
 the Lord, and bow myself before the high God ? 
 shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with 
 calves of a year old ? Will the Lord be pleased with 
 thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of 
 oil? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, 
 the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul ? He hath 
 showed thee, O man, what is good ; and what doth 
 the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love 
 mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" 
 
 ' That,' said Alick, ^ does away with sacrifices of 
 every kind, and provides no atonement at aU, but a 
 man's good works.' 
 
 II* 
 
126 
 
 * O far, far from it. '' He hath showed thee, O 
 man, what is good," the alarmed soul is directed to 
 some revelation of God, providing the remedy that 
 he would vainly purchase by the blood of beasts, or 
 that of his own flesh ; and upon this text alone, Mr.' 
 Cohen, I can rest, to prove the utter insufficiency of 
 all that man can do — the certainty that God has done 
 for him what he never could achieve for himself To 
 ascertain what this was, turn to the fifty-third of 
 Isaiah.' 
 
 But Charles had already found the chapter, and 
 his sweet little voice, reading it throughout, gave the 
 utmost effect to its touching words. 
 
 In this way Mrs Ryan proceeded, at once vindica- 
 ting Christianity from the abominations of Popery, and 
 Judaism from those of the Talmud. Mr. Cohen mean- 
 while, encouraged Alick to talk to him on the subject 
 of their own faith, and even allowed him to read those 
 passages from the prophetic writings which positively 
 foretel the restoration of Israel to their own land. On 
 one occasion, he said, ' You must curb your enthusiasm 
 my dear boy : whatever pleasant dreams you may in- 
 dulge in, as to that far distant period of which our holy 
 prophets certainly speak very clearly : remember, our 
 present business is with our own times, and the men 
 of our own times ; an advancement among the nations 
 such as we are looking for in England, where places 
 of high trust and honour will not long be closed against 
 us, is worth seeking, if only to facilitate the events on 
 which your heart is so much fixed. You don't want 
 to see a procession of old clothesmen,' he added smi- 
 
judah's lion. 127 
 
 ling, ^ with greasy beards, and sacks over their shoul- 
 ders, returning to Jerusalem V 
 
 But Alick did not smile. ' Father, they are Jews, 
 and I am a Jew, and to Jerusalem we shall all return. 
 It may be in a depressed and humble state, that in 
 our own land the favor of God may first shine on us 
 to raise us out of the dust : but I never will allow that 
 our path lies upward among the Gentiles, crawling 
 and creeping from grade to grade, till we attain suf- 
 ficient importance to restore ourselves. No, no, sir: 
 we shall never restore ourselves — the Lord our God, 
 He will restore us.' 
 
 Mr. Cohen looked at the youth's erect person, his 
 extended arm, and animated gesture, and secretly 
 thought what a fine parliamentary speaker he would 
 one day become. He then said with his accustomed 
 good-humour, ' Well, my dear boy, far be it from me 
 to check your patriotic feelings, since you do feel that 
 Jerusalem is indeed our country, the land of our fa- 
 thers, the land that God gave to Abraham, and wliich 
 I heartily hope will be restored to Abraham's pos- 
 terity. We only difier as to the way of its accomplish- 
 ment, and probably that difference arises only from 
 my longer intercourse with this matter-of-fact world. 
 I have been an enthusiast myself, Alick, though I 
 confess not in a cause so high as what you are en- 
 gaged in : had my thoughts been turned into that 
 channel, 'tis not improbable that I might some thirty 
 years ago, have raised a Hebrew corps from among 
 the most despised of our brethren in London, and un- 
 dertaken the re-conquest of Syria. So you see I can 
 make allowances for your sanguine anticipations of 
 
128 ~ judah's lion. 
 
 what, possibly, your children may, in their old age, see 
 the beginning of. Be as national as you please : if 
 you don't serve your people in one way, you may in 
 another.' 
 
 'T)ear father, how kind you always are to me ! It 
 does make me so happy to find you willing to indulge 
 m.e in talking on this subject.' 
 
 ^ It would be very unnatural in -me not to do so, 
 Alick. To say truth, I am the more willing to in- 
 dulge you in talking to me, because you so readily 
 and honourably gave up the intercourse with a person 
 of whom I could not approve, on board ship.' 
 
 Alick coloured : ' Indeed, sir, I do not deserve that 
 commendation ; I was not ready to give up his society, 
 but he himself positively refused to allow me to carry 
 on the acquaintance against your will.' 
 
 * He was afraid of his superior officers.' 
 
 ' No ; he proved to me out of the law of Moses that 
 to disobey my parents was a v^ery great offence in 
 God's sight.' 
 
 * He spoke truth : it was punishable with death.' 
 
 ' So he told me, sir, and also that the command, so 
 far from being abrogated, was confirmed by — by — 
 
 ' By the Christian religion, I suppose ? very likely : 
 for I remember seeing in a church the law of the ten 
 commandments very conspicuously displayed in gilt 
 letters, on what they consider the most sacred part of 
 the building. I am glad, however, to find that the 
 old seaman was so honest.' 
 
 Here the matter dropped : but Alick had got a new 
 idea out of which to frame a question for Mrs. Ryan. 
 
 ' Do you imitate the Temple, and the synagogue 
 
judah's lion. 129 
 
 worship in your churches V said he. ^ Have you the 
 ark there V 
 
 ' No ; what makes you think so V 
 
 * Only, my father was talking of your deeming a 
 part of your churches more holy than any other part* 
 
 ^ Indeed we do not ; or if any do, they have no 
 warrant either of Scripture or of our church for their 
 superstitious notion. There is a table in all our places 
 of worship, on which the bread and wine are placed, 
 at the celebration of the Lord's Supper, and this table 
 is ordered to be put on one side when not wanted. 
 Unhappily, most of our older churches were built du- 
 ring the domination of Popery ; and as they have a 
 pagan altar, and a recess in the east end always to fix 
 it in, surmounted and surrounded with such things as 
 you saw in the captain's cabin, we, for convenience' 
 sake had our table set there ; and to fill up the space 
 that was stripped of the idolatrous images and pic- 
 tures, we, very properly, exhibit the ten command- 
 ments, of which, you know, one solemnly prohibits 
 what we by God's grace have abjured. Gradually 
 the bringing of the table out into the chancel or body 
 of the church was discontinued, and the congregation 
 directed to go up instead ; and for the preservation of 
 articles laid upon it, and to prevent inconvenient pres- 
 sure, a railing was thrown across. From this, some 
 ignarant people came to attach a sort of sanctity to 
 what was so exclusive : and the error — as error always 
 does — spread a good deal. The table is called even 
 an altar by some, though we allow of no sacrifice but 
 the sacrifice of thanksgiving offered up on the altar of 
 our hearts, and made acceptable by Christ's sacrifice. 
 
130 judah's lion. 
 
 No person who studies the Bible can be led away into 
 the unscriptural folly of attributing to any one part of 
 a Christian house of prayer greater holiness than to 
 any other part ; nor can a person who reads the ca- 
 nons and other formularies of our church convict her 
 of countenancing it.' 
 
 ' I am glad I asked yon, Ma'am,' said Alick ; ' for 
 to confess the truth, the more I see of your wide sepa- 
 ration from this disgusting idolatry, the more willing 
 I ani to listen to your opinions. I'm sure I owe a 
 great deal to you : I have learned to love my own 
 people, and the God of my people, i'ar better since I 
 listened to your instruction ; and if I don't believe all 
 that you do, it is because I have not yet found it plainly 
 declared in my own Scriptures, which I know to be 
 God's word, and by which I am resolved to judge of 
 everything I hear.' 
 
 Mrs. Ryan was deeply interested by her young 
 companion's state of feeling ; and rejoiced at the 
 sturdy determination which he expressed, to believe 
 nothing that militated against Moses and the prophets. 
 She was, however, about to enjoy the assistance of a 
 very unexpected auxihary in the good work. Two 
 days after they passed Cape Colonna, while slowly 
 bending their course close by a small rocky island, a 
 boat was seen to put off from its shore, and to row evi- 
 dently towards their bark. Alick was on deck, Charley 
 on his knee, watching a most glorious sunset, and plea- 
 santly chatting, when this boat engaged their atten- 
 tion, and the warning of the steersmen that she was 
 making for them, elicited a great many guesses, and 
 playful remarks as to who could be coming to pay 
 
131 
 
 them a visit. ^ Some nice little boy, Charley, to romp 
 about with you, and to put your Jew friend into a 
 corner.' 
 
 ' No, Mr. Alick, nobody can do that, sure they can't ! 
 Ah, I love you with all the veins of my heart ; I do, 
 I do,' and he hugged him warmly. 
 
 'Time will show, Charley ; I'm desperately afraid 
 of a rival.' 
 
 .t The boat neared, and soon hailed them, and a 
 gentleman stood up, at sight of whom Charley gave 
 a sudden start, and changed color, staring at Alick in 
 evident perplexity : but the sound of a loud, cheerful, 
 bold voice, asking, in not very perfect Italian, whether 
 there was a lady on board, put an end to Charley's 
 difficulties ; he struggled most violently to get free 
 from Alick, who held him fast on account of the sud- 
 den stir on board, and shrieked out ' Papa ! papa!' 
 
 A very few seconds elapsed after this outcry, ere a 
 fine, officer-like man sprang on deck ; and Alick, not 
 a little astonished at the sudden verification of his 
 playful prognostics, allowed the boy to leap from his 
 arms into those of his delighted father, and then with 
 a right creditable feeling ran down to apprise Mrs. 
 Ryan in the least startling way he could, of the ar- 
 rival of her husband, and hastened to his own little 
 berth. 
 
 His first feeling was one of vexation, at being in- 
 terrupted and rivalled in the enjoyment of his inter- 
 course with his friends : but this gave place to satis- 
 faction in the prospect of such an addition as Captain 
 Ryan promised to be to their party. He was won- 
 derfully pleased with his trumpet-toned voice, the 
 
132 
 
 elasticity of his step, the spirit of his movements, and 
 above all, with the fire of an eye that melted at once 
 into the softest tenderness when his little boy rushed 
 towards him ; and even at that moment, a smile of 
 courteous apology seemed to crave Alick's indulgence 
 for his young charge's rudeness, and to thank him for 
 his care. ^ He is a ^ne fellow, and a nice fellow, or 
 I am much mistaken,' thought Alick ; ' and I can 
 contradict him flat in an argument, instead of the 
 round-about, polite way I have to contradict the 
 lady in.' 
 
 His soliloquies were interrupted by Charley, who, 
 bouncing in, and jumping, said, ^ No, not even Papa 
 shall put you into a corner, you love of a Jew ! I'm 
 come to tell you so : and Papa says you are the broth 
 of a boy, for taking care of me ; and he will love you 
 too.' 
 
 ' The broth of a boy ! what's that ? I never was 
 boiled'— 
 
 * Oh that's an Irish saying. Thej/ call O'Connell 
 the broth of a boy, and we call Mc'Ghee the broth of 
 a boy.' 
 
 ' Then it's a compliment, I suppose : but without 
 your explanation I should have thought it a question- 
 able one.' 
 
 Very soon afterwards. Captain Ryan appeared on 
 deck again, where Charley had led his friend, and 
 with the most polished suavity of manner, combined 
 with great frankness, bowed to Alick, then extended 
 his hand, and warmly thanked him for his care of 
 Charley ; adding, • His dear mother says you have 
 quite taken charge him ; and saved him from many 
 
133 
 
 an hour's confinement to the cabin below, by enabling 
 her to feel how perfectly safe he was under your 
 guardianship.' 
 
 ' Indeed, sir,' said Alick, ^ no small part of the obli- 
 gation is on my side. I should have been very dull 
 without the society of my little friend and his mamma : 
 and much more ignorant than I am, but for their in- 
 structions,' he added, while Charley's eyes danced 
 with delight, as he looked at his father ; who, fixing 
 a gaze on the young Jew that bespoke a feeling of 
 most intense and affectionate interest, said, ' My dear 
 Cohen, the hand that brought you together in this 
 small vessel, is one that does nothing in vain.' 
 
 Captain Ryan was one of those sensible men who 
 know that by an instant avowal of their real charac- 
 ters and feelings, as disciples of the Lord, they shall 
 save themselves much probable embarrassment, and 
 avoid many snares. He could not agree with some, 
 who, in order not to startle or alarm prematurely 
 such as they hope, nevertheless, to do good to, hold 
 back the distinguishing badge of their service, and 
 to the worldly become as worldlings that they may 
 gain the worldly, — a very dangerous and mistaken 
 parody on the apostle's proceedings with regard to 
 others. He never lost any time in committing him- 
 self, that he m.ight the sooner be actively engaged ; 
 and no man was better fitted, as to natural gifts, for 
 a combat of the kind — no man more unreservedly 
 threw himself on divine help, and the wisdom that 
 Cometh from above. He was exceedingly energetic, 
 full of vivacity, perpetually in motion, using much, 
 but by no means extravagant or affected gesticulation. 
 
134 judah's lion. 
 
 In his language, plain, blunt, and with a constant 
 vein of Irish humour that sparkled in his eye, and 
 played about his smiling mouth. A noble forehead, 
 with a profusion of sandy hair, that defied the hand 
 of art to keep its curls in any order. Added to all 
 this, the mihtary gait, and quick, comprehensive 
 glance that seemed to take in all around him, formed 
 a person so unlike any that Alick had lately seen, or 
 ever associated with, that he was perfectly delighted, 
 and felt a most longing desire to plunge into all the 
 depths of the subjects that exercised his Mind, with 
 a person so evidently able and willing to encounter 
 any antagonist. ' I like these Christians more and 
 more,' said he to himself, ' that is, the Christians who 
 seem to understand the things they profess to believe ; 
 and who, because they think themselves in the right, 
 try to make others agree with them instead of des- 
 pising them for differing, or, what comes to the same 
 thing, not caring whether the rest of the world go 
 right or wrong. What noble Jews they would make, 
 Gordon, and Ryan, and my little Charley also: but 
 God alone can make a Jew ; so it is of no use my 
 wishing they were of the children of Abraham.' 
 Alick did not yet know that God alone can make a 
 Christian. 
 
 It was a beautiful moonlight night ; and as Alick 
 reclined on the bulwarks, musing over the deep blue 
 sea, after the usual hour of rest, he was surprised to 
 see Mrs. Ryan approach, leaning on her husband's 
 arm. She greeted him with affectionate warmth, and 
 said, ^ You see, I am not slow in availing myself of 
 this unexpected privilege, to enjoy what, as a solitary 
 
135 
 
 female, I could not indulge myself in — the still air 
 of night, and the lovely moonbeams on the water.' 
 
 ^ I have often regretted it, Ma'am,' replied Alick, 
 ' when I have sat here alone, only half pleased with 
 the beauties that surrounded me, because I had no 
 'jne to join in admiring them. I don't know, though, 
 whether I ought to regret it : for I assure you those 
 lonely hours have helped very much to fix on my 
 mind things that you have taught me during the little 
 time we passed together.' 
 
 ' You are a most unprejudiced fellow,' said Captain 
 Ryan. 
 
 ' Not much to my credit, sir : had I been a better 
 Jew, I should have had more prejudices; but the fact 
 is, I was neither one thing nor another.' 
 
 'And what are you now, Cohen?' 
 
 ' A Jew, Captain Ryan : by natural descent and 
 inheritance ; by profession ; and, I am thankful to say, 
 by most deliberate choice and conviction ; if it were 
 a matter where a man might choose whether he 
 would be of royal blood or no.' His innate pohteness 
 made him blush at the consciousness that he had 
 spoken these words in a tone and with a manner too 
 haughty for his years ; but the smile that they eUcited 
 from his friends was one of affectionate gratification, 
 and he felt quite at ease. 
 
 ' I wish,' said Captain Ryan, ^ you would adopt the 
 language of a countryman of yours, who was exceed- 
 ingly tenacious of the high privilege in which you 
 glory : he says, " We that are Jews by nature, and not 
 sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not 
 justified by the works of the law but by the faith of 
 
136 JUDAH^S LION. 
 
 Jesus Christ; even we have believed in Jesus Christ, 
 that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and 
 not by the works of the law : for by the works of the 
 law shall no flesh be justified." ' 
 
 * I partly understand that,' said Alick, thoughtfully, 
 ' for I cannot bring myself to believe that the works 
 which Ben-Melchor thinks so needful and beneficial ; 
 long fasts, exposure to cold, prayers recited by the 
 dozen, and various positions of body to be gone 
 through, will do any thing towards obtaining God's 
 favor hereafter.' 
 
 * Ben-Melchor! have you got him on board?' 
 
 * Yes ; do you know him V 
 
 ' As an old, most subtle antagonist : he has often 
 acted the part of Elymas, in seeking to turn away 
 some enquirer from the faith. Beware of his sophis- 
 tries.' 
 
 * I am in no danger from him : he tries to dissuade 
 me from reading the scriptures, which is as if a man 
 in the dark, going to look for some treasure, was to 
 begin by blowing out his candle.' 
 
 ' You are right : hold fast that doctrine, for it is the 
 root of all the rest. And now, since you admit that 
 the way of justification is not by man's doings or 
 deservings — in Paul's words, "not by the works of the 
 law" — tell me, how do you, in your own person, 
 expect to be justified before God V 
 
 ' I am not sure that I exactly understand your 
 meaning.' 
 
 ' My meaning is this : you are mortal, you must 
 die ; you must appear before God to give account of 
 yourself: you are a sinner, you must be forgiven your 
 
137 
 
 iniquities, and moreover counted worthy of reward 
 and exaltation : for there is no medium ; if you escape 
 hell you must enjoy heaven. Now, Cohen, how will 
 you escape hell — how will you enter into heaven ?' 
 
 This was a plain question, plainly put. Alick had 
 never felt so startled, so perplexed. Hitherto his 
 enquiries had rather tended to the abstract question 
 between Judaism and Christianity ; and temporal 
 consequences — what should become of his people? 
 and of him as one among them, were his principal 
 object. The matter was now brought home to him : 
 placed in a new light, and made one of salvation or 
 destruction to himself. He had no answer ready; 
 and before he could frame one. Captain Ryan re- 
 sumed, as it appeared, very irrelevantly to what he 
 had last said, ' Tell me, Cohen, to what cause do you 
 attribute the prolonged dispersion, depression, destruc- 
 tion of your people V 
 
 Alick, with some little asperity answered, ^ I know 
 you think it is because our fathers crucified Jesus of 
 Nazareth.' 
 
 '• I think no such thing. I believe and am sure that 
 the calamities which overtook Jerusalemi and her 
 people were the consequences of that fearful deed ; 
 but far be it from me to say that " the fathers have 
 eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on 
 edge." No : the cause of your continued affliction is 
 your still stumbling, from generation to generation, at 
 that " stone of stumbling." Israel is still outcast, 
 because " they, going about to establish their own 
 righteousness, would not subniit to the righteousness 
 of God." " Because of unbelief they were broken. 
 
 12* 
 
138 judah's lion. 
 
 off ;" " and they, if they abide not in unbeHef, shall be 
 grafted in again." Such is the language of that Jew 
 whose words I before quoted.' 
 
 ' You surprise me, Captain Ryan. I always under- 
 stood that Christians despise and abhor us entirely on 
 that account.' 
 
 ' I know it is a common error ; but an error it is, 
 having no foundation in Scripture. I repudiate it ; I 
 hold you " beloved for the fathers' sakes," as a peo- 
 ple : and if not now enjoying God's favour, it is 
 because you will not look to Christ, and seek salva- 
 tion through him. The promises are yours, but they 
 are of no avail to you, being impenetrably sealed, 
 with seals that only the Lion of the tribe of Judah has 
 power to open. Ask of him, and he will remove every 
 impediment to your full possession of all those pre- 
 cious promises. Not the transgressions of your fathers, 
 but your own transgressions separate between you 
 and him. When you know him as your Saviour, and 
 hail in him your long-expected Messiah, you will 
 indeed mourn in bitterness of heart the cruelties 
 heaped on him by those whom he came to seek and 
 to save ; but for the present, deal with him only as 
 concerns the salvation of your soul j believe that God 
 hath set him forth as a propitiation for sin ; and suffer 
 not the question to slumber till you have satisfactorily 
 solved it from the pages of the Holy Bible — how you, 
 shall escape hell ; how you shall obtain an inheritance 
 in the kingdom of heaven.* 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 The more Alick Cohen pondered upon the conver- 
 sation that had passed on the deck, the more out of 
 humour he felt, and the more disposed to find fault 
 with his new acquaintance. The home question, so 
 plainly, so unexpectedly put, seemed to ring in his 
 ears, with all the emphasis of earnest interrogation 
 that had marked its delivery. He had no answer ; 
 and in such cases the enemy of souls ever suggests 
 evasions, or raises objections that will prevail to harden 
 the conscience, and to seal up the mind in deeper 
 darkness than before, if a stronger than he be not 
 working in the heart of the sinner. But Alick's case 
 was not of this character: two devoted servants of the 
 Lord, equally anxious for the soul of an erring brother, 
 speaking the truth to him in love, with boldness and 
 simplicity, then together pouring out prayer for a 
 blessing on the seed so cast, will shake the pillars of 
 Satan's throne, be it established where it may. The 
 very fact of it being brought into contact with an 
 unconverted person, and finding both will and oppor- 
 tunity given to plead with him, and a desire to seek 
 the Lord on his behalf, will encourage any true 
 Christian confidently to believe that there is a pur- 
 pose of mercy towards that sinner, and that the set 
 time to favour him is come. 
 
liO judah's lion. 
 
 Our dear young Jew could not account for the ex- 
 treme fretfulness of his feehng when left alone. 
 * Pho !' thought he, ^ why need I trouhle my head 
 with the officious talk of a stranger who knows no- 
 thing ahout me 1 Of course, as a Jew, this upstart 
 Gentile thinks I must needs be on the high road to 
 Gehenna. I wonder what road his ancestors were 
 on, when mine were the acknowledged people of 
 Jehovah, the glory and the terror of the world !' He 
 took one proud, striding turn upon the little deck, 
 while a vision of Jerusalem's ancient grandeur — her 
 temple, her Sheckinah, and all the magnificence of 
 her kingly pomp in Solomon's day, shone before his 
 mental sight ; then resumed his soliloquy — ' If all 
 these glories are departed, Zion become a desolation, 
 ploughed as a field, left as a besieged city, a lodge in 
 a garden of cucumbers, her children scattered, peeled, 
 become a proverb, a bye-word, and a reproach — ex- 
 posed to the taunts, and still worse, to the impertinent 
 preaching of the lowest of the Goim ; if,' — here his 
 feelings overpowered him : he sat down, and resting 
 his folded arms on the bulwarks, laid his head upon 
 them, murmuring, ' Oh, will the God of our fathers 
 never forgive — never restore his people to his love !' 
 
 Tears, which had seldom dimmed his bright joy- 
 ous eyes, stole down for a few moments, and he felt 
 relieved. * Well, I am wrong to blame this worthy 
 man for wishing me well after his way. He spoke of 
 the Lion too ; and now I'll go read those glorious pro- 
 phetic blessings of my father Abraham, and forget 
 this little vexation.' What the little vexation was, 
 Alick would have found it difficult to explain — it was 
 
judah's lion. 141 
 
 simply that he had heen asked how he should he 
 saved, and he could not find an answer ! 
 
 To the book of Genesis he now turned, by the light 
 of his friendly lantern, and read with a swelling heart 
 till he came to the words, " The sceptre shall not de- 
 part from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his 
 feet, until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the gather- 
 ing of the people be." Gen. xlix. 10. He had heard 
 the Christian interpretation of this passage insisted on 
 more than once by his Gentile friends ; and now it 
 struck him with a force that quite arrested his read- 
 ing. ^ I will know the meaning of this,' said he ; ^ I'll 
 ask my father, Ben-Melchor, every Jew I meet, till I 
 get at the right inference. The sceptre is departed, 
 the lawgiver has ceased: and therefore Shiloh is 
 come. Shiloh ! that has something to do with peace 
 and blessedness ; and no peace for poor Israel since 
 her sceptre departed, but a sword drawn out after us : 
 no blessedness, but a curse. Now suppose, just for 
 one moment suppose the Christians were right, and 
 that Jesus was — is our Messiah — (if the thought be 
 blasphemy may I be forgiven ! ) suppose it true that 
 we rejected him, and are scattered for so doing, then 
 it would follow that whenever we returned to him, 
 our blessings would return to us. Time Avill show : 
 meanwhile, I will go with my people. When they 
 confess him, I'll confess him. I'll wait for that time 
 patiently ; and so. Captain Ryan, your question is 
 answered.' He resumed his reading ; but in a mo- 
 ment after a dreadful clash was heard, the planks 
 vibrated under his feet, a scream followed, and he 
 rushed to the foreship whence it proceeded ; where, 
 
142 judah's lion. 
 
 also, in a few seconds all the little crew were assem- 
 bled, together with the gentlemen from below. A 
 heavy mass of coiled chain had fallen from its posi- 
 tion, and under it lay the head of a youth about his 
 own age, a young sailor, whose cheerful, good-hu- 
 moured countenance and obliging ways had rendered 
 him a general favourite. With all speed the chain 
 was lifted from him, but a bruised and bleeding mass 
 was all that appeared of that smiling face and grace- 
 ful head. Instantaneous destruction had overtaken 
 him; no spark of life remained ; and as the specta- 
 tors sadly and silently drew back, leaving the youth's 
 dead body in the hands of his shipmates, Alick en- 
 countered Captain'Ryan, who grasped his hand with- 
 out uttering a word, and casting up a look peculiarly 
 humble and sorrowful towards heaven, passed on. It 
 was wisely done to refrain from speaking at such a 
 moment : the spectacle before them was the voice of 
 Him before whom man must be silent. Alick assisted 
 his father back to his cabin, surprised and alarmed at 
 the extreme tremor of a robust frame which he knew 
 enclosed a most intrepid spirit. He hastily gave him 
 a cordial, after which Mr. Cohen said, ' This sea- 
 sickness unnerves a man, Alick ; but indeed the stout- 
 est might tremble at being startled from sleep to be- 
 hold such a fearful sight. You are pale and cold too, 
 my dear boy ; take a glass yourself ResHly you think 
 more of any one than of one who is of more value 
 than half the rest.' 
 
 ' Perhaps, father, that poor boy was of far greater 
 value than I. Some widowed mother might depend 
 
judah's lion. 143 
 
 on his aid ; some helpless sister may be left unpro- 
 tected.' 
 
 * God is good, Alick : we must hope the best' 
 
 ' Ay, father ; but God is just too ; and how terrible 
 are his denunciations against idolatry!' 
 
 Mr. Cohen was silent: Alick expected a reproof 
 for his illiberal remark, but to his great surprise his 
 father, after a moment's pause said, ^ In truth that 
 was what caused my emotion. Poor, poor fellow ! 
 I heard him not half an hour ago chanting in a low 
 tone his devotions to some false god or goddess. I 
 knew his fine voice well, and used to listen with plea- 
 sure, and really, Alick, my conscience smote me dread- 
 fully to think I had found gratification in what has cost 
 him his soul.' 
 
 * Well, father, do lie down now. We are in life, 
 blessed be the Holy One of Israel ! and may we never 
 be called unprepared.' 
 
 Mr. Cohen blessed him — it was a custom that he 
 rarely observed, though among his nation generally it 
 is regarded as a regular duty : but in fact, with the 
 exception of Esther, Mr. Cohen's household were 
 Jews but in name and race. Alick's heart leaped as 
 he heard the solemn benediction uttered ; he kissed 
 his father's hand, and retired to his little berth — the 
 deck he did not wish to approach ; for he shrank from 
 encountering again that horrifying spectacle. ^ Poor 
 lad !' thought he : ' oh, that the question had been put 
 to him which was put to me, and that he had consi- 
 dered it, and answered it in time ! This is a warning 
 to me : I must not trifle now — the next head that is 
 crushed may be my own.' 
 
144 JUDAH*S LION. 
 
 He stood up, and with a lowly spirit he prayed to 
 the God of his fathers to become his teacher. He 
 pleaded the mercy shown to Abraham, Isaac, and 
 Jacob ; and all the rich promises to their seed. He 
 asked to be kept from error, and to be made willing 
 to receive truth : and though the Name that is above 
 every name was not spoken by his lips in that whis- 
 pered prayer, his heart yearned towards the Crucified, 
 and its secret language to him was that of the doubt- 
 ing suppliant. * If thou cans' t do any thing, havo 
 compassion on us and help us.' 
 
 He sat down, with a feeling of encouragement quite 
 new to him, and without hesitation began to read the 
 Gospel of St. John. The decided language roused 
 his attention more than anything in the New Testa- 
 ment had done. " The Word was God. . . The Word 
 became flesh and dwelt among us. . . He came unto 
 his own, and his own received him not ; but to as 
 many as received him to them gave he power to be- 
 come the sons of God.' ' Why ; here is the wholo 
 matter in a nutshell, — according to this, Jesus would 
 be God : his own, that is the Jews, would not receive 
 him, and were cast ofT: otheis, that is, the Gentiles, 
 received him, and so obtained our place and privi- 
 leges. Can this be ?' He read on and came to the 
 Baptist's testimony — ^' Behold the Lamb of God, 
 that taketh away the sin of the world!" 'That 
 alludes to the lamb slain in sacrifice, which the 
 Christians say was a type. I remember the Lion of 
 the tribe of Judah, who alone was worthy to open 
 the seals of the book, is described as a lamb that had 
 been slain: and Jesus said to John, " I am He that 
 
jtudah's lion. 145 
 
 liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for ever- 
 more." How these passages do dovetail into one 
 another ! " Taketh away the sin of the world" — 
 how ? not in the lump, I should think : for the sacri- 
 fices were of no avail except to those who observed 
 them as an ordinance of God. The Israelite had to 
 lay his hand on the animal's head and confess his 
 own sins, in order to partake of the benefit ; and then 
 they were carried away into the wilderness — carried 
 away: " taketh away the sin of the world," — another 
 coincidence. So then, I must, if this be truth, have 
 my sins taken away by this Lamb of God. What 
 sins can I have committed, to need such a removal V 
 
 Here was the turning-point : Alick closed the book, 
 and began to examine his past life. 
 
 He had no settled standard by which to measure 
 himself; at last he thought he must take the cere- 
 monial law, and all that the Jews recognized as bind- 
 ing on them for the purpose ; but it struck him that 
 the Gentiles who had by receiving Christ become sons, 
 could not have that law as a rule ; therefore he sought 
 for something common to all men. He recollected 
 that his father had said, and Mrs. Ryan also, that 
 the ten commandments were exhibited in Christian 
 churches, an universal code of divine law ; and on this 
 ground he selected the precise rule by which any true 
 believer would have directed him to try himself. 
 Turning to Exodus xx. he began, and the reading of 
 the first commandment afforded him perfect satisfac- 
 tion ; * I neither have had, nor will have, any othei? 
 God but the Lord my God, who brought my fathers 
 out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.' 
 
 13 
 
146 JUDAIl's LION. 
 
 The second delighted him still more, ^ Oh, I am not 
 only clear in tliis matter, but I have borne an open 
 testimony in the public streets against the sin of idola- 
 try. If all goes on like this, I may be easy enough.' 
 The third startled him. ' Well, I have used that 
 name too lightly, in a moment of anger or levity, I 
 have taken it in vain ; may the Holy One forgive me !' 
 He v^ould have proceded, but w^as unable. ' This is 
 a sin, and I as an Israelite should have to confess it on 
 the head of the animal, to be forgiven. Well there's 
 no scape-goat, nor lamb for sacrifice here, so how can 
 I ? " Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away 
 the sin of the world !" I see how a Christian M^ould 
 apply it. But this was only a fault of the tongue : 
 I meant no sin, and surely it will be forgiven. I 
 won't be guilty of it again.' 
 
 He read the fourth, and was confounded, ' I know 
 how strictly our people keep this day, though we did 
 not. The Christians have a sabbath too, and finely 
 they keep it ! Men-servants driving their carriages 
 about ; maid-servants cooking rich dinners ; cattle 
 fagged to death; and the stranger within their .gates 
 coming and going by means of such poor over-worked 
 cattle, and feasted by the labour of such servants. 
 Come, we can none of us plead innocence here. If I 
 were the master of a house, I'd ,feel uncomfortable : 
 but being only a child in the house. I could do no other- 
 wise than my parents did, who have run in the face 
 of this commandment ever since I can remember, 
 more shame to them,' said Alick, and passed on to 
 the fifth. 
 
 This proved a terrible blow to him : he had always 
 
judah's lion. 147 
 
 loved his parents, but never honoured them, until 
 within a few days his feelings towards his father had 
 hecome more respectful — better suited to his deport- 
 ment. He was a spoilt child, and managed them 
 both by finesse, and encouraged the younger children 
 to carry any point by teasing. Of their respective in- 
 firmities and peculiarities too he had accustomed him- 
 self to speak very freely and irreverently, so as to pro- 
 voke many rebukes from Esther, and not a few from 
 his own better feeling. In short, no excuse that self- 
 justifying plausibility could frame, would avail him 
 here. He had habitually and systematically broken 
 this law — knowingly too, thanks to Esther and old 
 Susan, who had kept him perpetually aware of his 
 fault ; and how to get rid of this weight he knew not. 
 He could not make light of it, as he had done of the 
 preceding two: and his distress of mind was great. 
 He scarcely noticed the four following, but the tenth 
 confounded him. ' Not covet !' he exclaimed ; I have 
 coveted everything that pleased me, no matter who it 
 belonged to. If obtainable, I have purchased it ; if 
 not, I have gone on coveting and secretly murmuring 
 about it. These four commandments condemn me ; 
 and there are many and many things not specified 
 here, which I know to be sinfully wrong, yet I have 
 done them times unnumbered ; and even if I were 
 forgiven the past, I fear I should be doing the same 
 things through habit or thoughtlessness, often again. 
 Oh, for a lamb to take away all these sins ; and for 
 help to do right in future !' 
 
 The more he reflected, the more uneasy he be- 
 came : memory was awake, conscience roused, and 
 
148 judah's lion. 
 
 he quailed under their rapidly-succeeding accusations. 
 It was long ere he slept, and on rising he felt ill and 
 gloomy ; ' I will listen to no more of their talk : I am 
 young and have plenty of time before me :' — here the 
 recollection of the mangled head suddenly startled 
 him : ' Oh no, I must not reckon on life ; but surely I 
 need not spoil all the pleasure of the voyage by brood- 
 ing over such distressing things.' 
 
 When he went on deck, a consultation was being 
 held, as to the disposal of the corpse. The weather 
 was sultry, the ship small, and all being willing to 
 attest the accidental nature of die poor lad's death, 
 the Captain agreed to commit him to the deep, which 
 was done with so many superstitious observances and 
 idolatrous prayers as made it a most painful spectacle. 
 Mr. Cohen did not appear till it was over ; and then 
 he was introduced to Captain Ryan, to whom he took 
 an extraordinary liking; — doubly extraordinary in 
 Alick's sight, contrasted as it was with the usual 
 polite indifference of his deportment. The sad event 
 of the preceding night was soon adverted to, and Cap- 
 tain Ryan strongly animadverted on the cruelty of 
 that system which seals up the souls of men in an 
 idolatrous delusion. To this Mr. Cohen warmly 
 assented. * There are great differences between your 
 creed and ours,' he remarked : ' but I really think you 
 Protestants abhor idolatry equally with us.' 
 
 ' We do indeed ; yet you too often confound us 
 with those who practise it; not. knowing that the 
 watchword of our faith is, like yours, " Hear, O Israel ; 
 the Lord our God is one Lord!" ' 
 
jtudah's lion. 149 
 
 ' Did you hear of that young fellow's adventure in 
 Malta V 
 
 ' I did, and recognised in it the spirit of Gideon 
 breaking down Baal's altar. May the God of his 
 fathers make him ever valiant for the truth !' 
 
 ^ In order to be so,' said Mr. Cohen very thought- 
 fully, ' he must first know what that truth is ; I fear 
 we have been deficient in acquainting him with 
 things most needful to be learned.' 
 
 Alick's breath was well nigh gone with astonish- 
 ment at hearing his father speak thus: he began to 
 fear Ben-Melchor had been infecting him with his 
 Talmudism. Captain Ryan looked doubtful and 
 anxious. ' It is a point of universal interest and im- 
 portance, Mr. Cohen, to know where truth may be 
 found. Permit me to ask in what quarter do you 
 seek it V 
 
 * In that, Sir, I believe we are both agreed : un- 
 questionably, all truth is contained in the word of 
 God.' 
 
 * And in the oral law,' added Ben-Melchor, who 
 remarked as he approached that the speaker raised 
 his voice, and directed the words towards him. 
 
 'My old friend, how are you?' asked Captain 
 Ryan, half laughing ; while Ben-Melchor looked the 
 extreme reverse of any thing mirthful; 'you say that 
 I haunt you through every land, and cross your path 
 in every city ; and 1 fear you will not acquit me of 
 contriving this unexpected rencontre on the bosom of 
 the waves.' 
 
 ' Meet me where you will,' answered the Jew 
 
 13* 
 
150 
 
 fiercely, ^ you shall not contaminate my garment with 
 the unclean doctrine of the Nazarenes.' 
 
 * Indeed, Josef, I hope I shall, with the Lord's 
 blessing, convince you yet. But a heart of flesh must 
 be given before the law of the Holy One can be 
 engraven there,' pointing to the Jew's side, who 
 shrank from him. 
 
 ^ You have spoken words of blasphemy against our 
 holy rehgion,' said Ben-Melchor, trembling with rage. 
 
 ' I have not, your holy religion is mine, except that 
 where you grasp the unfolded bud of the blossom, I 
 feast on the ripe fruit. I have denounced, and I will 
 denounce your Rabbinical absurdities, not one half of 
 which do you believe, while you uphold them all; 
 but your religion, Josef, as delineated by Moses and 
 the prophets, is that whereon I rest my faith, my hope, 
 my present consolation, and everlasting peace. When 
 my blessed Master revealed himself as the risen 
 Saviour, the promised Messiah of Israel, and Re- 
 deemer of the world, how did he instruct his eleven 
 disciples ? By opening their understandings that they 
 might understand the Scriptures. What Scriptures? 
 Yours, the only Scriptures then in existence. I wish 
 you were half as much devoted to Moses as I am !' 
 
 ' This very day,' said Ben-Melchor, with bitter 
 solemnity, ' and in this very vessel, there was worship 
 paid to idols of wood and of stone, made and fashion- 
 ed by men's hands ; and a box was produced wherein 
 was deposited a fragment of unleavened paste, turned 
 by the magic of a Christian priest into the body of the 
 Crucified, whom you caU Jesus : and unto this did the 
 
151 
 
 Christians address their prayers, kneeling prostrate, in 
 supphcation for the soul's safety of the slain man.' 
 
 ' Then they committed an act of most detestable 
 idolatry,' answered Captain Ryan ; ' utterly to be ab- 
 horred of all Christian men. But, Ben-Melchor, why 
 do you talk thus to me ? You perfectly know that 
 the religion of these people is not my religion, but 
 that it much more resembles your's ; being an abuse 
 and perversion of the truth — a counterfeit of man's 
 devising. Leave these pretended misapprehen- 
 sions alone, Ben-Melchor, and meet me on the com- 
 mon ground of God's inspired word, as contained in 
 the Old Testament, but made void and of none ef- 
 fect to you, by your vain traditions received from your 
 fathers.' 
 
 ^What a fine, straight-forward fellow!' whispered 
 Mr. Cohen to Alick ; ' but that old fox will never 
 break cover, and come out in open day.' 
 
 Charley now came slowly along the deck; his 
 cheeks w^ere pale, and his eyes swollen, and he stole 
 a timid glance towards the place where the fatal ca- 
 lamity had occurred. His father held out his arms 
 and the boy climbed on his knee, and smiled. 
 
 ^ Poor fellow,' said the Captain, kissing his brow, 
 * you look sad : and well may we look sad, Charley, 
 when a soul has passed into eternity unprepared for 
 the Lord's summons. They have buried him in the 
 deep, there to remain till the sea gives up her dead. 
 We must not despair, for who knows what the 
 Almighty may have wrought, even in a moment of 
 time in the soul of that poor youth 1 but it is an 
 awful thought, Charles, the day when the sea shall 
 
152 
 
 give up the dead that are in it. What will happen 
 then ?' 
 
 In a low solemn tone, the hoy answered, ' They 
 shall he judged, every man according to his works ; 
 and whosoever is not found written in the book of 
 life, will he cast into the lake of fire.' 
 
 * Had you not a little bit of a battle with that gen- 
 tleman, Charley V 
 
 « Yes, Papa.' 
 
 ' Have you shaken hands with him since V 
 
 ' No, Papa.' 
 
 ^ Then go and do it now.' 
 
 Charley went up to the Jew, and held out his 
 hand; Ben Melchor looked at him with a sort of 
 shrinking civility, and said, ^ I bear thee no ill-will, 
 child.' 
 
 ' But won't you shake hands, sir?' 
 
 Ben-Melchor walked away ; and Mr. Cohen indig- 
 nantly said, ' If this were Judaism, I should blush to 
 be a Jew.' 
 
 ' Happily, however, it is not Judaism, remarked 
 Captain Ryan, ' nor anything else but a crank of 
 man's brain suggested by the Devil. Ben-Melchor is 
 not honest in his profession of these things : I know 
 him well. I often meet with men sincerely in the 
 wrong, holding the traditionary law as sacred as that 
 of Moses, if not more so. With them I can usually 
 discuss the points on which we differ ; but this fellow 
 is unmanageable. I took this method to drive him 
 away in a civil manner, that we might resume the 
 conversation he was determined to interrupt.' 
 
 They did resume it : Mr. Cohen spoke as a candid 
 
153 
 
 enquirer into things connected with his own religion, 
 to which he had paid too httle regard. Captain 
 Ryan preached the gospel, fearlessly and judiciously ; 
 and, whatever his father might feel, Alick was con- 
 scious that he was learning a lesson of incalculable 
 value. 
 
 Before they reached Smyrna, Mr. Cohen had gently 
 informed his son that he found his health was wholly 
 unequal to any stay in that climate : it had been sen- 
 sibly declining, he said, for some time ; and he greatly 
 wished to return home ; but that he would not de- 
 prive him of the promised gratification of passing 
 sometime in the East. 'Dear father!' said Alick, 
 unaffectedly grieved, 'you must not go home alone. 
 Let me attend you, and indeed I shall not feel the 
 disappointment so much as I should feel, seeing you 
 depart unaccompanied by any one you could look on 
 with confidence.* 
 
 ' No, my generous boy ; I shall be better when I 
 set my face homewards ; and see your's set towards 
 the Holy City ; I wish you to visit it, Alick : and to 
 kiss for me, the very stones in the walls of Jerusalem ; 
 Peace be upon her ! I have spoken to this excellent 
 man, and he is perfectly willing to admit you into his 
 party, and to be a parent and guide to you during 
 your tour. I am also sure you will be delighted to 
 show every attention to his amiable wife, and that 
 dear little boy. What say«you to it, Alick?' 
 
 ^ Oh my dear, dear father, how shall I thank you 
 for all this? leaving me in such hands, to visit such 
 places, and — and — ' then with one of his sudden 
 bursts of honesty, he said, ' Father, I cannot deceive 
 
154 
 
 you: if I go with them I shall certainly have a great 
 deal of talk about their religion: I shall hear of Jesus 
 of Nazareth — and — I shall try to find out whether or 
 not it was of him that Moses in the law and the pro- 
 phets did write.' He stood, half dreading the reply ; 
 but thankful to have spoken so candidly. 
 
 * Go, Alick, and enquire into whatever is presented 
 to your mind as the truth. Find it, and having found 
 it, hold it fast. You are further advanced in the 
 search than I am : your earnestness, boy, has shamed 
 your father out of his indifTerence. God grant it be 
 not too late !' 
 
 Alick burst into tears, and throwing himself on his 
 knees implored forgiveness for all his waywardness 
 and undutifulness, and a blessing. This was given 
 with fervent afiection : and Mr. Cohen said, ' Your 
 parting gift to liie must be a Bible : for between Jew 
 and Gentile, Talmudist and Papist, I have plainly 
 learnt that it is only there truth can be found.' 
 
 And so, in tears and smiles, in hope and anxiety, 
 with hearts full of love, and heads busied with many 
 thoughts, they anchored in the port of Smyrna. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 No sooner was the little vessel fairly in port, than a 
 number of fine-looking men in oriental costume, with 
 long robes, turbans, black beards, and sparkling eyes, 
 boarded her. They approached with courteous and 
 respectful looks the spot where Alick and his party 
 stood, and tendered their merchandize, consisting of 
 ottar of roses, musk, and other costly perfumes. Alick' s 
 heart beat high, as he met the smiling glanjce of Cap- 
 tain Ryan, who said, ' They are all Israelites ; speak 
 to them, Cohen.' 
 
 ^ Oh, what language shall I speak in!' cried the 
 youth, to whose sight the apparition of the poor 
 orange-seller in the cove of Cork seemed to rise, in 
 overpowering contrast to the group now before him : 
 and ere Captain Ryan could answer, he had loudly 
 uttered in Hebrew, the watchword of the church — 
 " Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is a Unity !" 
 
 Every eye was fixed on the youth, with an expres- 
 sion of gratified surprise, as the response sounded 
 from every tongue : and Captain Ryan thought, as he 
 gazed on him, that he had never seen so beautiful a 
 specimen of a race who, even in their lowest state of 
 depression, still retain somewhat of the innate royalty 
 that will yet again shine out, more and more, as the 
 progress advances of the restoration, to that pre-emi- 
 
156 JUDAH^S LION. 
 
 nence which God has assigned to them, " A people 
 terrible from their beginning." The Jews spoke 
 principally in the Spanish tongue, which was not very 
 intelligible to Alick ; and hoping soon to enjoy free 
 commuuication with them, by means of the instruc- 
 tion that Captain Ryan delighted to give him, he 
 contented himself now with making hberal purchases. 
 Meanwhile Mr. Cohen, who was an accomplished 
 linguist, had singled out one of his countrymen, a fine 
 old man, and obtained information from him as to the 
 number, condition, and other particulars of the Jews 
 in Smyrna. He also purchased largely ; and Captain 
 Ryan, who conversed freely with the whole party, did 
 not confine his dealing to words. The poor Jews, who 
 had rarely found so many generous customers on 
 board a vessel of that description, were in high spirits ; 
 and one of them declared that of late years, the Eng- 
 lish had shown so kind a feeling towards them, as to 
 lead them in all cases of distress to look to them as 
 their appointed helpers. 
 
 ' The Lord be praised !' added Captain Ryan, as 
 he repeated this remark in Engli.sh : ' for if we be 
 found standing in such a position towards Israel, a 
 blessing will, and must attend us.' 
 
 As they landed, Alick was struck by the picturesque 
 appearance of the flags of every nation flying over the 
 different consulates. That of England was nearest, 
 and directly opposite the pier where they stepped 
 ashore. ^ I wish it was the royal standard,' thought 
 he, ' I should like just now to see the lion in it. Here 
 we are : no sea now separates me from the land of 
 my fathers ; and the soil I shall tread was oft-times 
 
i 
 
 judah's lion. 157 
 
 pressed beneath their victorious march, when subdu- 
 ing the nations under their feet' His form seemed to 
 dilate, and his stature to rise, as he looked round him ; 
 and the more he saw of his oriental brethren, the more 
 elevated did he feel. The difference is, in fact, more 
 that of garb, and the bearded chin so appropriate to 
 the costume. ' I shall never again fancy the girl- 
 faced fellows at home,' continued Alick, as he looked 
 on those at hand ; ' certainly men's beards were not 
 given them for the purpose of spending half an hour 
 every day in scraping them off: but everything gets 
 wrong as one goes farther away from the holy land, 
 and comes right as we approach it.' This opinion he 
 repeated to Captain Ryan, who laughed, and said, 
 ' My chin and razor have often parted company for 
 months together when in the East ; for which I have 
 incurred the serious displeasure of some good men, 
 who seem to consider that we become better Christians 
 in proportion as we recede from everything Jewish.' 
 
 ' But that is not your doctrine V 
 
 ' I hope not indeed. In my view, Christianity is 
 not only not opposed to genuine Judaism, but it is not 
 even an addition to it I believe it to be contained in 
 Judaism, as is the fruit in the blossom ; and the Jew 
 who fancies that he must, on embracing the gospel, 
 lay aside the religion of Moses, knows little of Paul's 
 meaning — ''Is any among you circumcised? let him 
 not become uncircumcised." I am the more anxious 
 to impress this upon you, Cohen, because you will be 
 likely before long to hear some things very galling to 
 your Jewish feelings, from an excellent friend of mine, 
 who goes to the full length of Gentilizing w^herever 
 
 14 
 
158 
 
 he meets with a convert. He is travelHng now, and 
 hkely to take Smyrna in his way before we leave it.' 
 
 ^ His opinions will not affect me, at any rate, Cap- 
 tain Ryan,' said Alick, rather superciUously ; he then 
 added, ' I must look out for the synagogue, in order to 
 attend worship there to-morrow.' 
 
 ' I will escort you thither: you will be much pleased 
 with the devout earnestness of your eastern brethren; 
 what you have seen in London is very cold compared 
 with it.' 
 
 They went; and while Alick joined with soul-felt 
 devotion in the services. Captain Ryan stood more 
 aloof, but evidently in prayer all the time. When 
 they had ended, a number of Jews surrounded him, 
 and began an argument, as with one whom they had 
 often encountered before. The numerous texts 
 brought forward by both parties from the Hebrew 
 scriptures proved to Alick that the Messiah was the 
 subject of their conference, and a good deal of warmth 
 was displayed by the Jews, while Captain Ryan, pre- 
 serving his usual good-humour, had an answer for 
 every one, and not a few perplexing questions to put 
 to each. When they were again alone, Alick asked 
 him, with a sly smile, if he had prevailed on any of 
 his brethren to acknowledge Jesus of Nazareth as 
 their Messiah. 
 
 ' No, that was not the matter before us : in fact 
 such admission would be no gain to any body.' 
 
 ' You surprise me. I thought it was the very turn- 
 ing point of the whole matter.' 
 
 ' Far from it : I have met with Jews who would 
 acknowledge that their Messiah might possibly have 
 
159 
 
 come in a poor and humble guise ; might have walked 
 as Christ did and like him have suffered, and may 
 come again as we believe he will do, to reign. Yet 
 were they not a whit nearer the truth. The Messiah 
 for whom you look is but a man : a great prince, a 
 mighty conqueror, appointed to accomplish a temporal 
 deliverance, and then to reign over you as did David 
 and your ancient kings. This will not suffice : the 
 Bible bids you expect more, much more : it bids you 
 look for the appearance of Him who is the Lord from 
 heaven : even Jesus, the Saviour, which delivereth us 
 from the wrath to come.' 
 
 Ahck bit his lip : something in the service in which 
 he had just united was strong in his mind: he said, 
 * It is very revolting to a Jew to hear of a strange 
 _god.' 
 
 ' Not a whit more revolting to a Jew than to a 
 Christian,' answered Captain Ryan. ' We are as 
 jealous as you can be in guarding from all perversion 
 that great doctrine, the unity of the Godhead. Your 
 own scriptures set forth most clearly what we hold, 
 that your expected Messiah, the Deliverer and Re- 
 storer of Israel and the hope of all the ends of the 
 earth, is a Divine Person. Now, here is the hundred 
 and tenth Psalm : read it, and tell me to whom it 
 refers.' 
 
 Alick glanced over it ; 'I know it weU, and it 
 clearly refers to the Messiah. Ben-Melchor told me 
 Israel was meant ; but this expression, " Thou art a 
 priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedeck," must 
 refer to an individual, not a nation,' 
 
160 
 
 ' Yau are right. Now tell me, Cdien, who wrote 
 this Psalm?' 
 
 ' David; 
 
 • Then, I ask you a question which your lathers 
 could not answer ; If Messiah be David's son, in what 
 sense is he his Lord ?' 
 
 ' I cannot tell you, for I am unskilled in these deep 
 things.' 
 
 ' My dear lad ! the best skilled in these things is he 
 who receives like a little child the plain word of God 
 in its most plain and simple meaning. The more 
 you study it, the more you will be struck with its 
 glorious simplicity and comprehensibility.' 
 
 ' I confess, Captain Ryan, I have found it so ; but 
 on these more solemn and vitally important matters 
 it may be more obscure.' 
 
 ' Just the contrary : what is of most consequence 
 for us to know is revealed the most clearly. If you 
 take this Psalm, for instance, as addressed by David 
 in spirit to one who, though of his own flesh as man, 
 was also to be a Divine Person, and believe that he 
 likewise offered up a sacrifice of abiding, eternal efii- 
 cacy for the sins of this world ; and that he shall 
 come again to subdue his enemies and to reign as a 
 king, not only over Israel but over the whole earth ; 
 then you will see the beautiful harmony of the predic- 
 tion ; and its consistence with these parts of the ora- 
 cles of God.' 
 
 ' Then you mean to say that the same strange doc- 
 trine is elsewhere set forth V 
 
 ' Elsewhere ! ay, everywhere : Do you think we 
 build our faith and hope on an isolated passage ? One 
 
judah's lion. 161 
 
 word, indeed, being God's v/ord, would prove a suffi- 
 cient security for the whole world to depend on ; but 
 he has graciously given us line upon line, precept 
 upon precept, to the same blessed effect.' 
 
 ' Will you point out some of those passages to 
 me?' 
 
 ' Gladly : but remember that only One can teach 
 you effectually ; and lift up your heart for divine in- 
 struction.' 
 
 ' I do, Captain Ryan. I really desire to learn, but 
 what you have said has startled me much. I thought 
 if I once could bring myself to recognize in Jesus of 
 Nazareth the Prince Messiah, so longed for by us, 
 that I should be at once with you in faith ; but I now 
 find you require me wholly to alter my view of him 
 to whom I have ever looked as the hope of Israel — 
 you want me to confess that Messiah Ben David is — 
 God.' He hesitated and dropped his voice in pro- 
 nouncing the last words. 
 
 ' That is the point I was arguing with your people 
 yonder ; and I found them very determined in oppo- 
 sing me ; but we have one appeal — to the law and to 
 the testimony. I set before you what I believe and 
 know to be the truth, and I tell you where I found 
 that truth, that you may yourself seek it out. I have, 
 however, this disadvantage to contend with, that 
 whereas I have the inspired narrative of the fulfil- 
 ment to guide me to the perfect meaning of various 
 prophetic scriptures, you reject that portion, and insist 
 on being convinced by the Old Testament alone with- 
 out any reference to the New. Still I will meet you 
 there. My task is to show that in the Bible, as you 
 
 14* 
 
Mtt JUDAH*S LION. 
 
 hold it, we have evidence of a Saviour being pro- 
 mised who is a partaker in the Divine Essence ; far 
 above the highest created angel, and an object of 
 worship to those who acknowledge the Most High 
 God.' 
 
 ^ And that, I think, you cannot do.* 
 
 ^ We shall see ; — In your liturgy you have this pas 
 sage, I think, in the grace after meals ; " O God, thov 
 art our Father, King, Strength, Creator, Redeemer, 
 and Sanctifier : the Sanctifier of Jacob, the Pastor, 
 the Shepherd of Israel : the beneficent King, who 
 dealeth beneficently with all ; for he hath been, is, 
 and ever will be, daily beneficent towards us." Now 
 these words include every thing ; and it is remark- 
 able that three of them, in the exact order in which 
 they stand, " Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier," 
 set forth in the very same language that we use, 
 the three persons whom we adore in the Unity of 
 the Godhead : the Creating Father, the Redeeming 
 Son, the Sanctifying Spirit. I think, Cohen, you 
 hold strongly that to worship any created object is a 
 sin?' 
 
 * A gross sin : an idolatrous act, hateful to God.' 
 
 ^ Turn to the Psalm we were looking at. " In the 
 day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will 
 offerings, and a holy worship." I don't ask you to 
 reply, only note it down, to study at your leisure. 
 Now look at Zechariah, the twelfth chapter : who is 
 the speaker?' 
 
 Alick looked, and replied, ' Certainly God is the 
 speaker : of none other could it be said, " The Lord 
 wliich stretched forth the heavens, and layeth the 
 
judah's lion. 163 
 
 foundations of the earth, and formeth the spirit of 
 man within him." ' 
 
 ' Go on,' said Captain Ryan ; and he read to the 
 ninth verse, and exclaimed, ' These are glorious pro- 
 raises indeed ! these are. the days of the Messiah, the 
 Son of David our King.' He then resumed, and read, 
 *' And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon 
 the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and 
 of supplications : and they shall look upon mc whom 
 they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as 
 one mourneth for his only son ; and shall be in bit- 
 terness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first- 
 born." 
 
 ^ Well, Cohen ?' said Captain Ryan, as Alick made 
 a full stop. 
 
 ^ This is astounding!' exclaimed the young man, 
 ^ there must be an error somewhere.' 
 
 ' Yes, there is an error in you, even want of faith. 
 I just put this before you : I have not picked out an 
 isolated passage, but made you read the whole con- 
 text, by which you see the speaker is not changed. 
 " The Lord which stretcheth forth the heavens, and 
 layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the 
 spirit of man within him," is declaring the triumphant 
 period of Messiah's coming, to restore and to reign 
 over the Jewish people ; and he says, '' They shall 
 look on me whom they have pierced." I will not now 
 even insist on the obvious reference to the nation who 
 nailed Jesus of Nazareth to the cross : I only ask you 
 to consider the bearing of the passage as it regards 
 the Messiah, And now just look at the next chapter, 
 the seventh verse, " Awake, O sword, against my 
 
164 
 
 Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, 
 saith the Lord of Hosts : smite the Shepherd, and the 
 sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand up- 
 on the little ones." If you go on to the end, you will 
 find the subject of Israel's punishment and subsequent 
 pardon and restoration, clearly brought forward.' 
 
 * These are wonderful things, I confess: have you 
 more to show me T 
 
 ' I wish to ask you whether you would apply the 
 title of Redeemer of Jacob to any but God?' 
 
 ^ No, certainly not.' 
 
 ^ What then does Jacob mean by that expression, 
 " God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac 
 did walk, the God that fed me all my life long unto 
 this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, 
 bless the lads." Gen. xlviii. 15, 16. Who is this re- 
 deeming angel?' 
 
 ' You will not say it is our Messiah at any rate,' 
 observed Alick ; ' for according to you he is far above 
 all created angels.' 
 
 ^ True, he is so ; but in his character of one appointed 
 and sent on an especial work by his Father, I do allow, 
 in this instance, the application of the term angel, 
 which signifies a messenger, to Him. 
 
 ' Now I remember,' said Alick eagerly, * httle as 
 yet I know of the Bible, I remember a passage that 
 explains this. When Moses led my fathers up out of 
 Egypt, the Holy One said to him that he would send 
 an angel to deliver them, whom they were to obey. 
 This proves that power could be given to an angel, 
 for a special purpose, to redeem the people from tem- 
 poral evils.' 
 
^•• 
 
 JUDAH^S LION. 165 
 
 * I am delighted, my dear boy, to hear you proving 
 Scripture by Scripture. Now let us look at that pas- 
 sage ; you will find it in the twenty-third chapter of 
 Exodus, the twentieth and following verses. Read it 
 attentively.' 
 
 Alick read ; '' Behold, I send an angel before thee 
 to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the 
 place which I have prepared. Beware of him and 
 obey his voice, provoke him not ; for he will not par- 
 don your transgressions : for my name is in him. But 
 if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I 
 speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, 
 and an adversary unto thine adversaries." This is 
 what I alluded to ; and it is very plain.' 
 
 ' It is very plain, Cohen,' said Captain Ryan, 
 solernnly, ' and I beseech you to ponder it deeply. 
 The glorious King who will yet come to reign over 
 you, and us, and over the whole earth, the Messiah, 
 the anointed One, He it was who first brought your 
 fathers into the good land which we hope shortly to 
 visit : the land given by covenant to Abraham and 
 his seed ; and into which the Angel — the messenger 
 of that covenant led them. I now ask you, do you 
 know the meaning of that great and terrible name by 
 which God revealed himself to Moses ; which your 
 people avoid pronouncing, and which, therefore, I 
 never pronounce to them. Do you know the high im- 
 port of this name V and he pointed it out to him in 
 Hebrew. 
 
 ' I know it imports greater things than we can 
 utter,' replied Alick. 
 
 * Is it not expressive of self-existence, of eternity, 
 
166 
 
 of unchangeaLleness, — in short, is it not altogether in- 
 communicable ? would it not be blasphemy most fear- 
 ful, in any creature to assume to himself that awful 
 name V 
 
 ^ Who would, who could dare to do it ! We reject 
 your Nazarene, because he ventured to claim it, and 
 we are shocked at you for supporting that claim.' 
 
 * And we support it, Cohen, as much on the strength 
 of this very passage as any other. Tliis Angel is one 
 sent ; that is clearly expressed ; and of this Angel 
 it is declared that the great, the awful, the incommu- 
 nicable Name is in him. To him they are required 
 to yield obedience, not because God, as then speaking 
 to them, will punish disobedience offered to his ap- 
 pointed vicegerent, but because " He will not pardon 
 your transgressions." The power of forgiving sins re- 
 sides in him ; and who can forgive sins but God alone ? 
 Obedience is to be rendered unto hinn by the com- 
 mand of God, who elsewhere has repeatedly said, that 
 he will not give his glory to another ; and the people 
 are cautioned not to provoke him, because evidently, 
 the power to punish resides independently in him. 
 This is indeed He to whom the Father says, in the 
 forty-fifth Psalm, " Thy throne, O God, is for ever and 
 ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy 
 kingdom." This is he of whom it is said in the second 
 Psalm, " Kiss the Son, lest he be angiy, and ye perish 
 from the right way, when his wrath is kindled but a 
 little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." 
 Yes, and " Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, 
 and maketh flesh his arm." 
 
 Alick Hstened with deep attention : ^ I do not deny 
 
JIJD All's LION. 167 
 
 tliat you have startled me very much : hut I have no 
 doLiht our learned men have found another meaning 
 for these expressions.' 
 
 ^ They have done their utmost to explain them away, 
 of course ; and hence it is, that though Moses, who 
 testified of Christ, is read in the synagogues every 
 Sabhath-day, you cannot perceive his meaning — the 
 veil is on your hearts. In the day when you shall turn 
 to the Lord rejecting all the glosses and perversions 
 of men, and desirous to he taught of Him alone, in 
 that day the veil shall be taken away, and you shall 
 clearly see what is now hid from your eyes. All that 
 I ask of you is an unprejudiced examination of your 
 own scriptures, with incessant prayer to God that he 
 would illumine and direct your mind. He alone can 
 reveal himself to you ; and if you will not ask for such 
 revelation, surely you despise the gift, and must ex- 
 pect to be left in darkness. Secret prayer over the 
 word of God can do nothing but good. He will not 
 lead you into error, nor suffer others to lead you, if you 
 humbly commit yourself to his teaching and protec- 
 tion.' 
 
 ' That is my great comfort. You, or others, may 
 bid me look in the Bible for evidence to establish a 
 false doctrine ; but if I do it in earnest prayer to God, 
 he will make my search the very means of strengthen- 
 ing me against what is wrong.' 
 
 ' Exactly so ; if I wanted to deceive you, the last 
 thing I should do would be to send you to the foun- 
 tain of truth, the light that maketh manifest' 
 
 ' I shrank from your doctrine before,' resumed 
 Alick, ' because I would not recognize my Messiah 
 
168 judah's lton. 
 
 in a crucified man : now, because I dare not regard 
 him as the Most High God. What a strange mystery 
 is this!' 
 
 ' All creation is a mystery : the finger with which 
 you now turn over that leaf is a mystery most won- 
 derful, most incomprehensible. How comes it, Cohen, 
 that at the very moment when your mind conceives a 
 purpose of investigating what stands on the next page 
 of the book, at that very moment your finger, the 
 immediate loss of which would not in the smallest 
 degree lessen or affect your intellectual powers, exe- 
 cutes the purpose of your mind, with accuracy, dis- 
 patch, and facility not to be surpassed ? Oh, con- 
 template for a moment the magnificent mysteries that 
 enwrap the lowest of his visible works, and then think 
 what must be the unfathomable mysteriousness of the 
 awful Creator Himself? Remember, He has revealed 
 to us in that book what we are to believe ; and be 
 content to credit what he says, to receive what he 
 gives, and to wait for a different stage of being, before 
 you essay to comprehend what must, in our present 
 state, be utterly incomprehensible.' 
 
 * But now. Captain Ryan, if I am to believe with- 
 out understanding, why should I reject what the 
 Papists believe ?' 
 
 ' How can you ask such a question ! I bid you 
 yield undoubting credence to all that God declares 
 in the Bible ; and one of the plainest, most unmis- 
 takeable things there revealed, is the abhorrence in 
 which the Lord holds idolatry. The Bible, my dear 
 friend, is the universal key ; with it, we unlock the 
 fetters that bind the poor Romanist, and set him free ; 
 
169 
 
 with it we unlock the casket that the Jew holds closed, 
 and exhibit to him the treasure that he was uncon- 
 scious of possessing.' 
 
 They had now reached their temporary abode, and 
 found Mr. Cohen so much indisposed as to require all 
 Alick's attention. He expressed an anxious wish to 
 find himself on the homeward way, and talked of 
 immediately proceeding by a vessel bound for Jaffa, 
 whence he could readily obtain a passage to Alex- 
 andria, and thence to England as he might wish. 
 Captain Ryan saw how deeply Alick felt this proposed 
 separation, and how he shrank from leaving his parent 
 in the hands of strange shipmen ; he therefore con- 
 ferred with his wife, and came to the decision that as 
 they were under no particular necessity to pursue the 
 route they had entered on, it would be right to follow 
 out a path seemingly marked for them ; and the re- 
 sult was the embarkation of the whole party in a very 
 small but commodious vessel, for the port of Jaffa. 
 Alick's gratitude knew no bounds ; and Charley was 
 wonderfully delighted. 
 
 ' Do you know, Mr. Alick,' said he, ^ that Jaffa is 
 ^ Joppa, where Simon the tanner lived by the sea-side, 
 and Simon Peter lodged with him; and there came 
 a great sheet down from heaven, and a voice bade 
 him slay and eat all the things in it ? You know, 
 that was a vision to let him see he was not to despise 
 the Gentiles, but to go to Cornelius the centurion, 
 when the messengers came to say an angel had bade 
 him send for Peter.' 
 
 ' Well, now, Charley, you must show me that story 
 
 15 
 
170 
 
 in the Bible ; for I confess I can't make anything of 
 it, in the way you have told it to me.' 
 
 ^ Oh, to be sure I will ;' and he bustled away for 
 his Bible, and was soon on Alick's knee, reading to 
 him the tenth chapter of the Acts. Alick was greatly 
 struck with it. ' This was a remarkable epoch,' said 
 he, half unconsciously, ' for here was the first ac- 
 knowledgment of the Gentiles. I plainly see, every 
 thing continued Jewish up to this time.' 
 
 ' Oh yes,' answered Charley, ' and if you read the 
 next chapter, you will find how Peter got into a 
 scrape with the apostles in Jerusalem for eating with 
 Gentiles.' 
 
 * Indeed ! then let us read it directly : I should like 
 to know how he got out of the scrape.' Tliis was 
 done ; and Charley said, ' Well, what do you think 
 of it?' 
 
 ' Why, what do you think of it, Charley ? I should 
 like to hear your opinion of the matter.' 
 
 ' I think it is very beautiful. You see, Peter would 
 not have gone to a Gentile for all the messengers that 
 the Centurion could have sent, because it was con- 
 trary to the law that he had : but when God himself 
 commanded him, how very readily he did go ! The 
 Papists make Peter the first Pope, but you see he 
 behaved quite unlike a Pope — he would not let Cor- 
 neUus worship him.' 
 
 ' Stop, Charley ; does God make laws and unmake 
 them ? are his commands so uncertain ? He forbade 
 a thing to be done by the Jews, and then commanded 
 a Jew to do it. Is it so ?' 
 
 ' I suppose if God commands it to be dark to-night, 
 
171 
 
 that it is no reason he should not command it to be 
 light in the morning, Mr. Alick.' said the child, set- 
 ting his broad eyes upon him, in wonder at his bring- 
 ing the charge of inconsistency against the Lord. 
 ' And I suppose if the sun's light came at first only 
 on the tops of the mountains, that is no reason it 
 should not shine into the vallies bye and bye, Mr. 
 AKck' 
 
 The answer was conclusive ; it opened a new scene 
 to Alick' s view ; and made him almost enter into the 
 thankful feelings with which the Jewish apostles said, 
 " Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted re- 
 pentance unto life." Alick always felt, when with 
 Charley, like one who was being quietly towed into a 
 pleasant haven: but when with others he seemed 
 painfully toiling against a rough current. He now 
 resolved to enjoy a little of his favourite friend's chat, 
 and closing the book went on, 
 
 * I like your Papa very much indeed, Charley.' 
 
 ' So you ought, for he is fonder of you than of any 
 body.' 
 
 * What makes you think so V 
 
 * Oh, everything : he always calls you, " That dear 
 lad," or " our beloved Alick," or ^' that noble young 
 Jew," or some such thing; and at prayers how he 
 does pray for you ! And when Ben-Melchor set the 
 
 Jews upon him so, about you' , here Charley 
 
 stopped, for he had let out a secret. 
 
 ' Go on ; when they attacked him about me, what 
 did he do V 
 
 * I did not know you knew it,' said Charley with 
 glee, ' and he did not want you to know it. They 
 
172 
 
 really frightened us, they were so cross. I could not 
 tell what they said, you know ; hut both mamma and 
 I were in a fright When they were gone we cried ; 
 and papa said he thought we loved you better than to 
 mind facing such a breeze for your sake.' 
 
 ^ I wonder they did not go to my father,' said Alick. 
 In fact, they had been to him ; and the result was an 
 admission on their side, that if it was in the Bible his 
 son was searching, with unprejudiced mind, for the 
 truth, he was in a safe way. Ben-Melchor had 
 represented the Ryans as worshippers of images ; and 
 Mr. Cohen as a man of no religion whatever, allow- 
 ing his son to be led astray in the prospect of worldly 
 advantages. On these points the Jews were quickly 
 set right ; and in resentment at the impositions of 
 their unworthy brother, they refused to interfere any 
 farther. 
 
 Alick resumed the discourse with Charles. ' Is 
 there any place besides Joppa that you are anxious to 
 see?' 
 
 * Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem!' cried the child, clap- 
 ping his hands.' Won't we see Jerusalem itself? You 
 can't think how glad I am that we are going this 
 road ; for you see, it was very uncertain if we could 
 get to Jerusalem at all the other way. Now, we 
 shall go right up, up, till we get there.' 
 
 * Is it up-hill all the way, do you think ?' 
 
 * No, but the Bible always talks of going up to Je- 
 rusalem you know. It's the greatest place in the 
 whole world ; and it's a great honour to go to it ; so 
 we say up, we shall go up, up to Jerusalem,' and 
 
jxtdah's lion. 173 
 
 again he clapped his hands, and kicked out his Httle 
 feet as he sat. 
 
 ^ But I have a greater portion in Jerusalem than 
 you, Charley.' 
 
 * I know you have : it belongs to you ; but v^^e Gen- 
 tiles may go up and worship there, you know. The 
 poor Jews, Mr. Alick, are badly off in their own city ; 
 Papa says it will grieve our hearts to see how they 
 are oppressed : but never mind ; their King will soon 
 come, and restore the kingdom to Israel.' 
 
 * But now, Charley, if this King should, after all, 
 not be the one you expect, what will become of you f 
 Charley stared at him, and then asked, ' Do you mean, 
 what would become of me if Jesus Christ was not 
 King of the Jews and King of heaven and earth V 
 
 * Yes.' 
 
 ^ ^ If so, I must be lost entirely ; I should go to hell ; 
 because I should have no Saviour. But don't talk in 
 that way, Mr. Alick. I know very well he is the 
 King ; he is the Lord ; he will save me, a poor little 
 sinful child, and he will save you, if you believe in 
 him.' 
 
 But Alick felt as if he was farther off from believ- 
 ing than ever : he longed to be ashore again, and to 
 plunge into the scenes that promised so greatly to 
 excite him. His father's state of health depressed his 
 spirits ; and on the whole he had lost so much of the 
 buoyancy that once distinguished him, as to make 
 Captain Ryan anxious too for his arrival in a more 
 stirring place. They made the passage as favourably 
 as they could wish ; and with a very great accession 
 of scriptural knowledge so far as the Hebrew Bible 
 
 15* 
 
174 
 
 went, and not a little improvement in the languages 
 most requisite to be studied preparatory to a tour in 
 those deeply interesting countries, Alick approached 
 the shores of Palestine. 
 
 This interval, so unexpectedly occurring, had been 
 of immense use to him: he vv^as aware of it, and 
 secretly thankful. Towards the Ryans his regard 
 daily increased ; and the tender care bestowed on his 
 sick father doubly endeared them. ' I am sure,' said 
 Mr. Cohen, ' I am doing right, Alick, in leaving you 
 with such friends, if I must leave you ; but to say 
 truth, the breezes that have reached me from that 
 glorious land seem to have infused new life into me 
 already ; and who knows but I too may go up to 
 Jerusalem ? 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ' Yonder they rise, the mountain heights of Judea,' 
 said Captain Ryan, shortly after their landing, while 
 Alick strained his eyes to trace the blue outline dis- 
 tinctly marked on the horizon. ' I could tell of some 
 who, by toilsome efforts, through privations that you 
 can scarcely imagine the existence of, and amid 
 dangers now happily at an end, just reached this spot, 
 and having gazed on these hills, lay down to die. 
 The privilege of entering within the holy city was 
 denied them ; but to lay their bones so near it was 
 counted a blessing well worth the expenditure of their 
 little remaining strength, and of the hoard accumula- 
 ted during many years' struggle against adversity, 
 persecution, and all the storms that beat upon their 
 heads during the bitterest season of Israel's universal 
 affliction.' 
 
 Alick made no reply : his eyes were rivetted on the 
 mountain-tops ; and Captain Ryan, wishing to leave 
 him to the unrestrained indulgence of feelings which 
 he well understood, took advantage of the appearance, 
 of an Arab in the contrary direction, to make, as he 
 said, some inquiries concerning the army of Ibrahim 
 Pasha, lately assembled in that neighbourhood ; and 
 proceeded to accost the Ishmaelite. 
 
 Thus left alone, Alick at once threw himself on a 
 
176 
 
 bank, with head propped on his hand, and abandoned 
 himself to the emotion that he had found it scarcely- 
 possible so long to suppress. Sighs, increasing to 
 sobs, burst from his bosom, and tears flowed unre- 
 strained, while with a mixture of pride, grief, shame, 
 and indignation, the master passion of his soul so 
 lately roused into existence, but already absorbing 
 everything else — ^the love of his country, beat in 
 every vein. After a long interval, it found vent in 
 words that he would not have breathed to mortal ear. 
 ' Land of my fathers, the inheritance of Abraham, 
 Isaac, and Jacob, and of their seed for ever — Our 
 own land, our pleasant land, the glory of all lands, 
 why, why should this be ? Did not the Lord our God 
 give us the land, by a covenant confirmed with an 
 oath, and a promise to cast out the nations and to 
 plant us in it, and to establish us there for ever ; and 
 must the rightful possessors of those blessed hills, look 
 upon them from a distant spot, and count it a privilege 
 to die so near Jerusalem, while the soil itself is tram- 
 pled down by the feet of its enemies, and Zion is 
 profaned by the presence of false gods, abominable 
 idols, and whatsoever the Lord hateth ? Judah has 
 couched indeed, he has laid down, but is it as a lion? 
 and oh, who shall rouse him up ! At this very mo- 
 ment my people have power, if but the Lord would 
 raise a Joshua to lead them on — power to march upon 
 the hosts of unbelieving usurpers, and expel them 
 from the holy land. I am sure of it : in numbers we 
 are formidable ; in our wealth we possess the means 
 of forming mighty alhances ; in intellect, in enter- 
 prise, in perseverance are we behind-hand with any 
 
177 
 
 - people under heaven ? It is because her sons are ' 
 -% alien in heart that Jerusalem is trodden down, and-^ 
 -J'udea a desolation ! Every mongrel tribe of Gentile 
 •race may establish a footing there ; but they to whom, 
 •►the land wholly belongs may plant no foot except by 
 degrading sufferance : every flaunting flag may wave 
 in the breezes of Judea, and bespeak a political exis- 
 tence connected with the country, except the lion 
 standard of Judah. Her own masters alone are 
 scorned, her own leaders alone are proscribed, her 
 own sons alone are contumaciously banished from 
 that country, my country, the country which God gave 
 to me, and which man shall not much longer with- 
 hold.' He sprang to his feet ; and almost uncon- 
 sciously shaking his clenched fist towards the spot 
 from which his eyes had never been withdrawn, he 
 repeated with fiery determination, ' The land is ours ; 
 and restore it you shall, ye motley herd of Turks, 
 Christians, and nondescript vagabonds, who dare de- 
 file it by your presence !' 
 
 His extended arm was suddenly grasped from be- 
 hind ; and looking round he beheld a stranger, habited 
 in one of the varieties of costume that he had seen 
 in the bazaar of Jaffa the preceding evening, when, 
 after debarcation, Captain Ryan had taken him for a 
 hasty stroll round the place. A robe, rather short, 
 trowsers not so loose as the generality of those he 
 had seen, and a high flat red cap, with a single nar- 
 row roll of purple muslin passed round the lower 
 edge, formed the dress ; but in the countenance Alick 
 could not help tracing a strong resemblance to his 
 own ; allowing for some ten or twelve years differ- 
 
178 
 
 ence, and the addition of a short, close-curled beard, 
 and a more lofty arch of the black eyebrow than he 
 had been accustomed to see even among his own 
 race. The glance that met his was not friendly : it 
 bespoke a degree of menace, and yet more of con- 
 tempt ; and while the left hand of the intruder still 
 grasped his arm, and the other hand was held back 
 from view. Alick's mind underwent an unpleasant 
 transition, from the warlike emotion just excited, to 
 the consciousness that he was wholly unarmed, and 
 in the power of a very questionable companion. 
 However, he spoke at once, and in a tone by no 
 means indicative of alarm, and inquired in Italian 
 what the stranger wanted with him. A shake of the 
 head conveyed the rejection of this language ; he 
 then tried the same query in imperfect Arabic ; to 
 which the stranger responded, by asking him what he 
 did there. 
 
 This was not so easily to be told by a smattering 
 beginner in the language : he therefore took the short- 
 est phrase he could master, and pointing again to the 
 mountain he said, ' It is my country.' 
 
 ' You are a Frank,' said the other, glancing scorn- 
 fully at his dress. 
 
 ' I am a Jew,' replied Alick, proudly. His arm was 
 immediately liberated, but the gaze by no means re- 
 laxed, while in choice Hebrew the stranger enquired, 
 ' Wherefore did you lift your hand in wrath towards 
 the holy hill V 
 
 ' I lifted my hand,' replied Alick, while his eyes 
 sparkled with joy, ^ against the unholy people who 
 pollute by their presence the mountains of the Lord.' 
 
179 
 
 ' And you are not afraid to avow yourself, in such a 
 place and in such company !' remarked the stranger, 
 in excellent English. ' When such a heart is put into 
 our people a little more extensively, Cohen, we shall 
 soon repossess our land, and rejoice together upon the 
 mountains of Israel. I see you are surprised, and no 
 marvel : you do not recollect me ; for you were a mere 
 child when I visited your father's house. I am now 
 a resident in this country, and to-day had the unex- 
 pected pleasure of meeting my old friend in the nar- 
 row streets of Jaffa. He sent me in quest of you, and 
 I found you engaged as he led me to expect. I heard 
 your indignant exclamation, and put your courage to 
 the test which it stood so well. We are co-religion- 
 ists ; and co-heirs of that glorious land, which is at this 
 moment ours of right ; and which by might shall yet 
 be ours in the face of the whole world, and to their 
 confusion if they dare to resist us.' 
 
 The tone, the look, the gesture that accompanied 
 these proud words bespoke an enthusiasm so akin to 
 that of young Cohen, that his very soul seemed to ex- 
 pand in an atmosphere more congenial than any he 
 had ever yet breathed in : he caught and grasped the 
 outstretched hand of his energetic companion, and ex- 
 claimed, ' Those hills, those everlasting hills, the land- 
 marks of our beauteous Canaan ! shall it indeed be 
 ours to fight our way within the barrier, and inch by 
 inch to win all back from the accursed enemies of our 
 God ? Have you a band, a little band, prepared for 
 the enterprise ? Oh with what joy shall I enrol my- 
 self among that chosen few : and in the strength of 
 the Lord be strong to do exploits !' 
 
180 
 
 " Gideon^s three hundred would suffice/ replied his 
 new friend : ' or Jonathan with his armour-bearer 
 alone : but we must wait, alas ! we must await the 
 token from Him who of old bade Moses " Speak to the 
 children of Israel that they go forward." ' 
 
 ' You said just now that it should by yours by 
 might,' remarked Alick, almost reproachfully. 
 
 ' Ay, but not by man's might, until the Lord vouch- 
 safes once more to be our Banner. That day ap- 
 proaches fast : bone shall come to his bone, scattered 
 and dry as the bones now are ; and when the Breath 
 breathes into the mass, then shall Judah and Ephraim 
 together arise, an exceeding great army, prepared to 
 march, — march to yonder glorious hills, over this soil 
 (and he stamped his foot on it) and over every plain 
 that grovels at the feet of our own mountain land. 
 The might, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall per- 
 form this.' 
 
 ' You seem very fond of the Bible,' said Alick. 
 
 ' Am I not a Jew ? Are not the Holy Books at 
 once our personal and pohtical history, our statistics 
 and our charter ?' 
 
 Every word spoken by this impetuous man, whose 
 countenance expressed all the fire and buoyancy of 
 youth, combined with the decision of ripened man- 
 hood, increased Alick' s delight in him. After a short 
 pause, the stranger resumed; and while he spoke, his 
 eyes softened into the deepest sadness of heart-struck 
 humility — ' Come, Cohen, right well we know why it 
 is that you and I stand here gazing with wistful long- 
 ings on a land from which we are thrust out, and 
 which is yet sealed against our return : and knowing 
 
181 
 
 llie evil, we know the remedy. Yonder lies Jerusa- 
 lem, our holy and beautiful city ; let us now stand and 
 spread forth our hands towards it, and pray. It may 
 be that He, the Holy One of Israel, will hear from his 
 dwelling-place, and hearing, will forgive.' 
 
 They stood with outstretched arms and eyes fixed 
 on the heaven above where they supposed the beloved 
 city to be, and the elder uttered one of the sublime 
 prayers of the Jewish liturgy, comprising a deep con- 
 fession of sin, an acknowledgment that for the iniqui- 
 ties of the people they were driven away, and kept in 
 perpetual affliction : and most passionate intreaty for 
 pardon, and restoration to their own land. Alick had 
 often unthinkingly run through that very supplication 
 in Duke's Place ; every word was familiar to him ; 
 but what new and thrilling emotion did every word 
 excite in his breast, now that the very scene was be- 
 fore his eyes, and the inmost longings of his spirit had 
 something so tangible to fix on ! They prayed stand- 
 ing and covered, unconscious of the presence of a third 
 person, who, lowly kneeling and bare-headed echoed 
 the prayer from his very heart. It was Captain Ryan, 
 who had come up behind a natural hedge of the 
 prickly pear, expecting to find Alick alone, as he left 
 him ; and who had heard the invitation given, which 
 he rightly supposed would not have been extended to 
 a Gentile like himself: he therefore remained out of 
 sight, but closely united in spirit with the praying 
 Jews : and as they concluded, he softly stole away, too 
 honourable to overhear their private discourse. 
 
 Da Costa, as the stranger Jew instructed Alick to 
 call him, reconducted his companion to Jaffa, where 
 
 16 
 
182 ' judah's lion. 
 
 Mr. Cohen very warmly expressed his pleasure on see- 
 ing them together, and enquired for Captain Ryan. 
 Alick slightly coloured on recollecting the unceremo- 
 nious way in which he had left the place where his 
 Irish friend was likely again to seek him, and men- 
 tioned the circumstance ; but the Captain's appearance 
 soon set him at ease on that ground, though a degree 
 of shyness that he felt stealing more and more over 
 him in reference to those Christian guides who had 
 laid him under obligations so deep, was really painful 
 to his spirit. Da Costa soon became extremely so- 
 ciable with a person whose manners not a little re- 
 sembled his own, in point of frankness, energy and 
 vivacity ; they conversed a good deal on general and 
 local subjects ; mutually pleased in proportion as they 
 discovered more of each other's tastes and pursuits. 
 * I like your countrymen, Captain Ryan,' said Da 
 Costa: * they are far more accessible than the Eng- 
 lish ; and besides, there seems to be among you a 
 strong tinge of Jewish blood. Have you ever heard 
 of that before?' 
 
 * Undoubtedly : the opinion is prevalent that we, 
 the native race of Ireland, owe our origin, at least in 
 part, to a tribe of Israelites who, after being repulsed 
 in many other quarters, found a welcome and a home 
 in the green Isle, where they established themselves, 
 and imparted, in process of time, the privileges of 
 Hebrew descent to a large portion of the Islanders.' 
 
 ' So I have heard sir : and I for one feel pleasure 
 in believing it to be so. But now, supposing it 
 proved, and that you are one of the stock so far He- 
 braized, what part do you expect to bear in the great 
 
188 
 
 event of our coming restoration?' This was asked 
 smilingly, and even playfully, and Captain Ryan smi- 
 led too ; but before he could answer, Charley, whose 
 face had crimsoned while he listened to the ques- 
 tion, ran up to Da Costa, and seizing his robe said, 
 * We shall be one of the ten nations that will take 
 hold of your skirt, and say, We will go with you ; for 
 we have seen that God is with you of a truth.' 
 
 ' My fine little fellow!' exclaimed Da Costa, lift- 
 ing him high in his arms, ^ where did you learn that?' 
 
 ' Out of the book of Zechariah, sir : Mr. Alick 
 knows all about it.' 
 
 ' Zechariah prophesies great things for us,' remarked 
 the other, addressing Mr. Cohen. 
 
 ' Yes,' replied Charley, ' he says there shall be a 
 fountain opened in Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness ; 
 and he says you shall look on Him whom you pierced, 
 and mourn for him.' 
 
 ' And who did we pierce, my little commentator V 
 
 * Jesus Christ : and when you see that He is the 
 Messiah, and that He is the Lord, then you will be 
 sorry for what you did unknowingly, you know.' 
 
 * Yes,' answered the other smiling, ' when we see 
 it we shall be very sorry, I am sure.' Then setting 
 the child down and stroking his head kindly, he 
 added, ' Always speak out, my boy : honesty is a 
 rare virtue.' 
 
 ^ Oh, then you do believe it, do you ? you love the 
 Lord Jesus, do you ?' cried Charley with great de- 
 light. 
 
 ' No, that does not follow : but you may be a very 
 
184 JftJbAH's LION. 
 
 good Christian, and I a verj^ good Jew, and we may 
 remain excellent friends all the while.' 
 
 * No, we can't,' replied the boy quickly: ^ for if 
 one of us were to die, there would be an end to our 
 friendship ; and one of us may die directly ; and then 
 what's the good of being such friends as that, Mr. 
 Jew!' 
 
 Da Costa looked surprised, and a shade of dis- 
 pleasure passed over his countenance, while he said 
 to Captain Ryan, still, however, affectionately cares- 
 sing the child, ' Do you think this a good system of 
 education. Captain ? I confess I don't like the pros- 
 elytizing mania : we never seek to convert you, 
 and why you should be so bent on our apostacy I can- 
 not tell.* 
 
 * Before I answer you, pray tell me, have you read 
 the New Testament?* 
 
 ' Ay ; through and through ; and with the greatest 
 attention.' 
 
 * And what impression did it leave on your mind ?' 
 
 * Just so much impression as the shadow of yon 
 floating cloud has left on the objects over which it 
 passed. I was a Jew before I read it : and having 
 read I was as much a Jew as ever.' 
 
 * You would have been twice as much a Jew had 
 you received the testimony which it bears to the King 
 of the Jews. But answer me honestly to this, did 
 you, before investigating that book, or during the 
 investigation, pray for divine light to guide you into 
 all truth V 
 
 * No ; for having all truth in my possession, while 
 1 hold the law and the prophets, I should be belying 
 
JUDAH S LION. 185 
 
 my faith, and mocking the Most High, if I ask to be 
 guided into what I know does not exist' 
 
 ' Well, then, did you pray to be kept from error V 
 
 * No, I do not remember that I did : I had one 
 touchstone, " Hear, O Israel," and whatever militates 
 against the unity of the God of Israel is by that 
 touchstone at once exposed and shivered to atoms.' 
 He spoke this with an expression of mingled indigna- 
 tion and contempt. 
 
 ' I grant it : but the great mystery that you reject 
 courts a contact with that touchstone. You do not 
 try it fairly, because you do not ask of the Lord to 
 show you what, if it be true, is, must be, a mystery to 
 human reason, and apprehended only by faith; which 
 faith is the gift of God given for man's justification, as 
 your own Scriptures declare ; for Moses says, " Abra- 
 ham believed God, and He counted it unto him for 
 righteousness," and Habbakkuk says, " The just shall 
 live by his faith." Isaiah asks, " Who hath believed 
 our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord re- 
 vealed?" 1 could cite many more passages to the 
 same effect ; but I will only direct your attention to 
 one, and that an awful one : — you will find it in the 
 sixth chapter of Isaiah.' 
 
 * What is it?' asked Mr. Cohen. 
 
 'It is this,' answered Captain Ryan; and he read 
 the passage, " Go, and tell this people. Hear ye in- 
 deed, but understand not ; and see ye indeed, but 
 perceive not : make the heart of this people fat, and 
 make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they 
 see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and 
 
 16* 
 
186 judah's lion. 
 
 understand with their heart, and convert, and be 
 healed.' 
 
 ' And you apply this to us, because we reject certain 
 additions made by man to the word of God V said Da 
 Costa. 
 
 ' It must apply to you, for Isaiah wrote of no other 
 people ; and according to your own declaration you 
 receive the whole of the Old Testament without a 
 cavil. It is against a farther revelation of God, con- 
 tinually referred to in those Scriptures, that you close 
 your eyes, ears, heart; and you will not even put up 
 a secret silent prayer, to have the veil taken away 
 which we assert is upon your heart ; and if it be not 
 there, surely such prayer can do no harm. The Lord 
 will not answer a petition for more light by deepening 
 your present darkness.' 
 
 ' That is the point : we have light in abundance : 
 and to ask for more would be to ask a vain thing.' 
 
 * Your fathers thought the same. Do you remem- 
 ber a passage in the Gospel, where Jesus cured a 
 blind man, and so provoked the boastful rebukes of 
 the Pharisees, who scoffingly asked him, " Are we 
 bhnd also?" Jesus answered them, " If ye were blind, 
 ye should have no sin ; but now ye say, we see, there- 
 fore your sin remaineth." ' 
 
 ' I don't remember it ; but no doubt you quote 
 correctly.' 
 
 ' Yes : and without recollecting it you express the 
 very same thing that they did. You boast of seeing 
 — of having as much light as you require : and indeed, 
 the light you have in the Old Testament is a true 
 light, shining in a dark place ; but its purpose is to 
 
 17 
 
# 
 
 187 
 
 show you a path whereby you may emerge and walk 
 in the blaze of day. It is because you neglect this 
 use of the light already vouchsafed, that you offend 
 the gracious Giver, and remain under his displeasure. 
 Oh, that you would search, not only carefully but 
 prayerfully, the record which God hath given us of his 
 Son!' 
 
 Da Costa shook his head ; and Captain Ryan de- 
 sisted from pressing the point further at that time. 
 They parted in perfect cordiality, arranging an excur- 
 sion for the morrow to explore the adjacent country. 
 Charley eagerly asked whether they should see the 
 house of Simon the tanner, to which Da Costa replied 
 that he would take care he should visit the spot 
 celebrated as the remains of that same house. He 
 left them all delighted with his evidently noble cha- 
 racter, and Captain Ryan, while he foresaw a great 
 hinderance to Alick's progress in the society of so 
 determined an opposer, rejoiced in the hope that 
 always animated him when he met a Hebrew zealous 
 in the law, like Saul of Tarsus ; and promising equal 
 zeal in whatsoever the Lord might enable him to re- 
 ceive. He pondered on the strange anomaly of a 
 man who sincerely believed in God as the Author of 
 all truth and Preserver from all error, declining to 
 beseech help from Him when studying what he be- 
 lieves to be a false and dangerous fable. It is the 
 enemy of souls who tempts men to this proud reliance 
 on themselves : and surely the prayer of every one 
 who loves Israel snould daily ascend, that they may 
 turn to the Lord : because when they do so, the veil 
 shall be taken away. 
 
i 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 No real amendment took place in the health of Mr. 
 Cohen ; his debility increased, and a feverish ten- 
 dency bespoke the danger of continued exposure to a 
 relaxing climate. A few days decided his plans ; and 
 finding that the man-of war still remained in the port 
 of Valetta, and that an opportunity presented itself 
 for returning thither by a shorter route than he had 
 anticipated, he resolved on availing himself of it. 
 Their approaching separation rendered every hour 
 precious to Alick that he could pass with his father : 
 consequently, aU excursions were suspended in which 
 he could not join without fatigue. 
 
 Da Costa, however, managed to render their limited 
 sphere of observation very interesting by the rich store 
 of local and historical knowledge with which his mind 
 was furnished, and his intimate acquaintance with 
 the characters both of the country and the people 
 around them. The Bazaar of Jaffa was a favourable 
 spot for the display of such information ; and Char- 
 ley's inquisitiveness was sure to draw it aU out. Da 
 Costa was fond of children, and this Irish boy quite 
 won his heart ; to the surprise of his parents, how- 
 ever, Charley remained true to hifdecided preference 
 for Alick. He warmly returned Da Costa's affection- 
 ate regard, but a smile from his first friend was evi- 
 
t 
 
 189 
 
 dently of more value in his sight than all that the 
 really fascinating stranger could do or say to please 
 him. This was the more remarked by Captain and 
 Mrs. Ryan, because Alick had become so habitually 
 silent and thoughtful, that it formed quite a contrast, 
 not only to his lively countryman, but to his former 
 self. Charley often stood beside Da Costa, or sate 
 on his knee, listening with delight to his animated 
 conversation ; but he was sure to steal away before 
 long, and to settle himself in his old station, his bright 
 curls spreading on Alick' s shoulder, and his eye fre- 
 quently turned to discover how his friend enjoyed what 
 was passing around them. 
 
 * Dear child !' whispered Mrs. Ryan to her hus- 
 band on one of these occasions ; — ' They say we are 
 a fickle people, unstable in our attachments ; but that 
 babe is a living contradiction to the assertion. Do 
 but look how lovingly he watches every turn of Alick' s 
 countenance.' 
 
 ' I do observe it, my dear ; and it affords me more 
 satisfaction than you are aware of 
 
 One of the first visits made by the party was to the 
 reputed house of Simon the tanner. The consul to 
 whom it belonged had given a ready permission to 
 explore every corner of the old ruin, which was, in- 
 deed, a work of no difiiculty. 
 
 'And is this Simon's house?' asked Charles, in 
 a tone where doubt and disappointment seemed to 
 predominate. 
 
 ' So they say,' answered Da Costa. 
 
 ' Ah, but do you your own self say it is ?' persisted 
 Charley. 
 
 i 
 
190 judah's lion. 
 
 * How can I tell? Or, indeed, what does it matter, 
 so long as people agree to believe it is; and so are 
 equally pleased, whether it be true or false.' 
 
 * Oh, but people shouldn't be pleased with what is 
 false,' answered the boy in his quick way ; and nobody 
 ought to agree to believe a lie.' 
 
 * If you don't look sharp after this lad,' said Da 
 Costa to Captain Ryan, ^ he'll fight his way out of 
 all' — he checked himself, and added, * he will believe 
 no more than can be proved on unimpeachable evi- 
 dence.' 
 
 ' So much the better,' answered the Captain ; 
 whose eye had just then caught the figure of a Mal- 
 tese sailor, performing a variety of crossings and gen- 
 uflexions in front of the ruin, with a string of beads 
 depending from his wrist. 
 
 Da Casta turned again to Charley. * Now suppose 
 it to be all true, and that this is bond fide the house 
 where the tanner hved, what is there in it to make 
 you happy in seeing it V 
 
 ^ I don't know what bond fide is, sir ; but I like to 
 see places where things happened.' 
 
 ' Well, I have helped many to a sight of this place • 
 but I confess I don't exactly know what happened 
 here. Can you tell me the history of this renowned 
 tanner ?' 
 
 Charley's eyes sparkled : ^ Oh, it isn't the tanner, 
 Mr. Dockster,' (so he called the Jew) — ^ we know 
 nothing about him, only his name ; but Peter lodged 
 here : and he went up to the top, there, to pray, and 
 — stop, I'll read it ; for I shall make a jumble if I 
 try to tell you all.' He borrowed his papa's Bible, 
 
191 
 
 and read the particulars, to which the other Hstened 
 very attentively, as did both the Cohens. Having 
 ended, he shut the hook, and said, ' It all comes to 
 this, Mr. Dockster ; up to that time you Jews had the 
 true religion all to yourselves ; but here, here,' and 
 he looked joyfully up again to the dark, dull pile of 
 broken building, ' we poor Gentiles were let in, you 
 see.' 
 
 ' No, no ;' said Da Costa, involuntarily, as he 
 turned away, with a look of displeasure not usually 
 seen on his cheerful countenance. Captain Ryan 
 immediately asked, ' Do you mean to deny that a 
 participation in your spiritual blessings was promised 
 to the Gentiles V 
 
 Da Costa answered in Hebrew, ^ " You only have 
 I known, of all the families of the earth." ' 
 
 * True ; at the time those words were spoken, no 
 nation upon earth, save Israel alone, knew the true 
 God, or were acknowledged by him as his people : 
 but, versed as you are in the Scriptures, a moment's 
 reflection will bring innumerable passages to your 
 mind where, through you, a blessing is promised to 
 Gentile lands. Take, for example, the promises 
 given, and continually repeated to Abraham himself. 
 " In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be 
 blessed." How do you explain this ?' 
 
 * It is not yet accomplished,' rephed Da Costa, 
 evidently not wishing to prolong the discussion which 
 he had inadvertently provoked ; but seeing his oppo- 
 nent by no means disposed to let it drop, he added, 
 with some warmth, ' I never can, I never will for a 
 moment credit the tale that any part, not to say the 
 
192 
 
 whole of the law delivered with such terrible signs 
 and awful sanctions to my fathers, through their great 
 leader, Moses, was abrogated by the visionary ap- 
 pearance of a bundle of beasts to an obscure fisherman 
 on the top of a house,' and he looked scornfully up. 
 
 ' In the first place,' said Captain Ryan, ' nothing 
 was abrogated in the way you mention. A remark- 
 able vision bearing upon a particular branch of the 
 national dispensation, was so explained to Peter's 
 understanding as to induce a ready obedience to the 
 voice that bade him go and bear tidings of salvation 
 to a Gentile inquirer. The visionary sheet with its 
 contents descended from heaven, into which nothing 
 defiling can enter ; and the lesson impressed on his 
 mind was that God had cleansed them. The whole 
 was typical and beautifully expressive. As to the 
 individual being only an obscure fisherman, Moses 
 was nothing greater in the world's estimation, when 
 keeping sheep on the mountain where the Lord first 
 appeared to him. Moses, himself an Israelite, was 
 divinely instructed to proclaim to the people of Israel 
 their approaching deliverance from the land of Egypt, 
 the house of bondage. Peter, also an Israehte, was 
 divinely commissioned to announce to the Gentiles, 
 that unto them too was granted repentance unto life 
 — deliverance from the far worse bondage of Satan. 
 Nor were the signs that confirmed the divine mission 
 of Peter less marvellous than those vouchsafed to 
 Moses — nay,' he added, as Da Costa, with crimsoning 
 cheek attempted to interrupt him: ^hear me out. 
 The powers given to such as believed in those days, 
 were as marvellous 9,s any on record. They spake 
 
JUD All's LION. 192^ 
 
 with tongues of which they were before wholly igno- 
 rant ; they cast out devils, they healed the sick, they 
 recalled the dead to life. And more, ay far more 
 than all this, Da Costa, they prevailed so to plant 
 this hated, persecuted religion, without the aid of 
 sword or spear, without the aid of regal power, or an 
 atom of worldly influence, without even the aid of 
 human wisdom or learning, or skill, that not all the 
 powers of earth and hell combined could resist the 
 progress, or shake the solidity of the work. Oh, be- 
 lieve me, what you scorn as a bare invention of man, 
 is but the continuation, the completion of God's glo- 
 rious work, begun in the Mount Horeb, finished on 
 Mount Calvary, and yet to be proclaimed and estab- 
 lished throughout the world from the summit of the 
 Mount of Olives, when the feet of your glorious King 
 and ours shall there stand, and his voice be heard, 
 and from his presence the ungodly, like smoke, shall 
 vanish away. " And the Lord shall be King over all 
 the earth : in that day there shall be one Lord, and 
 his name one." ' 
 
 He gave the text in Hebrew ; and as he stood facing 
 the fiery Israelite, with a look, tone, action not a whit 
 less fiery than his own. Da Costa's countenance soft- 
 ened into an expression of gentle kindness, evidently 
 no less natural to it than the high determination of 
 the preceding moment. ' Well, Ryan, I, for one, 
 shall rejoice to see you, and such as you, partakers in 
 the blessedness of that glorious period, which you seem 
 to see at once so clearly and through so wrong a me- 
 dium, that your faith furnishes me with the most puz- 
 zling enigma I ever tried to read. Many have talked 
 
 17 
 
194 judah's lion. 
 
 in my hearing of the same thing that you continually 
 dwell upon ; but they speak after such a cut-and-dried 
 fashion, with unmoved muscle, lack-lustre eye, and 
 measured, meanless tone, that the manner is suffi- 
 cient antidote to the matter of their discourse. You, 
 on the contrary, fairly boil over from the workings of 
 a mind thoroughly heated by its subject. ' You are 
 in earnest,' he continued emphatically ; ' and I can 
 only account for your having such an evident part in 
 our high anticipations, by remembering the national 
 claim to consanguinity which I believe you really pos- 
 sess. So, my dear fellow, on this accommodating 
 neutral ground we may for the present take our stand : 
 and time will settle the rest.' 
 
 Alick looked hard at Captain Ryan, as if to read 
 his thoughts ; and the latter said, ' Not so. Da Costa : 
 there is no neutral ground for either of us to occupy. 
 The King whom we both expect will be to us a king 
 of terrors, if we regard him not in all the bearings of 
 his three -fold office. Prophet and Priest, equally as 
 King. As Prophet, he must have somewhat to teach 
 more than Moses directly taught ; for to Moses God 
 saith, " I will raise them up a Prophet from among 
 their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words 
 in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I 
 shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that 
 whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he 
 shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." 
 Again, as Priest, he must have a calling higher than 
 that of the Levitical priesthood, higher than Aaron, 
 for David distinctly says, " The Lord hath sworn, and 
 will not repent. Thou art a priest for ever after the 
 
judah's lion. 195 
 
 order of Melchizedek." Mow Melchizedek was, as 
 you will see here, (Genesis xiv. 18.) king of Salem, 
 and priest of the Most High God : he blessed Abram 
 in the name of the Most High God : he praised the 
 Most High God for delivering his enemies into his 
 hand; and now, Da Costa, what did Abram unto 
 Melchizedek V 
 
 Da Costa, who was deeply examining the Hebrew 
 text, which Ryan all along had quoted, supplied the 
 answer from it. ' " He gave him tithes of all." But 
 I don't see the slightest connexion between this and 
 what we were talldng of 
 
 ' Wait : we are talking of Messiah the king, whom 
 I assert to be also the Prophet like unto Moses, and 
 the everlasting Priest, after the order of Melchizedek. 
 I have said that the promised Prophet must have a 
 farther revelation to make after that of Moses : and I 
 am showing that the predicted Priest, being after the 
 order of Melchizedek, must have a priesthood higher 
 than that of Aaron ; for Abraham, the forefather of 
 Levi, and of every tribe of Israel, received a blessing 
 from, and paid tithes to, this Melchizedek, who was a 
 vivid type of the Messiah ; for as a king, the king of 
 Salem, king of Peace, he met and greeted Abraham; 
 as a Prophet he announced him blessed of the Most 
 High God, and as a Priest he received at his hand 
 the tithe of his spoils — the exact provision afterwards 
 divinely appointed for the Levitical Priesthood. Out 
 of your own Scriptures I draw these truths ; I lay 
 them before you ; I tell you that in him for whose 
 second coming I look, I find all the prophetical, 
 priestly, kingly character combined in glorious har- 
 
196 judah's lion. 
 
 mony, and shining forth with divine effulgence ; and 
 I tell you, too, that unless we thus recognize him, 
 neither Jew nor Gentile can hail his appearing other- 
 wise than as the signal for their immediate and ever- 
 lasting destruction.' 
 
 ' You are a master of your suhject,' said Da Costa ; 
 ' whereas I, having nothing at hand to which I may 
 refer, and being but indifferently read in the subtleties 
 of these controversial matters, stand at a manifest dis- 
 advantage. Yet had I even my travelling book-case 
 within reach, I would answer you.' 
 
 ' Da Costa,' said Ryan solemnly, laying his hand 
 on his shoulder, * the coming for which we look may 
 be instantaneous ; or, by a stroke, sudden and unex- 
 pected as the midnight flash, you may be removed 
 into the world of spirits ; and in either case you must 
 answer for yourself — an answer on which hangs your 
 eternal doom. Oh, will it suffice you then to talk of 
 a book-case, when the thrilling enquiry is put, ' Why 
 didst thou not believe the writings of Moses, of David, 
 of all the prophets, when, taught by my Spirit, they 
 testified of me V Here, in this narrow compass lie all 
 the books we require. By Jews, by Jews alone was 
 every word written : you gave us the bread of life, 
 and why will you perish with hunger, while a grateful 
 Gentile believer in your own glorious Messiah, im- 
 plores you to eat and be satisfied : to look and live !' 
 
 Tears started into the eyes of the ardent Christian 
 soldier, as, pressing the sacred volume against the 
 bosom of the Jew, he gazed upon him with all the 
 yearnings of one who sees his dearest benefactor perish- 
 ing and refusing to be rescued. Da Costa's eyes were 
 
197 
 
 wholly shaded hy the long dark lashes that fell over 
 them, bent as they were on the ground ; and it was 
 impossible to determine by what species of emotion 
 his cheek was blanched, his brow knit, and his lips 
 compressed. It might be smothered wrath ; it might 
 be wounded pride ; it might be an awakened fear that 
 all was not safe with him : be it what it might, all was 
 for some moments silent and still throughout the 
 group. Mrs. Ryan's heart echoed the prayer which 
 she knew her husband was silently breathing on be- 
 half of his Hebrew friend. Mr. Cohen, seated on a 
 broken fragment, was deeply pondering what he heard ; 
 and Alick, in whose arms little Charley had fallen 
 asleep through fatigue, had his countenance lighted 
 up with a gladness which he seemed desirous of check- 
 ing, or at least of disguising, but he could not. He 
 had longed to witness a direct attack on either side, 
 where little more than light skirmishing had hitherto 
 taken place ; and now his wish was gratified. 
 
 ^ The Gentile,^ thought he, ' takes all his argu- 
 ments out of the New Testament without owning it. 
 I have read all that about Melchizedek in theEpistle to 
 the Hebrews, or I am much mistaken ; but Da Costa 
 thinks it is all new. Why does not he read for him- 
 self, so as to remember it ? And why does he not 
 now give a reason for disbelieving what the other 
 says ? Oh, that I myself knew how much to believe, 
 and how much to reject of these things!' The con- 
 sciousness of unsatisfied doubt again saddened his 
 looks ; and before any one could remark the smile of 
 pleasure, it had passed away. 
 
 ' What a persevering fellow is that Irishman/ said 
 
 17* 
 
198 
 
 Da Costa the next time he was alone with AHck. 
 * Of just such stuff, I should imagine, were the pro- 
 selytes of other days made ; noble aspiring tempers, 
 who hovered about Judaism like the moth around the 
 flame, till they were caught and blended with the all- 
 conquering element.' 
 
 * Were you in any way staggered by his arguments V 
 asked Alick. 
 
 ' No ; but I was mortified at being unable to an- 
 swer him, through my imperfect knowledge of a book 
 in which we ought at least to be as well read as any 
 Gentile. Of course, he got his interpretations from 
 commentators of his own creed ; and he has studied 
 them to good purpose.' 
 
 ' No, he told me the contrary, he was on service, 
 thinking of nothing but military fame, knowing and 
 caring nothing about religion of any sort, when by 
 some means he got alarmed as to the state he was in 
 before God. It was in a wild part of India, far from 
 any minister, or any books except the Bible ; and for 
 a year that was his only teacher, his only comfort. 
 He there learned all that he knows of religion ; and 
 on returning home, instead of sitting down, as he says, 
 to find out what other men had thought of the matter, 
 he tried to rouse the minds of those around him who 
 had never thought about it at all. He declares it 
 was the Bible alone that led him to take such an in- 
 terest in our people ; and. from that he gets his argu- 
 ments to prove that we are in darkness.' 
 
 * In other words, he comes to our armoury for a 
 sword to cut our throats with.' 
 
199 
 
 Yes ; and to tell you the truth, I think it a pity we 
 don't go there ourselves for a shield to defend them.' 
 
 ^ That's true : but he refers only to the written word, 
 whereas we have the oral law, equally binding, and 
 requiring a vast deal more study than you or I could 
 bestow to acquaint ourselves with it' 
 
 ' Still,' said Alick, ' as he neither quotes nor recog- 
 nizes any thing of ours, but Moses and the Prophets, 
 I don't see why we should not enable ourselves to meet 
 him there.' 
 
 ' But we cannot rightly interpret these books with- 
 out the help of our learned Rabbis, w^ho devoted their 
 lives to the discovery of hidden meanings, not discerni- 
 ble to such as we.' 
 
 ' Then they are not discernible to him,' rejoined 
 Alick, ' so we shall still be on a par. Besides, to tell 
 you the truth, I do not think that God would so write 
 his book as to make falsehood appear on the face of 
 it, and leave truth to be discovered only by those who 
 have learning, and leisure for intense study.' 
 
 Da Costa shook his head: ' Have a care, Cohen; 
 you are on dangerous ground.' 
 
 ^ No, I think not ; take any passage in the prophe- 
 cies, touching our national preservation, restoration, 
 triumph and perpetuity — we understand, we believe, 
 and rejoice in it. But listen to a Gentile commenta- 
 tor, you will hear him setting aside the plain meaning 
 as figurative, typical, and all that ; and claiming for 
 himself and his uncircumcised brethren, what God has 
 promised to the seed of Abraham alone — and all by 
 virtue of a hidden meaning!' 
 
 Da Costa was struck by this argument, ' You are 
 
200 judah's lion.* 
 
 right, my lad : there lies enough on the surface for us 
 to glean a profitable harvest. Shall we begin to study- 
 in earnest, a la Ryan V 
 
 * I am past beginning : I have been at it pretty 
 hard for weeks.' 
 
 It was agreed that they should read the Hebrew 
 scriptures together daily ; and Alick felt happier than 
 he had done for some time : nor was his pleasure les- 
 sened when Da Costa proposed that they should oc- 
 casionally look into the New Testament to see, as he 
 said, how the Christians contrived to twist to their own 
 purposes and meanings the words of truth. * With all 
 my heart,' said Alick : but just remember one thing, 
 Da Costa : I have a great dislike to caUing names.* 
 
 ' You are right,' replied the noble Israehte. Scur- 
 rility can form no part of a gentleman's religion; 
 from me you will hear no word of railing reproach, 
 in reference to what we both most heartily disbelieve 
 and detest' 
 
 Alick could not stand this appeal to his honesty * 
 he boldly said, ' I am far from being persuaded that I 
 am bound to detest what, however, I cannot say that I 
 believe : the character of Jesus is a very lovely one, so 
 far as I can see ; and surely I may regard it with re- 
 spect, while rejecting his claims to the Messiahship.' 
 
 ' You will see there is no mediurai,' observed Da 
 Costa, very composedly. ' However, our plan will 
 put an end to your doubts, if any exist ; for I know no 
 better way to guard a man against these idolatrous 
 inventions, than to investigate the clumsy fabrications 
 on which they are grounded, I found it so myself; 
 a cursory perusal of that book which they have pre- 
 
201 
 
 sumed to bind up with our sacred writings, left me 
 quite proof against the theological devices of all the 
 Nazarenes beneath the sun.' 
 
 The eve of Mr. Cohen's departure was spent chiefly 
 in private discourse between him and his son, ' I wish 
 you, my dear boy,' he said, • to cultivate the friendship 
 of Da Costa ; for he is the very soul of integrity, and 
 in every way a delightful, a valuable companion for 
 you : yet in my own place, I would prefer leaving the 
 Ryans, as already settled ; not only because they 
 have sacrificed their convenience and altered all their 
 plans for our accommodation, but that, really, I find 
 my respect for, my confidence in them, daily increased. 
 For myself, Alick, I am not so strong as I was, nor 
 can w^e penetrate the decrees of the Most High, as to 
 whether He will revive and restore me or otherwise : 
 but this I know, that my firm trust is in Him who has 
 not said to the house of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.' 
 
 After a short silence, which Alick had not power to 
 break, Mr. Cohen asked, ^ What was the name of that 
 honest gunner on board our old ship V 
 
 ' Gordon, sir,' answered Alick ; in whose bosom 
 the question excited other emotions besides that of 
 pleased surprise. Much excellent advice and ex- 
 pressions of paternal love on the one side, responded 
 to by promises of obedience, and the overflowings of 
 grateful affection on the other, closed this interview. 
 Alick scarcely slept that night : prayers for his dear 
 father, and thoughts of home that almost tempted him 
 to insist on returning, occupied the hours. But at 
 early dawn he was roused by the voice of Da Costa, 
 who spoke of an- arrangement made with the Ryans 
 
202 JUDAH S LION. 
 
 to start for Jerusalem on the following day ; and this, 
 as he conjectured it would, greatly softened to Alick 
 the pang of bidding a long farewell to his fond parent. 
 As the little vessel scudded away from the land, the 
 two young Hebrews mounted a rising ground, to gaze 
 on its lessening sails ; and Da Costa exclaimed, 
 'Lord, how long? Still must the children of thy 
 chosen come to these shores, the guests of a day, and 
 depart into renewed exile ? Oh, when wilt thou set 
 thine hand to gather us from the four winds, and plant 
 thy people once more upon the holy mountain, Jeru- 
 salem ! Lord, how long V 
 
 No time was lost in arranging for the journey for- 
 ward : and with many delightful anticipations of what 
 was in store for them, the strangers — that is to say 
 Mrs. Ryan, Charley, and Alick, watched the progress 
 of preparation in which Da Costa took the lead. 
 Horses were provided, and a little seat for Charles 
 was, by the clever contrivance of his father, so 
 arranged on the front of his own saddle as to secure 
 the boy both from danger and the fatigue he must 
 otherwise have encountered, unless, — which he would 
 by no means consent to, — he was so carried as to 
 deprive him of a look-out on all sides. 
 
 ' 1 will see every bit of the country, so I will,' said 
 Charley ; ' for it is God's own land, and there is no 
 other like it all over the world.' 
 
 'The earth is the Lord's,' remarked his mother: 
 ' and every country throughout the whole world is 
 Hi.s.' 
 
 ' I know it, mamma ; but not like this. Everybody 
 has other places, but nobody has the Holy Land.' 
 
203 
 
 * I should like to hear you make that out,' said Da 
 Costa, who was improving the fashion of a cap to 
 defend the little fellow's eyes from the hot sun. 
 
 ' I can't make it out very well for you, Mr^ Dockster ; 
 but sure I know what I know, and I know what I 
 think, though I can't put it in words.' 
 
 * Well, but try, Charley : let us know what you 
 think too.' 
 
 ' Why then, did'nt God give you this land all to 
 yourselves entirely, Mr. Jews V asked the boy, ad- 
 dressing his two friends. 
 
 ' Ay, that he did,' answered Da Costa ; and Alick 
 added, < every inch of it, Charley, to Abraham, and to 
 his seed after him, for ever.' 
 
 * That's it, that's it,' shouted the little boy, taking a 
 jump like a young kid. ' He did'nt give it to any 
 body else then.' 
 
 Never — never!' 
 
 Here the little fellow's countenance changed to 
 great and serious earnestness ; he glided up to Da 
 Costa, and taking hold of the end of his sash, said, 
 ' Have you got the land now? have you?' and with- 
 out waiting for a reply, he went on, sorrowfully shak- 
 ing his head, ' No, you hav'nt, you hav'nt got it — 
 
 ' The cedars wave on Lebanon, 
 
 But Judah's statelier maids are gone.' 
 
 The well-remembered lines made Alick' s heart thrill. 
 Da Costa, who had never heard the child quote them 
 before, seemed overwhelmed with astonishment. 
 Charley then, with great rapidity, went on ; ^ So it 
 isn't anybody-else's, and you havn't got it; and it's 
 
204 judah's lion. 
 
 just like my blue coat that was made too big for me, 
 and mamma keeps it locked up till I grow bigger ; 
 and it's mine, and nobody else's ; but it's mamma's 
 till I get it — and so, and so, — that's what I think, you 
 darling of a Jew !' and then, by means of Da Costa's 
 sash and arm he climbed up, — a manoeuvre that Alick 
 had taught him — and hung round his neck. 
 
 ^ Well said, my boy !' exclaimed Captain Ryan, 
 who with ineffable delight had listened to his expla- 
 nation. ^ This land is the Lord's in a most peculiar 
 sense indeed ; and in proof that howsoever it may be 
 occupied during the interval of liis dear people's dis- 
 persion, it actually belongs to no other race, he shuts 
 up its fertility, withholds the corn, the wine, the oil, 
 the milk and the honey, and everything that consti- 
 tuted it the glory of all lands, locking it up — no ex- 
 pression could better describe the thing — until the 
 time comes for the renewed occupancy of those to 
 whom it so truly appertains. What say you. Da 
 Costa?' 
 
 ' I say, Captain Ryan,' answered the Jew, who had 
 all the while been caressing Charles most fondly, 
 ' that a man with such arrows as this in his quiver 
 may well stand in the gate, and face every enemy. 
 The blessing of the race you love be upon you, boy ! 
 there is more in that young mind than I can fathom.' 
 
 They set out, and all was sunshine around them. 
 How often does the morning beam rest brightly where, 
 before evening's fall, the clouds shall gather, and the 
 storm burst, and desolation overspread a path where 
 the pilgrim looked only for peace and joy ! 
 
; tijj^fcfe^iil^jbi jj^ - 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The cavalcade that left the walls of Jaffa, though 
 not an extensive, was yet a respectable one. Recent 
 events had opened the route considerably more than 
 might have been anticipated fifty years before ; but 
 it still was a difficult, and frequently an unsafe road. 
 The wandering Arab's hand, restrained by powerful 
 authority, was still against every man ; and theft, if 
 nothing worse, might be apprehended, in the absence 
 of due precaution. Our travellers, therefore, were 
 well armed, and sufficiently attended. Alick, to his 
 infinite delight, found himself on the back of a most 
 frolicksome young horse ; and Da Costa, equally well 
 mounted, fully partook in the exhilaration of spirit 
 that rose beyond control. Often, when the road per- 
 mitted, the young men resigned themselves to the 
 discretion of their fleet and fiery Arabian steeds, 
 making wide circuits at a wild full gallop, and re- 
 turning in breathless glee to their more sedate but 
 not less cheerful companions. It was during one of 
 these their excursive expeditions that Mrs. Ryan took 
 the opportunity of remarking to her husband ' I did 
 not think Alick would have approached Jerusalem 
 in such buoyant spirits.' 
 
 ' Dear boy !' answered Captain Ryan, ' he has 
 been heavily oppressed of late ; and this ebullition 
 
 18 
 
206 judah's lion. 
 
 of youthful joyousness is quite natural. Do you not 
 feel a gladdening influence in the soft, balmy air, the 
 brilliant sunbeams, the gorgeous tints of those rich 
 flowers, relieved by patches of verdure almost rival- 
 ling that of our own emerald isle — that v^aving line 
 of majestic mountains, and the combination of mag- 
 nificence with tender beauty that perpetually meets 
 your eye V 
 
 ' I do, my love : but yet' — she hesitated, and hung 
 her head over the bridle that she had been knotting 
 round her fingers — 
 
 ^ But what, Ellen, dearest? go on and tell me all.' 
 
 ' Indeed, indeed, Robert, I cannot feel joyous. 
 These things do, as you say, gladden me by their 
 loveliness, but the feeling is momentary. My heart 
 is sad : my spirit mourns and cries ^' Ichabod." For 
 alas ! " How hath the Lord covered the daughter of 
 Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from 
 heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and re- 
 membered not his footstool in the day of his anger ! 
 The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of 
 Jacob, and hath not pitied ; he hath thrown down in 
 his wrath the strong-holds of the daughter of Judah : 
 he hath brought them down to the ground : he hath 
 polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof." ' 
 
 She repeated these words of the prophet in a voice 
 so musically sad, that it attracted the notice of some 
 of the attendants, and one of them, a very fine young 
 Syrian, drew near to listen to her tones. Charley, 
 who had been shouting with delight at the equestrian 
 exploits of his friends, was also arrested by them ; 
 and the change that came over his countenance was 
 
207 
 
 vei^y marked. He glanced at the listening foreigner 
 and said, ^ Papa, tell that nasty Turk to keep away 
 from lis.' 
 
 ' Fie, Charles : what has the poor fellow done to 
 oiTend you ; or to provoke such an unbecoming ex- 
 pression?' 
 
 ' Why he is a Turk, and has got Jerusalem aw^ay 
 from the Jews : and he hates the Jews, and so I don't 
 want him to come poking here, listening to what we 
 say, papa.' 
 
 ' It would be a pity he should hear what you say, 
 certainly!' replied Captain Ryan, half smiling ; ' but 
 in the first place he cannot understand our language ; 
 in the next place he is no Turk ; and lastly, of what- 
 soever nation he might be, he is a man, and my little 
 boy must not forget the Apostle's injunction, to " ho- 
 nour all men." ' 
 
 ' Oh, papa, I am very sorry, I quite forgot that : 
 but are you sure he is not a Turk, Papa V 
 
 ' Yes, he is a Christiain, in name at least : but bye 
 and bye we shall see more Turks than we have yet 
 done, and I hope you will indulge no ill-will against 
 them, poor fellows !' 
 
 Charley shook his head ; his prejudices were strong, 
 and to avoid giving any promise he turned to his 
 mother; ^ Mamma, don't you hate the Turks?' 
 
 ^ Hate them, my dear ? no : on the contrary I feel 
 greatly interested for them.' 
 
 Charley seemed quite at fault : however, to his 
 great relief, the two Jews now trotted up, and he 
 bawled out at the top of his little voice, ' Mr. Dock- 
 ster 1 Mr. AUck ! don't you hate the Turks?' 
 
208 
 
 ^ Not at all,' replied Da Costa, laughing: and Alick 
 added, ' Such respectable-looking personages, Charley, 
 with turbans and beards, and famous long pipes, who 
 can help admiring them V 
 
 To the surprise of the party, the little fellow burst 
 into a fit of angry crying, and said, ' Nobody loves 
 the poor dear Jews but me !' 
 
 Mrs. Ryan began to expostulate ; Alick to soothe ; 
 but Da Costa, after fixing a look of deep anxiety on 
 his face, drew close to Captain Ryan, and whispered, 
 ' He is ill.' 
 
 The father's arm trembled as he pressed the sob- 
 bing babe to his bosom, and said in the softest tone : 
 * Yes, the Lord loves the poor dear Jews far better 
 than my Charley can do.' 
 
 Smiling through his tears, the little fellow looked 
 up, stroked his father's face, and replied, ' I know it.' 
 The touch of that hot, dry hand was but too confir- 
 matory of Da Costa's whisper. Captain Ryan held 
 it to his lips, and in a cheerful, but still very soothing 
 voice, said, " Surely there is no enchantment against 
 Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel ; 
 according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of 
 Israel, What hath God wrought!" 
 
 ' Good, good!' cried Charley ; ' tell me some more 
 Bible, Papa, now we are in Bible-land.' 
 
 Meanwhile Da Costa had said something to Alick 
 that blanched his cheek ; but he made an effprt to 
 look unconcerned. Mrs. Ryan, ignorant of its imme- 
 diate cause, seemed pleased at the seriousness of 
 those whose thoughts she had expected to find more 
 in unison with her own. 
 
JltDAH's LION. 209 
 
 ^ I am glad you express no unkind or resentful feel- 
 ing against the poor Turks,' she said to Da Costa. 
 * They certainly had no hand in bringing calamity on 
 your people, and their prejudices are not stronger 
 against you than those of some who call themselves 
 Christians, and from whom, not from you, they wrest- 
 ed the land.' 
 
 ' True,' replied he : ' their quarrel was with the 
 Crusaders, with whom, I believe, you have little fel- 
 lowship of feeling ; and one of the first exploits of a 
 crusading corps, preparatory to marching against the 
 warlike Saracens, was to murder, with every aggra- 
 vation of cruelty, some community of unarmed, help- 
 less, unresisting Israelites in their own neighbour- 
 hood.' He spoke with cool contempt, but his cheek 
 burned with a fire that he strove to smother. 
 
 ^ Who did that?' asked Alick hastily. 
 
 ^ Rome,' replied Mrs. Ryan, ' You know the origin 
 of the Crusades: the Turks had conquered the holy 
 land, this holy land (and she looked round with glisten- 
 ing eyes) from the Romans, and established them- 
 selves in it, to the expulsion of all that bore the name, 
 however falsely, of Christianity. To recover this rich 
 possession, the Roman Pontiff brought into the mar- 
 ket his treasury of spiritual merchandizes, and gathered 
 armies out of every nation subjected to his yoke, mak- 
 ing it a work of merit sufficient for the purchase of an 
 eternal inheritance in heaven, to drive the Turk from 
 Palestine, and to re-establish the superstitious prac- 
 tices that, alas ! I fear we shall soon see in full dis- 
 play at what they call the holy sepulchre.' 
 
 The fiery animation, and exulting delight that 
 
 18* 
 
m 
 
 flashed from Da Costa's eyes, reminded her that a 
 wrong construction might be put on her words ; she 
 therefore corrected herself: ' I say, what they call 
 the holy sepulchre, because there is very strong 
 ground to question whether the spot over which they 
 have reared a church is indeed that where the body 
 of our blessed Lord was laid during the period that 
 intervened between his death and glorious resurrec- 
 tion. I, for one, hope it is not ; for grevious indeed 
 must it be to the eye of one who loves the Lord Jesus, 
 to behold the idolatrous abominations that are per- 
 petrated in His name, under a supposition that there 
 he was laid, and there burst the tomb. To return : 
 these crusading expeditions were led by kings, and 
 comprised the flower of every European land. They 
 were blessed to the work, plentifully supplied with 
 counter-charms to meet the supposed sorcery of the 
 Moslem ; and as a trial of martial prowess, an intro- 
 duction to the work of blood, and a peculiarly accept- 
 able sacrifice to the God of peace and mercy, tho 
 God of Israel, they were encouraged to seek out and 
 to massacre the Hebrew families who dwelt in their 
 respective countries. This they did, with every cir- 
 cumstance of cruelty that satanic malignity could sug- 
 gest, and persecuting execute, against the ancient 
 people of God. The Crusaders succeeded ; and pa- 
 pal Rome regained what pagan Rome had first ac- 
 quired — even the Holy City of Jerusalem !' 
 
 ' We are now,' said Captain Ryan, ' crossing from, 
 the portion of Dan into that of Ephraim.' 
 
 ' Yes,' added Da Costa, ^ and we shall recross into 
 that of Dan, for a very little space ; then into the lot 
 
JUDAHS LION. 211 
 
 of Benjamin, thence to that of Judah, vain words ! 
 Dan, Ephraim, Benjamin, Judah — where are they?' 
 
 ' Preparing to retm-n and repossess the land which 
 God gave to them and to their seed for ever — for an 
 everlasting possession,' exclaimed Captain Ryan. 
 
 Charley, whose looks bore witness to the fervency 
 of his eagerness while listening to his mother, now 
 said, ' Mamma, how came the Turks back again ? 
 Did they drive the Papists out V 
 
 ' Yes, my dear : Jerusalem, Antioch, and Edessa, 
 were the only places the Crusaders could master. 
 Syria, and Palestine, where we now are, remained in 
 the hands of the Fatimites, a clan of Mahommedans ; 
 but Jerusalem was retaken by the Sultan of Egypt in 
 1187, and after more than a hundred years' fighting 
 and struggling to get it back again, the armies of the 
 Pope were finally driven away by the Turks, who 
 have kept it ever since.' 
 
 ' And now Charley,' said Captain Ryan, ' these 
 poor Turks have no Bible ; they know not God's pro- 
 mises to his dear people Israel, but consider that in 
 holding possession of this fair land they do no more 
 than keep what their fathers bravely won from men 
 who pretend to be believers in the Holy Bible, and 
 yet would as soon persecute a Jew to death for being 
 a Jew, as they would a Turk for being a Turk. Do 
 you wonder, my boy, that our feelings towards the 
 poor Turks are different from those of the Romanists, 
 who think it a mark of piety to hate them V 
 
 ' I'll tell you what, papa,' cried Charley, almost 
 rising out of his snug seat with the animation that 
 firec^ \iim. ' It was Popery itself taught me to hate 
 
212 
 
 the Turks. When I was Uttle, you know I did be 
 very fond of Judy O'Keefe, down the bogside, down 
 there by' — his father interrupted him, ' I remember 
 it well, Charley, though to be sure it must be a great 
 while since you were little : she used to give you fresh 
 eggs, and let you play with her young chickens. Weil, 
 what about Judy and the Turks V 
 
 ' Oh, Papa, sure I went and talked to Judy all 
 about the Jews and the Holy City Jerusalem ; and 
 she said a pilgrimage to Jerusalem would save any 
 soul ; and she said the bad wicked Turks had driven 
 God's people out of it, so as they couldn't get in to 
 make pilgrimages ; and, papa, I thought God's peo- 
 ple meant the Jews, and so I came to hate the Turks, 
 so I did.' 
 
 ' No, no, my boy, the Turks never drove the Jews 
 out, though I don't suppose they would be willing to 
 let them in again : but if those whom poor Judy calls 
 God's people had possession of it, they would proba- 
 bly put to death any son of Abraham who should 
 dare to set foot in the city of his fathers — the city of 
 his God.' 
 
 * This is the way we are all misled,' observed Mrs. 
 Ryan. ' Our youthful sympathies are enlisted on 
 the side of the crusaders, and we receive from the 
 elegant pages of Tasso, and from the glowing recitals 
 of history as penned by, or copied from, the disciples 
 of Rome, such impressions as steel our hearts against 
 a people who might be found more accessible to 
 the truths of the gospel than many, at a far greater 
 distance, to whom we are constantly despatching 
 Missionaries.' 
 
judah's lion. 213 
 
 ' Ay/ rejoined her husband, ^ and there are two 
 points in the Turkish character that shouhl yield us 
 special encouragement ; first they show far more re- 
 spect to the Jew than to the idolater who falsely bears 
 the name of Christian ; and secondly, they not only 
 honour the name and the law of Moses, but they do 
 actually at this time look for the coming of our Mes- 
 siah, after the lapse of a few years, and believe that 
 he shall triumphantly reign in this very land, Jerusa- 
 lem being the chief seat of his government. This I 
 have repeatedly heard from their own lips.' 
 
 ^ And is it possible,' asked Mrs. Ryan ; ' that these 
 facts should be knowm, and yet no attempt made to 
 improve such manifest advantages to the welfare of 
 their immortal souls V 
 
 ' Popery, my dear. Popery has a terrible account to 
 give in this matter ; but we too are very guilty.' 
 
 During this conversation, Da Costa had ridden on 
 in perfect silence, after his involuntary interruption ; 
 and there was that in his countenance which be- 
 tokened a train of thought most absorbingly interest- 
 ing. He seemed to be revolving in his mind some- 
 thing that wholly possessed it, evidently arising out of 
 what he heard. Alick, who had passed over as a 
 merely mechanical process, such outlines of history as 
 his school-education had required him to learn by rote, 
 listened with intense eagerness to every word spoken ; 
 and often did the proud glance turned towards tho 
 majestic mountain-summits of Judea, bespeak his 
 heartfelt conviction that let Turk or Christian enjoy 
 the transient occupation of that land, the true, the un- 
 alienable right to its possession was his. 
 
214 
 
 Charley, on whose dimpled cheeks the crimson tint 
 that usually came and went with every speech he ut- 
 tered, had now established itself in two broad, well- 
 defined and deepening spots of hectic character, was 
 very talkative, and made several striking remarks : 
 until Da Costa, suddenly roused from his reverie, 
 encountered the anxious eye of Captain Ryan, and 
 in the same adroit whisper as before, said, * Keep him 
 quiet.' 
 
 This was not easily done : Charley had taken a 
 sudden interest in the Turks, as men whom he had 
 wrongfully despised and dishked ; and in language 
 rather incoherent, he was urging on Alick the duty of 
 preaching Christ to them : a subject that seemed 
 sadly to embarrass his friend. They had pursued 
 their progress under a glowing sun, perpetually de- 
 lighted by some new burst of scenery peculiar to the 
 land, when a sudden darkness overcast the sky ; and 
 long before they could reach even a place of tempo- 
 rary shelter, the most penetrating rain descended, 
 setting at nought their best attempts at repelling its 
 soaking power. Captain Ryan bent over his precious 
 boy, who was also covered with the folds of his light, 
 waterproof cloak ; but the consideration that it was 
 also air-proof, and therefore calculated to condense 
 and detain, and most perniciously to return in cold 
 damps the exlialations of a body so closely wrapped 
 and inevitably overheated, distracted his mind. At 
 times he thought of throwing all open, and exposing 
 the child to the more genial rain of heaven ; but 
 sleep had overcome the little fellow, and he dared not 
 venture on such an experiment. Da Costa's looks of 
 
215 
 
 anxious distress increased his uneasy feelings ; and 
 secret prayer alone upheld his spirit in an hour of no 
 common trial. 
 
 Alick, meanwhile, was devoting himself to the task 
 of warding off from Mrs. Ryan the heavy torrents 
 that fell. She was, like most of her countrywomen, a 
 most excellent equestrian, and her easy self-possession 
 was of great value. But the road here became rug- 
 ged, the rain increased, the horses gave evident token 
 of unwillingness to proceed, and their attendant 
 owners closed in, protesting against any perseverance 
 in the attempt to reach their destination, Ramleh, 
 that night. Captain Ryan was disposed to acquiesce, 
 under extreme solicitude for Charley, but Da Costa 
 knowing what unspeakably wretched quarters they 
 must put up with at the proposed halt, strenuously 
 resisted it. High words ensued, between him and the 
 natives guides, the purport of which being known 
 only to Captain Ryan, did not alarm him so much as 
 the vehement oriental gesticulation of the parties 
 startled his companions. At length the Syrian who 
 had offended Charley, interposed, strongly urging a 
 halt, and giving Captain Ryan in an under-tone such 
 cogent reasons for it, founded on the very questionable 
 character of his comrades, and accompanied with a 
 promise of very early resuming the journey, that he 
 deemed it better to acquiesce. 
 
 They dismounted, therefore, at the spot selected by 
 their guides, and a dreary place it was ! four low 
 rugged walls, surmounted by a flat roof that admitted 
 the rain through a hundred fissures, without window 
 or chimney, and for a door a shapeless slab of stone, 
 
216 judah's lion, 
 
 formed the miserable dwelling into which the whole 
 party, including the horses and their guides, pressed 
 together; taking up their lodging to the best advan- 
 tage they could on the shppery-floor. It was then 
 that the graces of hospitality shone forth in those lords 
 of the soil who, like their father Abraham, possessed 
 not so much of it as would yield support to the sole of 
 their foot. The two Hebrew gentlemen at once, and 
 in a way that defied all opposition, laid hands on 
 whatever could conduce to the comfort of the lady 
 and her child: the young Syrian horseman heartily 
 seconded them ; and though not without some grum- 
 bling, and looks by no means friendly, the others 
 yielded their slight saddles and bags, and whatever 
 was not saturated with the rain, to form a sort of 
 couch, over which they spread a large rug, which Da 
 Costa, better prepared for such a sudden change of 
 weather and circumstances, had rolled up within an 
 oil- skin covering. This being arranged, the next care 
 was to provide somewhat of a table, on which they 
 placed refreshments, such as could be produced on an 
 emergency so unlooked-for. Da Costa, while press- 
 ing on Mrs. Ryan a portion of the little store, said, ^ I 
 have no flocks, whence to select a kid, nor meal 
 wherewith to form a cake ; but trust me, dear Ma- 
 dam, when it shall please the Lord our God to restore 
 to us the inheritance of our fathers, and to the land 
 her rich fertility, the choicest of all we possess will be 
 in our estimation a poor offering to the friends who 
 have sheltered us in the hour of persecution, sympa- 
 thized in our sorrows, and are now belonging to re- 
 
judah's lion. 217 
 
 joice in the joy that will yet gladden the way-worn 
 sons of Jacob.' 
 
 Before Mrs. Ryan could reply, an exclamation from 
 Alick, who had just taken Charley on his lap, arrested 
 her. The boy had been in a deep sleep for some 
 time before their halt, nor had any of the movements 
 that ensued broken his slumber. Now, however, he 
 had opened his eyes, and their wild, bloodshot appear- 
 ance, as he rolled them on surrounding objects, and 
 finally fixed their vacant stare on Alick's face, with- 
 out any semblance of recognition, had surprised the 
 youth into an interjection of alarm. Captain Ryan 
 had gone to the farthest end of the long narrow 
 apartment, to make some enquiry of his Syrian friend, 
 with whom he was much pleased ; but his wife's 
 distressed accents caught his ear, which Alick's voice 
 had failed to attract, and he hastened back, to find 
 her bending over the child, exclaiming in mingled 
 terror and amazement, ' Oh what is this ! What can 
 have happened to my boy !' 
 
 'Fatigue, damp, excitement,' said Captain Ryan, 
 as he took the little burning hand in his, ' have over- 
 powered the poor babe. ' Charley, vein of my heart ! 
 speak to papa, tell him what ails you.' 
 
 But Charley spoke not ; fever was on him to an 
 extent that overpowered all consciousness, and when 
 they laid a finger on his tiny wrist, the throb of the 
 vein was fearful. 
 
 The father's heart, and the mother's heart — who 
 shall declare their secret writhings under the dread 
 that wrung them ! but they were outwardly calm ; 
 for the peace of those whose minds are stayed on the 
 
 19 
 
218 judah's lion. 
 
 Lord was there. Alick, on the contrary, was agitated 
 beyond control : he clasped the poor child to his 
 bosom, and wept over him, exclaiming, ' O Charley, 
 Charley ! is this your welcome to the land of Israel ? 
 
 ' Be quiet, Cohen,' said Da Costa ; and then in a 
 voice of the most marked solemnity, and with an 
 emphasis so evident, that it sent dismay into the 
 hearts of his hearers, he added, ^ This is not death. 
 
 The parents looked up at him : he stood with 
 folded arms, his eyes fixed on the child, his brow 
 bent, his lips compressed, and feelings, the intensity 
 of which was the more apparent from his usually 
 dehghted aspect when gazing on that boy, worked in 
 his countenance. Christian zeal ever glows brighter 
 when the Refiner heightens the furnace in which he 
 purifies his silver ; Captain Ryan stood erect, and 
 looking earnestly at his Jewish friend said, ' And if it 
 be death, what is it but the gate of life to the babe — 
 the little one who believes in Christ as his only, his 
 all-sufficient Saviour ?' 
 
 No notice was taken of this : Da Costa laid his 
 hand on the broad little forehead, and said, ' I know 
 these symptoms well: he is dehrious, and it may 
 become more palpable ; but be calm, and avoid ex- 
 citing him in any way. In our present circumstances, 
 sleep is the only medicine within our reach. To- 
 morrow we shall, by a comparatively short and easy 
 journey, reach Ramleh — our ancient Ramah.' 
 
 It was now that, for the first time, Mrs. Ryan's 
 fortitude gave way ; she had taken away the boy in 
 her arms, and her tears burst over his insensible form 
 as she sobbed out, ^ Oh, not to Ramah !' „ 
 
219 
 
 * Why not to Ramah V asked Da Costa : there is 
 no nearer place on our route for what you require.' 
 
 Mrs. Ryan shook her head; her tears fell faster 
 than ever over the little sufferer ; and Alick, drawing 
 his friend aside, repeated to him in accents that 
 trembled with emotion, the words of the Prophet 
 Jeremiah, " A voice was heard in Ramah, lamenta- 
 tion and bitter weeping ; Rachel weeping for her 
 children, refused to be comforted for her children, 
 because they were not." 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The first day's journey, leisurely as it had been, 
 and abruptly terminated, brought our travellers over 
 a much less space of ground than they had supposed ; 
 and its general character of tranquil beauty, fragrance, 
 and unobstructed smoothness, would have ill pre- 
 pared them for what was to follow ; but Da Costa 
 forewarned them of the change that would take place 
 soon after leaving Ramah, and urged their continuance 
 at that station until the issue of the little boy's illness 
 should be known. Captain Ryan was disposed to 
 acquiesce ; but his wife, though she offered no oppo- 
 sition to their plans, evidently shrank from the ar- 
 rangement ; and, while he almost marvelled at the 
 unwonted weakness of a mind, the strength of which 
 had often proved a support to his own, he could not 
 press the point. He ended the conference by saying, 
 'Let all these thoughts for the morrow be abandoned : 
 to Ramleh we must necessarily proceed: but our 
 farther course may be left to the direction of a higher 
 wisdom than ours. If I could see you composed to 
 sleep, Ellen, it would lighten my present anxiety not 
 a little : be persuaded to lie down, and leave the boy 
 to us.' 
 
 * Do, dear Mrs. Ryan,' said Alick ; ' I will promise, 
 ay swear, not to take my eyes off his darling face till 
 
judah's lion. 221 
 
 you wake, if you will only get a little rest after all this 
 trying work.' 
 
 ' And I,' said Da Costa, ^ will hold his hand in 
 mine ; and if even an unsatisfactory movement of 
 the pulse takes place, you shall be roused. Trust 
 him to us: or rather,' he added in a voice unusually 
 sweet and solemn, ' leave him to the Watchman of 
 Israel, who never slumbers; the Shepherd who car- 
 ries the lambs in his bosom.' 
 
 She lifted her eyes to their faces, and exclaimed, 
 ' O kind, generous sons of Abraham, would that ^ou 
 were under the guardianship of that Watchman — 
 gathered into the fold of that Shepherd !' 
 
 * So we are,' replied Alick. 
 
 * Not in the sense she means,' remarked Da Costa. 
 ^ Christians apply the title differenlly from us : but 
 apply them how you will, dear Madam, so that they 
 relieve your mind from its present over-weight.' He 
 then added, ^ Believe me, you will need to have all 
 your powers, bodily and mental, unimpaired to meet 
 the difficulties that lie in our onward path.' 
 
 ' I know it ; but I am not fatigued, nor drowsy, nor 
 in any need of rest. I only want a cordial to refresh 
 my spirit' 
 
 ' Well, give me your bible, Ryan,' said the Jew, 
 with unruffled countenance ; and opening at the book 
 of Jeremiah, he proceeded: ^ You seem to have some 
 painful thoughts connected with this town of Ramleh, 
 and I must claim the exercise of your sympathy in our 
 destinies to remove those thoughts. Few passages 
 are more pregnant with delightful hope than this :' 
 he then read, beginning with the verse that Alick 
 
 19* 
 
222 judah's lion. 
 
 had quoted, and proceeding without a pause, " Thus 
 saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping, and 
 thine eyes from tears ; for thy work shall be rewarded, 
 saith the Lord ; and they shall come again from the 
 land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, 
 saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to 
 their own border." ' So, you see, the weeping of 
 Rachel, however bitter, is not a hopeless weeping : 
 the tribes, her scattered children, for whom she la- 
 ments as though they were not, shall be gathered 
 again : for listen, a little farther on the prophet says, 
 " Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel. 
 As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah, 
 and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again the 
 captivity. The Lord bless thee, O habitation of jus- 
 tice and mountain of holiness. And there shall dwell 
 in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, 
 husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks : for 
 I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished 
 every sorrowful soul. Upon this I awaked and be- 
 held, and my sleep was sweet unto me." What pos- 
 sible interpretation can you put upon this, to deprive 
 it of its literal, obvious meaning V 
 
 ' None,' answered Captain Ryan : ' to Israel the 
 promise undoubtedly belongs, and it breathes the rich 
 strain of assurance to them as a nation, to deny or 
 explain away which I should deem a sacrilegious 
 offence ; to you belongs the word of encouragement 
 tell you that the Lord hath not finally cast off his 
 people, nor forgotten that his covenant was made 
 with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their seed for ever, 
 and that it includes also the possession of this land, 
 
223 
 
 which He gave unto them But my dear friend, we 
 poor Gentiles, beUeving that the Lord is nigh unto all 
 that call upon him, without respect of persons, where 
 spiritual blessings are concerned ; believing the 
 word of your prophets also, who repeatedly testify 
 of the participation promised to us in those ever- 
 lasting mercies which pertain to a heavenly inheri- 
 tance — we, too, find a word of comfort addressed 
 to our souls in the passage you have been reading. 
 The first part, the lamentation of Rachel for her 
 children ' — 
 
 ^ I know how you apply that,' interrupted Da Costa. 
 ' The slaughter of infants in Bethlehem, by that san- 
 guinary, usurping despot Herod is related with a quo- 
 tation from it. Letting that pass, to what possible 
 use can you turn the rest' 
 
 * To me,' said Mrs. Ryan, ' it speaks of the resur- 
 rection of the body, it comforts the weeping mother 
 with the assured hope of a re-union with her lost 
 children in the day of that first, glorious resurrection, 
 when all who are the Lord's, shall rise to meet him 
 at his coming.' 
 
 Da Costa had an answer ready : but he glanced at 
 the child, at the pale, anxious face of the fond mother, 
 and feeling that he could not then combat her infer- 
 ences, he closed the book, saying 'Well, my dear 
 Madam, I rejoice that the cordial for which you 
 wished has been supplied : in truth, it is large enough 
 to admit of our sharing it.' He spoke smilingly, and 
 from courtesy rather than conviction ; but AHck had 
 been struck, as though he had never before heard of 
 such a thing, with the beautiful arrangement of God's 
 
224 
 
 word, by which both Jew and Gentile might appro- 
 priate spiritually that which, in its primary literal 
 sense belongs to the former ; and thence he was led 
 to ponder the question whether such spiritual inter- 
 pretation was not equally needful to both. ' This 
 goodly land,' thought he, * may be but the type of a 
 better; and God's faithfulness in reserving it to us 
 may be the appointed pledge of his bringing us into 
 his own kingdom at last. They say Moses was a 
 type of Christ, and our sacrifices were types of his 
 offering himself up for us. If so, how extensive the 
 blessing! I don't see but that a Jewish mother 
 would take comfort in such a passage, so explained ; 
 and it does not interfere with our national rights — 
 but rather establishes them. I should like to under- 
 stand all this !' He remained in deep thought, and 
 the light that gradually broke on his soul was most 
 cheering. 
 
 Meanwhile Captain Ryan called his friend aside 
 and demanded of him his honest opinion respecting 
 Charley. Da Costa, with some reluctance answered 
 that, shortly before their arrival, he had witnessed 
 some cases of a most severe fever among children, 
 too often fatal, and which appeared to be also conta- 
 gious ; that he had seen Charley in the Bazaar, stand- 
 ing close beside a little Armenian boy, two of whose 
 family had died of it, and who himself had but re- 
 cently risen from the same bed of sickness : that he 
 had snatched Charley away, and having every hope 
 of his escaping any danger, he had refrained from 
 alarming them by mentioning it, but had watched 
 him most anxiously for a day or two. ^ My mind was 
 
225 
 
 then quite at ease,' he concluded, ' until this day, 
 when the symptoms that appeared struck me at once 
 as being identical with those I have witnessed in 
 Jaffa.' 
 
 i> ' And how long does this disease usually last, pre- 
 paratory to a fatal termination V 
 
 ' I cannot speak with any certainty to that point ; I 
 have seen it go on for a week ; I have seen it end 
 sooner. But why talk of a fatal issue ? I cannot 
 bear to anticipate that, how then can you V 
 
 ' By firmly believing, my dear Da Costa, that the 
 good Shepherd, even Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, 
 will carry this poor Gentile lamb in his tender bosom 
 to the green pastures of his heavenly fold.' 
 
 Da Costa turned away, but not in unkindness. 
 Ryan called him hack ; 'Tell me, will his reason re- 
 turn V 
 
 ^ Oh yes ; a little delirium at the outset, with occa- 
 sional wanderings under the paroxysms of fever, is all 
 that I have seen in these cases. His irritation con- 
 cerning the Turks, and his hurried loquacity after- 
 wards, gave me the alarm ; but remember I may be 
 mistaken. I know just enough of medicine to make 
 me nervous about those I love ; hardly enough to do 
 them any good.' 
 
 ' At Ramleh, what quarters shall we find V 
 
 ^ None so suitable as the convent.' 
 
 ' None that I would not sooner occupy !' exclaimed 
 Ryan. 
 
 The lapse of a few troubled hours saw the caval- 
 cade again ready : the weather had become more fa- 
 vourable, and again they set out under a brightening 
 
226 
 
 sky, Charley being placed under an ample panler, 
 balanced by some articles belonging to the baggage, 
 and slung across the back of a stout mule, whose 
 even, easy pace, had been remarked on the preceding 
 day. The boy appeared perfectly conscious, but un- 
 der some depression that deterred him from speaking. 
 His father led the animal, walking beside him, and 
 the two Hebrews alternately dismounted to steady 
 the panier, while the other rode beside Mrs. Ryan. 
 
 They had proceeded thus for a little way, when 
 Charley spoke. * What a nice warm sunshine, and a 
 sweet smell ! Where am I now?' 
 
 ^ In the Holy Land, my boy,' answered his father, 
 ^ we are crossing the plains near Ramah, and very 
 rich is the fragrance of the glowing flowers that sur- 
 round us, drawn forth by the sun's rays after the rains 
 of yesterday. It is a goodly land, Charles, and look- 
 ing about me now I can call it the glory of all 
 lands ; for if such it be in desolation and neglect, 
 Avhat would it be under the culture of its own tribes !' 
 
 ' Papa, I should like to look about me ; but some- 
 body has fastened my head down — I can't lift it' 
 
 Da Costa, who kept out of his sight, but intently 
 watched him, shrank back at hearing these words. 
 His gesture was noticed by Captain Ryan, who felt 
 its import. 
 
 The child remained silent and quiet ; the fever was 
 abated, and a dreamy stillness seemed to hang about 
 him, as he lay, smiling occasionally to himself in his 
 narrow baskets. After a while, Alick assumed Da 
 Costa's post, and, unable to keep back as he had 
 done, peeped into the panier. Charley was then 
 
227 
 
 seemingly asleep, but in a few seconds he opened his 
 eyes, though without appearing to take notice of any 
 thing about him, and almost laughed. Alick bent his 
 head lower, and in a soft whisper asked, ' Is my little 
 darling comfortable V 
 
 In a moment the boy's look was turned on him ; it 
 was bright but unsteady ; and he answered in the 
 same low tone, ' Mr. Alick, you don't know how 
 beautiful, how beautiful' — there he paused. 
 
 ' Is it the land, Charley ? the fair land that God 
 gave to my father Abraham ? but no, you can't see it, 
 lying down. Or is it the sunshine out of that deep 
 blue sky ? Oh, Charley, 'tis a glorious sky that God 
 has spread over my own land. You can see that, 
 dear ?' 
 
 ' Yes, but it is'nt that The beautiful things, Mr. 
 Alick, are in my mind, somehow, but I don't know 
 where they come from.' 
 
 ^ From God, Charley: or perhaps' — he bent his 
 face to the child's and whispered as low as if he feared 
 the sound of his own breath ^ perhaps from Jesus 
 Christ : He's your God, you know ; but not mine, not 
 exactly, not' — 
 
 Charley interrupted him, with the quick, abrupt 
 sp«,ech peculiar to him when roused, ' If he's any 
 body's God, then he's every body's God: he is ^our 
 God, Mr. Alick, I tell you He is.' 
 
 ^ Hush, darling, hush ! Well, at any rate this is 
 Palestine, this is the Holy Land.' 
 
 ' And Jesus Christ is its King ; and he is the King 
 of the Jews,' said Charley 
 
228 
 
 ' You are sick now, my little love, and must not be 
 contradicted.' 
 
 Yes, I may be contradicted, but God mustn't be 
 contradicted ; and He says, " Yet have I set my 
 King upon my holy hill of Zion." I tell you what, if 
 you don't kiss the Son, you'll be broke in bits like a 
 potter's vessel.' 
 
 This was spoken so loud, the voice caught his mo- 
 ther's ear, and in a moment her horse was close on 
 the heels of the steady old mule, and her neck eagerly 
 stretched out, till Charley caught a glimpse of her 
 face, and cried out, ' Mamma, my mind is full of 
 beautiful things.' 
 
 Before she could well answer, he had relapsed into 
 his slumbering state ; and Da Costa forbade any at- 
 tempt to rouse him. AHck walked on, silent, and 
 more deeply than ever pondering the one thing that 
 occupied his thoughts. Captain Ryan's quick ear 
 had caught all the dialogue except Alick's mysterious 
 whisper ; and the purport of that was easy to ascer- 
 tain from what preceded and followed it. His heart 
 was wrung by the anticipation of losing this precious 
 boy, but its language was, '' The will of the Lord be 
 done !" and again he thought over the child's ardent 
 desire to be a Missionary to Israel : and rejoiced in 
 its evident gratification. 
 
 Thus they passed on, and before mid-day they had 
 entered Ramah. The best accommodations to be 
 found were pitiable, compared with their need ; but 
 so long as little Charley could be undressed and 
 placed in a snug bed, his friends were satisfied. He 
 remained quiet, and Mrs. Ryan being also persuaded 
 
judah's lion. 229 
 
 to take some repose beside him, the three gentlemen 
 sallied into the town, in quest of what there was little 
 hope of obtaining — competent miedical advice. To 
 the Franciscan Convent they went, being told that a 
 Doctor was there, a Frank ; but the monk who an- 
 swered their call said he had left the place two days 
 before ; having only been a transient guest. ^ He 
 gave advice and medicine,' added he ; but we saw it 
 was only done to make way for his Bibles, which he 
 scattered about, and gave us no little trouble in col- 
 lecting them to' — ^here he stopped, as if afraid of going 
 too far. 
 
 ' To burn, I suppose,' said Captain Ryan. 
 
 ^ The books contained nothing that could concern 
 us ; we live in a mixed population, each following his 
 own way, according as he was brought up.' 
 
 ' But if none of those ways should happen to be the 
 right way, and a person comes to point it out to you 
 all, it seems to me that instead of concerning nobody, 
 it does, in an especial manner, concern every body,' 
 
 The monk's brow contracted ; ' As to the right way,' 
 said he, ' we know very well there is but one, and that 
 is the way the Catholic Church appoints.' 
 
 ^ I should rather say,' remarked Captain Ryan, 
 ' that the Church instead of choosing her own way is 
 bound to walk in that which God has marked out.' 
 
 But the monk had no talent, or no taste for contro- 
 versy ; with the same unmoved look, and in the same 
 monotonous tone, he repeated his former words, which 
 were evidently spoken by rote. AUck observed, ^ If 
 what your church says be true, it must agree with 
 
 20 
 
230 JUDAHS LION. 
 
 what is in the Bible, and therefore I don't see why 
 you should object to it.' 
 
 The monk lifted his sleepy eyes to the youth's face, 
 and again dropped them, muttering something that 
 sounded like a repetition of his former words. 
 
 Da Costa had been glancing round the room with 
 an aspect of restless impatience and half-suppressed 
 irritation ; he now spoke, and his voice rang through 
 the little, low-roofed apartment with electrifying 
 power. ^ We who are Jews, rejecting as we do the 
 whole system of Christianity, appeal to the Scriptures 
 as our warrant for such rejection. You, who have 
 added to God's word whatever you deem necessary to 
 authenticate your creed, dare not, it seems, bring your 
 rehgion to the touchstone of your own New Testa- 
 ment. How is this?' 
 
 The monk stared with a mixture of angry astonish- 
 ment and alarm, as Da Costa stood, proudly facing 
 him, with such a look of undisguised scorn and de- 
 fiance, that Captain Ryan was inclined to whisper a 
 caution, but forbore. The word Jews had been so 
 spoken as to reach the ears of some dosing members 
 of the brotherhood in an adjoining room ; and faces 
 were seen peeping with no very friendly expression, 
 through the intervening doorway. Meanwhile the 
 monk commenced crossing himself, and muttering 
 prayers, after which he dipped his fingers into a bowl 
 that stood near, and sprinkled the water between him- 
 self and the intruder. 
 
 ^ Exorcise as you may,' resumed the Jew, ^ you will 
 not succeed in laying the troublesome spirit. Perse- 
 cute as you can, bely, calumnate, torture and massacre 
 
judah's lion. 231 
 
 to the extent of your power, it will not avail. The 
 Jew, the hated Jew, will overmaster you yet ; here, 
 on the land of his fathers, he will plant his foot : and 
 from sea to sea shall no place be found to shelter the 
 desolating abomination that now defiles it.' 
 
 ' Are you not going too far V whispered Captain 
 Ryan. 
 
 ' No ;' he replied in English, • I am protected by 
 an authority to which they must bow, or I should 
 long since have followed the fate of one whom they 
 sacrificed, not here, but in the mountains whence this 
 goodly scion was transplanted ; and where, after this 
 meeting with me he will speedily return. At this 
 moment some infernal plot is ripening at Damascus, 
 and he is cognizant of it.' 
 
 By this time the superior had been summoned ; 
 who approaching with more courtesy than might have 
 been expected, asked their business at the convent. 
 He was told ; and immediately said he would send a 
 brother who was skilled in such cases, and who should 
 be at their quarters nearly as soon as themselves. He 
 then politely bade them farewell, and watched until 
 they quitted the convent door. 
 
 ' Now, forgive me, Ryan,' said Da Costa, ^ for I 
 certainly placed you in an unpleasant position ; but 
 hear my tale, briefly told. You know the hateful 
 charge brought against us by these lying monks, and 
 entertained more or less throughout the various classes 
 who usurp our land.' 
 
 ' What charge V asked Alick. 
 
 Da Costa looked at him with surprise ; then said, 
 speaking with bitter emphasis, ' The charge of blood; 
 
232 JTJDAH S LION. 
 
 they say that we, the seed of Abraham, knead our 
 passover bread with Christian blood ; to procure which, 
 we inveigle and murder them. That's the charge, 
 Cohen.' 
 
 ' And never since Satan began his career as the fa- 
 ther of lies did he produce a lie more diabolical than 
 that,' exclaimed Captain Ryan, whose cheek burned 
 with indignation and shame. ' Never did his infernal 
 craft invent a more detestable calumny, to stain alike 
 the Jewish and the Christian name. Against you, 
 the followers of Moses, he lays an accusation involving 
 guilt so complicated that its very atrocity is almost in- 
 coiiceivable ; and against us, the followers of Christ, 
 he commits an almost equal outrage, by inciting its 
 wretched propagators to call themselves Christians, 
 as though we, who from the innermost recesses of our 
 souls fling off all participation in the slanderous crime, 
 were among its abettors.' 
 
 ^ I know that very well,' said Da Costa, warmly ; 
 ' but to proceed with my explanation : I brought out 
 with me some few years ago a young German friend 
 and co-religionist of my own, as noble a fellow as 
 ever breathed. We were strolling through the land, 
 and reached among the mountains northward of the 
 Holy City, one of those nests of monkery which de- 
 file our country far more than do the Mosques of the 
 Moslem. The weather compelled us to rest here for 
 a season, and we were treated civilly enough, until 
 on declining to partake of some dainty in which the 
 blood of the animal was distinctly named as a chief 
 ingredient, they taxed us, ay, taxed us with being 
 Israelites.' 
 
233 
 
 ^ Had you tried to conceal it V asked Alick. 
 
 ' Not we. Our aspect was warrant enough for our 
 being of the race ; and no thought of disguise ever 
 entered our heads. When the rude challenge was 
 given, of being concealed Jews, we loudly and proudly 
 avowed our lineage, and repudiated the idea of con- 
 cealment. They then scoffed at our scruples, again 
 pressing us to eat of the prohibited viand: and when 
 we protested against being thought capable of such 
 hypocrisy, they hurled in our teeth the infamous re- 
 proach alluded to.' 
 
 ' And I hope you hurled your plate in theirs,' said 
 Alick. 
 
 ' Not exactly : but we were much exasperated, and 
 the altercation ran so high, that my companion, who 
 was as well versed in your scriptures as in our own, just 
 drew them a picture of what they ought to be accord- 
 ing to those books ; and of what they are, as the most 
 flagrant idolators extant ; in language that the chief 
 monk pretended to regard as betokening a disposition 
 to do violence to some of their wooden or crockery 
 gods ; and thrust us both, by dint of overpowering 
 numbers, into a dark noisome place for the night. It 
 would have fared ill with us ; but I gave them to 
 know that any outrage perpetrated on us would be 
 taken up at once by the English consul-general, whose 
 word was, at that juncture, law with the Turk, and 
 who would visit on their system the wrong done to his 
 countrymen and friend. I menaced them on the score 
 of false imprisonment also ; and we were set free, but 
 dodged from mountain to plain, and never believing 
 
 20* 
 
234 
 
 we should regain our homes aUve. Among the fra- 
 ternity was that fellow whom we have just seen. 
 
 ' I should have told you that, in the heat of their 
 revilings, they not only avowed but gloried in the 
 persecutions and massacres of their church ; and de- 
 clared the destruction of a Jew to be as acceptable in 
 the sight of God as any religious service whatever: 
 this they would afterwards have retracted, but wo 
 could not allow of it ; and perhaps poor Wilhelm's 
 pertinacity on this point sealed his doom ; for ho 
 vowed to publish it, on his return to Europe, as the 
 declaration of men who claimed infallibility of judg- 
 ment Not long after this, we were obliged to sepa- 
 rate for a short space, each accompanied by two or 
 three Arab guides, whose hatred of the Franks seemed 
 a fair preservative against treachery. I reached at 
 the appointed time the place of rendezvous, but of 
 Wilhelm or his conductors no trace could ever be 
 gained, nor did I, from that time forward, detect a 
 vestige of the dodging system that had been practised 
 thitherto.' 
 
 ' But surely,' said Alick, ' You did not let the 
 matter rest here V 
 
 ' Did I ? At the head of a party of stout fellows, I 
 ransacked their den from top to bottom, and left it 
 standing only because there was a possibility that in 
 some undiscoverable recess my poor friend might be 
 ^ecretedj^and buried beneath the ruins. In this ex- 
 ploit I did not so appear as to be recognized: an 
 Arab Shiekh supplied what seemed to be a party of 
 marauders, and I disguised myself, as I think, per- 
 fectly : but when afterwards I related, confidentially, 
 
235 
 
 this part of the business to the only individual through 
 whom pubhc justice could be obtained, he considered 
 my proceeding as calculated, if discovered, to compro- 
 mise the English interests in Syria ; and I knovi^ too 
 v^ell the value, to my own people, of the present high 
 standing of Great Britain in the East, to do that. No, 
 I am resolved never to relinquish the search till some 
 clue be obtained of Wilhelm ; but having, somewhat 
 too precipitately, taken justice into my own hands, I 
 must follow it out at my proper hazard.' 
 
 They had now reached the dark, dungeon-like 
 house where the sick child lay, and even the stirring 
 interest of Da Costa's story was lost in solicitude for 
 him. They found him awake, and restless ; putting 
 frequent questions to his Mother in a rambling but 
 very earnest way ; while her looks told how deep was 
 the trial, how submissive the spirit in which it was 
 borne. 
 
 When the gentlemen approached, Charley cried 
 out, ^ Papa, this is Ramah ; Rachel lived here ; but 
 this is not Bethlehem, and the children were killed in 
 Bethlehem.' 
 
 ^ And in all the coasts thereof,' answered his father. 
 
 ' Ah, I forgot the coasts : it's all true, so it is : so it 
 is,' he murmured ; and Captain Ryan marvelled if his 
 little one had been tempted to unbelief at such a 
 moment, Charley soon resumed, ' They were all Jew- 
 babies, Papa, were they not?' 
 
 ' No doubt, my dear boy; and you know that, like 
 cruel Herod, cruel Pharaoh ordered all the Jew babes 
 to be slain, at least, all the males.' 
 
236 judah's lion. 
 
 ' Ah, but Moses escaped, and Jesus escaped ; and 
 he is the prophet hke Moses, so he is.' 
 
 A short silence ensued, which was broken by the 
 entrance of a monk, on whom Charley fixed his eyes, 
 with wonder : the Hebrew friends drew back a little, 
 to allow of his approach. He examined the child, 
 put a few questions to Captain Ryan, and shook his 
 head. 
 
 * Are you a doctor V Charles asked. 
 
 ^ There is no doctor, my love, in the place,' said 
 his Mother : ^ this is a kind priest who comes to see 
 you.' 
 
 ' I want a doctor, but I don't want a priest, I won't 
 have the priest,' he added, loudly, as the recollection 
 of some scene in Ireland came over his confused 
 mind. 
 
 The monk, who seemed a mild, compassionate 
 man, touched by the child's distressful tone, though 
 he knew not the words spoken, drew nearer, and 
 taking from the folds of his robe a small crucifix, held 
 it before him. This excited Charley to a great pitch : 
 his face became flushed, and he cried out in a more 
 piercing tone, ' I won't have it, that idol : Papa, take 
 me away — Mr. Dockster, I say take away the idol.' 
 
 The Jew's heart bounded to the appeal, and while 
 Captain Ryan was courteously but earnestly explain- 
 ing and justifying to the monk his little boy's entreaty^ 
 Da Costa advanced, intending by stooping over the 
 child to interpose between him and the object of his 
 distress: but it was needless; on his approach the 
 monk hurried the symbol back into his bosom, and 
 retreated. 
 
237 
 
 This was a painful moment to the protesting Chris- 
 tians: they felt that while only partaking in the Jew's 
 horror of idolatry they incurred the reproach of seem- 
 ing to acquiesce in his unbelieving contempt of what 
 that idol assumed to represent; a reality far, far 
 dearer to them than their life-blood. But it is a small 
 matter to be judged of man's judgment, where we 
 know that he who truly judge th and shall judge is the 
 Lord ; and condemned as they felt themselves to be 
 of both the unbelieving Israelite and the Papist, both 
 had their heart's prayer, both their love : though it 
 cannot but be that to them the true Christian's affec- 
 tion must ever most fondly turn, and over them must 
 he yearn with the tenderest solicitude, who preserved 
 for him, and gave to him the precious Bible, which 
 alone enables him to detect all error, and to discern 
 all truth. 
 
 The monk shortly departed, and had at the door a 
 short, low conversation with Captain Ryan, who re- 
 turned with a saddened look, and folding his arms, 
 stood gazing intently on his child. Charley, who had 
 been quiet for some time, looked up in his face, and 
 calmly asked him, ' Papa, did that man say I am 
 going to die V 
 
 At once every eye was turned on the agitated 
 father ; and scarcely less fearfully anxious was that of 
 Alick than of the mother herself Da Costa's mourn- 
 ful expression bespoke his opinion already formed ; 
 but he too looked, as if to catch at some gleam of 
 hope. Captain Ryan strove to speak, and in a cheer- 
 ful tone, but the effect was fruitless ; he uttered an 
 
238 
 
 incoherent word or two, and clasping his hands, 
 walked away. 
 
 The stillness of death prevailed for some moments, 
 when he again approached the little couch, seemingly 
 about to speak, but Charles prevented him, hfting up 
 at once his meek eyes, and his little trembling hands, 
 in a voice of the most touching, imploring entreaty, 
 he said, ' Dear papa ! please, papa, oh, may I go and 
 die at Jerusalem ? May I, papa, may I ?' 
 
 * You must not talk of dying, Charley,' said Da 
 Costa, who alone seemed able to speak. * At present 
 you are not well enough to be moved ; and you will 
 be more hkely to get well here.* 
 
 ^ Oh, don't you say that, Mr. Dockster, and you a 
 Jew. Sure, if I am to get better, it's in Jerusalem I 
 should thrive ; and if I'm going to die, oh, but I should 
 like to die, and to be buried in Jerusalem itself!' The 
 last words were spoken with an animation approach- 
 ing to gaiety ; but the sudden return of stupor put an 
 end to the question, and Da Costa begged them, by 
 all means to indulge any disposition to quietness. 
 
 At nightfall the total want of every comfort for a 
 sick room pressed more forcibly on their minds. 
 Jerusalem was not so far off as to make the journey 
 formidable ; but the road was bad, and accommoda- 
 tions w^ere uncertain. Da Costa could ensure them a 
 welcome to a respectable house, if still tenanted as 
 when he last visited the Holy City ; but this was 
 doubtful. While the anxious discussion proceeded, 
 Alick stole away into the adjoining room ; and creep- 
 ing softly to the couch, listened to the breathings of 
 his little friend, which were short and quick, and 
 
JUDAH S LION. 239 
 
 unequal : he kneeled beside the bed, overwhelmed 
 with anxious sorrow, and tried to pray, but his views 
 seemed to have become more darkened and perplexed 
 than ever, probably because he had carried his in- 
 quiries farther and in a more observant spirit, while 
 Da Costa, with the quickness for which he was re- 
 markable, still explained away, according to the dic- 
 tates of man's wisdom, those truths which are only to 
 be apprehended by simple faith. Charley's breath 
 soon assumed an articulate sound; and after some 
 low murmurings, he distinctly repeated 
 
 * The Cedars wave on Lebanon, 
 But Judah's statelier maids are gone.' 
 
 At the same time a moonbeam stole through the un- 
 glazed crevice that served as a window, upon the 
 pillow, and shewed his eyes open : he turned them, 
 and putting his hand to the face that bent over him, 
 and which was now moist with tears, he said, ^ Dar- 
 ling Alick, I was thinking, or dreaming, or something, 
 about how I saw you at sea, and how we talked, and 
 got fond of one another ; I love you very dearly, and 
 so does Jesus Christ.' 
 
 ' He loves you, Charley, you mean.' 
 
 ' And he loves you, Mr. Alick, and Mr. Dockster, 
 and all the Jews ; and all the Christians that believe 
 in him ; only you don't know it. Now I know it, and 
 I do be so happy you can't think : I dare say I'm 
 going to die ; and if I did'nt know that Jesus has the 
 key of heaven, and if 1 didn't know that he loves me, 
 how would I get in ? If he did not love me, he would 
 
240 
 
 not let me in ; and if I didn't know he has the key, I 
 couldn't ask him to let me in, you know.' 
 
 ' Charley, every word you speak goes to my heart, 
 hut I wonder why you should think Jesus Christ loves 
 the Jews, when they don't care ahout him ; to say the 
 least of it. And besides, if he does love us, what good 
 will it do to us, since, as you say, we don't know he 
 has the key ; that means, the power.' 
 
 ' Why there's the very thing itself Mr. Alick.' The 
 trouble is, that you won't ask him, when he is all 
 ready to give you as soon as you do. Sure, if you 
 asked him you would get your land back fast enough : 
 but you won't ask him, either for that or the kingdom 
 of heaven, so you don't get them.' Alick sighed 
 heavily : ' I'd rather have the least corner in the 
 kingdom of heaven, Charley, than even all this goodly 
 land, my own land, the land of my father Abraham.' 
 
 ' Have you asked him for it ?' said Charley. 
 
 * I hardly know : I cannot frame my lips to address 
 a prayer directly to him ; but if thoughts are heard, 
 he has heard many a prayer from me ; for I am 
 always thinking of him.' 
 
 ' Think of him still,' whispered Mrs. Ryan, who, 
 concealed by the shade of the room had stood near, 
 and heard the latter part of the conversation. ' Think 
 of him, as the faithful and true God, keeing his cove- 
 nant of mercy for ever. See how he smooths the bed 
 of death, and gladdens the fleeting spirit of that infant 
 believer ; and how he subdues the mother's rebellious 
 grief, and upholds the mother's fainting heart, and 
 speaks peace to his mourners ; a peace sweeter than 
 all the joys of earth can give.' 
 
241 
 
 * Mamma, is that you V said Charley. 
 
 ^ It is, my darhng.' 
 
 ^ Oh, mamma, please let me go to Jerusalem !' 
 
 ' My precious child, when I think of all the super- 
 stition that has led people away from God to rest in 
 the name, in the mere stones of Jerusalem, and other 
 things that are accounted holy, I do fear lest my 
 Charley's mind may be at all drawn off from the 
 Lord, by this very great anxiety to reach the place 
 where he taught and suffered.' 
 
 ^ It isn't that, mamma ; but I love Jerusalem so ! 
 I don't love it better than the heavenly Jerusalem, 
 manmia, but I don't like to stop here : I don't like to 
 die here.' 
 
 Mrs. Ryan's inmost desire was to leave the place 
 they were in, and she, too, connected many calming 
 thoughts with the locality of Jerusalem. She there- 
 fore promised not to oppose the journey : and as 
 Charley was becoming drowsy again, Alick left her 
 beside him. 
 
 Instead of returning to his friends, he sauntered out 
 into a pleasant grove of olive-trees, interspersed with 
 a thousand bright flowers, that lay just outside the 
 town. The moon was clear, and nothing could ex- 
 ceed the beauty of the scene. The air, balmy and 
 loaded with fragrance, came refreshingly to his aching 
 brow ; and when through a vista of trees, the hill- 
 country of Judea broke on his sight, and all the most 
 powerful feelings of his soul w^ere called at once into 
 play, he could have kneeled to ask, in the anxious en- 
 quiry of a thoroughly awakened mind, whether Jesus 
 of Nazareth was indeed the King of Israel. 
 
 21 
 
242 
 
 But it was not there that his doubt was to be set- 
 tled ; much remained for him to learn, and a sharper 
 school must prepare him for it. As yet, his path had 
 been smooth and easy, with no greater difficulty to 
 encounter than the rising perplexities of his own 
 mind. Very different scenes were before him, and 
 dangers of which he little dreamed. 
 
 The decision was taken to proceed, if circumstances 
 admitted of their so doing ; and with many misgiv- 
 ings, but still enabled to rest all his care on One well 
 able to sustain it, the father placed his child in the 
 conveyance provided, with every possible precaution 
 against the consequence to be dreaded from so exceed- 
 ingly rough a road : and escorted by a larger body of 
 guards than before, under the direction of the friendly 
 Armenian, they set forward towards the Holy City. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Most lovely was the scenery through which our tra- 
 vellers bent their way for a considerable time after 
 leaving Ramah, and but for one circumstance, it would 
 have been a season of rich enjoyment. Da Costa, 
 while pointing out the ever- varying beauties that sur- 
 rounded them, and expatiating on the unquestionable 
 fertility of the soil, if but common justice in the way 
 of tillage was done to it, seemed to lose the recollec- 
 tion of his outcast condition. The land was his^ and 
 he spoke of it as though, not only in retrospect and in 
 prospect, but also in actual possession, it was his own. 
 Every group of oUves, every scattered oak was to him 
 an object worth descanting on ; and his intimate 
 knowledge of Scripture, which he quoted fluently, and 
 so far as regarded the historical and geographical 
 sense, with most correct application, rendered his dis- 
 course alike interesting and instructive. ' You are 
 aware,' said he, ' that it is the fashion among those 
 who profess to understand our Scriptures better than 
 we do ourselves, either to explain away by some 
 shadowy interpretation what is declared of the natural 
 fertility of this good land, or else assert that God has 
 smitten it by an irreversible decree of barrenness, so 
 that it shall never recover its former fruitfulness. Ac- 
 cording to them, the soil and its inheritors are alike 
 
# 
 
 r^ 
 
 244 
 
 shut out from the life-giving favour of the Almighty : 
 their former distinction existing but in name ; or rather 
 indeed, as they would make out, rendered more con- 
 spicuous by the very marked reverse of all that they 
 once were. It may be so, as regards the race of 
 Israel : it may be,' he added, with a proud and scorn- 
 ful smile, as he encouraged his fiery steed to prance, 
 and show forth his own and his rider's stateliness, * it 
 may be that we are all a race of abject, spirit-broken 
 slaves ; that among us is no intellect, no wealth, no 
 enterprise, no worldly wisdom or spiritual knowledge : 
 it may be that every man's foot is still on our neck, 
 and that Israel is yet trodden down as the mire of the 
 streets — but look at yonder patch of corn ; narrow 
 though the field be, how rich, how abundant is its pro- 
 duce ! See that magnificent palm, rearing its tufted 
 head on high, while the brown olive boughs beneath 
 it are bending with the weight of ripening fruit ; and 
 see to the left what a carpet of gorgeous flowers is 
 spread out, springing in pure wanton defiance of hu- 
 man culture from the recesses of this neglected soil — 
 I tell you this country shall again bloom as Eden, 
 when once its own sons have it under their fostering 
 hands.' 
 
 ' And I tell you,' answered Ryan, ' that they too, 
 the seed of Jacob, shall again blossom and bud, and 
 fill the face of the world with fruit.' 
 
 ' And you very well know,' said Mrs. Ryan, ^ that 
 your description of what Israel, through grinding op- 
 pression, and fearful persecution, has been in Europe, 
 no longer exists. The Lord hath begun to take away 
 the reproach of his people : the wealth that formerly 
 
# 
 
 245 
 
 was wrung from them by inliuman tortures, is now 
 borrowed by states and rulers, on terms most advan- 
 tageous to the lenders, affording them an interest in, 
 and an influence over the destinies of empires. In 
 art, in science, in literature, the Hebrew continually 
 stands before us, successfully competing the highest 
 prizes of emolument and fame. Your position now 
 is, in reference to Ezekiel's vision, not that of separated 
 bones, scattered black and bare, and very dry through- 
 out the valley, but of bones re-united, and rapidly re- 
 ceiving their covering of flesh and sinew, preparatory 
 to the reception of perfect, glowing hfe.' 
 
 ' And that once received,' added Captain Ryan, 
 ^ you will rise up an exceeding great army, against 
 whom no people shall be able to stand ; for the Lord 
 your God will be with you, and the shout of a king be 
 among you.' 
 
 Da Costa smiled kindly : ' I believe we are well 
 agreed as to the end, however we may differ concern- 
 ing the means of its attainment' 
 
 During this time, Alick never once spoke, nor did 
 his attention appear for a moment diverted from the 
 little carriage in which Charley was slung, by a con- 
 trivance of his, more independent of the motions of 
 the mule than before. That child had been to him 
 in an especial manner the bearer of glad tidings if he 
 would receive them as such ; and he felt as if to lose 
 him would be a disjunction from the good that he 
 was secretly longing to grasp. Incessantly was he 
 gazing into the little litter, through the aperture that 
 for ventilation was left in its curtain ; and often did 
 the dull, heavy cast of a countenance ever bright with 
 
 21* 
 
246 
 
 restless animation, excite a fear lest the last smile had 
 passed away. The short dialogue just recorded had 
 allowed him a more protracted contemplation of that 
 sunken face than he had before enjoyed : and when 
 Captain Ryan again addressed him, tears had gathered 
 in his eyes. 
 
 * Dear Cohen ! this trial falls heavily on you. To 
 us it is indeed a heart-piercing stroke ; but we have a 
 consolation, the strength and sweetness of which how 
 gladly would we share with you !' 
 
 * It is my greatest comfort, sir, to see you and his 
 dear mother so supported.' 
 
 * We need a divine support, indeed, for, even were 
 he not as he is, our only one, the sole survivor of the 
 ^ve over whose early graves we have been taught 
 submission to the will of the Lord, still there is that 
 in his character which makes our hearts cleave to him 
 with a fondness no words can pourtray. But thanks 
 be to the Giver of all good gifts, what most endears 
 him to us now, will prove the best source of consola- 
 tion under the bereavement which I feel but too sure 
 awaits us.' 
 
 * I never loved any living thing half so well,' said 
 AHck, struggling with his grief: -but no wonder, for 
 who even among mature men loves my people as that 
 babe doesV' 
 
 * It is really marvellous. You know, Cohen, I have 
 for some years been much devoted to the cause ; and 
 Charles has heard a good deal on the subject at home : 
 but there seemed to be a sort of preparedness in his 
 young heart to receive the promise of God's gracious 
 purposes towards Israel with a fulness and a gladness 
 
judah's lion. 247 
 
 that I never saw equalled. Child as he is in temper, 
 in manners, in language, on all other points, he is 
 there the enthusiastic man ; and I cannot tell you 
 what a gloom steals over my spirit while thus con- 
 ducting him, insensibly I may almost say, through the 
 land he so ardently longed to visit. It is teaching me 
 a sad, but I hope a profitable lesson, of my own de- 
 ficiency in single-eyed devotion.' 
 
 They continued for some miles to pass over a coun- 
 try of smiling plains ; but at length the ascent began, 
 the road narrowed, and became extremely rugged, 
 while before them, with occasional intermixture of a 
 verdant and cultivated spot, rose piles of frowning 
 rocks, and towering mountains, which gradually closed 
 in upon them, until their path became a narrow, rug- 
 ged, steep defile, where two could not without diffi- 
 culty pass abreast ; and where the motion was such 
 that, with all the anxious care of his tender guardians, 
 poor little Charley was rocked in his rough cradle with 
 a rudeness that completely dissipated his heavy slum- 
 ber, and drew forth exclamations of surprise, if not of 
 suffering. He fancied himself on board ship, and 
 talked of a storm. 
 
 ' We are not at sea, darling,' said Alick, ' but tra- 
 velling through the mountain-passes of Judea, on the 
 way to Jerusalem.' 
 
 At that word the boy lifted up his head, and ex- 
 claimed, ' Let me look at Jerusalem!' 
 
 ' You shall when we come within sight of it,' an- 
 swered his father ; but some hours must elapse before 
 then. Lie still, Charley, and I will tell you when we 
 approach the holy city.' 
 
248 
 
 ' I would rather talk, papa. Is this Mount Leba- 
 non, or is it the Mount of Olives, or Mount Zion, or 
 what is it V 
 
 ' Lebanon,' answered Da Costa, ' is at some distance 
 from this place ; the Mount of Olives is over against 
 Jerusalem ; and on Mount Zion the city of David 
 itself was built.' 
 
 ' Ah, I forget, but my head is very foolish, somehow. 
 What mountain is it, Mr. Dockster ? Is there any- 
 thing about it in the Bible ?' 
 
 ^ I do not remember that there is ; but we shall 
 soon see a place about which you have surely heard 
 much J the plain where young David fought Goliath, 
 and destroyed him. The armies, you know, were 
 drawn up opposite to each other, Saul and the Israel- 
 ites on one side, on the other the Philistines; and 
 Goliath came down into the plain every day to threaten 
 and taunt them.' 
 
 ^ And David choose some pebbles out of the brook,' 
 said Charles, ^ and he put them in his shepherd's sling, 
 and slung them, and hit the giant in the forehead, 
 and killed him, and took his own sword, and cut off 
 his head with it.' 
 
 ^ Exactly so ; presently I will shew you the brook 
 where David got the pebbles, and the place where 
 the giant fell' 
 
 *The Philistines were bad people,' observed 
 Charles : ' they were always persecuting the Jews.' 
 
 ^ Only when they sinned ; when they repented, the 
 Lord always raised up some deliverer whom they fol- 
 lowed, and under whose command they all put their 
 enemies to the rout — as they shall do again. 
 
judah's lion. 249 
 
 * Yes ;' answered Charley, with great energy, ' when 
 they repent again, and when they follow Jesus Christ, 
 so they shall.' 
 
 To this, of course, no reply was given ; and after a 
 moment's pause, Charley raised his head higher, and 
 asked in a shrill tone, ^ Why don't you believe, why 
 won't you believe in Jesus Christ?' 
 
 Da Costa was still silent; but Charley became 
 more urgent : ' Mr. Dockster, I say, why won't you 
 beheve ?' 
 
 * Suppose,' said the Jew, ^ I was to ask you why 
 do you believe ? but hush dear babe,' he added, see- 
 ing him about to reply, ^ you will exhaust all your 
 little strength, at this rate.' 
 
 * It doesn't tire me at all, at all,' said Charley, ' it 
 does me good ; and I'll tell you why I believe — be- 
 cause I know he loves me.' 
 
 ^ You mean that he loves you because you believe,' 
 said Alick. 
 
 ' No ! I don't. He loved me before I believed, 
 and because he loved me, he made me believe ; and 
 because he loves me he will take me to heaven, now, 
 or very soon.' 
 
 ' You will be more likely to live if you think less 
 of dying, my dear boy,' said Da Costa ; ' see,' he ad- 
 ded, as a lovely animal, bounding along the mountain- 
 side, paused, and peered down upon them, quite in 
 Charley's view, ' see that merry little creature. I 
 hope you will be like it again, ere long.' 
 
 ' What a pretty goat !' said the boy. 
 
 ^ It is not a goat, but a Gazelle, or Antelope, a far 
 more elegant creature.' Charley's countenance sud- 
 
250 
 
 denly lighted up ; he exclaimed, ' The wild Gazelle ! 
 Papa, the wild Gazelle ! Oh, say it for me ;' His 
 father complied, and recited the lines with such feel- 
 ing that Alick, who from anxiety and internal conflict 
 was become doubly sensitive, could scarcely master 
 his emotion. They were now on the point of emerg- 
 ing from that close, narrow defile ; a lovely vale lay 
 before them, while the mountains, forming a vast am- 
 phitheatre, swept round and rose in beautiful undula- 
 tions, height above height, the stern rough stone, in 
 abrupt ridges, marking the natural terraces that 
 formed the ascent, of which it was the protecting 
 wall. Trees of stately growth, shrubs of delicious 
 fragrance, and the richest profusion of wild-flowers, 
 adorned this landscape, and still the frolicksome Ga- 
 zelle would leap from one ledge to another, while the 
 flock of mountain-goats more quietly browsed on the 
 pastures of the valley below. 
 
 ' Ay,' said Da Costa, sighing, as he surveyed the 
 magnificent prospect, ' those lines, coming as they did 
 too from the head of a man who had no heart, express 
 what volumes would fail in conveying : — 
 
 ' More blest each pine that shades these plains 
 
 Than Israel's scattered race ; 
 For, taking root, it here remains 
 
 In solitary grace. 
 It will not leave its place of birth, 
 It cannot live in other earth : 
 
 But we must wander witheringly.' 
 
 That is the very word — witheringly ; the same in 
 substance ; in form, in name, in nature unchanged, 
 but all freshness and beauty dried up, bearing no 
 
251 
 
 fruit, incapable of farther growth, and subsisting as a 
 monument of what we were, ere rudely plucked up 
 from our own rich soil, to become the scorn of inferior 
 plants, yet waving gay and green because they were 
 never expatriated.' 
 
 Charley, meanwhile, was murmuring to himself the 
 closing lines. 
 
 Our Temple hath not left a stone, 
 And mockery sits on Salem's throne. 
 
 ' Well, I shall see where Solomon's temple stood, 
 and the other temple that Nehemiah made : and I 
 shall see the Mount of Olives where the Lord Jesus 
 stood when he wept over Jerusalem ; and he stood 
 there when he was just going up into heaven ; and 
 he will stand there when he comes again to split the 
 mountain in two : I know that.' 
 
 'What does he mean?' whispered Da Costa, who 
 had caught the last words ; and Alick, who seemed 
 restlessly anxious to hear Charley talk, repeated to 
 him the question. 
 
 * I mean,' replied the child, ' when the Lord comes 
 to reign, his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives. 
 The Bible says so.' 
 
 ' How wonderfully conversant he is in our scrip- 
 tures !' remarked Da Costa. 
 
 'Yes,' says Mrs. Ryan, ' he knows them surprisingly 
 for a child of his age : but you see all his knowledge 
 resolves itself into one thing — love for the Saviour.' 
 
 Again the mountains enclosed them so straitly that 
 they were obliged to proceed in single file, and each 
 was left to his own meditations. Alick's were inex- 
 
m 
 
 252 - 
 
 pressibly painful; lie felt altogether alone in the 
 world, anticipating the speedy dissolution of his little 
 companion. He seemed to occupy a position debar- 
 ring him from fellowship with any class of persons. 
 More than ever a Jew, he had received so much of 
 Christian doctrine as made it a matter of serious dis- 
 tress to witness, or rather to know the settled abhor- 
 rence of his Hebrew companion, and of all his race, 
 against Him of whom he was almost convinced that 
 Moses in the law, and the prophets did write ; yet the 
 influence of Da Costa over his feelings was consider- 
 able, and it operated in rendering him ill at ease 
 when listening to Captain Ryan. He felt that he 
 was watched, and almost suspected ; and while his 
 naturally open and fearless character rendered it most 
 painful to be supposed capable of concealing his real 
 sentiments, he felt that, so far as he had gone in 
 admitting disputed points, he could not sustain an 
 argument in their defence, and would not wrong the 
 truth by sanctioning an enemy's supposition that it was 
 indefensible by sound argument. He wished himself 
 in Charley's situation, if the same faith and hope 
 were given to sustain him in it ; but without these, 
 death was a subject from which he shrank affrighted. 
 His favourite project of studying the Bible with Da 
 Costa had not yet been carried into effect; and 
 among men there seemed no sympathy for him. But, 
 when he turned his eye upon the hills that rose 
 around him, there was indeed a fellowship unspeak- 
 able in that strange, solemn, solitary landscape, beau- 
 tiful in its desolate grandeur, and oh, how rich in its 
 sacred associations ! ' Here,' thought he, ^ my fathers 
 
judah's lion. 253 
 
 dwelt beneath the immediate guardianship of the 
 Mighty One : they were not left to grope among con- 
 flicting opinions, all pressed on them with the confi- 
 dence that belongs to truth alone ; but they were 
 taught and led by men whose sacred commission was 
 sealed and ratified by daily signs from heaven. Then, 
 all these rocky terraces were covered with rich soil, 
 mantled by the vine, and perpetually trodden by the 
 feet of the rejoicing husbandman, whose temporal and 
 spiritual wants were alike supplied by the great King 
 of Israel. Here, angels communed with men, and 
 visions from heaven illumined the minds of our seers, 
 and the echoes that now faintly give back the tramp 
 of our horses along this stony road, rang with the 
 reverberated song of gladness and praise. O land 
 most beloved! why, why are you forsaken, trodden 
 down, and changed into a wilderness ? why are your 
 sons wanderers among the Gentiles, their minds so 
 darkened, their hearts so ahenated that they are 
 content to be outcasts from you 7 Would that one of 
 the heavenly messengers who came to my fathers, to 
 Gideon, to Manoah, to Daniel and the prophets, 
 would also come to me and explain what now per- 
 plexes me. Do they not wander here still, though 
 concealed from our eyes? Is this good and pleasant 
 land forsaken of all its celestial friends T 
 
 He continued thus, in silent bitterness of spirit, to 
 meditate on his own and his country's doom : Captain 
 Ryan marked it all, and was fully resolved to speak 
 out with unreserved faithfulness so soon as opportu- 
 nity was afforded ; but the way became more rough 
 and difficult, more trying to poor little Charley, and 
 
 22 
 
254 
 
 overpowering to his mother. The guides had com- 
 menced wrangUng, and despite the earnest efforts of 
 the Armenian, their angry voices often broke with 
 alarming effect, on the travellers' ears. The day was 
 drawing On, and fatigue began to manifest itself 
 painfully in the looks of the little sufferer, who was 
 evidently quite awake and sensible, when suddenly a 
 loud voice from the van proclaimed that in a few 
 minutes the Holy City would be within view. 
 
 The movement occasioned by this announcement 
 did not escape Charley ; he asked the cause, and 
 being told — for his parents never deceived him in any 
 matter, — he cried out, ' Now, Papa ! now take me 
 upon your horse !' 
 
 Captain Ryan looked alarmed ; and whispered to 
 Da Costa, ' impossible !' 
 
 But Charley again called out, ^ Papa ! you prom- 
 ised.' 
 
 Again Captain Ryan looked at his friend, who 
 said, after calling for a halt, ' You cannot do it with 
 safety, but I can. My horse's pace is very easy and 
 smooth ; he knows every foot of this particular road ; 
 I feel it is asking a good deal to ask you to give up to 
 me so precious a charge ; but I will be most careful, 
 indeed I will : he must not be agitated by a denial ; 
 and I wish so much to have the privilege, for I love 
 that boy dearly, dearly ! — And this is Jerusalem — and 
 I am a Jew.' 
 
 Captain Ryan had never seen this accomplished 
 man of the world so agitated by unrestrained emotion : 
 he felt it, and taking Charley out of his little crib, 
 without a word spoken, he folded a shawl about him, 
 
judah's lion. 255 
 
 and placed him in the arms of Da Costa, whose 
 look of gratitude and dehght overpaid even that 
 sacrifice. 
 
 ' Have I done right, love ?' whispered the father, 
 as he turned a glistening eye on his wife, by whose 
 side he again stationed himself 
 
 ' Always, always right, my beloved!' she answered, 
 ' and in this instance my heart especially goes along 
 with yours. I cannot tell you how stilled I feel just 
 now : murmuring seems hushed, self almost annihi- 
 lated. Can it be that we are indeed about to look 
 upon the city of our God — the very scene of his suf- 
 ferings, who by those sufferings ransomed us from the 
 power of the grave ? Who has by those sufferings 
 opened the gate of heaven, and now stands ready 
 to receive the happy spirit of that ' — she could not 
 proceed. 
 
 ' It is even so,' replied her husband : ^ and oh, let 
 all selfish emotions be swallowed up in the glorious 
 prospect of Zion's welcome to her returning King.' 
 
 Meanwhile, Charley was placed most carefully and 
 tenderly by Da Costa almost within the folds of his 
 robe, which he loosoned for the purpose, the little 
 boy's head nestled on his bosom, with the face literally 
 set Zionward ; and so cradled in the arms of his 
 friend as to be almost independent of the saddle's 
 support. He was exceedingly weak, like an infant, 
 but just then quite free from fever, though breathless 
 with eager expectation. Da Costa kissed his damp 
 forehead, and asked if he were comfortable. Charley 
 raised his eyes: he evidently did not till that moment 
 know who held him, and fixing on him a look full of 
 
256 judah's lion. 
 
 love and gladness, replied by ejaculating, ' you darlint 
 of a Jew!' 
 
 But where was Alick? Some paces removed from 
 the rest, absorbed in thoughts and feelings that ren- 
 dered all which passed around him a mere dream. 
 Every object within his view seemed gifted with a 
 voice to address him in language at once tender, up- 
 braiding, and encouraging. He could not disconnect 
 from them the idea of Him whom he was at one mo- 
 ment disposed to worship as the incarnate God, at 
 another to shun as tempting him into idolatrous sin. 
 He breathed, in a low voice, the irreversible declara- 
 tion of the Most High, so dearly cherished by his 
 people, " Hear, O Israel ! the Lord thy God is a 
 Unity ;" and again he seemed to hear Jesus of Naza- 
 reth responding " I and my Father are One." When 
 the rest halted, he did the same, mechanically ; and 
 when the word was again given to move on, he also 
 obeyed ; but in the intenseness of that internal strug- 
 gle, even Charley's transfer was unnoticed. 
 
 Slowly, and in deep silence, the party now began 
 to ascend a rise in the road ; and after proceeding for 
 some time on level ground, the guides uttered in diffe- 
 rent languages the same name, and turning their 
 horses aside, allowed the travellers to advance. 
 There, stretched in long, unequal line, rose in the dis- 
 tance before them the solid wall of the city ; with here 
 and there a round dome peering above its stern out- 
 line, or a slender minaret upraising its more light and 
 lofty form. There was no moving thing at that mo- 
 ment within view : they might have been the only 
 breathing creatures on earth's surface for aught they 
 
2e5r 
 
 could see or hear of animated life ; and this, joined 
 with the tomb-like aspect of the spot before them, 
 added greatly to the solemnity of the moment. Cap- 
 tain Ryan impulsively uncovered his head ; his wife, 
 placing her hand on his arm, leaned treniblingly, and 
 burst into tears. Alick, wholly incapable of longer 
 control, dismounted, and pressed his lips to the ground ; 
 while Da Costa, after casting towards him one look 
 of sympathy, raised little Charley's hand in his, and 
 pointed it towards the holy city, at the same time al- 
 most dreading that the excitement might extinguish 
 the feeble remains of life in his little frame. 
 
 But it was far otherwise : no sooner had the boy's 
 eye caught the precious object, than he passed as it 
 were into a new state of existence. He cried out : 
 *' Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is 
 Mount Zion, the city of the living God !" Then clap- 
 ping his hands, he shouted, ' Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! 
 I see Jerusalem. Papa, mamma, there's Jerusalem ; 
 don't you see Jerusalem ? Oh, now say the verses, 
 Papa, do, do ! '' The glorious day." 
 
 Captain Ryan was instantly by his side, and catch- 
 ing the flash of the child's enthusiasm, he repeated, 
 with all the ardour of a thoroughly-excited Irishman, 
 those beautiful lines, 
 
 1 But who shall see the glorious day, 
 
 When, throned on Zion's brow, 
 The Lord shall rend that veil away 
 
 Which blinds the nations now 1 
 When earth no more beneath the fear 
 
 Of his rebuke shall lie ; 
 When pain shall cease, and every tear 
 Be wiped from ev'ry eye 1 
 22* 
 
258 
 
 Then, Judah ! thou no more shalt mourn 
 
 Beneath the heathen's chain. 
 Thy days of splendour shall return, 
 
 And all be new again : 
 The fount of life shall then be quaffed 
 
 In peace by all who come, 
 And every wind that blows shall waft 
 
 Some long-lost exile home ! 
 
 Da Costa listened to these lines ; then, raising high 
 his arm, he uttered a prayer of monthly observance in 
 the synagogue, and his voice sounded far over the 
 rocky plain on which they had halted : 
 
 " Comfort, O Lord our God ! the mourners of 
 Zion, and the mourners of Jerusalem, the city that 
 mourns, which also lays waste and is destroyed ; re- 
 proached and desolate : who mourns for the sake of 
 her children, that is solitary for her inhabitants, robbed 
 of her honour, desolate without the inhabitants of her 
 dwellers ; with her head ashamed, like unto a barren 
 woman that beareth not. She is overwhelmed with 
 sorrow, because her inheritors are worshippers of 
 images, who smote thy people Israel with the sword, 
 and slew wilfully the saints of the Most High. There- 
 fore Zion with bitterness weepeth, and Jerusalem Hft- 
 eth up her voice. O, my heart ! my heart grieve th 
 for those that were slain ; O, my bowels, my bowels, 
 for those that were killed ; for thou, O Lord, with fire 
 hast consumed it, and with fire thou wilt again re- 
 build it : as it is written. For I, saith the Lord, will be 
 to her a wall of fire round about it, and will be the 
 glory in the midst of her. Blessed art thou, O Lord! 
 the Comforter of Zion, and the Builder of Jerusalem!" 
 Alick, who had risen and stood to join in this prayer, 
 
259 
 
 now loudly and fervently ejaculated with him the re- 
 sponse : — 
 
 ^' Blessed art thou, O Lord ; who rehuildest Jeru- 
 salem !"* 
 
 They went on their way, and they went with songs 
 of praise and of supplication, for Captain Ryan joined 
 the two Hebrews in chaunting, in their own sublime 
 language, some of the Psalms so dear to them, con- 
 stantly used in the Sabbath service, from the 95th to 
 the 100th. And then, as they approached closer to 
 the walls. Da Costa and Alick burst forth again into 
 another of their sacred chaunts. 
 
 " O thou sanctuary of the King ! O Royal City ! 
 Arise, and come forth from thy subversion ; thou hast 
 dwelt long enough in the abode of calamity, for he 
 will now pity thee with kindness. Come, my be- 
 loved, to meet the bride. 
 
 " Shake off the dust, arise, O my people ! and 
 adorn thyself with thy beautiful attire ; for by the 
 hand of Jesse the Bethlehemite redemption draweth 
 nigh to my soul. Come, my beloved, to meet the 
 bride. 
 
 "Rouse thyself; rouse thyself; Arise, shine, for 
 thy light is come. Awake, awake, utter a song ; for 
 the glory of the Lord is revealed upon thee. Come 
 my beloved, to meet the bride. 
 
 " Be not ashamed, neither be thou confounded. 
 O Jerusalem, why art thou cast down ? why art thou 
 disquieted ? In thee the poor of my people shall 
 take refuge, and the city shall be built on her own 
 heap. Come, my beloved, to meet the bride. 
 
 * Daily Prayers of the German and Polish Jews, p. 33. 
 
2eo 
 
 " They who spoil thee shall become a spoil ; and 
 they that swallow thee up shall be removed far 
 away ; thy God wiU rejoice in thee as the bridegroom 
 rejoiceth in the bride. Come, my beloved, to meet 
 the bride. 
 
 ^' On the right and on the left wilt thou be ex- 
 tended, and the Eternal wilt thou revere ; through 
 the means of a man, the descendant of Pharez, will 
 we rejoice and be glad. Come, my beloved, to meet 
 the bride. 
 
 " O come in peace, thou crown of thy Husband ; 
 also with joy and mirth, in the midst of the faithful 
 and beloved people. Enter O bride. Enter O bride ! 
 Come, my beloved, to meet the bride."* 
 
 Deep was the heart-breathed melody of the two 
 voices that with rapid, yet most clear and emphatic 
 utterance chaunted forth these glowing a.«jpirations, 
 their countenances lighted up by the lofty theme, 
 and the beloved City full before them. In heart and 
 soul, though not audibly, their Gentile friends accom- 
 panied the song ; and even Charley was able to do 
 so ; for he had many and many a time read it to his 
 mamma in English, and she to him in Hebrew. As 
 the last rich tone died away, they were close to the 
 walls of the city ; and at that moment appeared on the 
 platform of a lofty minaret, a Muezzim, who pro- 
 claimed in the usual loud voice of his office, " There is 
 but one God, and Mahomet is his prophet." The 
 words were Arabic : with what a sickening effect they 
 fell on the ears of those travellers may be imagined. 
 The colour mounted high in Captain Ryan's face, 
 * Daily Prayers of the German and Polish Jews, p. 58. 
 
«61 
 
 while Da Costa's became livid ; and his countenance 
 assumed an expression of which it had scarcely seemed 
 capable before. The ghastly blue of his lips as they 
 parted upon his clenched teeth, the fierce scowl that 
 overhung his upturned eye, were absolutely terrific ; 
 but this was momentary, and it gave place to an ex- 
 pression of the bitterest sorrow. Alick's look, on the 
 contrary, was one of such undisguised menace that it 
 alarmed the Armenian, who rode near him, and in- 
 duced a whisper of caution, which would have been 
 little heeded, had not Captain Ryan enforced it for 
 Charley's sake. The boy had never withdrawn his 
 gaze from the city walls, except to turn it for a mo- 
 ment on his friend, who possessed in an eminent de- 
 gree that general gift of his people, a rich melodious 
 voice. They were now close to the gate, and with 
 wondering awe-struck eye the child looked up to the 
 summit of the square tower of which it forms a part. 
 The imposing effect of those stern-looking walls and 
 embattled turrets seemed to overcome not only him 
 but his mother ; and Alick, as he proudly measured 
 with his eye the height of the barriers, seemed to for- 
 get the preceding moment's annoyance. He was not 
 prepared to see in his desolate Zion such massive for- 
 tifications, so many munitions of war. His imagina- 
 tion had rather pictured the half-built wall on which, 
 in the derisive language of Nehemiah's opposers, if a 
 fox but went up, he should break it down ; those mar- 
 tial ramparts, as they towered high above his head, 
 awoke within his bosom a response characteristic of 
 the naturally impetuous and fiery youth. That innate 
 sense of actual right and proprietorship with which 
 
262 
 
 the Jew looks upon every stone, not only of the city 
 but of the whole land, filled his mind ; and the feel- 
 ing was as though he were about to demand from the 
 paynim usurper a surrender of that to which he him- 
 self could advance an indisputable title ; and to com- 
 pel the other Gentile strangers, — in practice farther 
 removed from scriptural customs than the Moslem 
 •himself, though professing to hold the only true faith 
 — to evacuate that hallowed spot, doubly polluted by 
 their idolatries. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Who shall describe the feelings of Alick Cohen 
 when he found himself actually entering the city of 
 Jerusalem ! Their path lay near the citadel, which 
 rises, a cluster of stately towers, a little to the right ; 
 and in wonder he raised his eyes to the mighty pro- 
 portions of that tower of Hippicus which dates from 
 the days of Herod ; and as a military guard emerged 
 from its dark walls to relieve that which had charge 
 of the gate, the fire of his glance was again kindled, 
 and the thought passed through his mind, ' I fancied 
 Jerusalem a heap of ruins — ^how different it is ! Oh 
 for a storming party of the sons of Jacob, to carry 
 these fortifications ! Oh for a little band of true Isra- 
 elites to man these walls ! We need no Nehemiah 
 to build them up, for they are in noble preservation ; 
 and what matter if another Sennacherib with his 
 godless host encamped without them, would Israel 
 fear? would the lion of Judah quail?' He gazed 
 around him as the words rose almost to his lip, and 
 encountered the eye of Da Costa frsed on him with 
 scrutinizing earnestness, and an expression sternly sad, 
 which recalled other thoughts of national sin and na- 
 tional chastisement, so often the theme of that noble 
 Jew's discourse ; but the longing of his heart was 
 irrepressible, the current of his fancy could not be 
 
^64 
 
 turned. To re-conquer Jerusalem seemed an enter- 
 prise so feasible, when he thought of the number, the 
 wealth, the moral and physical power of his nation 
 scattered over the whole world, that in imagination he 
 already grasped the sword ; already charged through 
 those narrow streets, and drove before him the min- 
 gled rout of whom a stray individual only now and 
 then crossed his path, with look so vacant, pace so 
 leisurely, that it added fuel to the fire of his excited 
 spirits. What did they there ? was his indignant 
 enquiry ; was Zion to be trodden under foot by such 
 as they ! 
 
 The thread of his thoughts was suddenly broken 
 by an exclamation in Enghsh, ^ Is it possible !' and in 
 a moment a gentleman sprang towards the Ryans, 
 who on their part returned his greeting most joyously. 
 A few words sufficed for explanation, their course was 
 altered ; and after traversing a narrower street they 
 stopped at the door of a respectable house, and the 
 stranger, lifting Mrs. Ryan from her horse, said, 
 ' This is your home ; a place destitute indeed of all 
 that we account ccnveniences ; but oh, it is in a spot 
 hallowed by the footsteps of him who had not where 
 to lay his head !' 
 
 Charley was now resigned by Da Costa to the arms 
 of his father, in a dozing state that seemed to promise 
 refreshing sleep. Captain Ryan, as he took him, 
 turned to the stranger, and said, ' Moore, these are 
 two Hebrew friends to whom I and mine are more 
 indebted than I have words to tell.' 
 
 The Missionary, for such he was, though only at 
 that time a temporary dweller in the Holy City, bow- 
 
265 
 
 ed low, and said that in truth and sincerity he should 
 deem it an honour to receive them under his roof; 
 only regretting that its limited space would not afford 
 more than one apartment for the accommodation of 
 his friends. To this Da Costa returned a courteous 
 assurance that he and Alick were secure of good quar- 
 ters ; that he rejoiced in the more suitable lodging 
 thus provided for Mrs. Ryan and her child ; and that 
 they would gladly avail themselves of his permission 
 to look in on their friends after making some neces- 
 sary arrangements. They then relinquished their 
 horses to the guides, and struck off into another 
 street. 
 
 ' Now, Cohen,' said Da Costa, affectionately press- 
 ing the arm that was linked in his, ' You really must 
 restrain yourself a little. This is not London.' 
 
 ' I know that right well. Da Costa ; every pulse in 
 my heart, every sinew in my body, every breath of 
 my life proclaims — This is Jerusalem !' 
 
 ' Softly !' returned the other, as he strove to mode- 
 rate the pace of Alick' s stride, you will attract atten- 
 tion, and be forced in the darkness of some prison-cell 
 to realize the galling fact, that here in our glorious 
 city, other lords beside the God of Israel have domin- 
 ion over us.' 
 
 ' Ay, Da Costa, but why should they ? Are we not 
 able to dispute possession of this place ? Is it not our 
 own ? and if so, could we not soon, very soon wrest it 
 from the hands of .' 
 
 Da Costa interrupted him ; ' The Lord our God 
 hath not yet arisen for the scattering of his enemies. 
 Of ourselves we can do nothing ; or if we could, if 
 
 23 
 
 I 
 
266 
 
 judah's lion. 
 
 even we at this hour held possession, as those scoun- 
 drels now do, of the city and the land, what would it 
 avail us, so long as Israel's King acknowledged us 
 not ? Ah, Cohen, it was not in her towers and bul- 
 warks that Zion gloried, but because God was known 
 in her palaces as a sure refuge : it was not the flash- 
 ing of the scymetar that bespoke her safely guarded, 
 but the dazzling light of the Shecinah shining above 
 the mercy-seat It was not to the shout of armed men, 
 that she owed her assurance of victory, but to the still 
 small voice of divine inspiration, speaking to the soul, 
 and again by the lip of her prophets. Would you 
 care to dwell in the city of your fathers, unowned by 
 the God of your fathers, Alick Cohen V 
 
 * No ; but why should we doubt his love to Israel, 
 his readiness to receive again, and again to bless his 
 own people V said Alick. 
 
 ^ I cannot answer that question : but I am taking 
 you to a scene that will, at any rate, impress you with 
 present realities, combined with a heart-rending me- 
 morial of the past. We are now,' he added, * tread- 
 ing on the verge of Zion. You know the ancient 
 walls enclosed a much larger space than these do ; 
 they comprehended the whole of Mount Zion ; but 
 of that only a portion is now included in the city. 
 We press it at this moment : these are the stones, 
 this the dust of Zion — the dust in which her glory 
 and honour are laid !' 
 
 Alick stooped, picked up a small stone, which he 
 kissed, and holding it in his clasped hand said, * I 
 value it above all the gems in the regal crowns of all 
 earth's monarchs.' 
 
#■ 
 
 267 
 
 * So do I ; but now I have a different and more de- 
 plorable ruin to point out to you ; down yonder is the 
 Jews' quarter.' 
 
 ^ There ! Are those filthy hovels the dwellings of 
 our people at Mount Zion ?' 
 
 * Ay, and those more miserable poverty-stricken ob- 
 jects are the seed of Abraham, the children of the pro- 
 phets, the people to whom God gave this land, and 
 whom he made a terror to the whole earth. To this 
 wretched corner are they restricted by the authority 
 of those who rule the land : and I am not going to 
 penetrate it now; come down this narrow lane; I 
 will show you the highest privilege possessed by our 
 nation, and for which they pay a heavy price to the 
 domineering heathen.' 
 
 The road along which they passed was narrow, 
 dirty, and obscure : it issued at last into an open space, 
 where rose a high blank wall, of very ancient appear- 
 ance. Here sat three or four men, chiefly aged, their 
 apparel poor, but studiously neat and clean, their 
 countenances worn with care and toil, and their voices 
 joining in a low, tremulous chaunt, the sorrowful, 
 dirge-like tones of which were the most melancholy 
 the young man had ever heard. Tears were rolling 
 down their cheeks, and moistening the long beards of 
 the old men : and something like fear was in the hasty 
 glance with which they surveyed the approaching 
 strangers. ' Go and speak to them,' whispered Da 
 Costa, in a voice of deep emotion, while he averted 
 his face ; ' speak in our own hallowed tongue.' 
 
 Alick approached ; one old man held a worn and 
 soiled book in his hand, which he saw was the Psalms 
 
268 judah's lion. 
 
 of David in Hebrew. He stooped and addressed 
 them in the language of their prophet ; ' Ye that make 
 mention of the Lord keep not silence, and give him 
 no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a 
 praise in the whole earth." 
 
 Gazing up in astonishment at the bright counte- 
 nance of their young brother, the poor men seized his 
 hands, and the skirts of his coat, kissed them, and 
 with a fresh burst of tears replied in the words of their 
 melancholy hymn, one saying, in slow recitative, and 
 the others responding to the same tone, 
 
 " "We sit alone and weep." 
 
 Alick was presently on the ground among them, ask- 
 ing questions with an eagerness that outran his ac- 
 quaintance with the language, and required the fre- 
 quent assistance of his friend. They told him that 
 the wall under which they sat contained a fragment 
 of the ancient masonry of their city, and bounded the 
 space occupied by Solomon's temple : that they pur- 
 chased from the Turkish governor permission to ap- 
 proach it once every week, and there they assem- 
 bled, to weep over the past, and to pray for the future. 
 It was late in the day ; the greater number had re- 
 turned home, but they could not leave the spot while 
 the privileged time of remaining there was unexpired. 
 In answer to Alick's earnest enquiry whether they 
 did not expect to see Jerusalem delivered from all in- 
 truders, and the worship of the God of Israel re-estab- 
 lished, and the tribes restored, they answered, " Not 
 in our day ; not in our day." 
 
 ' Why not ! our prayers and our hymns repeat the 
 
w ^ ... 
 
 judah's lion. 269 
 
 supplication, " In haste, in haste, in our day ; speedily, 
 speedily ; Lord build, Lord build, build thy temple 
 speedily!" When you ask, why don't you believe 
 that you shall receive what you ask for ? that is the 
 way to get it.' Alick forgot that he was quoting the 
 New Testament. 
 
 ' We have asked, and our fathers have asked, and 
 our children shall ask ; but the time is not come. 
 We shall weep and wail in this holy place, as did our 
 fathers, and as also shall our children. The time is 
 not yet.' 
 
 ^ How do you know that it is not yet ? how do you 
 know that you would fail, if like Nehemiah, you 
 should say, " The God of heaven he will prosper us ; 
 therefore we his servants will arise and build." ' The 
 Jews shook their heads : one an.swered, ' Nehemiah 
 had the king's licence and protection ; and the pro- 
 clamation had gone forth : but we, we have no king's 
 hand stretched out to our rescue, and the rescue of 
 our city, and the rescue of our people ;' and again he 
 took up the strain, 
 
 *' On account of the Temple which is destroyed," 
 
 and the others answered, 
 
 " We sit alone and weep." 
 
 Da Costa now spoke, ^ If a man of zeal and courage, 
 
 having the fear of God and the love of Israel, having 
 
 also the heart of David, and the sword of Gideon, 
 
 were to arise, saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be 
 
 built, and to the Temple, Thy foundation shall be 
 
 laid — what if such a champion came forward, and 
 
 23* 
 
270 
 
 called upon the holy people to aid him in the en- 
 terprise V 
 
 ' He would not succeed,' answered the old men, 
 sorrowfully : ' our enemies are many, and mighty, 
 and strong ; cruel lords rule over us, and deliverance 
 is far off; and the champion you speak of would die 
 with the slain.' 
 
 Alick was about to speak again, but Da Costa, 
 seeing some military guards approach, and anxious to 
 spare his young friend the further pain and irritation 
 of witnessing some insult or injury inflicted on the 
 poor Jews for outstaying perhaps their precise mo- 
 ment, hastened him away. As they walked on, he 
 said, ^"Terror of heart" is among the threatened 
 punishments to be poured out upon our people : and 
 in this instance you perceive its effect. If there be 
 a place under heaven where the Jew must feel him- 
 self a Jew, and be kindled into daring thoughts, and 
 brood, if he may do no more, over imaginary deeds 
 of rescuing prowess, surely it is here, in the midst of 
 Jerusalem, under the very walls of our holy Temple, 
 over which gleams the impious crescent of the haughty 
 Moslem! while the driveUing mummeries of those 
 friarly idolators pollute a spot by them deemed more 
 holy than the Mahommedan deems his mosque. But 
 you see how it is: not even a thought of daring is 
 kindled here in the bosom of fallen Israel.' 
 
 ' If you could read my thoughts, you would not 
 say so.' 
 
 ' I did not allude to you, but to those who, dwelling 
 in the very place, are more than submissive to their 
 own and their city's degradation. They feel, perhaps 
 
^^; JUDAH^S LION. 271 
 
 without knowing it, what I know without always feel- 
 ing it, that the blight which makes barren the land 
 of Judea, the desolation that has crumbled these frag- 
 ments beneath our feet, lies heavily on the minds and 
 spirits of her children. They of whom, while the 
 Lord was their God, one could chase a thousand and 
 two put ten thousand to flight, now experience the 
 bitter reverse " at the rebuke of one shall ye flee." 
 As it was spoken, so has it come to pass.' 
 
 He was silent for a moment, then resumed, ^ I never 
 speak thus in the presence of a Gentile, Cohen ; neither 
 would I now so damp your generous enthusiasm but 
 to show you the hopeless folly of looking to man. I 
 was once like you ; and to such a pitch were my feel- 
 ings roused, that I almost formed a plan for commenc- 
 ing such a movement as you dream of; but, studying 
 our holy law for the record of Israel's ancient daring, 
 I too plainly saw that of their ancient rebellion ; and 
 tracing the history of our nation, looking upon the 
 people in the state to which we find the great bulk of 
 them reduced, and contrasting our present devotion to 
 the Holy One with what he has required of us, I be- 
 came convinced that a general turning unto him was 
 needful before he would return unto us : and that to 
 seek the restored possession of this our land without 
 the Divine presence, which made it the glory of all 
 lands, would be to render our fallen condition more 
 miserably conspicuous than it has ever yet been.' 
 
 * But how are we fallen,' said Alick, ^ except as re- 
 gards our exile and dispersion, a return from which 
 would set us all right again V 
 
 ' What I mean is this : our fathers came up out of 
 
272 judah's lion. 
 
 Egypt, and took possession ofthis land, driving out be- 
 fore them many nations, stronger and greater than 
 they : aHke in their first settlement here, and in the 
 rebuilding ofthis our royal city after the Babylonish 
 captivity, the Lord wrought with our fathers in the 
 eyes of the world, so that they bore down all oppo- 
 sition, and became a terror to the whole earth. This 
 we have in our book, which forms, as you know, the 
 Bible of the Gentile world, and every child is conver- 
 sant with our history ; and the Jews, proceeding once 
 more to recover possession of the land of Canaan, and 
 to re-establish their seat of government in Jerusalem, 
 would have on them the eyes of all, from the throne 
 and senate to the nursery. Moreover, against us 
 would be leagued almost all nations; and nothing 
 short of Almighty aid could give us success. Desti- 
 tute of such aid we should be baffled, defeated: and 
 mark me, Cohen ! Israel's defeat would not be mea- 
 sured by the common chances of war ; no, it would 
 be measured by our own stupendous victories of other 
 times ; and down, down to the very depths of scorn 
 should we sink, annihilated beneath the load of scoff- 
 ing reproach !' 
 
 * But are we not to be restored ? Is not the promise 
 certain T 
 
 ' It is as fixed a certainty as that we, even Israel, 
 once possessed this spot whereon I now stamp my 
 foot ; but the elements of such a restoration are not in 
 our own body as at present constituted. God must 
 £rst arise, and his presence must go before us. The 
 standard must be hoisted, the trumpet must be 
 blown, but not by ourselves. I cannot tell you how 
 
judah's lion. 273 
 
 my inmost soul longs for him, Messiah Ben- David ; 
 the deliverer of my people !' 
 
 Alick almost started : the point at which Da Costa 
 had arrived was precisely that at which a Christian 
 would have met him with the gospel of salvation . 
 and, unaccustomed to disguise, he at once spoke his 
 thought — ' You are speaking of Israel's sin as the 
 cause of God's prolonged anger : and it seems to me 
 that the person who comes to deliver us must be able 
 to appease that anger by atoning for the sin. What 
 atonement will Messiah Ben-David make for us, 
 iniless he be, as the Christians assert, a divine person, 
 and one who has offered a sacrifice for the sins of the 
 people, by dying for them V 
 
 The look of scrutiny that his companion fixed on 
 him would have caused many an eye to quail, but 
 Alick' s changed not: he endured the stern gaze, and 
 then repeated, ^ How do you explain this matter?' 
 
 * I am no Rabbi,' answered Da Costa, ' to solve 
 subtle questions in divinity : yet alas ! Israel is so 
 fallen, that here, here in Jerusalem ; here, where stood 
 the Temple of the Lord, filled by the glory of the 
 unapproachable presence, while from its altars as- 
 cended the flame of accepted sacrifices, and amid the 
 breathings of sacred incense came the felt voice of the 
 Holy One, making revelation of the Eternal will to 
 the high priest ; — here, in this Jerusalem, where came 
 the princes and counsellors of other lands to learn 
 wisdom at the lip of Israel's king — here, in this Jeru- 
 salem, a Jew, as by sufferance he steals along the 
 street, may propound doctrines subversive of our holy 
 religion, — questions, the very uttering of which is, by 
 
274 
 
 the law of Moses, punishable with death ; and find 
 none to answer him !' 
 
 ^ You mistake me,' answered Ahck, warmly ; * my 
 remark implied nothing inconsistent with our divine 
 faith.' 
 
 ^ Pardon me ; it implied the assumed possibility 
 that a man who, on this very ground' — and he stamped 
 fiercely as he said it — ^ suffered a felon's death, may 
 have been even one with God ; may be an object of 
 the faith and the worship, and the service, which to 
 render to a created being is most damnable idolatry.' 
 
 * There lies the gist of the matter, Da Costa : ac 
 cording to your view, Christianity is necessarily idola- 
 trous ; but according to theirs — and they ought to 
 know best what they themselves believe — it is per- 
 fectly consistent with our doctrine of the eternal Unity. 
 They profess not only to found their system on our 
 Scriptures, but to reject whatever is not in accordance 
 with them ; now, as reasonable men, why should we 
 refuse to search out the matter, or at least to talk it 
 quietly over V 
 
 ' I will tell you Avhy : Moses writes thus, concern- 
 ing the Gentile forms of worship — " Take heed to 
 thyself that thou be not snared by following them 
 
 and that thou enquire not after their gods, 
 
 saying. How rlid these nations serve their gods? 
 Even so will I do likewise." Now your plan of in- 
 quiry militates against this command.' 
 
 ' No,' remarked Alick, ' for the question is not how 
 do the Christians serve their God, but, is it indeed 
 God whom they serve, or are they idolators?' 
 
 Again Da Costa bent on him a look of severe scru- 
 
275 
 
 tiny ; but his open brow, and the boyish naivete that 
 marked his manner, seemed to disarm the resentful 
 Jew. After a moment's thought, he said, ' Well, this 
 matter may rest for the present ; I am going to secure 
 our quarters at the hospice attached to the Latin 
 Convent. That being done,' 
 
 ' It will be done for yourself alone,' interrupted 
 Alick, crimsoning with indignation. ' Sooner will I 
 rest on the bare soil, or pillow my head like our father 
 Jacob, against some fragment of those grey stones, 
 which girdled in the glorious an^ beautiful house of 
 God, than roll in the downiest bed a Gentile could 
 smooth for me here ! In the Jews' quarter, by the 
 Mount Zion, and nowhere else, will I accept a lodg- 
 ing: if none of my own people will spare me a shel- 
 tered corner under their roof, then the canopy of 
 heaven for me !' 
 
 'You paradoxical fellow!' said Da Costa, whose 
 heart bounded to hear this burst of nationality — ' how 
 could I tell that you preferred mingling your drink 
 with weeping among the heart-broken children of 
 Israel, to sharing the comforts of a well-furnished 
 room and good cheer ? Truth to speak, I meant to 
 see you well accommodated, as an English traveller, 
 and to steal away myself to the Jewish quarter.' 
 
 ' Then you meditated a gross insult, and a very 
 cruel wrong against me,' said Alick, in a more intem- 
 perate manner than he had ever yet spoken. 
 
 ' Perhaps so, but I meant it for the best : besides, 
 he added slily, ' how could I surmise that you, who 
 appear so anxious to investigate the theology of the 
 
276 judah's lion. 
 
 Gentiles, would object to discussing their viands, and 
 becoming acquainted with their dormitories V 
 
 * Oh, don't speak so hghtly. Da Costa. Surely this 
 is no place to jest on the advantages enjoyed by 
 aliens in our holy city !' 
 
 ' No, Cohen ; nor to apostatize to the system of dis- 
 graceful superstitions and delusions which they call 
 religion. We'll lodge with our brethren, and forsake 
 not the law of our fathers, whoever wrests away their 
 land, and usurps their place.' 
 
 This was spoken ^ith abundance of fire ; and at 
 the same moment he changed his course, adding, 
 
 * We need give no previous intimation of our visit : 
 we shall be well received by my friend. Shall we 
 return and see how that dear Uttle fellow is going 
 on?' 
 
 They did so ; but finding that Charley was in a 
 comfortable sleep, while his parents were eagerly lis- 
 tening to the recital of their friend's recent adventures, 
 they made but a short stay, and again salUed forth 
 into the streets of the beloved city. 
 
 ' See,' said Da Costa, as they stepped aside to avoid 
 a guard of the swarthy Eg}T)tian garrison just passing, 
 
 * See how the ancient oppressors of our people again 
 lord it over us ; not as of old in their own dominions, 
 but within the walls of Jerusalem ! Neither is it 
 Egypt, the mightiest of kingdoms, but Egypt in the 
 lowest depth of degradation, peopled by woman- 
 hearted poltroons — governed by a revolted slave.' 
 
 ' Yet there are promises for Egypt,' observed Alick. 
 ^ There are ; and the time draws nigh for their ful- 
 filment. I'm glad you reminded me of it: "In that 
 
27; 
 
 day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with As 
 Syria, even a blessing in the midst of the land, whom 
 the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt 
 my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and 
 Israel mine inheritance." The time is near !' 
 
 It was now evening, and the sun's last beams rested 
 gloriously on the brow of that three -capped hill which 
 spreads its broad rampart along the eastern side of 
 the city. ' Look,' said Da Costa, ' at the Mount of 
 Olives ; to-morrow we will cross that deep ravine, the 
 valley of Jehoshaphat, of which I may almost say the 
 very soil is composed of the dust of our buried tribes, 
 and we will ascend the hill, where David went up, 
 weeping as he went ; and from its height we will take 
 a survey of our own city, and talk of what yet shall 
 be, when the Lord ariseth to have mercy upon his 
 Zion !' 
 
 AHck's heart swelled with emotions for which he 
 could find no name. Charley's innocent discourse, so 
 wise in its baby simplicity, describing the Lord Jesus 
 weeping over his stubborn Jerusalem from that spot, 
 was vividly remembered ; and the argument that had 
 followed seemed to derive additional distinctness from 
 the sight of that sacred hill. In silence he gazed 
 upon it, during a momentary pause on an open spot, 
 and then again they plunged into the narrow streets 
 that led to their destination, flanked on either side by 
 those blank but stately walls which lent so peculiar 
 an aspect to the city. A heap of rubbish next lay in 
 their path, as they passed along the slope of Zion, 
 and Alick, with downcast eyes, stept as softly as 
 
 24 
 
278 judah's lion. 
 
 though he were treading on flowers which he feared 
 to crush. 
 
 * You are unusually silent, Cohen/ said Da Costa 
 at last. 
 
 ' I never in my life felt such a dreadful depression 
 of spirits,' answered he, with difficulty restraining his 
 tears. * I cannot describe it to you : my heart is 
 weighed down, and a sort of dread overshadows me ; 
 my very thoughts seem spell-bound. At one moment 
 I could almost say. Take me hence ; but the prevail- 
 ing desire of my soul is never, never to leave this spot 
 again. O to sit down in the dust, the dust of Zion ! 
 O for liberty to weep and lament, and to plead with 
 Him, the Holy One, for pity; pity upon his own 
 Jerusalem!' and leaning over a heap of stones, piled 
 breast-high in his path, he buried his face in his 
 hands, and suffered the tears to flow. 
 
 * You shall have your fill of weeping and lamenta- 
 tion,' said Da Costa, in a voice that bespoke him 
 unusually agitated, ' but not here. We shall pre- 
 sently be among our own people. Come ; I hke not 
 to linger in this place.' 
 
 ' Why not? Is it not Mount Zion V 
 
 ' Yes ; through a mistake of mine in taking a wrong 
 turn, we are on the acclivity of our holy mount, and 
 a goodly site our worthy English friends have chosen 
 for their experimental building. These things are 
 collected for the erection of a Gentile church.' 
 
 ' Jerusalem is full of them,' said Alick. 
 
 * Yes, but this is to be a Protestant one : a rare 
 novelty to be sure !' he spoke scornfully, but Alick 
 exclaimed ' Why then it will be the best of all.' 
 
279 
 
 * And therefore in one sense the worst ; for the more 
 attractively error arrays itself, the more dangerous. It 
 is no matter,' he added haughtily ; ' let them build ; 
 the time is near when every abomination shall be 
 swept away, and the pure worship of the God of 
 Israel in all its majestic splendour be re-established 
 here.' 
 
 He drew Alick away ; and descending again, they 
 soon reached the quarter allotted to the Jews, in the 
 farther part of which they entered an iron door, 
 placed like others in a dead wall, and found them- 
 selves in a tolerably spacious court belonging to a 
 substantial house. The door was opened at Da 
 Costa's summons, and Alick almost drew back in 
 surprise at the scene which met his eye. ^ 
 
 The apartment, though low, was of good dimen- 
 sions ; and there, ranged along the sides, on hand- 
 some though plain divans, he beheld a number of 
 females, habited in the oriental costume, unveiled, 
 and many of them very beautiful. Their apparel 
 was simple, but carefully arranged, in one or two 
 instances only approaching to richness. The rest of 
 the party consisted of the most imposingly striking 
 men he had ever seen assembled. Diversified in 
 dress, the high black cap with a band of white or grey 
 muslin predominated, intermixed with turbans of 
 yellow ; and some few plain skull caps. They were 
 remarkably handsome, of noble, erect figures, except 
 where bowed by age, and all bearded. All were 
 evidently dressed to the extent of their means, but 
 poverty was apparent in many instances. The cour- 
 tesy, the affectionate warmth of their simultaneous 
 
280 
 
 greeting, soon dispelled from Alick's mind every 
 feeling save that of sympathy : and the familiar tones 
 of the sacred language, which seemed exclusively to 
 prevail, fell not only on his ear but his heart. He 
 was in the city of Jerusalem, and all about him were 
 Jews. Da Costa, who had easily acquainted himself 
 with every turn in the youth's ingenuous character, 
 had calculated on the effect of such a meeting to 
 counteract influence which he greatly dreaded : and 
 their present host, one of the most zealous, if not 
 the most bigoted of his race, had eagerly entered 
 into his design. His venerable and stately appear- 
 ance, as he laid his hands on Alick's head, and pro- 
 nouncing a blessing^ filled the youth's heart with 
 affectionate awe ; an3 with attention keenly awake, he 
 prepared to enjoy that evening's important privileges. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 The company assembled at the house of Da Costa's 
 friend, consisted principally of Jews who, on the tem- 
 porary overthrow of the Turkish power in those 
 quarters, had flocked to the Holy City, having more 
 reliance on the friendly disposition of Mohamet Ali 
 than on that of the Sultan. They w^ere in far better 
 circumstances than their resident brethren, whose 
 poverty wasso great as to render them dependent on 
 the contributions of the more wealthy for the neces- 
 saries of life, and whose position in their ancient city 
 forms one of its most afflicting features. The present 
 party seemed under the impression that some signal 
 event was about to take place, some very important 
 crisis to arrive ; and although they bitterly lamented 
 their dispersed, depressed, isolated condition, and 
 complained of a general deadness to the encourage- 
 ments that passing events held out to their nation, 
 still it was apparent that their energies were in a 
 measure roused, and their hopes excited. Alick heard 
 more of the Talmud and the opinions of learned men 
 that he had yet done ; and far less of the Scriptures 
 of God than he wished to hear; and he missed that 
 delightful branch of the subject which Charley and 
 his mother had made so prominent, the blessing that 
 Israel should convey to Gentile nations; but his 
 
 24* 
 
282 
 
 feelings were deeply interested, and gratified too, 
 when, looking round on the company of Hebrew men, 
 of mothers in Israel, and gentle Jewish maidens, he 
 traced the high descent, and higher destiny of his 
 people ; and recollected that howsoever comparatively 
 depressed and obscure, still they were met, without 
 hindrance, and with no cause for apprehension, in 
 Jerusalem ; and contrasting such privileges with the 
 stern edicts against them for many and many an age, 
 his soul welcomed the dawning streak of their coming 
 day — a day of prosperity, triumph, and peace. 
 
 After a while, a feeling remark of Da Costa's led 
 the conversation to the indulgence so graciously ac- 
 corded by the infidel lords of Jerusalem to her original 
 race, of frequenting the ruined corner; and Alick 
 asked whether it was really a fragment of the ancient 
 city. He remembered not only the prophet's declara- 
 tion that Zion should be ploughed as a field, but also 
 that of One whom he would not then have named, 
 who had said, that of the great buildings of the Tem- 
 ple not one stone should be left on another ; and he 
 strove to wish that the word of Jesus might not have 
 come to pass. He was answered by an old man, who 
 told him that the wall in question had formed part of 
 the outer enclosure, bej^ond the court of the Gentiles, 
 and of course considerably exterior to all that per- 
 tained to the Temple. ' The Holy One, (blessed be 
 He !) did not sufier any portion of that sacred building 
 to remain for the heathen to pollute,' said the aged 
 Jew ; ' Their abomination stands indeed upon the 
 spot, marking the site where we again shall rebuild 
 the Temple, after many purifications from its present 
 
judah's lion. 283 
 
 defilement ; but not a stone of our holy and beautiful 
 house have the hands of the accursed been permitted 
 to grasp. Yea, the magnificent stones were ground 
 into dust, by the merciful severity of the Most High, 
 to preserve them from the dishonour of helping to con- 
 struct a house of Belial.' 
 
 ^ Then He spoke truly,' thought Alick ; ' and it was 
 a daring prediction for uninspired man to utter, seeing 
 how desirable to the conqueror must have been the 
 preservation of so noble, so unrivalled an edifice. 
 Was he not a prophet V and the question so entirely 
 occupied his mind, that he lost a good deal of the con- 
 versation which ensued, until the name of a mission- 
 ary, of whom he had often heard Captain Ryan speak, 
 caught his ear, and he listened eagerly, ' I went to his 
 room,' said one of the party, ' and would have disputed 
 with him, but we could find no common ground to 
 stand on. I brought to my aid tUe learned commen- 
 taries of our chief Rabbins, — blessed be their memo- 
 ries ! but he insisted on Scripture alone as the arbiter 
 in all doubtful matters, and after various meetings we 
 found it useless to proceed.' 
 
 ' Even without the commentaries of the learned, 
 you might have silenced him,' remarked Da Costa. 
 
 ' No : for there are mysteries that require explain- 
 ing, and he would shew them to be unravelled by the 
 doctrine of the crucified Nazarene. How could I 
 meet him but with the explanations given by our wise 
 men? How could I know the mind of Him who 
 wrote, save by the interpretation of those who were 
 inspired with understanding to discover it?' 
 
 The rest assented ; and several being present who 
 
284 
 
 were teachers, together with many learners of the 
 Talmud, a discourse ensued on the various significa- 
 tions given by ancient doctors to some passages, ap- 
 parently too clear to require any comment ; some of 
 whose views were so absurd, their remarks so childish, 
 and their observances thereupon so exceedingly vain 
 and superstitious, that Alick was no less mortified 
 than amazed at hearing them descanted on as master- 
 pieces of super-human wisdom. He became tired, 
 and almost irritated at the endless mysticisms he was 
 compelled to listen to, and longed for a place beside 
 some of the unassuming females of the party ; but 
 such a move he did not venture to make, being seated 
 in the midst of the learned speakers, to whom he felt 
 bound to pay every respect. Turning his head, how- 
 ever, he beheld, a little in the rear, one of the old men 
 he had seen at the place of wailing, who was quietly 
 perusing his book, half concealed in the folds of his 
 robe ; and whose countenance, mild, sorrowful and 
 humble, attracted him. An opportunity occurring to 
 fall back a little, Ahck soon contrived to be on a fine 
 with this aged Jew, and sufficiently apart from the 
 rest to converse unnoticed. The other, aware of his 
 approach, and of the wistful look with which he eyed 
 him, spoke not, but quietly offered a share in his book, 
 which Alick most gratefully accepted, and drawing 
 closer to the old man, read with him the remainder 
 of the hundred and thirty-sixth Psalm, after which 
 they commenced the one following. " By the rivers 
 of Babylon there we sat down ; yea, we wept, when 
 we remembered Zion." The old Hebrew's heavy 
 sighs went to Alick' s heart, and when he saw a tear 
 
285 
 
 fall on the white beard, and heard the low murmur 
 of his tremulous voice, he felt that he had at length, 
 so to speak, found his level. He accompanied him 
 in every word ; and coming to the verse, " If I forget 
 thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget," — the 
 youth uttered it with such fervent emphasis, at the 
 same time involuntarily raising his hand, that his com- 
 panion looked at him, and with corresponding fervour 
 recited the next words, " If I do not remember thee, 
 let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I 
 prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." When 
 they had completed the portion, Alick whispered, 
 ' Who is the daughter of Babylon V 
 
 ' Rome,' was the answer. 
 
 ' Our ancient enemy,' rejoined Alick; ' the destroyer 
 of our Temple, the overthrower of our city, the mur- 
 derer of our fathers.' 
 
 ' Ay, youth, and of their sons ; the greatest perse- 
 cutor of our race from the day she first polluted this 
 soil with her foot, even to the present hour.' 
 
 ' Happily she has no footing here just now,' said 
 Ahck. 
 
 ' She has her agents even here, and her crafty 
 counsels influence the springs of government, oppo- 
 sing the liberal projects of other states, and carrying 
 forward her own device of universal empire, of which 
 she longs to make this, our Jerusalem, the eastern 
 metropohs.' 
 
 ' But she never shall,' said Alick ; * far rather would 
 I that it remained under its present masters till Mes- 
 siah come, whose right it is, than that Rome held it, 
 even though it were to my personal advantage.' 
 
 :*;^. 
 
386 jubah's lion. %. 
 
 * No Jew could be advantaged by that,' remarked 
 his companion ; ' not one of our nation would ever set 
 foot within the gates, if Rome held the key. Our 
 present privileges are not great,' he added with a sor- 
 rowful smile, in which resignation seemed to strive 
 against more acute feelings, * but they are privileges 
 To sojourn unmolested where stood the palaces of my 
 race, to weep unrestrained beside the last decaying 
 fragment of our glorious bulwarks, and to lay my bones 
 where rest the bones of the prophets and the mighty 
 men of Israel — these are blessings ; and yet a greater 
 blessing is there in the uninterrupted study of this book 
 of the law, and in tracing out, by the light of prophecy, 
 amid the now polluted ruins of Jerusalem, the gran- 
 deur and the beauty and the magnificent array in 
 which she shall arise, when the call comes to shake 
 the dust from her garments and to sit down — no longer 
 upon the ground, but upon the throne which God has 
 prepared for her, and which no other shall occupy.' 
 
 As the old man spoke, his eye kindled, his cheek 
 glowed, and his voice became exceedingly impressive. 
 A pause just then occurring among the other speak- 
 ers, his words caught their attention, and such a 
 response was uttered by many, in the various accents 
 of prayer, of praise, and of confident assertion, as 
 made Alick's heart leap within him. Unable to con- 
 trol his feelings he sprung from his seat, and exclaimed, 
 * Is this Jerusalem ? Are such the promises of our f 
 God concerning her ? Do we believe those promises ? 
 And are we never to stretch forth a hand to grasp the 
 glorious realities on which our eyes are fixed? Men 
 of Israel, have ye forgotten the word that came, even 
 
#° 
 
 dah's lion. 287 
 
 by the mouth of the impious Balaam, testifying what 
 the Lion of Judah should achieve ? and must that 
 kingly Lion for ever lie prostrate in the dust, while 
 his enemies exult, and they who know his power 
 marvel at his quietude V 
 
 The astonishment excited by this burst of enthu- 
 siasm was great. Several seemed thoroughly roused 
 by it ; and some looked on the young pleader with 
 feelings not unmixed with awe, as though a message 
 had suddenly been delivered to them from a higher 
 source. They were upon the spot where such com- 
 munications were often of old made to their fathers ; 
 and they gazed on him as if expecting a further 
 manifestation of something wonderful. The old Jew 
 had also arisen and stood behind him, his thin hand 
 resting on Alick's shoulder, and his mild eye lighted 
 up with an expression of paternal tenderness, and 
 holy exultation : Alick had spoken in Hebrew, which 
 all understood, and used ; and while the effect pro- 
 duced by his abrupt address was gradually subsiding 
 into the expression of different opinions among the 
 company, another aged man addressed his friend, 
 saying in German, ^ Is he not the counterpart of your 
 lost son, Wilhelm V 
 
 Alick caught the last word, and at the same time 
 saw Da Costa start ; but he could not comprehend 
 the language, and just then some one addressed to 
 him an enquiry as to his object in making so unex- 
 pected an appeal to their strongest feelings. Alick 
 frankly answered that he had no other object than 
 that of recommending to his brethren a more practi- 
 cal application of what their own prophets had writ- 
 
288 judah's lion. 
 
 ten ; that he was persuaded the day of IsraePs re- 
 demption could not be far distant, but he saw no fruit 
 of such a conviction on the minds of others ; and that 
 to be content with the position which they now held 
 in their own city appeared to liim like the despising 
 of good things promised by the Lord. Abashed as 
 he really felt at having been led to make himself so 
 conspicuous in a party where he was probably the 
 youngest present, he resolved not to retreat, but to 
 follow up, so far as he might, the advantage of having 
 given a new turn to the conversation, and one far bet- 
 ter suited to such a company than the dreams of the 
 Talmud. He was weary, too, of the names of Rabbi 
 Solomon Jarchi, Rabbi Kimchi, Maimonides, Aben- 
 Ezra ; and longed to hear somewhat of Nehemiah 
 the rebuilder ; or of Zachariah, and the rest of those 
 holy men, who by the inspiration of God had declared 
 his purposes towards his own people. Alick had, 
 moreover, detected some very startling things as form- 
 ing part of the system which his brethren considered 
 to be pure Judaism ; he heard from one stern-looking 
 Rabbinical teacher a sentiment involving the doctrine 
 that all Gentile people were to be converted by the 
 edge of the sword to their faith ; from another he 
 heard a remark plainly indicating that Christians 
 were not to be regarded as neighbours, nor treated 
 like fellow-men ; and, what confounded him not a lit- 
 tle, that he was liable to the most severe punishment 
 for eating food prepared by Gentile hands, and par- 
 taken of by Gentiles. His father had always been 
 extremely lax on this head ; and Alick had paid so 
 little regard to the opinions or customs of his peculiar 
 
judah's lion. 289 
 
 people, that he had looked on Ben-Melchor as an ex- 
 traordinary specimen of exclusiveness, not as a fair 
 sample of what a Jew would consider it right to he, 
 in point of ceremonial distinction. Among many- 
 passing thoughts, he wondered that Da Costa had 
 never spoken to him on the subject of that separation 
 which it struck him he had himself always practised ; 
 for he was aware, though he had not before remarked 
 it otherwise than as accidental, that he had never ac- 
 tually partaken with them in any meal at Jaffa, or on 
 the road. Could he regard these observances as bind- 
 ing on a Hebrew, and yet permit him daily to trans- 
 gress without a warning word 7 
 
 Towards the close of the evening, Alick missed 
 from the party both Da Costa and the German : the 
 former only returned, and his excited appearance, his 
 flashing eye, the restless motion, the evident abstrac- 
 tion of his mind, struck Alick. The party soon after 
 separated, and Da Costa, taking Alick' s arm, led him 
 forth to the highest part of Mount Zion towards the 
 East, w^hence they looked out upon the Mount of 
 Olives. Neither had spoken : Da Costa was still la- 
 bouring under strong emotion ; and his young friend, 
 who began to feel some fatigue of body added to his 
 mental excitement, resolved to let him take the lead. 
 Having reached a ruined quadrangle, the remains of 
 a small house, and seated himself on a low wall, mo- 
 tioning to Alick to do the same. Da Costa com- 
 menced : ^ Cohen, the time is come, and come some- 
 what sooner than I anticipated, for entering upon 
 explanations of immense moment to you. I could 
 have wished to defer this ; I wished to conduct you 
 
 25 
 
690 jcdah's lion. 
 
 over all the ruins of this city of Our God, to point out 
 every sacred spot to which the proscribed Jew may 
 approach ; to lead you to the sepulchres of our kings, 
 the burying-places of our fathers. I desired to famil- 
 iarize you with every touching wreck of our beloved, 
 our dishonoured Jerusalem, groaning as they are un- 
 der the gaudy temples of the Moslem and the Naza- 
 rene ; and then I would have shewn you the interior 
 of some of those execrable dens of idolatry where the 
 latter carry on their abominable worship, addressed to 
 images which their own hands have made. I purposed 
 placing before you Zion in her deepest desolation, 
 Gentilism in its proudest triumph, and then appealing 
 to your heart and conscience as to which party might 
 claim you a disciple.' 
 
 ' No such preparation was needed. Da Costa, the 
 faith of my fathers is dearer to me than my life ; the 
 hateful idolatries to which you allude ' . 
 
 ^ Nay, hear me out. The plan so thoughtfully 
 framed has been wholly disconcerted by the unex- 
 pected recognition amongst this night's party, of poor 
 Wilhelm's father ; and the discovery of a clue that I 
 must immediately follow up, or the sole chance of 
 tracing and of rescuing him may be for ever lost. This 
 compels me to come to an abrupt and premature dis- 
 closure of matters that concern you most nearly ; for 
 dear as Wilhelm, my long and loved companion is to 
 me, I cannot sacrifice you, Cohen, the acquaintance 
 of a day, even to save him. But time is so precious, 
 the space allowed me so brief, that I must without 
 further delay proceed to execute my mission. Stand 
 up, Cohen, and here in the presence of the God of 
 
judah's lion. 291 
 
 Israel, who shall judge between us, answer me, are 
 you a Christian ?' 
 
 ^ I am not ;' answered Alick, firmly. 
 
 ' What then are you V 
 
 ' A son of Abraham, by descent ; a Jew in blood, 
 in heart, in soul, and in profession. A Jew, in the 
 thoughtless days of boyhood, in free, happy England : 
 tenfold a Jew here, surrounded by the crumbling stones 
 of Jerusalem.' 
 
 ^ My dear lad, you are a Jew by birth and name, 
 and a Jew in sentiment, but there is, whether you be 
 conscious of it or not, a halting between two opinions, 
 wholly inconsistent with the profession you make. 
 Why, you do not even observe the law of Moses in 
 the matter of meats, of fasting, of purification — in 
 short, you are a Gentile to all outward appearance ; 
 and not a little in feeling and opinion.' 
 
 Alick was hurt : ' you very well know that my father 
 always looked forward to my enjoying political privi- 
 leges in England, and brought me up with as little 
 distinction as possible between me and my Gentile 
 schoolmates and compeers. If you thought me wrong, 
 why did you not reprove me at once ?' 
 
 ' Let that pass; and speak only of the future. Is it 
 your purpose to continue this line of conduct, wound- 
 ing your people, your religion, your own soul, by such 
 glaring inconsistency V 
 
 ' I am quite ready to conform in every particular to 
 the law of Moses, and you cannot prescribe anything 
 so strict that I shall not esteem it an honour, a privi- 
 lege, a rich blessing to practise it.' 
 
 ' And a matter of salvation,' added Da Costa. 
 
292 
 
 Alick was silent. A new train of thoughts arose in 
 his mind, but his companion did not allow him to re- 
 flect : he rapidly proceeded, ' The moments are so 
 precious that we may not pause on a word. I must 
 remind you that the sacred duties you declare yourself 
 willing to fulfil, cannot be fulfilled under your existing 
 connexion with the Ryans.* 
 
 Alick' s colour rose ; ' They both can and shall, and 
 they must ! for my father has placed me under Cap- 
 tain Ryan's care, and you will not persuade me that 
 disobedience to parents forms any part of the law of 
 Moses.' 
 
 ^ Suppose for a moment that no such arrangement 
 had ever been made ; what then would you say ? 
 
 * Time being so precious we had better not waste 
 it in idle hypotheses,' answered Alick, somewhat drily.' 
 
 Da Costa seemed perplexed: ' Yet, Cohen, indulge 
 me thus far : did no such obligation exist, and were you 
 perfectly satisfied that living and travelling with Chris- 
 tians, uninstructed too as you are in all the re- 
 quirements of our holy law, you must daily, hourly 
 transgress it, would you prefer the gratification of a 
 natural liking for some agreeable strangers to the stern 
 duty of glorifying the God of Israel by obedience to 
 his commands V 
 
 * No, Da Costa ; in that case I should be enabled 
 to sacrifice all private feelings, and withdraw from 
 society most dear and precious to me. I would, in 
 that case, accompany you in your search for Wilhelm, 
 share your dangers, and in every particular learn strict 
 conformity to our holy law. Even as it is, I solemnly 
 pledge my word to you that I will live as strict a Jew, 
 
.f judah's lion. 293 
 
 be the difficulty what it may, as your heart can desire. 
 Only tell me how to act, and doubt not my resolve to 
 exhibit in all its features the character of our divine 
 faith.' 
 
 Da Costa caught his hand, and exclaimed, ^ Dear 
 Cohen ! noble young Israelite ! how thankful I am 
 that I read aright your character, and permitted your 
 own honest feeling to mark out for you the path into 
 which I had power to force you ! Don't speak — lis- 
 ten. You remember Ben-Melchor ? As strict a de- 
 votee as can be imagined, he is moreover extremely 
 fond of reporting all who come short of the standard ; 
 and your case was laid before some, high in authority, 
 of which the world knows little. The report preceded 
 you to Jaffa: I was employed to remonstrate with 
 your father, and I did so. It is unnecessary to repeat 
 all that passed : a long consultation was held with him 
 by some of our leading men, and the result was this,' 
 — he drew a paper from his bosom — ' your father's 
 distinct permission for your removal from under Cap- 
 tain Ryan's care, to whom I also bear a letter of thanks 
 and full explanation; and should any resistance be 
 offered by you, then an appeal to the Chief Rabbi 
 here in Jerusalem would have been resorted to ; and 
 you must have answered for your faith, either submit" 
 ting to his authority or apostatizing. Now, I did not 
 particularly relish the agency in such a matter : but I 
 took a special liking to you from our first interview, 
 and I likewise felt no slight share of good-will towards 
 that nice fellow Ryan, apart from his meddlesome 
 ways. I confess too that my heart was fairly won by 
 the child ; and the deep feehng they all evince for us 
 
294 judah's lion. 
 
 nationally ; which I never before knew any of the 
 Jew-converting gentry to entertain ; nor even to re- 
 cognise our nation, except so far as they could fix the 
 taunting accusation of being a scorn and a curse. 
 Well, I resolved to act tenderly by all parties ; and I 
 should have approached very gradually to this point, 
 but for the meeting with poor old Wilhelm, whose 
 grief for his son, and emotion on discovering in me the 
 companion of his travels, and the sworn avenger of 
 his wrongs, spurred me on to this rude disclosure. So 
 now, Cohen, what say you?' 
 
 ' I will go with you ;' answered Alick, after a severe 
 stniggle ; * but had you proceeded less kindly and 
 generously, I would not have yielded — would not 
 have left my poor friends in their affliction — they 
 who, to gratify me, changed the course of their travels, 
 and sacrificed their darling child.' He was unable 
 to proceed. 
 
 ' Be comforted, Alick. I mean to make a frank 
 statement to Captain Ryan, and sure I am that his 
 own honourable spirit will dictate a ready acquies- 
 cence in our plans. We will repair to him as early 
 as possible ; and while you sit with Charley and his 
 mother, we will talk it over. At present you must get 
 some rest' 
 
 They descended the Mount, and Alick soon found 
 himself again in the Jews' quarter. Very little sleep 
 did he enjoy, his mind was so bewildered by the new 
 and strange position in which he found himself; but 
 the image of the meek old Israelite who had espe- 
 cially interested him from the first, the hope of restor- 
 ing to him his lost son, and that love of adventure 
 
^ 
 
 JUDAH^S LION. 295 
 
 natural to his age and character, almost counterpoised 
 his bitter regrets concerning the Ryans. The thought 
 of becoming a stricter Jew delighted him, and he was 
 resolved to hold Da Costa to his engagement for the 
 daily reading of God's word, with a minute investiga- 
 tion of the New Testament. Early in the morning 
 they repaired to the Missionary's house, and learned 
 with joy that little Charley was very materially better. 
 They were admitted to the apartment where he lay 
 pale, but full of animation, his face turned in the 
 direction of a small latticed window, through which 
 was seen the graceful slope of the Mount of Olives. 
 He returned the caresses of his friends, and then, 
 eagerly pointing to the lattice, exclaimed ' Look, Mr. 
 Alick: there's the place where the Lord Jesus used 
 to go and pray, and to teach the people: there's 
 where he wept over Jerusalem: there's where he 
 came down, meek and lowly, and having salvation : 
 and riding upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 
 There's where he sweat blood for us ; and where he 
 was betrayed and taken with swords and staves : and 
 there's where he shall be again, for " His feet shall 
 stand on the Mount of Olives," when He comes to 
 destroy his enemies, and to reign over the whole 
 earth.' 
 
 ' You seem quite alive, Charley,' said Da Costa. 
 
 ^ Yes, Mr. Dockster ; looking at the Mount of 
 OUves makes me alive. Mamma says, if I go on so 
 w^ell I shall soon be able to go with you all through 
 the place. How nice it will be ! You will show me 
 where David lived, and where he is buried ; and 
 where Solomon built the Temple, and Neheraiah 
 
296 
 
 built the walls up. Did'nt I tell you I should get 
 better at Jerusalem? But why do you look so sad, 
 Mr. Allck? Ohj it's that you are sorry because Jeru- 
 salem is taken away from the Jews : but never fear, 
 when Messiah comes, he will give it you again, and 
 he will be your God, and you shall be his people.' 
 
 He looked fondly at Alick, whose dejection seemed 
 to increase, and putting his little arm about his neck, 
 said, 'I do be sorry to see you look unhappy : but 
 the Lord Jesus will comfort you. Don't you remem- 
 ber, at Ramah, the priest said I should die ? Well, 
 it made me a little afraid, and I was very sorry to 
 leave Papa and Mamma, and you darling Jews ; and 
 I was afraid because of all my sins and naughtiness 
 to go and stand before God : he is so great and ter- 
 rible ! But then I thought of the verse " The blood 
 of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth from all sin," and 
 it did comfort me so! and I was not afraid then. 
 Oh, if you would but love him, you would never be 
 very sorry, and you would never be at all afraid.^ 
 He looked again to the window and repeated, '^ As 
 the hills stand about Jerusalem, so standeth the Lord 
 about his people." 
 
 ' Captain Ryan,' said Da Costa, ' I want to have a 
 few minutes conversation with you ; can you spare 
 the time now?' 
 
 ' Willingly, I hope we shall pass the whole day 
 together ; and I am at your service.' 
 
 They went out: Alick's heart beat most painfully, 
 and Mrs. Ryan affectionately inquired if he was not 
 well : ' He is sorry,' said Charley, * I know that. Mr. 
 
297 
 
 Alick you shall read to me, please do ; I want you to 
 read to me the twelfth of the Hebrews.' 
 
 Alick did so, and he felt the power of that exqui- 
 site portion more, perhaps, than he had ever felt any 
 part of the New Testament. Charley's innocent but 
 appropriate remarks pointing more forcibly his atten- 
 tion. He then answered various questions of the 
 child and his mother, as to what he had already seen, 
 and tried to smile, when Charley talked of the plea- 
 sant walks they should take, adding, ' I think I shall 
 soon get well, now I am in Jerusalem, and you will 
 be talkmg to me all day long about the beautiful 
 places, till I can see them myself 
 
 At length the two gentlemen returned ; Captain 
 Ryan's countenance bespoke displeasure ; Da Costa 
 looked proud and high : and Alick with some trepi- 
 dation obeyed a summons presently given to with- 
 draw with them into another room. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 * Now Cohen,' said Da Costa, as soon as they were 
 alone, * have the kindness to repeat to Captain Ryan 
 what you understand to have been my share in this 
 business.' 
 
 ' There is no need of it :' said the Captain. * I am 
 satisfied that you have acted as fairly as the circum- 
 stances would admit : but having accepted, and so far 
 faithfully discharged a sacred trust, I cannot at a 
 moment's notice relinquish it, without ascertaining 
 the mind of my young friend.' 
 
 ^ My mind is soon spoken,' said Alick. ' The first 
 wish of my heart would be to remain as I am, enjoy- 
 ing this affectionate intercourse with you both ; but 
 since it appears that I have, with the rest of my 
 family, been remiss in keeping the commandments of 
 God, as delivered to my fathers, and as fulfilled here 
 in Jerusalem, through successive ages, I am desirous 
 to repair that omission, and to observe the law, to its 
 extreme letter, in all the strictness of uncontaminated, 
 undiluted Judaism. This, it seems, I cannot do, at 
 present, through ignorance and inexperience, while 
 associating, in domestic life, exclusively with Gen- 
 tiles ; therefore I am willing to make a sacrifice, 
 which I can say from the depth of my heart, is not 
 one that costs me nothing :' his voice faltered for a 
 
299 
 
 moment, but he went on with fresh spirit. ^ I wish to 
 be, in the sight of all men, wholly and openly a Jew ; 
 and as such I shall carefully compare the law and the 
 prophets with what Christians assert is their fulfil- 
 ment. I shall ask wisdom from the God of Israel, 
 who alone can give it : then, if I find Christianity to 
 be, as you say it is, the end of our law and the fulfill- 
 ing of our prophets ; if He, whom you assert to be 
 King of the Jews, is really so, and not an imposter, I 
 shall be found in the right path for the acceptation of 
 that which as yet I cannot receive ; and as I know 
 Judaism to be of God, so if Christianity be of God also, 
 they cannot clash — they must combine, and form but 
 one. To you, dear sir, I owe more than I can speak ; 
 and I do indeed regret that my father's tardy acknow- 
 ledgment of what it seems was certainly obligatory 
 on him, should have involved you in so much addi- 
 tional trouble on my account ; should have deranged 
 your plans, and embarrassed your movements, and 
 perhaps have placed the beloved babe in danger. For 
 your sake I most deeply regret it ; for my own I can- 
 not : selfishness prevails, when I think on the benefits 
 that I have derived, and may yet more derive, from 
 our short intercourse.' He took Captain Ryan's hand, 
 and pressed it to his lips ; then joining it to Da 
 Costa's, he added, ' In whatever you may differ, you 
 are one in affection for an unworthy youth, and one in 
 honourable, generous feeling. Are you satisfied, Cap- 
 tain Ryan V 
 
 ^ More than satisfied; I see the advantages of your 
 future position ; and so long as you abide by the re- 
 solve to study the Scriptures with prayer for divine 
 
300 judah's lion. 
 
 teaching, the absence of man's interpretations will be 
 a positive gain. But beware of the Talmud!' 
 
 ' The Talmudj' said Da Costa, * is our oral law, 
 and as binding on us as the New Testament is on 
 you.' 
 
 ' I never understood,' said Alick, * that the Talmud 
 was an inspired book.' 
 
 * I can tell you,' replied Captain Ryan, ' in the 
 words of an estabhshed catechism of your nation, how 
 this is regarded. It is asked, ^ In what manner did 
 Moses transmit to us the law ? Answer, Partly by 
 means of the written, and partly by the oral law, or 
 tradition.' Then again ; ' Have the Mishna and Ge- 
 mara equal importance with the written law? Answer, 
 Just the same. They are and must be just as impor- 
 tant as Holy Scripture, for they contain no arbitrary 
 or human ordinances : — but 1st, Divine traditions and 
 declarations to Moses; 2ndly, Laws enforced by aug- 
 mentation — i. e., according to the thirteen traditional 
 rules of interpretation ; and 3rdly, Ordinances of the 
 prophets and subsequent wise men, which are, as it 
 were, erected round the word of God as a wall of de- 
 fence. All these, as having been received by the 
 whole nation, have the same importance as Holy 
 Scripture." This is from the Bavarian Catechism, 
 word for word.' 
 
 ' But,' rejoined Alick, ' I heard some things very 
 lately stated on the authority of the Talmud, which I 
 should not like to consider myself bound to believe as 
 of equal authority with the Bible.' 
 
 ' And I confess,' said Da Costa, ' that there are 
 
some few things in it which I hope and believe are 
 not now held by us as matters of faith.' 
 
 ' You must hold them so, on the authority of your 
 Catechisms,' repeated Captain Ryan ; ' for even in 
 England, and within these two or three years, such 
 have been re-published as this — after mentioning the 
 five books of Moses — ' We also, from the same source, 
 receive, as sacred and authentic, a large number of 
 traditions not committed to writing, but transmitted 
 by word of mouth down to later times ; without which 
 many enactments in the Holy Bible could not have 
 been understood and acted upon ; these, termed tra- 
 ditional or oral laws, were collected and formed into 
 a volume called the ' Mishna,' by Rabbi Jehuda Ha- 
 kodesh a. m. 4150 ; in addition to this, we are guided 
 by the explications of the later schools of pious and 
 learned Rabbins, constituting what is now known by 
 the name of the Talmud, or Gemara.' These tradi- 
 tions, hiding as a dense cloud the brightness of God's 
 word, made it of none effect ; and under the darkness 
 so produced, they to whom the Lord of glory came, 
 could not discern him, but here, even here, they de- 
 nied, rejected, and crucified him. He was asked 
 " Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of 
 the elders ? for they wash not their hands when they 
 eat bread. But he answered and said unto them. 
 Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God 
 by your traditions?" And again he quoted the words 
 of Isaiah, " In vain do they worship me, teaching for 
 doctrines the commandments of men." Beware of 
 the Talmud, Cohen ! beware of the admixture of 
 man's devices with the pure truth of God !' 
 
 26 
 
302 judah's lion. 
 
 ' You are making the most of your opportunity, 
 Captain Ryan,' said Da Costa. 
 
 ^ Ay, and bitterly lamenting that I have not always 
 done the same. I calculated on many a convenient 
 season for talking to you both on the things that be- 
 long to your peace ; and forgetful, or too httle mind- 
 ful of the commandment not to boast myself of the 
 morrow, I have held back much that now I may not 
 be able to say. The very circumstance that should 
 have quickened me in the work, has furnished a sort 
 of pretext for being backward in it — my boy's danger ; 
 and the courtesy, the kindness, the hospitality, that 
 you. Da Costa, have shown me in this land, instead 
 of rendering me more faithfully urgent with you in 
 matters of salvation, have even fostered a false deli- 
 cacy on my part ; a reluctance to wound your feelings 
 or to shock your prejudices by honest zeal for the con- 
 version of your soul.' 
 
 * You have not only shocked my prejudices,' said 
 Da Costa, ' but sometimes you have so put them to 
 the rout that I could hardly marshal them again : 
 you have not only wounded, but well-nigh slain my 
 feelings of religious intolerance, by the exhibition of 
 Christianity as so very lovely a thing, in your own 
 character and that of your dear wife, and angelic little 
 boy, on whom be the blessing of the Lord !' 
 
 ' Hear, hear him!' cried Alick, in an ecstacy of 
 delight, while Captain Ryan, much moved, bowed 
 his head. Then resuming his animated, energetic 
 manner, he said, ' Da Costa, you have blessed my 
 boy, who, babe as he is, would this hour yield his 
 throat to the knife in witness of the truth which he 
 
judah's lion. 303 
 
 holds, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of Israel, 
 the hope of the Gentiles, the King of glory, God over 
 all, blessed for ever. Now I challenge you on the 
 ground of that blessing (which may the Lord confirm !) 
 to reject the doctrines of the Talmud, which bid you, 
 in lieu of blessing that Christian boy, to seek his life.' 
 
 ^ No, no :' said Da Costa, hastily ; ' there are no 
 such doctrines in the Gemara ; and if any such thing 
 have crept in, it is now obsolete — wholly exploded.' 
 
 ' Obsolete ! can any command of the living God be 
 obsolete ? You aver, in the catechisms which I have 
 just quoted, that the oral is of equal authority with 
 the written law ; and that this forms a part of your 
 oral law, I will instantly prove to you.' He ran to 
 his travelling valise, and drawing forth a volume, 
 went on : ' Here is a book of which you will not deny 
 the authority, as explaining and enforcing the pre- 
 cepts of this oral law, the Hilchoth M'lachim : read 
 now this passage — " Moses our master did not give 
 the law as an inheritance to any but Israel ; as it is 
 said, ' the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob ;' 
 and to those of the nations who might wish to become 
 proselytes. Moses our master has also commanded 
 us, by Divine appointment, to compel all that come 
 into the world to embrace the commandments given 
 to the children of Noah. And whosoever will not 
 embrace them is to be put to deaths Do you know 
 what is meant by the children of Noah T 
 
 Da Costa was silent ; Alick said ' No.' 
 
 ' They are one of the four classes into which your 
 Rabbins of the Gemara divide mankind. Israelites, 
 Proselytes, children of Noah, and Idolaters. In the 
 
304 
 
 last class, we, who acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, 
 are included. The third head comprises those among 
 the Gentiles who are wholly free from every thing 
 that in the mind of a Jew constitutes idolatry ; and 
 these can, moreover, only be enrolled in this privileged 
 class during the celebration of a Jubilee, which ren- 
 ders it impossible for any now to claim the benefit 
 Consequently I repeat it, as my little Charley would 
 not, to save his life fifty times over, deny his Lord — 
 there is no remedy : according to the Talmud he is 
 to be put to death.' 
 
 * There's not a Jew living who would think of any 
 such thing,' said Da Costa, impatiently. 
 
 * I believe it; therefore there is not a Jew living 
 who, in his heart and conscience, and practice too, re- 
 ceives the Talmud as the law of God. The atrocious 
 calumnies propagated concerning you have only ob- 
 tained credence, where they did obtain it, by appeal- 
 ing to such passages as I have now shown you, which 
 stand side by side with the reiterated declaration, in all 
 languages, that you regard the oral law as equally 
 authoritative and binding with the Holy Scriptures. 
 Tell me, then, is Cohen to be a Jew according to the 
 written law of Moses, or according to the countless re- 
 quirements of the Talmud T 
 
 It was a puzzling question ; Alick fixed an earnest 
 look on Da Costa, who at length said, ' My own edu- 
 cation has been that of a man destined to mercantile 
 pursuits, and having, of course, nothing to do with 
 theological disputations. I have learned to observe 
 and to do what is generally required of those forming 
 our congregations, and so far I can guide Cohen ia 
 
JUDAH S LION. 305 
 
 the same path. I may not be able to trace up every 
 ceremonial to its precise origin, whether in the written 
 or the oral law, but I can attest that it is an observance 
 binding on us as Jews.' 
 
 ' Could we not procure a copy of the Talmud and 
 study it on our road V asked Alick. 
 
 Captain Ryan looked at Da Costa, who could not 
 refrain from laughing, as he replied, ' A dozen pon- 
 derous folios would be too cumbrous an item for our 
 saddle-bags.' 
 
 ' A dozen folios ! why it would take a man's natural 
 life to become properly acquainted with their contents,' 
 said Alick, involuntarily drawing forth his Bible, and 
 compressing it between his hands. 
 
 ^ True ;' replied Captain Ryan ; ' and as the Lord 
 purposed his blessed word to be a lamp to the feet and 
 a light to the paths of each poor pilgrim, he made it 
 so simple that a child may comprehend ; so portable 
 that a child may carry it in his bosom. Yet, Da 
 Costa, as the covenant by which you profess to stand 
 is one of works, and the penalty of a curse is de- 
 nounced against every man who fails to observe all 
 the commandments of God, it must behove each one 
 of you to be fully versed in every precept of the oral 
 law, if it be, as your Rabbins assert, of equal authority 
 with the Scriptures.' 
 
 There was too much plain sense in all this to be 
 easily parried. Da Costa merely said, ' For any breach 
 of particular observances with which we may not be 
 acquainted, we shall be held clear on the ground of 
 ignorance, and our absence from the teachers of the 
 law, and the pubHc instruction of the synagogue. 
 
 26* 
 
306 
 
 After a while, Alick must study under a competent 
 tutor : and so become versed in what concerns him as 
 an IsraeUte to know.' 
 
 * My dear friend ! look at the fourth chapter of 
 Leviticus, and you will see what a solemn act of sacri- 
 fice, the slaying of a bullock, the sprinkling of his 
 blood, the burning of his flesh, was directed, with 
 much exact confession, where a soul had sinned 
 through ignorance against any of the commandments 
 of the Lord. There was no other way appointed — 
 without shedding of blood is no remission of sins. 
 Against the hundred thousand minute requirements 
 of the oral law, you must necessarily be in hourly 
 danger of transgressing ; and if they be the com- 
 mandments of God, you need the daily sacrifice, the 
 perpetual pouring forth of atoning blood before the 
 Lord. When and where do you purpose offering 
 this sin-offering, this bullock, and sprinkling his 
 blood, and burning his flesh, while your penitential 
 confessions ascend before the footstool of the Most 
 High V 
 
 '■ Here!' answered Da Costa, in a voice of thun- 
 der : ' Here, in Jerusalem ; here, where the temple 
 once stood, and where yet again it shall arise in more 
 exceeding glory and beauty. We have now no temple, 
 no altar ; yonder accursed fabric usurps the spot where 
 stood our holy and beautiful house ; it shall again be 
 ours ! but think you the God of Israel will judge his 
 people for failing in that which He hasrendered them 
 incapable of doing V 
 
 ' Listen, Da Costa : your fathers in the wilderness 
 offered sacrifices according to the law of God, and 
 
307 
 
 according to the rites by him commanded. They 
 were miraculously fed by bread from heaven, and the 
 water which they drank was a miraculous supply. 
 That sandy desert yielded no pasturage, no streams : 
 therefore the sustenance of their herds and flocks was 
 no less a miracle than their own. The tabernacle 
 was borne onward, was pitched, as the Lord directed : 
 and when stationary, the altars were arranged, the 
 sacrifice was offered, the visible glory of God rested 
 upon the scene, and while as yet no place was found 
 for the permanent worship of the Most Highest, the 
 expiatory rite was constantly renewed, and Israel 
 served God according to his own commandments, be- 
 fore this spot was ever pressed by the sole of a Hebrew 
 foot' 
 
 ' But afterwards,' said Da Costa, ^ God did put his 
 name here, and commanded that here alone those 
 sacred rites should be performed : here was the Holy 
 of holies ; here the victim was slain, and his blood 
 presented before the mercy-seat ; here only could Is- 
 rael acceptably appear before the Lord; and when 
 this place was wrested from us, we were shut out from 
 obedience to laws so expressly limiting to one place 
 the fulfilment of what they required.' 
 
 ' Which very limitation,' interrupted Captain Ryan, 
 * proved that so long as the blood of bulls and goats 
 was to be shed in typical expiation, you should not 
 lose the power of rendering such service ; and when 
 the act was rendered, wholly impracticable to you. it 
 proved that God had provided for you a more excel- 
 lent way.' 
 
 ' Not so fast, my good friend ; Judah was carried 
 
308 
 
 away captive into Babylon at one time, and remained 
 in exile for seventy years, equally unable as now to 
 carry on the temple-services. They were restored ; 
 but no change of dispensation took place ; the temple 
 was rebuilt, but not for the substitution of another 
 form of worship. The law of Moses involuntarily 
 broken for three-score years and ten, was in full force, 
 as now it is : and carried out again, as by and by it 
 will be, into perfect operation. Now, Ryan, what say 
 you to this V 
 
 ' I say, first, that your fathers were carried into cap- 
 tivity because they had made the holy temple of the 
 Lord an offence by introducing idol-worship : they 
 had left off to sacrifice according to Moses' law, and 
 every abomination which the Lord hateth they did unto 
 their foul heathen gods. The temple was destroyed 
 because it had been profaned by idolatry ; the people 
 punished because they had so profaned it. Again, I 
 say, the voice of the Lord was never silent among 
 you during that short dispersion ; Jeremiah had f<)re- 
 told the coming visitation, its cause, and its issue. 
 Ezekiel, Daniel, and others, incessantly spoke the 
 word of the Lord, promising a speedy removal of the 
 chastisement, and distinctly signifying that its dura- 
 tion would be short, and that the temple-worship 
 should be revived on its termination. This affliction 
 had an appointed use ; it was to wean you from idol- 
 atry. It succeeded ; you never relapsed into that 
 crime, and now for eighteen hundred years the heart's 
 desire of your scattered people has been to resume 
 the worship of God in this place, according to what 
 Moses enjoined. How do you, how can you account 
 
judah's lion. 309 
 
 for this? Does not your heart whisper that a better 
 sacrifice has been offered — one all-satisfying atone- 
 ment which the former rites did but prefigure, and 
 that by expelling you and keeping you expelled from 
 the only place where you might resume those sha- 
 dowy sacrifices and ceremonials, the Lord would have 
 yoju to understand he requires them at your hands no 
 longer?' 
 
 ^ No, no,' answered Da Costa hastily, while Alick's 
 face shone with the light that continually more and 
 more broke in upon his mind ; ^ We have wandered 
 away from our subject, Captain Ryan, and perhaps it 
 is as well to wander away from it as to wander up 
 and down in it. We never shall see these things in 
 the same point of view. You will never become a 
 Jew, nor shall I cease to be so.' 
 
 ' Yet one word more, my friend, and I have done. 
 Jew or Gentile, we are guilty men ; be it the oral, the 
 ceremonial, or the moral law, we stand guilty before 
 God of innumerable transgressions : some way there 
 must be of salvation, or what a doom of hopeless 
 horror is before us ! It is not by keeping. the oral law 
 that you can attain safety, for you know not the 
 hundredth part of its minute requirements, and the 
 sin of ignorance demands a sacrifice which you cannot 
 offer. It is not by strict adherence to the ceremonial 
 law, for you, standing here in Jerusalem itself, within 
 sight of the appointed spot, must die by infidel hands 
 if you but plant a footstep within its desecrated boun- 
 daries. It is not by the moral law, which might 
 equally avail us both, for on what night could you 
 or I say before the Lord, " This day I have broken 
 
310 JUDAH^S LION. 
 
 no precept — this day I have loved the Lord my God 
 and served him with all my heart, all my soul, all 
 my faculties, and all my means. I have wronged no 
 man — I have not coveted aught that was withheld 
 from me — I am wholly guiltless towards God and 
 towards man," No, we cannot look into the mirror 
 of the two tables, and not hide our faces for shame.' 
 
 Da Costa appeared touched by this ; his bright eye 
 flashed and glared no longer ; but with a downcast 
 look he slightly moved his head, seemingly not in dis- 
 sent, but in regretful acknowledgement of the truth of 
 what he heard. Captain Ryan resumed, with deep 
 and solemn earnestness. 
 
 ' It was commanded of God that in one place alone 
 of all the earth should the mysterious expiatory offer- 
 ing be made daily, by those whom alone he acknow- 
 ledged as his people, the depositories of his holy will. 
 Here, in Jerusalem, was the appointed place : and 
 here in Jerusalem was the mighty work accomplished. 
 Here the Lamb of God was set apart and slain ; from 
 hence he went with the all-suffii lent offering of his 
 own blood into the Holy of holies up yonder, to ap- 
 pear in the presence of God for us. In him, the sub- 
 stance, every shadow terminated ; in him, the antitype, 
 every type was realized ; and let all the thunders of 
 Sinai peal forth, denouncing God's righteous judg- 
 ments on me, a polluted sinner, here I take my stand 
 — Christ, the passover of Israel, the Lamb slain from 
 the foundation of the world, is sacrificed for us, for me 
 — yesj Lord, 
 
 My faith would lay her hand, 
 On that dear head of thine, 
 
311 
 
 While like a penitent I stand, 
 And there confess my sin. 
 
 My soul looks back to see 
 
 The burdens thou didst bear, 
 When hanging on th' accursed tree, 
 
 And hopes her guilt was there! 
 
 * And mine,' was the silent response of poor Alick's 
 throbbing heart ; but no word passed his hps. Cap- 
 tain Ryan's eyes were upUfted, and the expression of 
 his countenance was, hke his voice, at once fervent, 
 humble, trusting, rejoicing. For a moment Da Costa 
 fixed on him a look of intense inquiry — for a moment 
 it seemed as though he almost wished indeed to un- 
 derstand his feelings, if not to share them : then ab- 
 ruptly, as if waking from an idle reverie, he said, ' We 
 have talked a good deal, and must leave off just 
 where we started. It pains me truly to have been 
 made, in my own despite, the instrument of thus put- 
 ting you completely out of your way, and now of 
 leaving you with that dear sick boy.' Captain Ryan 
 interrupted him : ' You have not in the least deranged 
 my plans, my dear fellow : Charley is so happy in be- 
 ing within the walls of Jerusalem : that I cannot be 
 thankful enough for having reached them : and w^e 
 are most comfortably situated. Excepting the pain 
 of this abrupt separation, we shall feel no way dis- 
 turbed by the turn matters have taken ; and if we can 
 soften it to poor Charley, I am able even to bless the 
 overruling Providence that has so ordered all things, 
 contrary indeed to our plans, but for the ultimate 
 advantage of us all.' 
 
 ' And will you write to my father ?' asked Alick . 
 
>1£ 
 
 312 
 
 ^ and will you assure him of your forgiveness ? I know 
 it must have pained hrni bitterly to act as he felt com- 
 pelled to do.' 
 
 ' It did indeed,' said Da Costa ; ' and a few kind 
 words from you would be invaluable/ 
 
 ^ Never fear ; I'll write him as cordially as I feel to- 
 wards him, and that is not a little. Now, Cohen, will 
 you pay another visit to your poor infant friend, and 
 Da Costa also '/' 
 
 ' Let him go first, and have a good talk with him,' 
 said Da Costa ; ' I will make some arrangements, 
 and then join you.' 
 
 They parted with mutual cordiality ; Captain Ryan 
 summoned his wife, to hear what had occurred, and 
 Alick, with a swelling heart repaired to the sick room. 
 Entering, he heard the happy tones of that little voice 
 reciting the sixtieth chapter of Isaiah : Charley was at 
 the twelfth verse, and most energetically did he re- 
 peat, " The nation and kingdom that will not serve 
 thee shall perish ; yea, those nations shall be utterly 
 wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, 
 the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to 
 beautify the place of my sanctuary : and I will make 
 the place of rny feet glorious." The boy lifted his 
 head, looking towards the Mount of Olives, and almost 
 shouted, ' Glorious, glorious ; he will make the place 
 of his feet glorious. You beautiful hill ! you shall be 
 glorious then ; for you shall be the place of his feet, I 
 know ; and Jerusalem shall be the place of his feet. 
 Oh, mamma, when may I go out? Am not I one of 
 the little boys that shall play in the streets of Jerusa- 
 lem, when they shall be full of boys and girls playing ?' 
 
313 
 
 He looked round, supposing his mother was there, and 
 saw Alick vainly striving to hide his tears. ' Ah, you 
 darling, is it you ? You are crying now, because 
 Jerusalem is taken away from you ; but how glad you 
 will be when He makes the place of His feet glorious !' 
 
 Alick sat down beside him, and asked him if he felt 
 really better. 
 
 ' Sure and I do ! I shall get quite well in no time 
 now ; and all I want is for us to buy a house, and live 
 always here in Jerusalem.' 
 
 ' What, and never see Ireland, poor Ireland, again V 
 
 ' I love poor dear Ireland, so I do, you can't think 
 how much : but you see I'd rather be here, and wait 
 for the Lord's coming.' 
 
 ' But some say there will be great fighting, and 
 kiUing ; you would not like that V 
 
 ' Papa says there will be fighting and killing every- 
 where ; but God's people wont fight.' 
 
 ' I think we shall,' said Alick. ' You know he says 
 to the Jews, " Thou art my battle-axe, and weapons 
 of war; for with thee will I break in pieces the na- 
 tions: and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; and 
 with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his 
 rider," and so it goes on.' 
 
 ' Ay, but, Mr. Alick, the Jews won't break me in 
 pieces, because I love them so.' 
 
 ' You dear little fellow !' 
 
 ' I say, will you take me on your knee, and let me 
 get an uncommon good look at the Mount of Olives 1 
 do.' 
 
 Alick complied ; he wrapped a light dressing gown 
 round him, and hfting him in his arms, sat with him 
 
 27 
 
314 
 
 opposite the little window ; Charley delighted to find 
 himself again nestled on the bosom of his friend, and 
 little dreaming, how much sorrow was struggling in 
 that bosom at the prospect of leaving him, prattled 
 away ; pouring out the fulness of his believing, loving 
 heart, as he went over the various scenes so well 
 noted in his memory, of the Lord's history connected 
 with that mountain. He talked of Gethsemane till 
 his voice faltered, and tears fell on his still pale cheek ; 
 he spoke of the ascension till his thoughts seemed to 
 take wing and mount with the angelic squadrons who 
 heralded the King of glory to the everlasting doors. 
 He dwelt on his return, the cleaving asunder of the 
 hill, and the fearful confusion that should overtake his 
 baffled foes ; and then fondly stroking the cheek of 
 his entranced listener, he told him how Jesus wept 
 over Jerusalem, looking down on the spot where they 
 then were, and how ready he was to gather him, ' a 
 darling Jew,' under his wing, as a hen shelters a little 
 chicken. To all this, Alick returned no answer, 
 though the occasional kiss, and the occasional tear 
 too that Charley felt on his brow, was encouragement 
 enough to the infant missionary, and led him out into 
 the utterance of many of his brightest, wildest 
 thoughts — wild only, as they knew none of the bounds 
 within which man's silly wisdom would confine the 
 glorious revelations of God. Some time had passed 
 thus, when Da Costa entered with Captain and Mxs. 
 Ryan, the latter of whom had been weeping abun- 
 dantly ; and sitting down, said, as he took Charley's 
 hand, ' Why you are quite a new man !' 
 
 * We must all be new men, Mr. Dockster, or we'll 
 
815 
 
 have to run away when He comes and stands on that 
 Mount of Olives.' 
 
 ' What do you mean by a new man ?' said Da Cos- 
 ta, evidently puzzled. 
 
 * A sinful man changed into a holy man by believ- 
 ing in Jesus Christ' 
 
 * I hope you will live to preach a great many of 
 your pithy sermons, Charley.' 
 
 ^ I do not know what pithy is, Mr. Dockster ; but 
 if it means the Gospel, I'll preach it as long as I 
 live, and the sooner I die the faster I'll preach it, so I 
 will' 
 
 ' Why so ?' said Alick, who longed to hear all he 
 could. 
 
 ' Because it makes me so happy: I'm afraid of no- 
 thing when I think how the Lord Jesus loves me, a 
 poor little child : and how able he is to take care of 
 me. Oh, and he was a little child too, and here, here 
 in this very place, he tarried behind to talk with the 
 Doctors in the temple ! It is so nice to think he w^as 
 a little child like me ; he knows all about little 
 children, because he was one. I did not think of 
 that since I came to Jerusalem. When I am well, 
 Mr. Dockster, will you carry me everywhere on your 
 horse V 
 
 ' Charles,' said his father, we are going to ask you 
 something ; we want to know what you think. There 
 is a dear young Jew, in danger, as we believe, shut up 
 in a strong place by some monks, to make him turn 
 Romanist. Mr. Da Costa is his friend ; and this 
 young man's poor old father has asked him to go and 
 find him, and set him free. What shall we do V 
 
316 
 
 * Oh, to be sure you must go fast, Mr. Dockster,' said 
 Charley ; ' take plenty of soldiers and policemen, and 
 get him out of their clutches.' 
 
 ^ There are no soldiers, no policemen here, Char- 
 ley ; moreover, it is necessary to keep it a secret ; 
 and yet how hard for poor Da Costa to go alone I I 
 would accompany him, but that I cannot possibly 
 leave mamma and you.' 
 
 Charley looked wistfully round him, and last of all 
 at Alick ; he hesitated ; the struggle was evidently 
 very great, and so was the anxiety of those who wit- 
 nessed it : at last he said in a clear, firm tone, ' Christ 
 died for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for 
 the brethren. Yes, you must go : for he is your bro- 
 ther; you must go, Mr. Alick,' he added, clinging 
 closer to him, ' won't you?' 
 
 ^ Yes, I will,' answered Alick, whose heart seemed 
 to echo the boy's sentiment. ' I'll go, Charley ; 
 and you must pray for us every day, while we are 
 gone.' 
 
 * Ah, won't I pray every hour? but will you write 
 very often to us? every post, or every other post?' 
 
 * We shall not soon reach a post-town,' said Da 
 Costa, 'but you shall hear of us as often as possible? 
 and see us again, I trust, before long.' 
 
 ' And mind, Mr. Dockster, when you see the foolish 
 Papists praying to crosses, please don't think that that 
 is our religion.' 
 
 ' I know it is not : and now Charles, I say good 
 bye ; and I say, if there is one blessing above all 
 others, my noble, generous, matchless boy, may it be 
 yours!' 
 
317 
 
 Charley held up his meek face to receive the fer- 
 vent blessing, and the no less fervent kiss of Da Cos- 
 ta ; who, clasping both the little hands in his, said — 
 * Take care of yourself, dear child ; and I do trust you 
 will soon be quite well — I feel sure of it.' 
 
 Alick spoke not; for any attempt at utterance 
 would have overset his firmness. He placed the child 
 again on the pillow, and gazed earnestly at him. 
 Charley was more than half crying, but bore up ; and 
 again repeated, " Lay down our lives for the breth- 
 ren." Alick stroked off the ringlets from his expan- 
 sive little forehead, and with one more long gaze, one 
 more kiss, he abruptly turned away ; but it was to 
 meet Mrs Ryan's look of sorrow so deep, and dismay 
 so undissembled, that he could scarcely stand it. He 
 clasped her hand, and in a whisper heard but by her, 
 ejaculated ^ God, even your own God, bless you !' 
 He was outside the door the next moment ; and in 
 any but a complacent mood towards Da Costa, whom 
 he heartily wished he had never seen. He, however, 
 repressed all unkind feelings, and gradually recovered 
 the determined tone of which he had already given 
 evidence. With Captain Ryan he parted as a son 
 from a father ; and even asked the blessing before it 
 could be uttered, which Da Costa heard in silence, 
 and then said, '■ When your good wishes are abroad, 
 Ryan, don't forget me, for I have not acted in this 
 matter from choice.' 
 
 27* 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 After bidding farewell to their Christian friends, 
 the two Hebrews returned to the foot of Zion ; and 
 while Alick prepared his travelling bag, Da Costa 
 was closeted with old Wilhelm. A sudden thought 
 seized the youth, that he would indulge himself with 
 one solitary ramble in the city of his fathers, and 
 leaving a message for Da Costa, he at once sallied 
 forth. 
 
 His undivided attention was now fixed on the ob- 
 jects before him : he felt desirous to carry away on 
 his memory, on his very heart, a deeply-graven pic- 
 ture of that dear and sacred spot ; and seeing a flight 
 of steps that led to the top of the inner wall, beyond 
 which the outer one formed a breast-work, leaving a 
 path of tolerable width, he mounted them, and found 
 himself enabled to take a noble view, not only of the 
 city, but of the surrounding country. How delicious 
 was the sohtude of those moments ! He lamented 
 his partial acquaintance with the scriptures, a more 
 perfect knowledge of which would have brought to 
 his mind many a touching, many a spirit-stirring inci- 
 dent connected with the scene before him ; but he 
 knew enough to make it so absorbingly interesting, 
 that self was wholly swallowed up in the sublime 
 
judah's lion. 319 
 
 conceptions of what that royal city had been — what 
 she yet should be. Frequently pausing, leaning over 
 the parapet, and rejoicing to feel that his heart was 
 indeed permitted to bound against the stones of Zion's 
 wall, he slowly proceeded, without meeting any per- 
 son, and almost realizing in his mind the lonely ex- 
 pedition of Nehemiah, when exploring the broken 
 ruins of the city. Evening was approaching, and the 
 long shadows stretching on the hills bespoke the sun's 
 rapid decline. He quickened his pace ; and after a 
 while arrived at a point whence the Mount of Ohves 
 appeared visible to an extent that he had not before 
 noticed; and here he sat down, and fell into the train 
 of thought that usually connected itself with that 
 memorable spot. He was roused from his reverie by 
 a hand gently laid on his shoulder, and an exclama- 
 tion of delight burst from him on recognizing Captain 
 Ryan. ' How glad, how very glad I am to see you 
 once more, and alone !' he said, and his friend was 
 evidently no less pleased. 
 
 ' My dear Cohen, I was tempted to ask a private 
 interview wdth you, but repressed the wish ; for I 
 would not interfere with the delegated authority of 
 Da Costa,' — ' Pardon me, Captain Ryan,' interrupted 
 Alick, ' I recognize no such authority, neither does he 
 assume it. I was merely told to make my choice, 
 either to avow myself an apostate from Judaism, or to 
 submit to the spiritual governors of my people. I 
 chose, of course, the latter ; and having also the op- 
 tion of remaining, if I wish it, with Da Costa, and de- 
 siring to aid him in his present enterprise, I become 
 
320 
 
 the companion of his journey. No authority is thereby 
 understood.' 
 
 ' In spiritual matters he undertakes to be your 
 guide, and regarding Christianity in the hght he does, 
 any interference on my part would be out of place.* 
 
 ' Now tell me, honestly, frankly, what is your present 
 opinion of Da Costa, since this disclosure V 
 
 ' Just what it was before. I consider him an 
 honourable man, incapable of a base action, but un- 
 subdued in character, save as natural benevolence in 
 a measure counteracts a very fiery, and perhaps a 
 somewhat vindictive tendency. In this business I 
 believe him to have acted most uprightly : and with 
 a great sacrifice of personal feeling to his disinterested 
 regard for you. It is but honest on my part to say so 
 much ; but remember, Cohen, what man may be to 
 his fellow-man is a widely different question from that 
 which regards his state before God. Da Costa is 
 blindly attached to what he believes to be the religion 
 of Moses, but which he has not fairly brought to the 
 test either of your own scriptures or of common sense ; 
 and while he receives for doctrines the command- 
 ments of men, without examining them, he cannot be 
 a competent guide to others.' 
 
 ' But I will receive nothing without examining it,' 
 said Alick; 'for I cannot think my reasoning faculties 
 were given me to be hood-winked, and led about in 
 passive helplessness by those of other men.' 
 
 * Yet you must hold your reason in most perfect 
 submission to revelation.' 
 
 * But is the oral law, a revealed law?' 
 
 ^ Ah, Cohen, that's the grand question you have to 
 
321 
 
 solve. Jesus of Nazareth, when teaching in the 
 temple, told the Jews the great hindrance to their 
 reception of him : he said, " Had ye believed Moses, 
 ye would have believed me : for he wrote of me. 
 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye be- 
 lieve" my words?" This tradition was even then what 
 it is now, opposed to the revelation of which it pro- 
 fesses to form a part ; and men by receiving it actu- 
 ally make void the real commandments of God. I 
 am persuaded:: that, convinced as you are of the divine, 
 the all-commanding authority of the Holy Scriptures, 
 you never can receive these human additions, unless 
 by the surrender either of reason or revelation — and 
 the latter sacrifice would include the former — to the 
 ipse dixit of a fellow-man. Hence my extreme soli- 
 citude that you should become acquainted, as much 
 as possible, with the minutiae of Talmudical require- 
 ments, ever referring to the pure word of God ; and 
 then judge for yourself how far they accord with the 
 holy law — so simple, so perspicuous, so well adapted 
 to man, as a reasonable creature, — which was given 
 by Moses. God cannot deny or contradict himself; 
 his work is perfect— he who believes Moses, and gives 
 no heed to man's vain interpolations, additions and 
 perversions, will believe, on the evidence set before 
 him, in Him of whom Moses wrote.' 
 
 ^ I heard that mentioned last night as a powerful 
 argument for Talmudism ; that he who rejects it is on 
 the high road to become a Christian ; therefore, that 
 the oral law was given to fence in and secure the 
 written word.' 
 
322 judah's lion. 
 
 * Then, it would seem, Christianity is contrary to 
 the Talmud, but not contrary to the oracles of God V 
 
 * Rather, that the Talmud, like a candle, throws 
 light on the subject, and reveals that contrariety to 
 God's law.' 
 
 ' Or, like a false mirror, so distorts both objects, 
 that their beautiful harmony is changed into the most 
 discordant ugliness. I wish, Cohen, that you would 
 ask among your learned men for some Talmudical 
 extracts — for instance, the laws of the Mishna, 
 relative to the hallowing of the Sabbath-day, take 
 them with you, and study them on the road. If you 
 like, I can supply you with a volume ; but it must be 
 on condition that you show it to a competent judge, 
 and let him tell you whether or not it is a correct 
 transcript of your oral law.' 
 
 ' I saw such a book on the table last night,' said 
 Alick eagerly ; ' and I will borrow it.' 
 
 ^ And let Da Costa read it with you.' 
 
 ^ Certainly ; but, remember, on the authority of my 
 proper teachers, I receive that book as of divine 
 obligation, unless I find it plainly contrar}'^ to Scripture 
 or common sense.' 
 
 ' Yes : and when you have detected the falsehood 
 of the oral law, when you find how imperative on you 
 is the observance of the ceremonial law, which you 
 cannot keep, and when you have smarted a little un- 
 der that universal schoolmaster, the moral law, you 
 will come, weary and heavy-laden, to Christ, who 
 alone can deliver you from the curse ; justify, sanctify, 
 and ultimately glorify you, by his free grace.' Alick 
 answered not : he lifted his eyes to the Mount and 
 
323 
 
 thought of the words, " How often would I have 
 gathered you!" He then asked for Charley. 
 
 ' Dear little fellow ! he was asleep, after praying 
 most earnestly for you. I have great hope of his 
 recovery ; but he it life, or be it death, he is the 
 Lord's.' 
 
 ^ At that moment the Jdii^^zzirrf "s'^louH, monotonous 
 voice broke upon their ear, " Prayer is better than 
 sleep : .there is but one God, and Mahomet is his 
 Prophet." Alick exclaimed, ' Prayer is better than 
 sleep : there is but one God alone ; and Mahomet is 
 an impostor.' 
 
 ' Hush !' said Captain Ryan, '• you must not beard 
 the lion in his den.' 
 
 ' The lion in his den, sir ! the yelping cur in the 
 lion's den, you mean. The lion ! O, Lion of Judah, 
 who shall stir thee up ? — when, when wilt thou rouse 
 thyself, and rend in pieces every intruding foe !' 
 
 '- Ah, Cohen ; when you know that Lion of the tribe 
 of Judah in his character of the Lamb that was slain, 
 you will bless his long-suffering forbearance, and de- 
 sire, not the life of that wretched pagan, but his soul.' 
 
 ' I don't desire any man's life,' said Alick, in a 
 tremor of half-subdued passion : ' but I want our own 
 city, the city of our ancient solemnities, the land that 
 God gave to Abraham and his seed for ever — I want 
 them delivered from these defilers, and restored to us, 
 at once the sons and the lords of the soil.' 
 
 * So do I ! and when you acknowledge your King, 
 he will speedily trample under foot every obstinate 
 enemy.' 
 
 ^ May he hasten the day !' exclaimed Alick. His 
 
324 
 
 vehemence had, however, attracted the notice of an 
 Egyptian officer, who was narrowly eyeing him ; and 
 Captain Ryan drew him away ; at the same time 
 teUing him that the prayer he had just uttered was 
 more efTectual than a thousand armies in bringing 
 about the consummation so ardently longed for. He 
 once more, plainly, earnestly, admonishingly set be- 
 fore him the Gospel : he spoke of the dangers that 
 he was about to brave, the hourly deaths to which he 
 must be exposed, and showed him the insufficiency of 
 his present faith, the vague, unsatisfying nature of his 
 hope for futurity. Alick hstened, and assured him 
 that he would not trifle, but seek by all means to be- 
 come established in whatever he should find to be the 
 truth. Once more they parted ; and at sunrise the 
 two Hebrews left the Holy City. 
 
 Their course lay towards some lofly mountains, the 
 intricate passes of which were famihar to Da Costa ; 
 who told Alick they were infested with rapacious 
 Arab hordes, but that he had the promise of an 
 escort from a powerful Sheikh, who would, if neces. 
 sary, accompany them in person. * I long,' said 
 Ahck, 'to get among the wild Arabs: they are 
 our half brethren, you know, — the children of Abra- 
 ham.' 
 
 ^ Ay, and so were the Edomites ; and what they 
 were to Israel in the desert, thSse sons of Ishmael 
 will prove to us, their poor kinsmen, if we be not 
 wary.* "*" 
 
 ' What trace have you of Wilhelm V 
 
 * A very uncertain one ; but we think he is in a 
 
325 
 
 Maronite convent among the distant mountains. 
 Probably, on Lebanon.' 
 
 ' What are the Maronites ? how distinguished 
 from others of these multifarious intruders upon our 
 property V 
 
 ' The Maronites are, emphatically. Papists. No 
 race of men upon earth so devoted to the old fellow 
 at Rome. It is nauseating to a degree to hear them 
 talk about him. You know, in Palestine here, the 
 monks are chiefly foreigners ; I mean recent importa- 
 tion of live stock, distinguished from the foreigners 
 whelped on the soil. Northward, however, whither 
 we now proceed, the convents are peopled by the 
 latter class. The Maronites are native Syrians ; not 
 forming a part of the Romish Church, but given to 
 the same edifying practices. A curse upon all idola- 
 try !' he added, clenching his teeth, and scowling 
 as Alick had once or twice before seen him do, when 
 adverting to poor Wilhelm's adventures. He took 
 no notice of it, but proceeded, " Do tell me what you 
 think of Popery, as distinguished from the other sects 
 of Christianity V 
 
 ' Why, it is all idolatry,' answered Da Costa ; ' but 
 with this difFerence, that in England, Popery is the 
 only branch of it that worships stocks and stones • 
 while here, every form of Christianity does so. You 
 know what a jumble there is in London ; Churchmen, 
 Presbyterians, Baptists, and some fifty more who 
 agree in nothing but eschewing image-worship, and 
 deifying the Nazarene ; but here there is no Protes- 
 tantism — all, Greeks, Latins, Armenians, Maronites — 
 
 28 
 
326 JUDAll'rs LiOx\. 
 
 all follow the practices of the orignial race — the seven 
 nations whom our fathers cast out of the land.' 
 
 ^ How bitter he is!' thought Alick ; then aloud 
 he said, * After all, Da Costa, seeing we have the 
 true faith, should we not rather pity these people, and 
 pray for them V 
 
 ^ Of course,' replied the other, carelessly : ' but 
 Cohen, I'll answer your question as to Popery more 
 to the point. I do hold it to be the most abominable 
 prostration of human intellect on the part of the many 
 to the few that ever under heaven existed. As to the 
 other sects, they invest the object of their worship 
 with the character and the attributes of the Most 
 High ; they say he did such works as man could not 
 perform ; they believe that he rose from the dead 
 and ascended into heaven ; and for this they even 
 allege supposed predictions in the Bible, which, if they 
 would bear the meaning assigned to them, might 
 justify such belief: but Popery, not content with all 
 this, superadds such a mass of senseless enormities; 
 the adoration of images, wafers, and dead people for 
 whom they don't claim any divinity at all, that the 
 multitude w^ho allow a knavish priesthood to lead 
 them into it for their own palpable gain and honour, 
 must be brutified far below the nature of man.' 
 
 ^ And it is notorious,' said Alick, ' that not only our 
 scriptures but the New Testament also denominate 
 idolatry as hateful to God : how can such practices 
 prevail, where the authority of the Bible is admitted V 
 
 ^ Through the assumed power of what they call the 
 church, to add to the word of God, and to bind the 
 peoples' consciences to do not only what he has not 
 
JUDAH6 LION. 327 
 
 commanded, but what he has forbidden.' Then, as if 
 suddenly recollecting himself, and wishing to prevent 
 further remark, he exclaimed, ' After all, the Turk is 
 the most sensible fellow among them, notwithstanding 
 his infamous treatment of us; andj'll tell you what 
 Cohen, I'd rather hear the Muezzim from the minaret 
 than see a crucifix in Jerusalem.' 
 
 ^ So would I,' answered Alick ; ' for I loathe the 
 wooden idol.' 
 
 ^ I might have steeled you for ever against Chris- 
 tianity,' resumed Da Costa, ^ by taking you into what 
 they call the ' church of the sepulchre,' but I would 
 not pollute myself by crossing the threshold.' 
 
 * They are not Protestants who go there, though.' 
 
 ^ Not to enact the profane farce ; but I have seen 
 Protestant gentlemen, ay, and right pious Protestant 
 clergymen pressing into it, for a sight, and thereby a 
 share in the disgraceful buffoonery. Such was not 
 the command of God to W5, Cohen, when he forbade 
 our even inquiring how other nations served their 
 gods, or taking their names into our mouths. How 
 gracious, how beautifully calculated to secure his peo- 
 ple from all error is the law of the Lord, delivered by 
 Moses unto our fathers !' 
 
 "^ ' I'll tell you what. Da Costa,' said Alick, ' Ever 
 since I learned to look into the Scriptures, I feel like 
 a person who, having always hobbled about on two 
 lame legs, suddenly finds a strong staff put into his 
 hands, by means of which he may get cheerily along. 
 In every word there is something one may lean upon 
 as a sure support ; and as yet I have met with nothing 
 that wants explaining by man — I seem to understand 
 
328 
 
 it all, as a familiar discourse addressed to myself. 
 Every thing suits me.' 
 
 Da Costa made no reply. Presently they arrived 
 at a cluster of low buildings, in appearance mere dead 
 walls, piled together ; but here they alighted, and 
 were soon joined by a small party of Arabs whose 
 garb and aspect were much ruder than any that Alick 
 had yet seen. A large cumbrous garment of rough 
 hair enveloped their persons, from beneath which 
 gleamed weapons of various kinds. Their heads were 
 wrapped in shawls, so disposed as to cover the neck 
 and brow ; and the faces that looked out from the 
 midst of their uncouth drapery were perfectly in keep- 
 ing with the costume. He who appeared as their 
 chief, or leader, was the least prepossessing among a 
 party of five, whose general character was repulsive- 
 ness itself After some private conversation with this 
 man, Da Costa returned to Alick, and asked him 
 whether he thought he could make himself at home 
 in a dress like those he saw before him ? 
 
 * I have no objection ; but certainly our pale skins 
 will discover us, if a disguise is what you aim at, un- 
 less we contrive to tint them.' 
 
 ^ That is easily done,' answered the other : and in 
 a very short time they were so transformed that Alick 
 would not have recognized himself any more than he 
 could his companion, under the complete metamor- 
 phosis that had taken place. His naturally mirthful 
 spirits rose to their former pitch, while surveying Da 
 Costa, whose grave, anxious face heightened the con- 
 trast with his former self — ^ My dear fellow ! what a 
 paragraph for the Morning Post we should furnish ! 
 
329 
 
 It was worth some pains-taking to become such ac- 
 compUshed masqueraders.' 
 
 Da Costa smiled as he looked on him, and said, 
 * Would Esther acknowledge us now !' 
 
 ^Esther? what, my cousin Esther? why 1 never 
 named her to you !' 
 
 ^ No, hut others have done so : and now, Alick 
 since we are embarked in an enterprise of consider- 
 able difficulty and some danger, I may as well give 
 poor Wilhelm a sort of claim on your now gratuitous 
 sympathy, by telling you that in aiding to rescue 
 him you will confer a boon on Esther, such as her 
 inmost heart will acknowledge to the end of her 
 days.' 
 
 ' I'll stick at nothing to do that:^ exclaimed Alick 
 with energy. ' Poor dear Esther ! many a sigh has 
 my perverse liberalism caused her, and many an iJl- 
 natured thing have I said and done to cross*her de- 
 voted attachment to the faith of her fathers. I want- 
 ed no spur in this matter : but if she, dear girl, takes 
 the interest you seem to imply in Wilhelm, it will 
 prove a sharp one to my zeal in this cause.' 
 
 * They have long been attached, and indeed be- 
 trothed, secretly.' 
 
 ^ But Wilhelm did not visit at our house.' 
 ' No : Esther passed some months in Germany 
 among his friends.' 
 
 * I remember it : and also that she brought home 
 thence a copy of the law and of the prophets, which 
 I often detected her studying so profoundly that I 
 
 used to banter her upon it : I knew no better then.' 
 
 28* 
 
 'i- 
 
330 
 
 * Well, we must now proceed ; my worthy friend 
 Sheikh Abdalla looks impatient.' 
 
 On hearing himself named, the leader approached, 
 and Da Costa inquired in what mode they should 
 travel. Camels were named, at which Ahck peti- 
 tioned for a horse, or at least a mule, but was told 
 they must be satisfied with camels until they had 
 made some progress on the route. 
 
 ' I don't like that fellow at all,' muttered Ahck to 
 his friend, ^ and I wish you would insist on our being 
 so mounted as to admit of acting in self-defence, if 
 called on. With this whimsical dress, and astride on 
 one of those long-necked hunchbacks, with his intel- 
 lectual face, and discomposing trot, I shall be as help- 
 less as a babe in the cradle.' 
 
 ' Oh, never fear ; our companions are friendly and 
 will take good care of us.' 
 
 ' I'd rather by half take care of myself, though,' 
 thought the youth, as he suffered himself to be placed 
 on the back of the docile creature, who kneeled down 
 to receive him. 
 
 It was now that he might really be said to have 
 entered upon Oriental life ; and the momentary dissa- 
 tisfaction soon gave way to pleasanter feelings. 
 
 Before them lay a tract as magnificently, wildly 
 glorious as imagination could picture. Mountains 
 rising abruptly to an immense height, every chasm in 
 their bold, rocky crags shooting forth some species of 
 graceful or gorgeous vegetation, crested with trees of 
 gigantic stature, yet light and feathery as the plumage 
 of a bird ; here they might discern the mouth of a 
 cavern, screened by masses of arbutus, rhododendron. 
 
JUDAIi's LION. ' 331 
 
 and the prolific nopal ; there, perched on the brow of 
 a naked precipice, some semblance of a building, but 
 whether inhabited, or merely a solitary ruin, the eye 
 could not at such a depth decide. Winding along the 
 foot of this mountain-barrier, the travellers frequently 
 found themselves among fragments which bespoke the 
 ancient site of edifices now crumbling into dust : and 
 one of these extended so far, and exhibited such mas- 
 sive blocks of stone, bearing the marks of fine pro- 
 portion, and elaborate sculpture, that, being on nearly 
 a level plain, intermixed with the richest, loveliest, 
 choicest vegetation, profusely covering the few ruins 
 not actually sunk into the soil, Alick remarked, 
 ' This must have been a city, rather than a cluster of 
 edifices.' 
 
 ' Some noble city, beyond a doubt,' answered Da 
 Costa, ' which sent up its stately sons to Jerusalem to 
 keep the appointed feasts. The whole country, up to 
 the mountain tops, was inhabited : the denseness of 
 its population, compared with the extent of territory, 
 was prodigious. Every rood of ground must have 
 been made available for tillage or pasturage : every 
 hill mantled with vineyards and olive-grounds. Of 
 this you will perceive tokens, go where we may. We 
 tread on the ashes of our fathers (may they rest in 
 peace !) and the lonely wilderness around us was the 
 mart, the palace, the garden of the world.' 
 
 ' Was, and shall be !' said Alick, as he stroked the 
 long neck of the camel that carried him. ^ How could 
 I object to mount this creature, descendant as he is 
 of a race who rejoiced in the fostering care of my 
 fathers, and is preserved to aid in the future triumph 
 
832 
 
 of their sons. " The multitude of camels shall cover 
 thee." Perhaps this, even this poor animal is one 
 destined to the fulfilment of prophecy, when the cities 
 of Judah shall again be inhabited.' 
 
 Again he looked around ; and as they skirted the 
 abrupt acclivity, he saw an upland path, entering the 
 mouth of a defile, that seemed to issue in a very steep 
 ladder-hke track, inaccessible to any but the most 
 daring pedestrian. Here they paused for a while. 
 Da Costa continuing in earnest discourse with the 
 Sheikh, and both waxing rather warm. Alick longed 
 to ascend the path, to obtain • a more extended view, 
 but how they were to mount it was a question he 
 could not solve. At length the Sheikh drew towards 
 his men, with increased suUenness of aspect ; and 
 Da Costa rejoining Alick, remarked, * I gave myself 
 credit for having provided against all difficulties and 
 precluded all dispute ; but these fellows are wholly 
 intractable — wholly unfathomable — and I am fairly 
 at a nonplus.' 
 
 * " His hand against every man, and every man's 
 hand against him," ' repeated Alick: ' and you never 
 can put them down ; for "• He shall dwell in the 
 presence of his brethren." ' 
 
 'How complacent you are at the most unreasonable, 
 vexatious, rascally conduct that ever men were ex- 
 posed to!' 
 
 * Yes; for when I see, even at my own expense, 
 the promise of God fulfilled to a wild Ishmaelite, it 
 strengthens my assurance that the seed of Jacob shall 
 be remembered too, in his time.' 
 
 ' Ah, Cohen, I know more scripture than you, but 
 
333 
 
 your little goes ten times as far as my much, because 
 yovi apply it — you realize it — so delightfully. Well, 
 I won't seek to put down these most obstinate half- 
 brothers of ours ; but try a little fraternal coaxing.' 
 
 He approached the group, whose dark looks were 
 very portentous ; what he said, Alick did not hear, 
 but their countenances soon relaxed, and the Shiekh's 
 tone became more amicable. ' So much for the value 
 of a soft answer,' thought Alick, assured by his friend's 
 pleasant manner and kind voice, that he had tried its 
 efficacy. Da Costa soon came back, and told him 
 they had agreed to a compromise, by which his plans 
 would be less deranged than he had feared. Alick 
 asked if Shiekh Abdalla was the same he had once 
 mentioned, as aiding him to search the convent. 
 * No, no, not he. My noble band are genuine sons of 
 the desert, different enough from these peculating 
 Bedouins, whom I would not take a bird's-nesting in 
 the hedges of Harrow, to say nothing of a Maronite 
 rookery on Mount Lebanon. But come, I see we are 
 to proceed : I desired to halt here, and await the 
 mules, which I very well know are within call ; but 
 we must make the next pass, which is far more steep 
 and impracticable, beyond which I will stir no step on 
 the plain.' 
 
 They proceeded ; and night overtook them before 
 any sign of access to the lofty heights appeared. ' I 
 am now convinced ,' said Da Costa, ' that we have 
 w^holly missed the route I was resolved to take, and 
 that our present track will bring us to a point on 
 which I never calculated.' 
 
 ' In that case,' said Alick, ^ I should be inclined to 
 
SS4 jijdah's lion. 
 
 hope that we were guided to the attainment of our 
 wishes against our wills. Perhaps the wrong* path is 
 hlocked up that we may stray into the right.' 
 
 ' Perhaps so : at all events your philosophy is of 
 a most seasonable and tranquillizing character.' 
 
 * My philosophy,' thought Alick, ' is drawn from 
 the Bible. I wonder he does not see that.' 
 
 The Arabs soon constructed a rude tent, by which, 
 and a projection of the rock, they were all sheltered; 
 hut Alick preferred the unfettered fragrant breezes of 
 Palestine to every accommodation they could offer, and 
 what little sleep he got was enjoyed under a high and 
 wide-spreading cypress. His mind was full of Israel's 
 future glory in that land of all their hopes ; and, though 
 not disinclined for any adventure, the present expedition 
 had little share in his thoughts, save as connected with 
 Esther. He dreamed of her, as disputing with httle 
 Charley over the scriptures, and awoke to find the 
 tent dismantled, and the party preparing to move, 
 which, after some refreshment they did. 
 
 ' Well, Da Co.sta,' said he, as some of the visions 
 of the night recurred to his mind, ' When shall you 
 commence in.structing me ? As yet, you have only 
 transferred me from the society of Christians to that 
 of Mussulmen.' 
 
 ' Patience, Cohen : we shall soon be in better cir- 
 cumstances.' 
 
 But Da Costa was mistaken : they had not proceeded 
 far, when an unusual stir among their companions, 
 with indications of no small dismay, attracted their 
 notice, and Abdalla told them he feared a body of 
 hostile character was not far off; and in that case 
 

 JUDAH^S LION. 335 
 
 they must all defend themselves. ^ Give me a horse, 
 or a mule,' exclaimed Alick, ' and I can plaj^ my part : 
 but on this camel I am just helpless.' 
 
 ^ An hour farther on we should find them,' said the 
 Sheikh, ' but does the earth bring forth horses that I 
 should furnish them here V 
 
 ' Two of your men, and yourself, are well mounted ; 
 you can manage one beast as w^ell as the other — 
 change with me.' 
 
 ' Push on,' said Da Costa, who knew the hopeless- 
 ness of this request ; ^ and let us try for the halting- 
 place you speak of 
 
 Instead of this, the Arabs commenced a consulta- 
 tion ; and then the Sheikh, with a grave face, told 
 Da Costa that as they might be separated in the com- 
 bat in which they were likely to be presently engaged, 
 it would be better to settle beforehand what was due 
 between them. The other, though his eyes flashed 
 with anger, as gravely and quietly declined ; and on 
 his attempting to proceed, the Arabs in front wheeled 
 round, declaring that they would go no farther till 
 their Sheikh was satisfied. 
 
 A sound, coming from some distance, now reached 
 them, and appeared the signal for decisive measures. 
 The Arabs, evidently under some trepidation, made a 
 rush, and snatched at the weapons of the Jews. Da 
 Co.sta had a very valuable brace of pistols stuck in his 
 girdle, and these appeared to be the principal attrac- 
 tion, for several hands were stretched out at once to- 
 wards them, while others bore down on Alick. How, 
 or by whom the shot was fired, he did not know ; but 
 he heard a shot, saw Da Costa fall, and at the same 
 
336 
 
 moment, galloping at tlie top of their speed, appeared 
 a party of horsemen on the brow of a rising eminence 
 before them. Short space remained for Sheikh Ab- 
 dalla and his band: they wrested from Alick's shoul- 
 ders his uncouth cloak ; from his camel, the little 
 package that carried his best treasure, the Hebrew 
 Bible, and a few prized articles, and seizing the bridle 
 of the beast from which Da Costa had fallen, and on 
 which was a much mnre extensive booty, they turned 
 ba(k, dashed away, and disappeared before the ad- 
 vancing party could come up. Alick flung himself 
 from his camel, wholly absorbed by anxious alarm for 
 Da Costa, who was blee(hng from the knee, but sensi- 
 ble. * Escape !' he exclaimed, as Alick kneeled on 
 the ground beside him. 
 
 * And leave you ? No, truly. Are you much hurt, 
 Da Costa? 
 
 ^ Yes — badly,' — he was in dreadful pain ; and Alick 
 scarcely heeded, in his efforts to staunch the wound, 
 the suffocating cloud of dust in which the advancing 
 troop enveloped them. 
 
 They were Egyptians, scouring the country on be- 
 half of Ibrahim Pasha ; and on coming up they laid 
 hold at once on Alick, uttering many words of which 
 he was wholly ignorant. They proceeded to bind his 
 hands, when suddenly one among them uttered the 
 word 'Giaour' in a tone of such surprise and exulta- 
 tion as made his comrades press to learn the cause. 
 Poor Alick's vest had been so rent in the struggle — 
 for neither to the Arabs nor the Egyptians did he 
 yield without a fierce conflict, — that his side was ex- 
 posed beyond where Da Costa had thought it need- 
 
judah's lion. 337 
 
 ful to apply the colouring wash ; and ripping it to the 
 shoulder, they soon detected the value ot* the fictitious 
 complexion. A like scrutiny was held on Da Costa, 
 who had fainted ; and among the shouts and jeers of 
 the rude Egyptian soldiers, the wounded Israelite was 
 thrown across the camel that had he en Alick's, and 
 he himself, bound, and fastened by a thong to the 
 wrist of the mounted Egyptian who led the camel, 
 was compelled to walk. 
 
 What had occurred took place within a few min- 
 utes, and bore so much the aspect of a dream to 
 poor Alick that he scarcely believed it otherwise. 
 Severe pain, however, roused him to a full sense of 
 the reality; for he had received some contusions in 
 the scuffle that rendered it difficult to walk at the pace 
 his conductor required, and a frequent blow urging 
 him on, increased his sufferings. Gladly would he 
 have endured tenfold greater to purchase a little ten- 
 derness for his wounded friend, whose groans pierced 
 his heart, as he strove to change his miserable posi- 
 tion ; while every effort, baffled as it was by the straps 
 that bound him, only elicited the jests or provoked the 
 ferocious menaces of his barbarous guards. In this 
 way they proceeded, until near noon, when a halt was 
 commanded, and under the shelter of a clump of trees 
 the party dismounted, and proceeded to regale them- 
 selves. 
 
 An officer under whose direction the prisoners had 
 been bound, now sauntered by them, and without 
 stopping uttered a few words, on which a little dirty 
 water, and something resembling coarse barley bread 
 was given to Alick. His thirst was intense; but 
 . 29 
 
^ 
 
 338 JUDAH'S LION. 
 
 merely moistening his lips and palate with what he 
 would have given worlds to quaff, he lifted the cruse 
 to Da Costa's mouth, who drank it so eagerly that 
 the sight overpaid his self-denial. As yet, neither 
 had spoken ; Da Costa seeming unable so to do, and 
 Alick was deterred by the threatening gesture of his 
 guards, whenever he seemed about to address his 
 companion. It was evident that the party was a most 
 disorderly one, and some strong beverage was now 
 taking effect on the greater number, whose shouts 
 and riotous mirth became deafening. One, under 
 great excitement, staggered towards the prisoners, 
 and brandished a long knife in Alick's face, until an- 
 other struck it aside, and a struggle ensued, in which 
 several were engaged before the madman could be 
 disarmed. Suddenly a movement took place, com- 
 parative order was restored, and the officer, rapidly 
 passing, issued an order, in obedience to which Da 
 Costa and Alick were hurried a little aside, the former 
 being laid on the grass, the latter seated near him, 
 and three soldiers, with scymetars drawn, stood in 
 military attitude, guarding them. The band had 
 divided into two portions, leaving a space, a few yards 
 in width, and AHck was able to form a better judg- 
 ment than before of their numbers, which were not 
 under twenty, all formidably armed. It was evident 
 they were in a state of expectation, their eyes fre- 
 quently turned in the direction whither they had been 
 travelling, and just as the tramp of horses' feet reached 
 Alick's ear, he remarked a most grim, ferocious ex- 
 pression of hostility succeeding the levity that had 
 prevailed. He looked in the direction of the sound, 
 
JUDAH S LION. 339 
 
 and leisurely trotting their horses up a gentle slope, 
 he saw four men in a garb no less dear than familiar 
 to him ; it was the uniform of the British Navy. 
 
 What were his feelings ! Deliverance was the first 
 thought, and his heart beat high with hope — a single 
 word of appeal, and rescue was certain ; but, alas ! a 
 moment's recollection told him the English influence 
 could have no weight with such a rude, disorderly 
 horde ; and that any attempt at interference on their 
 behalf might afford a pretext for some outrage for 
 which they were plainly disposed, and in which their 
 numbers and weapons would give them too great an 
 advantage for even English prowess to withstand. 
 Besides, there was an evident determination on the 
 part of their guards to prevent any speech between 
 him and the travellers. Meanwhile, the party had 
 arrived nearly opposite them. The Egyptian officer 
 came forward, and a paper was handed to him, the 
 name of Ibrahim Pasha being at the same time ut- 
 tered. This was carefully examined, and returned, 
 and as the foremost of the Englishmen rode on, Alick 
 caught a sight of one in the rear, and uttered an in- 
 voluntary exclamation, that procured him a terrible 
 blow across the mouth from the flat of a scymetar. 
 He saw Gordon, the gunner of the ship ; and saw his 
 eye fixed on him, but with no sign of recognition. 
 Forgetting at the moment his disguise, the Arab garb, 
 and Arab complexion that he had assumed, it wrung 
 his heart to be so disowned in the hour of his deep 
 calamity : but again he remembered ; and as the 
 Englishmen quietly proceeded on their way, a feeling 
 

 340 judah's lion. 
 
 of thankfulness for their safety prevailed over all selfish 
 regret: he wiped his bleeding lips, and resigned him- 
 self to the overpowering recollections which the tran- 
 sient glimpse of the good gunner's well-remembered 
 face had called up. 
 
^- 'fM 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 There are few situations in life so painful, as not to 
 be aggravated by the addition of uncertainty, Alick 
 Cohen was a prisoner, in the hands of pitiless barba- 
 rians; he was suffering in mind, in body, and estate. 
 The friend for whom he had relinquished all others, 
 and who was to have been his guide into what he was 
 taught to believe was the only way of acceptably 
 serving God, was in worse plight ; nearly insensible, 
 and probably dying before him. They had also been 
 taken in the worst company, for Abdalla and his band 
 had proved themselves robbers ; and their own dis- 
 guise bespoke a wilful, premeditated identification 
 with those dishonest associates. The men, too, who 
 of all others would have been most likely to disregard 
 the odds, and freely venture their lives to deliver 
 them, had looked on them with evident compassion, 
 but without ever dreaming that they were fellow- 
 countrymen, or aught but what they appeared to be, 
 criminals in the hands of justice ; yet all these ag- 
 gravations were less in Alick' s sight than the tor- 
 menting uncertainty as to their present destination 
 and impending fate. 
 
 That the latter would be summary judgment and 
 death, was exceedingly probable ; but Alick, though 
 naturally brave to recklessness, was not able to con- 
 
 29* 
 
342 judah's lion. 
 
 template a sudden doom without such a revulsion of 
 feeling as made him tremble all over. Conviction 
 of his personal sinfulness had fixed itself too deeply 
 in his soul to admit of self-deception there ; and he 
 felt that he had been trifling with a season of rare 
 opportunities, while deferring to some future day the 
 settlement of the solemn question, How should that 
 sin of his heart and life be atoned for? He ought not 
 to have rested until he ascertained the true character 
 of Him whom he was invited to regard as his Saviour ; 
 for whether Jew or Gentile, he could not enter into 
 the presence of the God of heaven without some 
 propitiation for his sins. * What avails it to me,' 
 thought he, * that I am of the race to whom God gave 
 this fair land, over which I am now goaded like a 
 beast to the shambles — what avails it, that my race 
 shall again possess this land, and rejoice therein to 
 the end of time, if my soul is lost, and my portion is 
 in Gehenna, where hope cometh not? And not only 
 with my own safety, but with that of my poor brother 
 here, how cruelly have I trifled ! I felt sure that my 
 enquiries would end in beholding in Jesus of Naza- 
 reth, the desire of nations, — the King of Israel ; but I 
 resolved to bring to a practical test what I already 
 know to be unsatisfying, insuflicient ; and I meant to 
 take the same circuitous route with respect to poor 
 Da Costa. What ensues ? Destruction like a whirl- 
 t\dnd has come upon us, and he dies wholly rejecting 
 One who probably holds the keys of heaven ; and 
 whom I half love, half dread — whom I do not ac- 
 knowledge, yet dare not defy, — yet may I not even 
 now confess him, and throw my cause into his hands ? 
 
343 
 
 How then shall I answer it, if he be not what I 
 would wish him to be ? and how shall that secret 
 wish be forgiven by Him whose name is Jealous.' 
 
 The Egyptian party had moved on ; and a soldier 
 less savage than the former had charge of the cap- 
 tives. He marked the faltering steps of Alick, whose 
 face was moreover much disfigured by the blow that 
 had cut his lip, and swollen it greatly. This man, 
 having lifted his whip to strike him when he flagged, 
 suddenly dropped his arm, and taking from his saddle 
 a small leather case, gave him to drink, but would not 
 allow him to share it with Da Costa. The beveragfe 
 was refreshingly cool, and invigorating also ; and the 
 graceful courtesy of Alick's respectful obeisance, as 
 he returned the cruse, seemed to win yet more upon 
 his Egyptian guide. After a while, he threw the 
 thong to a comrade, rode up to his officer, and made 
 some representation, which was very surlily repulsed : 
 he returned, looking dark and fierce, and Alick 
 trembled lest Da Costa, whose sensitiveness to pain 
 seemed on the increase, should suffer under a savage 
 ebullition. It was otherwise however : the soldier 
 as he rode back had plucked some delicious fruit from 
 a tree overhanging the road, and this he gave to 
 Alick, pointing at the same time to Da Costa, and 
 giving sufficient freedom to Alick's hands to admit 
 of his administering the welcome juice to his fever 
 parched comrade. 
 
 How unspeakably soothing to the wounded spirit is 
 sympathy ! Alick looked up in the face of his swarthy 
 guard, and murmured a blessing from the depths of his 
 heart. He went on more cheerily, and strove to as- 
 
S44 judah's lion. 
 
 certain the bearings of their road, that he might, when 
 arriving at any town, form at least a guess as to the 
 locality ; but it was impossible to make anything out, 
 so eccentric appeared their zigzag course. The heat 
 also was becoming too intense for endurance, and he 
 feared delirium must ensue, if he was much longer 
 exposed to it. A disposition to quicken their pace 
 soon showed itself; and Alick was once more mounted 
 upon the same camel that carried Da Costa, under 
 whom some bundles were placed, so as to form a sort 
 of support. Alick would gladly have offered some re- 
 lief, but his arms were bound more tightly than before, 
 and it was as much as he could do to preserve his 
 seat. The road became at once so hilly and so stony, 
 that nothing but the conviction of their near approach 
 to a town would have encouraged him sufficiently to 
 hold on. This he did for a short time, not daring to 
 lift his eyes, lest the unexpected jolt, occasioned by 
 frequent small hollows in the descending road, should 
 upset him. All his care and caution were vain ; a 
 blow, part of which fell on him, made the poor animal 
 start : and Alick was thrown suddenly to the ground, 
 and became insensible. 
 
 When he recovered, he found himself in what 
 seemed to be a dungeon : four walls rose to a height 
 of some seven or eight feet; and a small aperture in 
 the upper part of one of them afforded light enough to 
 scan the dimensions of the cell, which was miserably 
 small. The first sound that caught bis ear was of 
 some quick, heavy gasps, as of one breathing in great 
 pain ; he uttered the name of Da Costa, and was an- 
 
345 
 
 swered by him, in a faint voice, ' Cohen, where are 
 we?' 
 
 ' I wish I knew ; but probably we never shall dis- 
 cover it; nor will our fate be made known. I re- 
 member being in the act of falling, but beyond that I 
 am ignorant. It seems to me, that we have been 
 thrown into some hovel by the way-side to perish.' 
 
 ^ No : confused and almost fainting as I was, I can- 
 not be mistaken in thinking we are in some fortified 
 place. I heard martial sounds, and the hum and bus- 
 tle of an arrival in somewhat more than a village. It 
 may be a camp. It matters not — there is hut one 
 point on which we can fix, in our present circumstan- 
 ces, with a violent death before us; and how cheering 
 is that one consideration !' 
 
 • What is it Da Costa V said Alick anxiously. 
 
 ' We die in Judea: our ashes will mingle with the 
 sacred soil ; and in the place where the bones of our 
 fathers have mouldered, our's also shall rest' 
 
 ^ And from that soil we shall rise.' 
 
 ^ Yes, to partake in Lsrael's triumph.' 
 
 Alick sighed: his wounded friend half raised his 
 head, and asked, * Do you shrink from death, Cohen? 
 — remember, our journey was one of great peril, and 
 you were not backward in encountering it.' 
 
 '■ I do not fear death ; but your last remark led to 
 the solemn question, what ground have I to expect a 
 share in Israel's triumph ?' 
 
 ' You are a Jew.' 
 
 * So were they. Da Costa, on whom, at different 
 times, the fierce anger of the Lord fell. The rebels, 
 idolaters, and despisers of his grace, for whom we can- 
 
346 jtjdah's lion. 
 
 not possibly imagine that any share in the future glory 
 shall belong. They were all Jews.' 
 
 * But we are not as they, Cohen ; we have not re- 
 belled against the Lord.' 
 
 ' I have ; many a day, and every day, and it is use- 
 less to blind myself to the fact. 1 have not fulfilled 
 the law : I have not refrained my foot from the sab- 
 bath, neither have I honoured my parents, neither 
 have I forborne to covet. In my heart I have set up 
 idols ; and I have taken the name of the Most High 
 in vain.* 
 
 ' There is no man but must plead guilty to some 
 of these things,' remarked Da Costa. 
 
 ' No : therefore all men need to bring with them 
 something wherewith to propitiate the Lord: and 
 what have I to bring V 
 
 ^ A repentant heart, dear Alick.' 
 
 'But if penitence alone would suffice, wherefore 
 were the sacrifices instituted?- Why was such an im- 
 mense burden of ceremonial usages laid on our fathers ? 
 and why did the most penitent and godly show the 
 greatest diligence in observing them V 
 
 Da Costa was about to reply, but his wound became 
 painful, and in a faint voice he asked Alick, whether 
 he thought any water was left beside them, or any 
 means of egress, by which he might go in quest of 
 some ; his hands were still bo\md, but so loosely, as to 
 admit of freely using them ; and he pushed at the nar- 
 row aperture by which they must have entered, and 
 which was closed by a rude but strong door. It yielded 
 to his hand, and he walked out into a narrow vaulted 
 passage, half hoping that escape might be practicable. 
 
judah's lion. 347 
 
 Here, however, he was abruptly met by an Egyptian 
 soldier, who, in very good Arabic, ordered him back. 
 Alick implored a little water for his suffering compan- 
 ion, and the other reaching through a side-door which 
 Alick had not observed, handed him a pitcher, which 
 he took with so many thanks that his gratitude seemed 
 a little to soften the guard. When Alick ventured to 
 ask where they were, he replied, ' In the Governor's 
 prison.' 
 
 ' What governor V But instead of a reply he got 
 a push towards the cell, the soldier following, and re- 
 closing the door with some additional fastenings. 
 When Da Costa heard what had passed, he said, 
 ' The fellows who brought us here, spoke some dialect 
 almost wholly unknown to me ; I caught a word now 
 and then, but nothing connected. They were, how- 
 ever, doubtless of Ibrahim's army, and this is some 
 stronghold for which they were marching, when they 
 fell in with us. To-morrow we may expect to be 
 brought before this governor, and to receive our doom.' 
 
 It was late in the evening before the party had 
 reached this place ; and now the increasing light con- 
 vinced them that day had broke, before they became 
 aware of their destination. Alick's head was exceed- 
 ingly painful, and the sensation produced by so many 
 contusions, added to extreme fatigue and want of 
 food, was peculiarly trying from its novelty, to one 
 brought up in the very lap of indulgence. Yet all 
 was as nothing, compared to the internal struggle. 
 Gordon's image was still present to him, as when he 
 first pointed out those passages relating to the Lion 
 of Judah, and from them preached the Gospel to his 
 
348 JUDAH S LION. 
 
 attenti\^e listener. He could not but think that their 
 recent meeting was ordained to leave him without ex- 
 cuse, rising up as a testimony against him for so little 
 heeding what he heard. Again Charley's declara- 
 tions sounded in his ear, more particularly that ad- 
 dressed to Ben- Me Ichor, the immediate cause of his 
 separation from the friends who so earnestly sought 
 his soul's welfare. He then reverted to Charley's 
 sweet, placid, assured hope in Christ, and felt how 
 precious to him would now be even a distant gleam 
 of the ray that shone so brightly on his infant friend. 
 The day advanced, and at one lime a broad stream 
 of sunlight shot athwart the miserable apartment, 
 through the narrow crevice or loophole, which showed 
 the Avail to be of great thickness ; and by this light, 
 he beheld the ghastly countenance of Da Costa, 
 heightened by the effect of the red shawl fastened un- 
 couthly about his head, and the partial disappearance 
 of the colouring matter that tinged his face, while the 
 blood from his wound had drenched his lower gar- 
 ments, and added to the misery of his appearance. 
 His own plight was very little better; and a feeling 
 more forlorn could scarcely be imagined, than tViat of 
 Alick Cohen, whether as regarded the concerns of the 
 body or of the soul. 
 
 Towards raid-day, a scant\^ meal of boiled rice and 
 bad water was thrust into the cell; but even this was 
 a welcome luxury, and Alick saw with joy that Da 
 Costa was evidently revived by it. He had bound up 
 his wound as well as he could, and it wore every ap- 
 pearance of being comparatively slight ; profuse bleed- 
 ing, rather than the severity of the hurt, having en- 
 
349 
 
 feebled liim so much ; but Alick dresfded, lest the 
 want of proper attention might produce evil effects. 
 Yet, convinced as he v^^as that death awaited them 
 both, it was of small moment ; and he deeply longed, 
 as for his own, so for his companion's soul, that any 
 assurance of safety beyond the grave could be arrived 
 at. He was meditating on the best mode of again 
 opening this subject, when the clatter of several foot- 
 steps approaching the cell arrested his attention ; and 
 in a few moments the door was thrown open, and 
 an officer handsomely equipped, a silken tassel droop- 
 ing from his high cap, and a richly-decorated sabre 
 in his hand, entered, followed by a soldier, while se- 
 veral others were seen in the passage. Alick felt 
 as though the instrument of death was before him, 
 and at the same moment a prayer, which he could 
 not if he would have arrested, rose silently, but 
 fervently from his heart : its purport was that of 
 Bartimeus, — "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy 
 upon me !" 
 
 The officer stood, stooping, as the lowness of the 
 apartment compelled him to do, and for a minute or 
 two silently surveyed the prisoners ; then asked them, 
 « What are you V 
 
 In one breath they both replied, ' Jews.' 
 
 The officer smiled in contempt, and replied, ' Ye 
 Bedouin rascals, what do ye expect to gain by claim- 
 ing kindred with a race more despicable than your 
 own?' 
 
 * We are not Bedouins,' answered Da Costa, ' though 
 for a particular purpose we assumed the dress of our 
 Arab guides. We are Hebrews, natives of England, 
 
 30 
 
350 
 
 and guiltless Sf any offence against the present rulers 
 of this land. We crave to be released.' 
 
 ' By Mahomet you have a brazen forehead. Where 
 have you concealed the plunder, the arnns and money, 
 the garments and provisions, carried off four days 
 since from the convent V 
 
 ' We have been near no. convent ; and four days 
 since we were in Jerusalem with other English tra- 
 vellers ; having landed at Joppa not long before.' 
 
 ^ Confession will better serve you than these impro- 
 bable falsehoods. Abdalla may yet be overtaken, and 
 for him there is no mercy. Reveal the place of his 
 retreat, restore the booty carried off, and I will inter- 
 cede for you : otherwise your doom is sealed.' 
 
 * How can we reveal that of which we know no- 
 thing? We are far removed from those who could at 
 once disprove the charge against us. If men's lives 
 be worth a thought, send, for you have the means, to 
 Jerusalem, and inquire — , 
 
 ^ Send to Jerusalem !' repeated the officer, with a 
 laugh of derision : ' Arab or Jew, the bastinado will 
 compel you, once in your lives, to utter truth ; Dogs !' 
 and with a scowl of angry disappointment he suddenly 
 left the cell. His attendant lingered for one moment 
 behind, advanced to the prisoners, and growling forth 
 the word, ^ Giaour!' spat at them, spurned them, and 
 hastened out. 
 
 Alick received the kick, having thrown himself be- 
 fore Da Costa, whose cheek burned with wrath, then 
 became pale as the lingering stain that had dyed it, 
 would permit. ' It is no new dispensation,' he said, 
 ' for the Israelite to suffer under Egyptian bondage. 
 
judah's lion. 351 
 
 We are drinking the cup that our fathers drank be- 
 fore us ; and the arm that delivered them is not 
 shortened, if it were His will to deliver us also. 
 Of that however I see no prospect, miracles apart; 
 Abdalla has evidently been engaged in some serious 
 outrage ; and all that might otherwise tend to our se- 
 curity is likely to be turned against us. Our disguise 
 must appear a means of aiding in his evil deeds, that 
 we may also partake in the spoil ; and they will tor- 
 ture us to divulge what we are wholly ignorant of, 
 then put us to death in revenge for our silence.' 
 
 * I don't doubt it,' answered Alick, quietly. 
 
 ' And I have brought you to this, Cohen ! I, who 
 w^ould have promoted your welfare before my own, 
 am your murderer.' 
 
 ' Not so, dear Da Costa : we both exposed ourselves 
 to peril for another's sake. Do you remember little 
 Charley's prophetic words, " We ought to lay down 
 our lives for the brethren ?" ' 
 
 ^ Prophetic, indeed, and soon accomplished.' 
 
 ^ I know,' said Alick, whose thoughts and feelings 
 were now beyond his control, ' I know exactly the 
 principle on which that beautiful precept is grounded. 
 Looking to one who laid down his life for his enemies, 
 how it shames our selfishness, constraining us to feel 
 — surely, surely we can at least lay down our lives for 
 those who are our brethren !' Then, before his friend 
 could reply, he added, with increased earnestness, ' Da 
 Costa, I felt no anger when that Egyptian spat on 
 me and spurned me ; such an insult would, not long 
 since, have made me fell any man to the earth, 
 though backed by a thousand troops, ere a hand 
 
352 judah's lion. 
 
 could be raised to defend him ; but I thought, eveli 
 then I thought of Jesus, who suffered, oh, how much 
 more ! for sinners. His Spirit was with me, and I 
 forgave the trespass, even as I hope my trespasses 
 are forgiven.' 
 
 Da Costa tliought that either his own or his com- 
 panion's mind must be wandering ; he looked at him 
 in silent astonishment, and Alick resumed. ' The Lion 
 of the tribe of Judah is to those who resist him a lion 
 indeed, terrible in his strength, able to destroy, and no 
 man shall stand before him : but to others he is a 
 lamb, a slain lamb, merciful and meek, able . to save. 
 I see the twofold character in Him united, and I can, 
 yes I can, believe !' 
 
 ' Believe what ?' asked Da Costa. 
 
 ^ I believe with all my heart, with all my soul, that 
 Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God.' 
 
 * This is sheer madness ; you had no such belief a 
 day or two since; and not a word have you heard, or 
 read, not a single thing has come in your way, to 
 cause this sudden change. You will go near to make 
 me a believer in the pretended sorcery of these Egyp- 
 tians. Say no more now, but compose your mind ; 
 my poor boy, you will have enough to try its strength 
 by and by.' 
 
 ' I never was so composed as I now am ; and I fear 
 no trial, since I have committed my cause to one who 
 is able to maintain both it and me. Oh, Da Costa ! 
 what I now feel is a foretaste of heaven itself — such 
 a peace, such a calm, such a joy ! Methinks I do 
 long for the stroke that shall send me ' 
 
 'To Gehenna!' exclaimed Da Costa, vehemently, 
 
353 
 
 Wretched boy, do you dare to apostatize? do you 
 fling from you the priceless privileges of the holy 
 seed ? Recreant, do you cease to be a Jew?' 
 
 ^ No, God forbid ! I do but add to the law that 
 Moses gave, the faith that Moses held. Cease to be 
 a Jew ! when on my soul first beams the joy of ac- 
 knowledging the Messiah of Israel, who shall come to 
 reign, even as already he has come to suffer. No, I 
 believe that no soul can perish while trusting in Him, 
 who has said, '' Look unto me, and be ye saved, all 
 the ends of the earth," but Israel is His first-born ; 
 and in Israel above all others will He be glorified. I 
 would not cut myself ofi' from Israel.' 
 
 ' Nevertheless, sir, you do, if there be any meaning 
 in what you now rave. The mere act of which you 
 are now guilty, the going after other gods, whom your 
 fathers have not known, cuts you ofi"; and were we 
 not dispersed, desolate, and unable to fulfil the re- 
 quirements of our most holy law, you would be put to 
 death, as a warning to others.' 
 
 * Why should you speak so harshly to me. Da Costa, 
 seeing that we are both about to appear before the 
 righteous judge of men ? A few hours, a few minutes 
 may be the limit of our mortal lives ; before the sun 
 goes down, we may be, and probably we shall be, in 
 the eternal world. Realize, if you can, the awful 
 transition from all outward, and now visible things, 
 into the dazzling presence of the Most High, to whom 
 are known all our deeds, our words, our thoughts, from 
 the dawn of reason to this hour; remember you are a 
 sinner, and remember too that under our holy law, no 
 sin, however trivial in man's sight, is absolved with- 
 
 30* 
 
354 
 
 out the offering of some sacrificial atonement ; and 
 what have you to offer? What have you to plead? 
 For myselfj I have this to say — I know that, from the 
 beginning, God commanded sacrifices, connecting 
 with them the belief in an atonement, which it was 
 not in their nature to afford ; that, having chosen 
 Israel to himself, he gave them a more particular law, 
 and set apart one especial place where alone those 
 sacrifices should be offered up ; that at a time clearly 
 foretold, he sent One into the world, who, being both 
 God and man, was perfectly without sin, and who was 
 offered up, in a bloody and cruel death, at the very 
 place so set apart for acceptable sacrifice, and which 
 almost immediately afterwards became, and to this 
 day continues, inaccessible to any of the race. In him 
 also I see every prophesy fulfilled ; and I now know 
 by blessed experience. He hears and answers prayer, 
 and enlightens the dark eye, and satisfies the hungry 
 soul. He has invited me : I have come to Him, and 
 by the issue of this plea I will abide.' 
 
 ^ I will talk no more to you ;' said Da Costa, turn- 
 ing to the wall, against which he lay with his fore- 
 head pressed, writhing with bodily and mental an- 
 guish, while Alick, in tender pity, secretly prayed for 
 him. 
 
 A scanty supply of the same coarse sustenance war 
 handed into the cell at sunset, and from this it ap- 
 peared, that their doom was postponed at least till the 
 morrow. Alick mentioned this to Da Costa, and 
 pressed him to take some of the food ; but with a look 
 in which pride and rebuke strove with the languor of 
 exhaustion, he replied, ^ I cannot eat with you.' 
 
judah's HON. 355 
 
 ' Neither need you,' answered Alick, mildly. ^ I 
 have not touched this, only the vessel that contains 
 it : I will not partake, for indeed I do not need it ; 
 but you are faint and feverish, and I, alas ! have 
 aggravated your sufferings unwillingly yet unavoida- 
 bly.' The mournful tone in which he spoke, induced 
 Da Costa to turn and look at him, and he could not 
 but be touched by the spectacle. His bruised cheek 
 and swollen lip, the stain that he had himself applied, 
 and the garments in which he had clad him to his 
 destruction, added to the sunken appearance of his 
 eye, the total change that had come over his young 
 life, now probably about to experience a violent close, 
 smote him with agonizing self-reproach. At the same 
 time there was a holy calmness, an elevation of soul 
 depicted on the youth's patient countenance, and a 
 tenderness of sympathy in the anxious look he bent 
 upon him, that to such a nature as Da Costa's, was 
 irresistible. He looked up to Alick, beseechingly, as 
 he took the beverage from his hand, and said, ' Dear 
 Cohen, think again : oh, forsake not the faith of your 
 fathers, nor separate from your scorned, oppressed, 
 persecuted, brethren, still the chosen people of the 
 Most High I' 
 
 ' Da Costa, I never loved them as now I do : my 
 heart cleaves to them ; and to its last throb, my 
 prayer will arise for the welfare of Israel, for the 
 peace of Jerusalem, dear, dear Jerusalem, on which 
 we have so lately looked, never to behold her again!' 
 Tears filled his eyes, and Da Costa, no less moved, 
 was silent. At length he said, ' Will you hsten 
 quietly to me, Alick V 
 
356 
 
 ' I will indeed.' 
 
 Da Costa then sought by every argument he could 
 call up to shake his faith, and to induce him to recal 
 its avowal ; but Alick derived new strength from the 
 weakness of his objections, and remained unmoved. 
 Night closed, and found them still discussing the 
 momentous point : morning returned, and Da Costa 
 was restless, yet taciturn, and seemingly revolving in 
 his mind some things that greatly discomposed him. 
 Alick on the contrary was radiant with hope and joy, 
 strengthened by prayer, and marvelling how he could 
 so long himself have resisted the truths that he had 
 been enabled to set forth to his friend. It was not 
 until near noon, that the door of their prison was 
 opened, and the usual tasteless mess handed in, of 
 which Da Costa insisted that Alick should freely par- 
 take, saying, ' Prepared as it has been by the unclean 
 and abominable, I see not how it can contract farther 
 defilement. If there be sin in it, let it be counted as 
 one of those unhappily anavoidable things for which, 
 by the inscrutable decree of God, no means of purifi- 
 cation are left to our race.' 
 
 * Whatever sin I commit,' said Alick, ' and truly I 
 sin every hour, let it be washed away in the blood 
 shed to redeem my soul ! I plead the atoning sacri- 
 fice, ever present, ever available to faith ; ever well- 
 pleasing to God.' 
 
 Shortly after this, the same officer who had visited 
 them the preceding day entered ; and ordered Alick 
 to follow him. ' God be with you !' exclaimed the 
 youth, as he grasped Da Costa's hand, but no more 
 could he add, being violently pulled away by two 
 
357 
 
 soldiers. They had scarcely entered the long passage 
 when a messenger met them, acquainting the officer 
 that the governor had entered on an investigation 
 likely to last for an hour ; but he replied, ^ Lead on : 
 this young dog of a robber shall not return to concert 
 a story with the other. They did not expect to be 
 examined separately.' 
 
 Accordingly they proceeded, and Alick found that 
 after passing through various covered passages, they 
 were ascending to the roof of what seemed a spacious 
 house. Stiffened by bruises and cramped by the con- 
 finement he had undergone, he found it difficult to 
 mount the steep stairs of rugged stone : but once on 
 the top, he saw, beneath an awning, an elderly man, 
 splendidly habited, smoking his pipe, and hearing the 
 particulars of a dispute between two ecclesiastics, 
 which had led to an affiray. Alick was surprised at 
 the number of individuals who found space to stand 
 there in groups ; and not a little dazzled and overcome 
 by the blaze of the day. He was ordered to stand 
 aside, and roughly pushed by his guard to a corner of 
 the parapet, whence he looked down, looked round, 
 and then, clasping his hands over his eyes, murmured, 
 ' This is Egyptian sorcery !' 
 
 But again he gazed, and rich, full, overpowering 
 was the flood of delight that seemed to roll in upon 
 his very soul : he was in Jerusalem, the city of his 
 fathers, the city of his God. There stretched along 
 her broad eastern wall, and beyond it rose the Moimt 
 of Olives, with its gently undulating outline, three- 
 capped, and sweeping down to the deep valley of Je- 
 hoshaphat, sunk far beneath his ken. Northward of 
 
358 
 
 where he stood, was the ancient Salem, the city of 
 the Jebusites, and towards the west the well-remem- 
 bered tower of Hippicus, David's Castle, while David's 
 city, crowning the lofty hill of Zion, clustered on the 
 south, and spread down the slope to the Tyropoeon 
 valley, where he knew the Jewish quarter lay. But 
 at this point an object saluted his eyes that made his 
 very heart thrill with the strongest emotions it was 
 capable of The abomination of desolation stood 
 there in the holy place : the superb mosque of Omar, 
 glittering with its profuse decorations, occupied the 
 site of Solomon's temple, appropriating to itself the 
 wide enclosure of Mount Moriah, which, with the 
 Turkish burial-ground, reached to the very foot of the 
 dwelling on the top of which Alick was placed. 
 With mingled delight, reverence, indignation, and 
 horror, he looked upon the spot, never before so com- 
 pletely brought before him : the desecration of that 
 hallowed ground, the proud crescent gleaming on the 
 dome of that magnificent but polluting edifice, filled 
 him vi'ith anguish, but still it was the ground so unut- 
 terably precious to the soul of a Hebrew. There had 
 his father Abraham bound the unresisting son of his 
 love, and prepared to offer up a sacrifice vividly typi- 
 cal of that which was to be ofiered up for him. There, 
 at the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, had 
 David's intercessory prayer been mercifully accepted, 
 and the angel had sheathed his sword, and Jerusalem 
 was spared. There, by divine appointment, Solomon 
 erected the glorious temple of which the earth has 
 never had a rival ; and the thoughts of Alick wandered 
 over the tale of Jerusalem's triumphs, her sins and 
 
359 
 
 woes, until all else was but a dream to him. Finally, 
 he cast his eye on the mysterious gateway leading di- 
 rectly towards the mount, which has for so many gen- 
 erations been closed, built up with stones ; according 
 to Ezekiel's prophecy, " shut " — for there the God of 
 Israel had entered, when descending the Mount of 
 Olives He came into the temple, "meek and lowly, 
 and having salvation, riding upon an ass," but herald- 
 ed by triumphant shouts, with branches of the palm 
 and garments strewn in his path, and welcomed by 
 the hosannas of his chosen ones. Alick well remem- 
 bered hearing Captain Ryan speak of that closed gate 
 in connexion both W/ith the past and the future ; and 
 his heart swelled with transporting joy as he hailed in 
 silent songs of praise, the King of Zion as his King, 
 his Saviour, his own present hope, and the future glory 
 of his people Israel. Where was the sadness that 
 but a few days since had weighed down his soul when 
 looking on Zion ? It was gone ; and by faith in the 
 Son of God he was enabled to see, as if already pre- 
 sent, the peace, the prosperity of that beloved city. 
 Promise after promise broke upon him, till, uncon- 
 scious of all but the theme that engrossed him, the 
 poor prisoner's face was mantled with smiles, and 
 shone with the radiance of unclouded joy. Of the 
 lapse of time he was as little conscious as of the pre- 
 sence of his captors, his guards, his judge, and proba- 
 ble executioners. His Jerusalem was before him, in 
 all the brightness of that latter-day glory which he 
 knew to be near at hand ; and in the contemplation 
 of his redeeming, returning Messiah, it seemed a small 
 matter to him whether he was immediately called 
 
360 judah's lion. 
 
 into His presence by sudden death, or left to declare 
 among his friends and kindred what great things 
 Jesus had done for him, and to occupy till he should 
 again come. But though regardless of all others, he 
 was not himself disregarded : a superior officer, in 
 the Egyptian uniform, but by no means of Egyptian 
 cast of countenance, was attentively watching him ; 
 and when Alick's turn came to be led forward, and 
 accused before the Aga, he too approached, an inter- 
 ested observer of all that was going on. 
 

 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 The charge brought against Ahck was soon spoken : 
 Abdalla's guilt being a notorious thing, it was only 
 necessary to state that the Pasha's soldiers had un- 
 expectedly fallen in with him and his gang, all of 
 whom escaped, with the exception of two, who were 
 captured, and brought into Jerusalem. One, it was 
 mentioned, had been wounded, and him they had not 
 brought up for examination ; but the other now 
 produced, though he made a desperate resistance, was 
 captured unhurt. To this the officer added, that to 
 avoid being questioned, the prisoners had denied all 
 knowledge of Abdalla, pretending to be travellers 
 under his guidance. 
 
 Without raising his eyes to the prisoner, the 
 governor asked whether he was known to have been 
 a party to the robbery : to which the officer repUed, 
 there was no doubt of it. 
 
 Alick had some difficulty in making out the exact 
 meaning of what was said ; and in a matter of life 
 and death, he thought it but fair to ask for an inter- 
 preter ; a request that excited the utmost indignation 
 on the part of his accusers ; the judge did not seem 
 to hear it, but at this moment the stranger who had 
 so attentively eyed him, stepped forward ; and with a 
 respectful obeisance, repeated it to him. He asked, 
 
 31 
 
362 
 
 * What needs the Bedouin ? Do we not speak with 
 the tongue of his people ?' 
 
 * I am no Bedouin,' said Ahck, * 1 am a Jew: and 
 I beheve,' he added, while a deep colour mounted to 
 his brow, as he glanced toward the Mount of Olives, 
 
 * I believe in Jesus of Nazareth.' 
 
 To describe the effect of these words on his audi- 
 tors is impossible. Epithets of astonishment, scorn, 
 detestation, were uttered on all sides, as loud as their 
 respect for the chief man would permit. He, too, 
 exclaimed, ' By Allah he speaks lies !' and for the 
 first time looked him in the face, then muttered, ' A 
 boy !' and seemed more ruffled than was his wont on 
 occasions of greater moment. Alick had never in his 
 life felt so happy as when the avowal at once of his 
 race and his faith had passed his lips: he paused for 
 a moment, and in the same clear, calm tone, added, 
 ' I am also an Englishman.' 
 
 A laugh of exultation b)urst from his captors and 
 the bystanders, who supposed his conviction now 
 inevitable ; and the Aga himself smiled, when two or 
 three of his attendants, pointing to the tall Egyptian 
 officer already noticed, said, ' Speak in English to 
 him!' and with no small alacrity Alick turned to 
 him, saying, * If, sir, you speak in the language of my 
 native land, I crave your good offices in repeating to 
 me the substance of the evidence brought against me. 
 I am guiltless in this matter, as I hope, with your 
 kind assistance, now to prove.' 
 
 ^ You have injured your cause,' rejoined the other, 
 hurriedly, * by the indiscreet admission of being — what 
 you say you are : and what indeed you cannot be ; 
 
 i-dMi'. 
 
363 
 
 for the two are incompatible.' He turned abruptly 
 from him, and communicated in a very low voice 
 with the governor, at some length. The latter seemed 
 wavering, and his attendants evidently excited in no 
 small measure. One, whose office it was to inflict 
 the punishment of the bastinado, had prepared a long 
 leather strap, which he drew impatiently through his 
 fingers, while others, by catching Alick's eye, and 
 directing his attention towards it, with looks and ges- 
 tures of extreme satisfaction, indicated that he was 
 about to suffer that torture. He flinched a little ; but 
 the thought immediately arose, ' He who here suffered 
 far more grievous pain and indignity for me, will 
 surely strengthen me to endure whatever He sees 
 good I should encounter. I have confessed his Name ; 
 and that confession it is that has incensed these poor 
 followers of an impostor against me. Oh that they 
 knew what I know ! Oh that my own people Israel 
 knew it ! It was there, on that blessed mountain He 
 stood, when weeping over Jerusalem ; it was here his 
 pitying eye rested, when he lamented their perverse 
 rejection of his sheltering love, and foreshewed the 
 desolations that I witness. May He take me, a poor, 
 sinful, worthless creature, under the wings that he 
 longed to spread over my fathers !' Tears filled his 
 eyes, as with that love of which the world knows 
 nothing, he looked around him, and above ; the un- 
 provoked enemies who were themselves but tools in 
 the hands of Satan, to harass this solitary young 
 believer, exulted in the supposition that fear for what 
 they were about to inflict on him was the source of 
 those gathering tears ; and impatiently they awaited 
 
364 
 
 the result of their chief's lengthened conference with 
 the volunteer interpreter. 
 
 '^ He was an Englishman ; an adventurer who had 
 entered the service of Mohammed Ali, and for the 
 promotion of his worldly advantage had exchanged 
 his nominal Christianity for equally nominal Islamism. 
 His rank in the infidel army was not high, nor did he 
 seek an elevation that would have surrounded him 
 with envious rivals ; but the actual influence obtained 
 by a judicious application of much worldly, scientific, 
 professional, and political knowledge, stood him in 
 more stead than comparative rank would have done. 
 So far was he from seeking notoriety, that few were 
 aware of his history. He was a favourite with those 
 in power ; who by craving nothing for himself, and 
 being ready to do a good-natured thing for others, 
 escaped much jealousy, and enjoyed a fair measure of 
 popular good-will. He had taken a liking to Alick 
 Cohen, before he knew more of him than that he was 
 a prisoner, accused by one of the darkest, most ma- 
 lignant of the officials ; and the discovery of his Eng- 
 lish birth, following as it did on an avowal so exceed- 
 ingly honest and fearless, respecting his race and his 
 religion, altogether completely engaged Ali Musta- 
 pha's interest on his behalf 
 
 The conversation ended by an order being given to 
 conduct the prisoner wheresoever this renegade might 
 direct; he making himself accountable for his safe 
 custody till the charge should be settled, established, 
 or disproved. 
 
 Alick was, therefore, again hurried away, and to 
 his dismay found that he was not returning to his for- 
 
365 
 
 mer prison ; earnestly he implored to be allowed, if 
 but for a moment's time, to revisit his wounded friend : 
 it was useless: and when he found himself lodged in 
 a comparatively comfortable room, with a stool, a 
 table, and a rude camp-bed, he looked with dissatis- 
 faction on the contrast, and earnestly desired he could 
 transport every indulgence to the narrow, dull, damp 
 prison of Da Costa. When the person, whom ho 
 could not but regard as his deliverer, visited him, he 
 followed up his expressions of gratitude by an earnest 
 intercession for his friend. ' He too is English,' he 
 said, ' and equally innocent with myself in this mat- 
 ter. He is wounded, suffering greatly, ignorant of 
 where we are, and will be miserable under the appre- 
 hensions that my continued absence will occasion ; I 
 beseech you, let me be with him.' 
 
 • Is he older than yourself?' 
 
 ' Yes — a dozen years I should say, at least' 
 ' Then he probably misled you. How came you 
 under the guardianship of that worthy Abdalla ?' 
 
 Alick told him, suppressing all particulars concern- 
 ing the precise object of their journey ; and Mustapha 
 remarked, ^ He certainly must have known the cha- 
 racter of the Bedouin, and now he must take the 
 consequences of what he has brought upon himself 
 and you, by this senseless disguise. But what induced 
 you to make such a singular statement of your reli- 
 gion? Did you imagine that in Jerusalem the name 
 of Jew would have helped your case ? The very last 
 to do so.' 
 
 * But I am a Jew ; no drop of Gentile blood is in- 
 
 31* 
 
366 
 
 termingled with that of my race ; and would you have 
 me deny or conceal that fact V 
 
 " Well ; grant that you felt bound to declare it, 
 surely the other and contradictory assertion of being 
 also a Christian, was, at least, ill-judged.' 
 
 ' Do you then doubt the reality of my belief in the 
 Messiah of Israel, who here suffered for our sins, and 
 shall here return in great glory for our deliverance and 
 ultimate triumph ? Are you not yourself, as a Chris- 
 tian, rejoicing in that hope, and will you not receive, 
 as a returning brother, a penitent, believing son of 
 Abraham V 
 
 He held out his hand to the renegade, who, taking 
 it, good-humouredly, though with some embarrass- 
 ment, said, ^ Jew or Christian, Mussulman or Brah- 
 min, each man is, or calls himself, what best suits his 
 own mind, whether from habit, or from finding that 
 he may advantageously depart from his accustomed 
 path. I hold no man in greater or less respect for 
 what he calls himself If you are returning (suppos- 
 ing we get you out of this awkward position) to En- 
 gland, no doubt your prospects will be much advanced 
 by embracing the ascendant form ; but have you any 
 particular tie there ? A fine field of enterprise lies 
 open here in the East — opportunities worth grasping 
 at ; fame, distinction, emolument, in prospect and pos- 
 session a vast deal more than the cold, dull routine of 
 English life holds out. I have had the luck so far to 
 be useful to you, for I verily believe they would have 
 put you to death, or inflicted some horrible punish- 
 ment upon you, without giving you time or opportu- 
 nity to apprize any person of your doom j and now I 
 
367 
 
 can guarantee your safety, I think, if your inclination 
 turns to the path I have pointed out, otherwise it is 
 doubtful' 
 
 ' Do you mean the Egyptian service T asked AUck, 
 in surprise. 
 
 * Yes : as an officer, with every prospect of rapid 
 advancement' 
 
 * A Jewish officer in command of Egyptian Mussul- 
 mans ! Surely that would be a strange anomaly,' 
 said Alick, smiling at the wildness of the proposal.' 
 
 * You are no longer a Jew ; you have renounced 
 that form for the religion of England : and by an 
 easier transition, cancelling that, you might assimilate 
 yourself to the predominant faith of the East.' 
 
 Alick answered not ; he was utterly confounded 
 by what w^ore so much the aspect of a jest or an in- 
 sult, that he knew not how to regard it. He fixed 
 a look on his companion, the intenseness of whicn 
 made him shrink a little, but he preserved his com- 
 posure, and proceeded : ' To turn Christian, sounds 
 very proper in European ears ; to turn Turk far 
 otherwise ; but with us the reverse prevails ; you 
 must divest yourself of all early prejudices — as indeed 
 you have done in one instance, and by the same pro- 
 cess you may overcome a diffijrent set of prejudices. 
 I had some trouble in it, therefore I do not expect 
 you to enter all at once into my views for your ad- 
 vantage.' 
 
 * Have you, sir, renounced Christianity for Islam- 
 ism V asked Alick, still regarding him with the same 
 fixed look. 
 
368 
 
 * I have, sir,' answered the other, eyeing him 
 sternly. 
 
 *■ And do you really believe in Mahomet as the in- 
 spired prophet of God V 
 
 ' Believe ! what I believe is no man's business: I 
 profess myself his obedient servant, as I should pro- 
 fess myself your's, sir, if I was addressing you by 
 letter; but what measure of obedient service I might 
 choose to render to him or to you remains at my own 
 option. The language is every thing you or he can 
 require. But come, time is short, and yours may be 
 particularly so, if I don't take better care of your 
 interests than you seem disposed to do. I shall leave 
 you now to consider, first giving you a short summary 
 of the good things into present possession of which, 
 as a devout young Mussulman, you may forthwith 
 ^nter, and take a full swing, in the gay sunshine of 
 youth. First' 
 
 ' Don't begin numbering your thirty pieces of silver,* 
 interruped Alick, whose disgust and indignation could 
 no longer be restrained. * There was one Jew found 
 sufficiently infamous to sell his Lord ; there may have 
 been others — I hope not — but if the whole world con- 
 spired to sell Him, I will be no party to the sacrile- 
 gious compact. What are all the joys of earth to the 
 joy my heart has known since it hailed him its king 
 and God ! Tempt me no more ; a thousand deaths 
 would be preferable to such foul apostacy.' 
 
 * Boy !' said the other, ' I will not chastize you for 
 this. Nay, more ; knowing as I do the horrors of the 
 fate that awaits you, I will even pass it over as the 
 raving of a mind overheated by excitement, and un- 
 
369 
 
 nerved by fatigue. Here I leave you, to refresh your- 
 self by proper food and rest ; which is all I could gain 
 liberty to do for you. It is vi^ell for you that I am not 
 the fanatic you are, or feign to be.' He turned ab- 
 ruptly and left him. 
 
 His departure w^as a great relief to Alick, who felt 
 something akin to fear mingling with the horror that 
 the renegade's cool avowals inspired him with : a fear 
 lest, by any means, he might be given over to enter- 
 tain the suggestions of the enemy who had attacked 
 him in such an unexpected shape. ' Apostacy is a 
 fearful thing indeed,' thought he ; and then the con- 
 viction flashed upon him, that as he regarded this 
 man, even so must Da Costa and his own people re- 
 gard him. The thought afflicted him greatly, ' How 
 gently, how patiently my poor friend dealt with me, 
 under what must have been a grievous provocation in 
 his sight ! but he could not suspect me of the base, 
 worldly motives in which this wretched man glories. 
 Oh that I could express to Da Costa the joy and 
 peace that my soul finds in believing ! Yet I never 
 could do so ; for when others spoke to me of it, as 
 experienced by themselves, I could form no concep- 
 tion of its reality or power. It is a gift that no man 
 can share with his brother : I will pray to Him who 
 bestows it, that all who are most dear to me may 
 partake in its sweetness.' He did so ; and his prayer, 
 embracing first his own nation, gradually extended 
 until he was earnestly engaged in pleading for the 
 renegade. He rose, after a long while thus occu- 
 pied ; and never perhaps did he desire any thing so 
 fervently as then he desired the luxury of pen, ink, 
 
370 
 
 and paper, wherewith to record the wonderful things 
 wrought for, and in his soul ; but this was unattain- 
 able, as also was the next object of his wishes — a 
 Bible. His thoughts thus compelled to remain con- 
 centrated on one point, retraced his whole progress, 
 from early childhood ; and very many were the trans- 
 gressions brought to mind, for every one of which he 
 pleaded the atoning power of the one great offering 
 for sin ; while the links that formed the chain of his 
 destiny, in arriving at the present point, each drew 
 forth a renewed ascription of praise. It was pleasant 
 thus to commune with his own heart, in his little 
 prison-chamber, and to be so still. TranquilHty, 
 cheerfulness, stole over his spirit ; he seemed to have 
 no care, no fear: all was peace and love. Even 
 when he thought on the condition of his people, out- 
 cast from their country, and still under the frown of 
 their God, hope brightened the scene ; for he doubted 
 not the speedy fulfilment to them of every promise 
 recorded, and which he now strove to number up, 
 again, most ardently wisliing he possessed the Word 
 of God — he felt that to study it would be a feast in- 
 deed. 
 
 Suddenly a thought struck him : there was a 
 grating at the upper part of the wall, forming a win- 
 dow, sufficiently large to make the apartment very 
 light and cheerful. Alick moved his table, and 
 placing on it the stool on which he had sat, he cau- 
 tiously mounted without noise. His hope was re- 
 alized: he had a very full view of the Mount of 
 Olives, rising, as it were, close before him, though 
 the Turkish burying-ground lay between him and the 
 
J UD ah' S LION. 371 
 
 eastern wall, and he knew the deep valley of the 
 Kedron sank low beyond it. To his extreme right 
 he could just, by pressing his face to the bars, catch a 
 glimpse of a corner of the Mosque of Omar. 
 
 What visions of the past crowded on the young 
 Jew's thoughtful spirit as his eye traced that hallowed 
 boundary ! He saw, in imagination, that wonder of 
 the whole earth, the temple of Solomon, occupying 
 the ground, Israel's wise king engaged in the dedica- 
 tion of that house of prayer: how many thousands 
 spread upon the overhanging hill, and covering, no 
 doubt, the spot where then he rested, while the cloud 
 at the Lord's presence descended to fill the spacious 
 building, and overpower the ministering priests with 
 the majesty of His revealed glory. Again, he saw 
 amid the shades of night the dim wrecks of that gor- 
 geous temple, seared, and broken, and desolate ; 
 while the bold, faithful, enterprising Nehemiah rode 
 forth alone to explore the ruins, and mature his secret 
 plan for rebuilding the holy city. His eye fell on the 
 closed eastern gate, the " golden gate" of scripture, 
 and he saw a greater than Solomon approaching in 
 meek majesty, his eye yet moist with the tears of 
 divine compassion shed over the devoted city, which 
 refused to know the things belonging to her peace. 
 ' The gate is shut,' thought Alick, ' according to Eze- 
 kiel, because the God of Israel hath entered thereby. 
 It is shut, and what an awful landmark it forms ! At 
 once a witness to the past, and an earnest of the 
 future, a testimony against my people, and a door of 
 assured hope for them and for the whole world, — how 
 eloquent is that blank, silent wall ! The tabernacle 
 
372 judah's lion. 
 
 of God is fallen down, but He will rebuild it — the 
 sanctuary is polluted, but He will cleanse it — the do- 
 minion is taken away, but only till He come, whose 
 right it is. Then, as surely as the army of Sennache- 
 rib lay round about this city, dead and dishonoured 
 corpses, so surely shall every enemy of our heavenly 
 King be slain before him. This spot to my right was 
 the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite : to my 
 left rose the ancient city of Melchisedeck, the Jerusa- 
 lem towards which the angel stretched forth his 
 drawn sword: — Oh, when will the angels of God 
 again throng about our city, while the Lord rejoices 
 over us to do good for ever and ever !' 
 
 In such thoughts he passed the time, unconscious 
 of its lapse, until the noise of approaching footsteps 
 startled him ; and fearing to be deprived of his pre- 
 sent privilege, he hastily descended, replaced the 
 table, and seated himself as before. An attendant 
 entered ; a mild-looking old man, habited in a loose, 
 Turkish dress, quite refreshing to Alick's sight, after 
 the pepetual flash of weapons to which he had lately 
 been accustomed, and placed in his hand a billet, on 
 which was written — ' You must need refreshment ; 
 follow the bearer, who will conduct you to a bath, 
 and supply a change of clothing, after which I wish 
 to see you again.' The latter part of the communica- 
 tion was less welcome than the former ; but Alick 
 rose, and followed the old man, who led him in silence 
 to a small, but commodious bath, and pointing to 
 some apparel, heaped on a couch, left him. The ab- 
 lution was delightful, and not the less so from the 
 effect it produced in removing the stain from his skin. 
 
JtlDAH^S LION. 373! 
 
 He gladly threw aside his vest, and soiled Bedouin 
 habihments, and selecting the siniplest articles from 
 those before him, which approached to the European 
 costume, he soon finished his toilet, and rapping 
 smartly at the dooi' where his attendant had dis- 
 appeared, was answered by the entrance of another, 
 who motioned him to proceed, following him, until they 
 reached a moderate-sized, but most luxuriously-fur- 
 nished apartment, filled with fragrance, at the farther 
 end of which reclined Ali Mustapha, in a careless, 
 but costly dishabille, smoking a long Turkish pipe, 
 and before him a small table, covered with delicious 
 fruits, and, evidently, rich wines, together with some 
 more substantial viands, half veiled by fresh leaves 
 thrown hghtly over it. 
 
 Uncertain how he would be received, Alick ad- 
 vanced, gravely, and with a feeling of cautious reserve. 
 He paused before reaching tVie table, and Mustapha 
 said, ' Come, Mr. Prisoner, sit down, and refresh your- 
 self before we proceed to other business.' 
 
 He spoke in a playful tone, and Alick, with marked 
 seriousness, answered, ' I am indeed a prisoner, sir; 
 and a prisoner's fare is more suitable to me than what 
 is now spread before me.' 
 
 ' Pho ! you are too young to philosophize in that 
 fashion — much" younger, indeed, than I imagined. 
 You have suffered great privations too, and a little 
 solacing will not be amiss.' 
 
 ^ My privations have been more than shared by the 
 dear comrade, who under the additional infliction of 
 a severe wound, still lies, helpless, friendless, perhaps 
 even now dying in a dungeon. Extend to him the 
 
 32 
 
374 
 
 judah's lion. 
 
 kindness you have shown to me, and I shall be better 
 solaced than by all the good cheer your hospitahty has 
 provided.' 
 
 * You talk as if I was the Governor of Jerusalem, 
 or Ibrahim Pasha himself I have no power to do 
 more than treat you with a little humanity, while you 
 remain under my care. So eat, drink, and be merry. 
 For this one evening we will forget all but good fel- 
 lowship.' 
 
 Alick saw the snare spread for him ; at least, he 
 saw reason to guard vigilantly against falling into a 
 snare ; while the thought that the house in which he 
 was, bordered on, if it did not actually form part of the 
 site of the temple where his fathers had worshipped 
 the Lord in the beauty of holiness, and to which 
 nothing unclean might approach, roused within him a 
 feeling that added energy and dignity to his reply. 
 ' You have shown me much kindness, sir, and proved, 
 both by words and deeds, that you believe me guilt- 
 less of what I am charged with. My friend is equally 
 innocent ; and he too is a son of Abraham, an heir, 
 though alas! as yet excluded from his inheritance, 
 of all that God gave unto our fathers, in this good 
 land, and this holy city. As our fathers were, we too 
 are just now in bondage to the Egyptian ; and but 
 for your English feeling, excited on my behalf, we 
 should both fare as ill as they did. On whatever 
 plea you interposed for me, that plea is equally ap- 
 plicable to him : I will thankfully share any favour 
 shown to Da Costa ; but beyond the welcome re- 
 freshment of your bath, your change of raiment, or 
 
375 
 
 the liberty of thus interceding for him, I can accept 
 nothing.' 
 
 ' Well, sit down, for I am still too much the Eng- 
 lishman to loll here while my guest stands.' 
 
 Alick immediately seated himself 
 
 ' And now take a glass of wine with me.' 
 
 ^ Pardon me, I cannot — and I will not,' he added, 
 with determined resolution, as the other filled a glass, 
 and pushed it towards him. 
 
 ' Take my word for it, Mr. ; I have not the 
 
 pleasure of knowing your name — what am I to call 
 you?' 
 
 ' My name is Nathan Alexander Cohen.' 
 
 ' Well, Mr. Cohen, take my word for it, you will 
 need some bodily nerve to carry you through what 
 may happen to-morrow, and which you don't seem 
 disposed to avert.' 
 
 ' Whatever strength is needed, that I shall obtain,' 
 said Alick. 
 
 '■ Whence is it to come V 
 
 * From the Father of Mercies, the God of Israel, in 
 answer to prayer, which will be heard and granted for 
 the sake of His dear Son.' 
 
 ' Have you been baptized ?' 
 
 ' No !' 
 
 ' That's a pity ; for, standing as you do between 
 two religions, you may chance to fall, and get no help 
 from either.' 
 
 This was said jeeringly, in evident ill-humour, and 
 Alick made no reply, but lifted his heart in prayer. 
 
 After some moments of gloomy silence, the officer 
 said, * To be short and plain with you, Mr. Cohen ; 
 
876 jtjdah's lion. 
 
 I obtained the present indulgenee under a wrong im- 
 pression, and thought you a fine, undaunted young 
 fellow, who would prefer a career of honourable en- 
 terprise to the bastinado and the bowstring, and on 
 that supposition I got leave to parley with you. If 
 you continue in this mood, I can do no more ; we must 
 to-morrow resume our former position — you a captured 
 Arab robber ; I an officer of the Pasha's army, wholly 
 unconnected with your affairs !' 
 
 * But you know me to be an English subject, no Arab, 
 and no robber. You will surely aid me to appeal to 
 the British consul, or communicate with my friends. ' 
 
 ^ I am prohibited from so doing. It was on this 
 condition that I obtained for you a respite from the 
 fate then impending. I incurred personal hazard to 
 serve you so far : beyond it I cannot go but at a far 
 greater risk.' 
 
 ' In that case, I can say no more : I had better re- 
 turn to my prison.' 
 
 ^ Yet consider well, or conviction may arrive too 
 late. The Aga holds your life in his hand — his word 
 is fate.' 
 
 ' The hand that holds my life,' answered Alick, * is 
 no mortal hand. If it be His will to deliver me to 
 death, none can save ; if it be His will to preserve, 
 none can harm me. He has given me the precious 
 assurance, that none coming to Him shall be cast out ; 
 and since I have been drawn, and have come to Him, 
 I know that to me the promise is sure. He will raise 
 me up at the last day.' 
 
 * You preach so well, you had better live to follow 
 
judah's lion. 377 
 
 your vocation in the Pasha's service. If not a soldier, 
 you would make a capital muezzim.' 
 
 < I know,' said Alick, ' the tyranny, cruelty, and ca- 
 price of those whom you serve, too well, to desire you 
 should incur the possibility of offending them to serve 
 me ; or I might work successfully on your English 
 feehngs to attempt it. I refrain from so doing, in the 
 earnest hope that you may be spared to repent. Not 
 all the luxuries that surround you here, not all the 
 distinctions, in wealth, title, fame, that you may ac- 
 quire, can avail you in the eternity that is to come. 
 O, consider this, ere it be too late : look around you, 
 and recal what He suffered to redeem the soul you 
 are destroying, who passed even here a life of sorrow, 
 and died a death of shame. Repent, and return ; for 
 the Lord has no pleasure in the death of him that 
 dieth, but rather that he turn from his evil way and 
 live. 
 
 The renegade had risen fiercely, when the youth 
 began ; he now stood, frowning and muttering, but 
 made no reply. A signal brought back the attendant, 
 who touched Alick's shoulder and motioned to him to 
 retire. He proceeded a few steps, then turned and 
 said, ' May I go to my friend V 
 
 ' No !' was the answer ; and the attendant, startled 
 by the angry tone, hurried him away. 
 
 Once more in his place of confinement, Alick 
 breathed freely ; he had not done so in the perfumed 
 atmosphere of the sumptuous apartment. Before he 
 had been locked in many minutes, a man of very dif- 
 ferent aspect from any he had seen there entered, set 
 before him some coarse bread and water, and point- 
 
 32* 
 
378 
 
 ing to his Arab dress, which had been brought and 
 deposited on the bed, left him again alone. His 
 miserable meal was eaten with new relish, his dress 
 changed again, and after a little time spent in pros- 
 trate prayer, he was at his high window, communing 
 with the past, and realizing the future. Thoughts of 
 home, of the Ryans, and even more painfully of Da 
 Costa, would interpose ; but they were as light sum- 
 mer-clouds crossing the sunshine of his spirit He 
 watched till nightfall, then tranquilly slept till day ; 
 and seeing how hopeless was the plan of an appeal to 
 the English consulate from the sentence of those who 
 were resolved to regard and to treat him as a plun- 
 dering Arab, in the dress of whom he was evidently 
 required again to appear, he resolved to leave his 
 cause in higher hands, and to stay his mind where it 
 would be kept in perfect peace. 
 
 Towards noon, his former guard appeared, and 
 with exulting looks and scoffing words, hurried him 
 along. The scene that he so yearned to behold once 
 more was not now the place of judgment ; instead 
 of the roof of the house, he found himself in a wide, 
 but low and uncomfortable apartment, only the far- 
 ther end being temporarily fitted up for the Aga's 
 deputy, who was surrounded by officers, and near him 
 the executioners, with their instruments of varied 
 cruelty and death. No interpreter was there ; and 
 Alick felt that his doom was sealed ; while the rude 
 hurry prevailing in every quarter showed that scarcely 
 even the semblance of a trial awaited him. His old 
 accuser approached the deputy, and speaking so fast 
 and low that not a sentence could be distinctly heard 
 
41 
 
 379 
 
 at the distance where Alick stood, he told his tale, 
 frequently pointing to the prisoner, while others occa- 
 sionally assented, corroborating his lying evidence. 
 The deputy gave a divided attention, half engaged in 
 a whispering conversation with another official, who 
 stood behind him : and soon uttered some words, which 
 included Alick' s sentence, for the soldiers eagely closed 
 around, and one of the executioners, seizing his arms, 
 commenced binding ihem. A sort of avenue was 
 formed to the door by which he had entered, and 
 along this he was roughly dragged ; but a sudden stir 
 took place near«fehe deputy's seat, the tapestry that 
 hung round the recess was somewhat violently drawn 
 aside, and the Aga himself appeared. Alick's pro- 
 gress was arrested by command ; the deputy was 
 speedily displaced, and his chief enstalled ; and when 
 the prisoner was led back, he saw not only the Gov- 
 ernor of Jerusalem, but the English consul, two naval 
 officers in the uniform of the Lion Isle, and behind 
 them, with eyes almost starting out of their sockets, 
 the honest, weather-beaten face of his first friend, the 
 Gunner. 
 

 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 
 ' Now, to examine this Arab,* — said the Enghsh 
 consul ; when Alick, his countenance shaded by the 
 red shawl that the rude eagerness of the executioners 
 had so shifted as almost to cover his face, was again 
 led towards the divan. * 
 
 * No Arab !' exclaimed one of the English officers, 
 as Alick pushed back the covering with his fettered 
 arm and eagerly gazed on Gordon ; who, clasping, or 
 rather clapping his hands, in unspeakable agitation, 
 cried out, ' It is himself! Mr. Cohen, my dear young 
 Mr. Cohen!' and was proceeding, when silence was 
 commanded, and the Aga, turning to the consul, bade 
 him question the prisoner. 
 
 This was soon done ; and a little cross-questioning 
 of the accusers, proved that they had no shadow of 
 evidence to oppose to Alick' s assertions. He was 
 unbound, and a formal demand made for Da Costa, 
 to which a communication was returned, that seemed 
 to satisfy the consul. Some forms were gone through, 
 happily expedited by the same press of business that 
 had hurried AUck's condemnation, and he was, almost 
 before he knew how the change took place, a free 
 man, in the streets of Jerusalem, with the merry cheers 
 of the young Englishmen testifying their triumph, in 
 spite of the consul's admonitions. Gordon had no 
 
3B1 
 
 voice to cheer with ; his joy at Ahck's rescue had been 
 increased to such overpowering delight by the youth's 
 fervent ejaculatory thanksgiving, which he ofFered in 
 the name of the Redeemer, adding, ' The very Pas- 
 chal Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!' — then 
 clasping the old sailor's hand, he pointed to the 
 Mount, saying. " There He will come with clouds, 
 and every eye shall see him, and they also which 
 pierced him ; but I shall not wail ; for he is my Lord 
 and my God — the Rock of my salvation, and my sure 
 Refuge." Then turning to the consul he repeated 
 his thanks, for this unaccountable interposition, as he 
 termed it ; and anxiously enquired whether they 
 should not proceed at once to Da Costa's prison. 
 
 ^ No,' replied the consul ; ' some little delay must 
 take place in his liberation, but you may be satisfied 
 as to his safety.' 
 
 ' How did you discover our situation ? I aiai puz- 
 zled to account for it.' 
 
 ' Why,' said one of the officers, ' we actually went 
 as your accusers, heartily glad of your impending fate, 
 and dreaming of anything rather than a rescue. Three 
 days since, we were on an excursion, and passed 
 through a party, who, I believe, had you under arrest' 
 
 ^ Yes, we were bound and guarded : and my invo- 
 luntary exclamation on recognizing Gordon, procured 
 me the blow that has so disfigured my mouth.' 
 
 ^ The rascals ! It is well for some of them, and 
 perhaps for us, that we did not discover you then. 
 We proceeded, and soon after arrived at a place 
 where it was clear a combat of some kind had oc- 
 curred, not without bloodshed. At a little distance 
 
382 judah's lion. 
 
 from this, we halted to refresh ourselves ; and Gordon 
 straying along a beaten, but secluded track, suddenly 
 shouted so loud, as to bring us presently to his side. 
 He had found several small articles which seemed to 
 have been shaken, or otherwise dislodged, from a 
 camel's pack ; and among them a Hebrew Bible, 
 with your name in it. I never saw a man more 
 moved — nothing would satisfy him but a hot pursuit 
 in that direction, until it happily occurred to us that 
 the Pasha's men and their Bedouin prisoners must 
 necessarily have come straight from the scene of 
 combat; having just passed by us. We carefully 
 traced the camel's footsteps — for apparently there was 
 but one — back to that spot ; here we lost it in the con- 
 fused tramp of horses, and other symptoms of a 
 melee. We held a council of war, and decided on 
 an immediate return to Jerusalem, where, with the 
 consul's help, who at first was absent, but on his re- 
 turn bestirred himself most actively, we ascertained 
 that two Bedouin robbers had been brought in, under 
 the circumstances, and at the time we concluded you 
 must have arrived. To-day w^e, by great and perse- 
 vering importunity, saw the Aga ; and it was to ex- 
 tort from you some tidings of yourself, whom we sup- 
 posed to have been murdered or spirited away, that 
 we prevailed on the worthy Governor to summon you 
 back, though in the way to execution, until we should 
 narrowly question you.' 
 
 ^ And how am I to thank you, gentlemen, for all 
 this noble, generous devotion to the cause of an insig- 
 nificant stranger?' 
 
 ^ Nay, if you have any thanks to bestow, give them 
 
383 
 
 to Gordon. I believe the fellow would have blown 
 our brains out, if we had even hesitated in the 
 matter.' 
 
 ' No, no, sir,' said the Gunner, ^ you were both as 
 earnest in the matter as though Mr. Cohen had been 
 your dearest friend. I crave your forgiveness for my 
 many freedoms of speech and action during the time : 
 and from the bottom of my heart I thank you for your 
 condescension, in permitting me to follow you on this 
 excursion, through a land that for many a year I had 
 longed to see, little thinking that the very indulgence 
 of my wish would have brought with it such a blessed 
 privilege as this, in helping to rescue one of the royal 
 race of Jacob on the very soil of his fathers !' He 
 shrank again into the rear, to hide the emotion that 
 overpowered him. 
 
 ' The poor fellow absolutely idolizes you,' whisper- 
 ed one of the officers to Alick : ' I never saw such de- 
 voted affection. He cried like a child over your 
 Bible, and would fain have read it, from the wrong 
 end, backwards like English, but none of us knew a 
 letter of the character. We got leave for him from 
 Beyrout, where his ship and our's are, to accompany 
 us on this trip, for his enthusiasm is quite piquant ; 
 and indeed we have learned more of sacred history 
 in a few days from him, than ever we learned in all 
 our lives before. He spoke of you more than once, 
 before our adventure, in a way that partly accounted 
 for his agitation on finding the Bible. I believe no 
 earthly event could have delighted him like your 
 rescue.' 
 
 ^ And to no earthly hand would T so gladly owe it,' 
 
384 
 
 exclaimed Allck, deeply moved : * he has been mainly 
 instrumental in effecting for me a far greater de- 
 liverance.' 
 
 ' Indeed ! he never told us of it. It must be singu- 
 larly remarkable to be greater than this.' 
 
 Alick felt the difficulty of making the avowal to 
 man who evidently had no feeling of spiritual things ; 
 but he would not keep silence. Raising his voice, to 
 be heard by all the party he said, ' What is the death 
 of the body, to the death of the soul ? I, a sinful son 
 of Abraham, was living without hope and under a 
 curse, because without any faith in that Seed of Abra- 
 ham in whom only, we, and all the nations of the 
 earth are blessed. Here, my fathers crucified their 
 King, their Messiah, their Almighty Deliverer ; and 
 I, in equal unbelief, rejected Him — Him who alone 
 can save ! It was Gordon who induced me to study 
 the Scriptures that testify of Him, and by the Scrip- 
 tures I was led — not without human help, but still 
 mainly by the Scriptures, to receive the testimony of 
 God concerning His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, whom 
 I acknowledge to be the King, the divine King of 
 Israel.' 
 
 ' Then you have renounced Judaism ?' said the 
 younger officer, with an aspect of surprise and some 
 pleasure. 
 
 'Renounced Judaism? Never! Jesus never dis- 
 owned it, his Apostles never renounced it ; why then 
 should I ? To be a Hebrew is my privilege, my 
 glory, my joy. I am sealed in my flesh with the seal 
 of God's precious promises to Israel concerning this 
 land, which is our's by His gift, and to which He will 
 
385 
 
 yet restore us openly : I hope to be sealed also with 
 the seal of His spiritual promises in Christ Jesus, which 
 is baptism, but not to do away with the privileges of 
 circumcision, which are also mine by a covenant that 
 shall never be broken.' 
 
 Gordon's countenance glowed with delight; the 
 others looked rather bewildered, but much interested; 
 and the elder officer said, ^ I doubt whether the clergy 
 will allow you to hold these things together : they 
 will say you put new wine in an old bottle — a new 
 piece on an old garment.' 
 
 ' Then they will say wrong,' answered Alick. ' If 
 Israel, as a nation, was to be lost among the nations 
 of the earth, if this our holy and beloved city was to 
 continue in the hands of Gentile people, infidels or 
 believers, then, I admit, a Jew embracing the faith 
 of the Gospel might cease, in outward distinctions, to 
 be a Jew. But we know the contrary ; we know that 
 the land is our's by a covenant for ever ; and we are 
 bound not to despise the gift of God, nor to cast from 
 us the distinctions that he has been pleased to establish 
 between us and other people.' 
 
 ^ But it is far from being an admitted fact, that 
 such distinction is to continue in your converted state. 
 You have been kept distinct, as a sort of living testi- 
 mony to the truth of God's threatenings, while for 
 seventeen hundred years your people have been — 
 pardon me — outcast and despised, a monument of 
 divine indignation.' 
 
 * Ay, most true,' said Alick, with great animation ; 
 * and we shall be kept distinct as a living testimony 
 to the truth of God's promises, restored, and in the 
 
 33 
 
386 
 
 sight of all people made a monument of divine mercy 
 and love.' 
 
 Gordon, trembling with emotion, put into his hand 
 a small Bible, pointing out something, that Alick 
 immediately and exultingly read. * Moreover, the 
 word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, Con- 
 siderest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, 
 The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he 
 hath even cast them off? Thus they have despised 
 my people, that they should be no more a nation 
 before them. Thus saith the Lord, If my covenant be 
 not with day and night, and if I have not appointed 
 the ordinances of heaven and earth ; then will I cast 
 away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so 
 that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over 
 the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob : for I will 
 cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on 
 them." 
 
 Hitherto the group had remained, alone and unno- 
 ticed, in one of the desolate streets of Jerusalem: 
 strangers, however, approached, and the Consul re- 
 commended their adjourning to some place where 
 Alick might lay aside his strange disguise ; offering 
 everything in his own power towards his comfortable 
 domestication, until Da Costa should be liberated. 
 Alick thanked him, but named the Ryans as friends 
 to whom he must repair : and after arranging to meet 
 his naval deHverers in the evening, he left them, 
 with oft-repeated acknowledgments, to seek out 
 Captain Ryan's abode, to which they were very near. 
 His heart throbbed with anxiety, as he entered the 
 door, which was partly open, but no one was within. 
 
387 
 
 All, however, bespoke the continual residence of his 
 friends. He tried the door of Charley's apartment, it 
 was fast ; he called, and knocked, but none answered. 
 In a corner, however, he saw a bag that contained 
 some old apparel of his own, to which he helped him- 
 self, made a hasty toilet, and again sallied forth, to- 
 wards the Jews' quarter. 
 
 He found old Wilhelm in deep grief, weeping over 
 his prayer-book ; and on seeing him, the tears of the 
 afflicted Israelite flowed in greater abundance. Anx- 
 iously Alick inquired whether he had tidings of his 
 son. ^ The worst, the worst of tidings,' answered the 
 old man, wringing his hands : ' better he had died ! 
 better I had died ere I heard it !' 
 
 ' Where is he V 
 
 ^ In London, reaping the wages of his base apos- 
 tacy.' 
 
 Several other Hebrews entered, and their lamenta- 
 tions, intermixed with many heavy curses on the se- 
 duced and his seducers, shewed Ahck what he might 
 himself expect to encounter, when his own change be- 
 came known. He remained silent till the storm 
 abated, then spoke of Da Costa, and related the won- 
 derful tale of his own deliverance, imparting also his 
 anxiety concerning his friend. 
 
 ' We can do nothing — we can do nothing !' ex- 
 claimed the Jews, in renewed grief — ' Israel is smitten 
 wheresoever he be ; and chiefly, here he is smote with 
 the stroke of a cruel one.' 
 
 * Better,' said old Wilhelm, ^ to be smote with any 
 stroke than that of the evil conscience of him who has 
 forsaken the Lord his God to follow Baal.' Again 
 
388 JUDAH*S LION. 
 
 were the anathemas renewed ; and Alick whispered 
 to Wilhelm ' How can you bear to hear such curses 
 on your child V 
 
 * God hath cursed him/ answered the unhappy 
 father, ' and man but assents. His crime is greatly 
 aggravated : he has joined the Christians, and nearly 
 prevailed to lead a young maiden of Israel into an evil 
 path.' 
 
 * Impossible !' cried Alick, as the image of Esther 
 in all her strictness, rose before him. 
 
 ^ My son,' said an aged Rabbi, ' thou art happy in 
 conceiving that to be impossible which daily experi- 
 ence among the wicked proves to be not only possi- 
 ble, but frequent The subtilty of the Nazarene doc-' 
 trine is great, and the hold which it takes on the youth- 
 ful mind is marvellous. It is a whirlpool — come but 
 within the outermost circle, and thou art presently 
 sucked down.' 
 
 Alick replied not ; he would have freely exposed 
 himself to their wrath, and not flinched from their 
 curses in the cause of truth, but their sorrow moved 
 him so much that he could not just then add to the 
 dismay which overwhelmed them. Never had he 
 felt so tenderly towards his people as then, when had 
 they known all that had passed, they would have 
 spurned him with indignation. He waited a space, 
 then renewed his questions, until, with some hesita- 
 tion, young Wilhelm' s letter was handed to him. 
 AHck eagerly ran over the contents, relating to his 
 escape from the Maronite fathers, and his involuntary 
 voyage to England, in the capacity of a common sea- 
 man ; his meeting with a pious messmate, whose com- 
 
judah's lion. 389 
 
 ments on the word of God, which he had long studied, 
 opened to his view truths till then unseen : and seve- 
 ral adventures that befel him, and at length came to 
 the part which he longed to read. Wilhelm, descant- 
 ing on the providential course of circumstances, men- 
 tioned, as confirming his view, the fact that his be- 
 trothed, who had been a most bitter opposer of the 
 Gospel, had come almost to the same point with him- 
 self, through the happy, rejoicing death of an old 
 Christian servant-woman, long attached to the family ; 
 so that when he expected to encounter the most re- 
 lentless opposition, and probably to be dismissed for 
 ever from the regard of that beloved object, he found 
 her, if possible, more anxious to inquire into the doc- 
 trines of Christianity, than he was to set them before 
 her. As Alick read, his joy became too great for con- 
 cealment, and one of the Rabbins abruptly snatched 
 the paper from his hand, sharply inquiring what made 
 him smile. 
 
 * Pardon me,' said Alick, ^ but that lady is my own 
 cousin, and I had not heard of her since I left Eng- 
 land.' 
 
 He was rebuked for disregard of the glory of the 
 law ; and the lamentations being resumed, he took his 
 departure, promising to bring them on the morn some 
 tidings of Da Costa. Alick then bent his way to the 
 public place of wailing, where, standing a little apart, 
 with sympathy impressed on every rough line of his 
 honest face, stood the Gunner, who, when Alick 
 placed himself beside him, whispered, ' The officers 
 are coming directly: they are wonderfully moved, 
 Sir, by this meeting with you ; and full of interest 
 
 33* 
 
390 JUDAH's LION. 
 
 for your dear people. May it be increased a hundred 
 fold !' 
 
 Before Alick could reply, the two Enghshmen ap- 
 peared, and he watched them for some time unob- 
 served, for their whole attention was absorbed by the 
 spectacle before them, than which a more touching 
 one could scarcely be imagined. 
 
 The portion of wall, which no doubt is a fragment 
 of the ancient inclosure of Jerusalem, near the south- 
 eastern corner of the outer court of the Temple, con- 
 sists of some immense stones, forming a solid piece of 
 masonry, and perforated in various parts, with little 
 chinks and crevices. These the Jews believe to form 
 the gate through which all prayer must pass on its 
 way to heaven, from whatever quarter of the world 
 ascending ; a notion founded, no doubt, on the ex- 
 pression so frequently repeated in Solomon's sublime 
 prayer of dedication : " When they shall pray towards 
 this place," and on the custom of Israel so to do, from 
 all distances, in the earliest times of their dispersion. 
 Of course, no privilege is considered so great as to lay 
 the lips against one of these crevices, and to whisper 
 the supplication through it, which will yet be heard ; 
 even the prayer for pardon and deliverance. There 
 were several, both of males and females, present, some 
 speaking through these openings, others seated at the 
 foot of the wall, weeping, and wailing, and reciting 
 prayers and psalms : among these sat a most venera- 
 ble man, of superior aspect, habited in a long flowing 
 gown of dark brown serge, with a girdle, to which 
 descended a thick beard of glittering whiteness, while 
 locks of the same silvery appearance shaded his face, 
 
391 
 
 contrasting with eyebrows of the deepest black. A 
 small, close black cap covered the crown of his head, 
 and his bony hands were clasped upon it, as if in some 
 strong effort to repress the workings of his brain. His 
 head was bowed, and tears slowly fell trickling over 
 the snowy beard, to be gently wiped away by the hand 
 of a most lovely maiden, who bent over him, whis- 
 pering from time to time something that evidently 
 bore a reference to the Temple ; for her eyes con- 
 tinually wandered from her aged companiou to the 
 direction in which it stood ; and with an upward cast, 
 as though contemplating some lofty object. Her look 
 was the very personification of uncomplaining sorrow, 
 and so absorbing as to render her unconscious of all 
 around, it completely engrossed her. 
 
 After a while, the old man rose, and then it became 
 evident that he was totally blind. He lifted his ven- 
 erable face to the light, spread forth his hands, and 
 with slow, solemn movement, guided by the maiden, 
 whose downcast eyes watched his every step, he 
 approached the wall, where a crevice had just been 
 left by its last proprietor. To this the maiden was 
 leading him, and as they passed rather near, the two 
 young English officers took off their caps. It was a 
 spontaneous movement of respect, and to Alick, 
 whom as yet they had not perceived, how grateful ! 
 The old man reached the place ; his child laid his 
 trembling hands against the wall, and as he bent to 
 the narrow opening, deep sobs burst from his bosom, 
 while she, one hand spread over her forehead and 
 eyes, which were raised to heaven, poured forth what 
 seemed an agony of silent supplication, shaking 
 
392 judah's lion. 
 
 her head, and stretching out the other hand, clenched 
 with the fervency of her mental appeal. The younger 
 sailor appeared quite unnerved ; and turning from 
 them, encountered a look from Alick that he seemed 
 able to appreciate. The aged Hebrew continued to sob, 
 and to ejaculate broken sentences, until Alick, who 
 had just recovered from Gordon his precious Hebrew 
 Bible, stepped forwards, and commenced, in a low, 
 solemn, but most distinct voice, reading in that sacred 
 language what the Gunner immediately pointed out 
 to the officers in his own little Bible, for Alick had 
 shown him what he was about to repeat. " If they 
 sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth 
 not) and thou be angry with them and deliver them 
 over before their enemies, and they carry them away 
 captives, into a land far off or near ; yet if they be- 
 think themselves in the land whither they are carried 
 captive, and turn and pray unto Thee in the land of 
 their captivity, saying. We have sinned, we have done 
 amiss, and have dealt wickedly ; if they return to thee 
 with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the 
 land of their captivity, whither they have carried 
 them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou 
 gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which 
 thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have 
 built for thy name ; then hear thou from the heavens, 
 even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their 
 supplication, and maintain their cause, and forgive 
 thy people which have sinned against thee." At that 
 word a universal response burst from all the Hebrews 
 present : they stretched forth their hands, and in one 
 voice cried, " Forgive thy people which have sinned 
 
judah's lion. 393 
 
 against thee !" Alick resumed : and his tone became 
 loud, and his manner most energetic as he proceeded, 
 " Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be 
 open, and thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is 
 made in this place. Now, therefore, Arise, O Lord 
 God, into thy resting-place, thou and the Ark of thy 
 strength ; let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with 
 salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. O 
 Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed ; 
 remember the mercies of David thy servant!"* And 
 the Jews repeated, " Turn not away the face of thine 
 anointed : remember the mercies of David thy 
 servant !" 
 
 The two Englishmen stood uncovered, their hands 
 joined over the Gunner's well-worn little Bible, read- 
 ing with wonder, awe, and delight, words that they 
 probably had never before noticed, and looking on the 
 scene before them as something miraculous. Alick, 
 meanwhile, stepped up to the blind old Israelite, and 
 respectfully kissing one of the hands that still rested 
 against the wall, emphatically said, ' Messiah Ben- Da- 
 vid is the hope of Israel : pray that our God will reveal 
 him unto you.' ' Bless thee, my son !' exclaimed the 
 old man ; and Alick, whose heart welcomed the bles- 
 sing, exclaimed to all around, as he left the place, 
 ' Oh ! pray, pray for the revelation of Him, who shall 
 turn away ungodliness from Jacob.' ' We do — we 
 will,' was the reply ; and blessings still followed his 
 retreating steps. 
 
 ^ I declare,' said one of the officers, ' we have done 
 a better deed in rescuing you, Cohen, than we were 
 * 2 Chron. vi. 
 
394 judah's lion. 
 
 aware of. Gordon, we owe you much for putting us 
 up to this.' 
 
 ' Will you love my dear people, and serve them as 
 you have opportunity V asked Alick. 
 
 ' Ay, that we will !' they replied ; and the younger 
 added, ' I have done great injustice to your people — I 
 fancied Jew only another word for something very 
 disreputahle ; but as long as I live I shall remember 
 the look of that kingly old man, and his beautiful 
 daughter, and blush for my prejudices.' 
 
 ^ Something more than that, I hope. Sir,' said the 
 Gunner. ' You will remember having stood on the 
 very spot where God's temple was reared, and having 
 seen how, in the midst of poverty, sorrow, exile, every 
 sort of oppression. His ancient poeple come to plead 
 with Him the promises which they know He will 
 fulfil' 
 
 ^ True. I thought you very bold, Cohen, to speak 
 as you did about the revealing of Him who, of course, 
 is Jesus Christ' 
 
 ^ And I thought myself very cowardly to say no 
 more,' answered he ; ' but I trust to speak out to every 
 one of them ere I depart.' 
 
 ' Hey day !' cried the young man, ' what have we 
 here, to run us all down ? Have a care, my lad, or 
 you'll demolish me ; and he stepped aside, to make 
 w^y for Charley, who shouting and capering hke a 
 mad creature, rushed into Alick's arm's, exclaiming, 
 ' My precious Mr. Alick ! my darlint of a Jew ! is it 
 your own self — sure now, is it V 
 
 * My own, own Charley ! and so you're alive, and 
 not only alive, but strong enough to struggle. Oh, 
 
395 
 
 Mrs. Ryan, what joy it is to see you — my dear Sir ! 
 here's my first friend, Gordon, the man who led me 
 the first step towards the blessing that now I possess 
 — the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my only 
 Saviour !' 
 
 Charley's cry of joy was quite startling ; and the 
 tearful smiles of his parents, the commotion of delight, 
 in which Alick did not forget to introduce his other 
 English preservers, were quite an unusual scene in 
 the streets of captive Zion. They were not far from 
 Captain Ryan's abode, into which the whole party 
 entered ; and there Alick related his strange adven- 
 tures, which were listened to with great and varied 
 emotion : but when it was stated that Da Costa re- 
 mained imprisonipd, under circumstances so distressing, 
 Captain Ryan started up, and said, ' That will not do : 
 he must be liberated at once.' ' The Consul will see 
 to it,' said one of the officers. ^ The Consul has been 
 hurried away within this hour, on unexpected, un- 
 avoidable business ; and I happen to know that Da 
 Costa has powerful bitter enemies, who will, if they 
 discover his situation, strain every nerve to do him 
 some injury.' 
 
 It was Alick's turn now to jump up ; and the other 
 gentlemen exclaimed, ' Let us go back to the old Aga, 
 and demand him vi et armis.'' 
 
 ' No,' said Captain Ryan, ' caution is needful. The 
 party to whom our poor friend is so obnoxious have 
 lately been very troublesome to the governor, through 
 a multitude of petty squabbles at the Church of the 
 Sepulchre, and elsewhere. They are not very likely 
 to have got any trace of him; and we must be careful 
 
396 
 
 to give no public alarm.' He then pointed out the 
 best way of proceeding ; and requesting an officer to 
 accompany him, left the rest of the party to talk over 
 their adventures. Alick had not mentioned the at- 
 tempt on his faith, or rather on his profession of faith. 
 He, however, named Ali Mustapha, of whom the 
 younger officer immediately said that he was a plea- 
 sant, good fellow, and had treated them well at Bey- 
 rout ; but Gordon looked severe, and evidently knew 
 more of him than his superior did. 
 
 Charley said, ^ Perhaps, Mr. Alick, now that poor 
 dear Mr. Dockster is all alone in prison, with a sore 
 knee, he may begin to think what a good friend the 
 Lord Jesus would be to him ; and so he may pray 
 and be taught all about him, you know.' 
 
 * That is my hope and prayer, Charley ; we had a 
 great deal of talk, and though I could not convince 
 him, the Lord can.' 
 
 * What ! did he know of your being a Christian V 
 
 ^ Yes : and I am so thankful now to have told him.* 
 ' It may be the saving of his soul,' remarked Mrs. 
 Ryan, anxiously. 
 
 Gordon sat in a retired corner, always carefully 
 observing the respect due to his superiors in rank and 
 station. Charley now went to him, and was soon on 
 his knee, holding a very long whispered communica- 
 tion, of which Alick was evidently the subject ; while 
 his mother strove to render the conversation inter- 
 esting and profitable to the young officers, who told 
 her what they had witnessed at the place of wailing, 
 and listened with pleasure to her animated discourse 
 respecting the history and the hope of Israel. After 
 
397 
 
 a long absence, Captain Ryan returned, looking ex- 
 ceedingly disturbed, and in reply to Alick's eager in- 
 quiries, said he feared there had been some cruelty 
 practised on Da Costa, who was still beyond his 
 reach. 
 
 ' Then,' said Alick, ^ I'll go instantly, and never 
 lose sight of the door of that house till I gain admit- 
 tance to him.' 
 
 ' My dear fellow, what can you do ? This is not 
 England: there is no such thing as personal liberty 
 recognized beyond the shadow of our flag ; and even 
 that is barely available as a refuge during the absence 
 of the Consul. We must seek higher help for our 
 imprisoned brother : he needs it' 
 
 ' Then let us pray for him, sir, at least,' said Alick. 
 
 * At least ! we will do the most we can for him by 
 praying. Prison-walls and gates have yielded ere 
 now in Jerusalem to the force of prayer. Let us but 
 believe, and all will be well.' They knelt in prayer ; 
 and very sweet it was to Alick to unite in the thanks- 
 giving of those his only teachers in the faith for the 
 mercy vouchsafed to him. When they rose, the young 
 sailor said, ^ I shall be made religious at this rate : I 
 have heard more praying and Bible-reading to-day 
 than ever I did in my life, except at the church. This 
 Jerusalem is a singular place.' 
 
 ^ A singularly blessed, sacred, and privileged place, 
 even in her fallen, fettered condition,' remarked 
 Captain Ryan. ^ What will she be when her light 
 is come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon 
 her !' 
 
 It was two days ere the scarred, emaciated, half- 
 
 34 
 
398 judah's lion. 
 
 living form of Da Costa was, at the urgent and even 
 menacing demand of the British authorities, given up 
 to his friends ; and then they pretended that no satis- 
 factory contradiction of his being a plundering Be- 
 douin, had been offered. In fact, they starved him 
 till he had no power of making his own defence, and 
 then condemed him on the score of silence. They 
 however, delayed his execution, seeing that he could 
 not long survive the rigors of such gaolers ; and who 
 shall say what passed through his mind during those 
 long dreary hours of suffering? He was brought to 
 Captain Ryan's house, insensible, from the sudden 
 exposure to light and air ; and Alick hung over him, 
 amost distracted with grief He had, in spite of all 
 warnings, fulfilled his purpose of watching the ex- 
 terior of the building that contained the prison ; but 
 by this nothing could be gained. The Englishmen 
 had been obliged to proceed from the holy city some 
 hours before Da Costa was given up ; leaving Gor- 
 don, however, to enjoy the rest of his furlough there ; 
 and now the veteran devoted himself to assisting and 
 comforting Alick, whose distress was pitiable. After 
 a while, Charley was permitted to approach, and on 
 seeing the ghastly object before him, cried out, ' Oh, 
 it can't — it can't be Mr. Dockster!' 
 
 At his voice, the sufferer moved, half raised his 
 eyelids, and smiled. ^ Oh, you blessed boy!' said 
 Alick, ' you never speak but to do good :' and Da 
 Costa smiled again. 
 
 Gradually he so far recovered as to look at those 
 around him, and to make some faint and fruitless 
 efforts at speaking ; but of his feelings he gave no in- 
 
judah's lion. 399 
 
 dication, save those of increased affection for his ten- 
 der nurses; and a marked satisfaction when Alick 
 told him how they had been traced, and made Gordon 
 take his hand. At one time he asked if he wished to 
 see any of their brethren, to which no reply was given ; 
 and then Alick ventured to add, ^ I have heard of Wil- 
 helrn — he is safe, and in London.' 
 
 The pleasure that beamed from Da Costa's coun- 
 tenance gave him almost the aspect of former days ; 
 and then Alick whispered, in the lowest tone, ' I could 
 say more — I will say it, dear Da Costa — Wilhelm has 
 been led to see the Messiah of Israel in Him who was 
 crucified, and he is very happy — and Esther is of the 
 same mind.' The deepest crimson mantled the wan 
 cheek and damp brow of the dying man ; but beyond 
 that, no indication was given^ — his feelings were un- 
 fathomable, and all Alick could do was to converse in 
 an audible whisper with Gordon and the Ryans on 
 the infinite mercy of God in the redemption of the 
 world by our Lord Jesus Christ ; but Charley talked 
 incessantly in his own sweet, touching way ; and his 
 little voice had always charms for Da Costa. 
 
 It was on the second day of their watching over 
 him, that Alick caught the first articulate words he 
 had spoken ; they were ' The Mount of Olives.' 
 
 All were puzzled to ascertain what was his mean- 
 ing : he seemed desirous to convey it, but could only 
 murmur those words, and ' die.' At last Charley 
 whispered, ' He wants to die on the Mount of Olives ;' 
 and to this Da Costa distinctly said, ' Yes.' Again 
 and again was he asked if he really wished to be car- 
 ried there, and so evident was his desire that they re- 
 
400 
 
 solved to fulfil it. He was placed on a litter, and 
 carefully borne across the valley of Jehoshaphat, and 
 up the slope, a short distance, to a circle of Olive- 
 trees, supposed to mark the garden of Gethsemane. 
 He appeared very happy, when assured that the an- 
 cient olives of the mountain were really shading him ; 
 hut to Alick's fervent, whispered entreaty for some 
 w^ord to indicate the state of his soul, he gave no re- 
 ply. It was a bitter grief of heart to the affectionate 
 youth, and he wept like a child as he sat on the 
 ground beside him. The expression of that wasted, 
 but still fine countenance, he could not read. Some- 
 times he thought it indicated a stubborn resolve not 
 to be moved by any thing, at others he considered 
 the stupor of approaching death to have benumbed 
 his faculties ; but then the eyes would unclose, and 
 so much life, meaning, and vivid intellect shone in 
 their dark orbs, that he was obliged to relinquish the 
 supposition, and a hope that even then the work was 
 being carried on in that precious soul beamed upon 
 his agitated spirit. There were moments too when 
 he read in that mysterious stillness of feature, the 
 calm of one who has stayed himself on the Rock of 
 his salvation. But all was surmise ; and poor Alick 
 writhed under the incertitude of his thoughts. 
 
 It was a solemn scene I Beneath them lay the 
 holy city, the summit of Mount Moriah, the inclosurc 
 where stood the temple of the Lord being almost 
 under their feet, so close did it appear, notwithstand- 
 ing the deep ravine that forms the bed of the Ke- 
 dron ; the valley of the graves of Israel, the burial- 
 place of the tribes for thousands of years, and to this 
 
401 
 
 day the most coveted spot of sepulture to the Jew, 
 wheresoever he may he scattered. Above, waved the 
 few thin leaves of those patriarchal olives, coeval, 
 probably, with the personal ministry of the Lord of 
 glory on earth. All was calm and still, scarcely a 
 sound broke the deep silence of the awe-struck be- 
 holders, who gathered round the dying Israehte, ab- 
 sorbed in secret prayer for one who, perhaps, was 
 offering no acceptable supplication for himself Each 
 had, in turn, whispered some gentle word of Chris- 
 tian hope, promise, entreaty ; but though no repulse 
 was given, neither could encouragement be traced. 
 At length Gordon spoke in a low voice to Charley, 
 who had been alternately peeping in Da Costa's face 
 and hiding his own in his mother's bosom ; for the 
 child was frightened, yet any suggestion of removing 
 him threw him into such an agony that it was not 
 persevered in. He was now listening to Gordon, and 
 turning with him over the leaves of the Bible until 
 something arrested them. Charley then slowly and 
 somewhat fearfully approached, holding the book in 
 both his hands ; and stealing one timid look at the 
 corpse-like face, he held the book so as to screen him 
 from a second view, lifted up his broad forehead and 
 began, in a tone so audible, enunciation so clear, and 
 emphasis so marked, as to astonish those around him, 
 " Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered ; let 
 them also that hate him flee before him." He pro- 
 ceeded with the Psalm, without faltering; but so 
 slowly as to give effect to every word. Da Costa's 
 eyes were immediately unclosed ; the well-known 
 lofty sounds seemed to revive all the fire of his cha- 
 
 34* 
 
402 
 
 racter — his lips moved, evidently accompanying the 
 earnest little reader. At length he arrived at the 18th 
 verse, " Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led 
 captivity captive : thou hast received gifts for man ; 
 yea, for the rebeUious also, that God might dwell 
 among them." Here his voice trembled, and he 
 hesitated, as if about to speak, but proceeded vi^ith 
 much pathos — ^' Blessed be the Lord, who daily 
 loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salva- 
 tion. He that is our God is the God of salvation," — 
 here he dropped the book, fell on the neck of his 
 dying friend, and with a burst of tears cried out, * Oh, 
 he is! he is! Our God is the God of salvation. 
 He loves you, oh, he does ; He loves dear Israel — 
 He stood here and wept over Jerusalem. BeHeve, 
 believe, oh do beheve in Jesus !' Sobs stopped his 
 voice, and Alick would have raised him, but Da 
 Costa had thrown his arm over him, and held him 
 fast. The child's soft face was resting on his shoulder, 
 one little hand raised in supplication; and by an 
 effort he suppressed his sobs, and said very earnestly, 
 ' You can't think what a loving Saviour he is : you 
 don't see him; but when they stoned Stephen some- 
 where hereabouts, he looked up, and saw Jesus stand- 
 ing at the right hand of God.' Da Costa suddenly 
 raised his eyes, with a look — a gaze towards heaven, 
 so eager, so expecting, that Alick was electrified. 
 Charley went on: 'You can't do without a sacrifice ; 
 and see, the naughty Turks have got the temple, 
 there, and shut you out, and you can't sacrifice a 
 lamb, nor a bull; but here the Lord stood after he 
 had sacrificed himself^ and ascended up on high; and 
 
403 
 
 He will come again, He will, He will, the King of 
 Israel — and He is the God of our salvation.' Da 
 Costa's eyes remained fixed, but one more gleam of 
 brightness flashed across them; he extended his arms, 
 and ejaculating the word ^Come!' departed. 
 
 ' Many months after this occurred, a large party of 
 English naval officers, with several wealthy merchants 
 and travellers, were assembled at one of the principal 
 sea-ports of the Mediterranean, while within view rode 
 the gallant ship that had conveyed the Cohens out. 
 It was a royal fete-day, and the proud standard of 
 England streamed not only from the mast-heads of 
 her various vessels, but also from a rampart, so near 
 the foot of which their hotel stood, that every fresh 
 gust from the sea caused a portion of the broad ban- 
 ner to sweep before the open window of that spacious 
 apartment. It was no riotous assemblage of intem- 
 perate men, but a hospitable farewell entertainment 
 given by some of the most respectable inhabitants to 
 their departing friends. The last glass was filled ; 
 and as at that moment the bold flag was driven well- 
 nigh over the head of the president, he turned round, 
 and playfully saluting it, gave the ' Lion of England.' 
 Heartily, cheerily, was the sentiment welcomed ; and 
 one among the company rose, his youthful cheek glow- 
 ing with emotion, and his figure expanding with the 
 conscious importance of his theme. ' May the most 
 insignificant, and perhaps the youngest of this assem- 
 blage, presume to rise uncalled, and respond to such 
 a sentiment ? Yes ; for I represent a nation whose 
 symbol is identical with your own, whose children are 
 intermingled with your population, one with you, yet 
 
404 judah's lion. 
 
 ever distinct, and to be more distinct and more distin- 
 guished still, as I confidently believe, through the in- 
 strumentality of England. I am a Jew ; a year since 
 I first vi^ent on board yonder ship, devotedly English, 
 but towards my own people indifferent, or worse. 
 That standard. Gentlemen, that pictured lion now 
 floating over the wave, was the means of making me 
 indeed a Jew. Possessed with the belief, that in- 
 cluded in your escutcheon was the Lion of the tribe 
 of Judah, I gave myself to searching the Scriptures 
 for information respecting Judah's Lion ; and by Di- 
 vine mercy I found him indeed ; found him in the 
 Lamb that was slain.' He paused, almost overcome ; 
 but a burst of delighted encouragement from his 
 friendly auditors, induced him to proceed. ' Becom- 
 ing a Christian, do I cease to be a Jew ? God forbid ! 
 I turn to you, the inheritors of that faith which my 
 fathers first proclaimed to the Gentiles, and I tell you 
 that the noblest cause your unconquered lion can 
 espouse, is that of my people, God's offending outcast, 
 but still beloved Israel. I have trod these Eastern 
 shores ; I have wept over the desolations of Jerusalem, 
 I have visited the fallen cities of Judah, I have trod- 
 den the lofty steeps of Lebanon ; tasted the refreshing 
 streams of Jordan, sailed across the lake Gennesaret, 
 and sought out in every corner of the land the few 
 scattered remnants of her ancient tribes who linger 
 aniong kindred ruins. I have explored the country, 
 with a view to testing its present capabilities of repay- 
 ing such labour and capital as might be bestowed on 
 it, without any reference to the promise of renewed 
 fertility, a miraculous gift to be hereafter conferred by 
 
405 
 
 the God of Israel, when He shall Himself arise on be- 
 half of his pardoned people. I speak of what I know, 
 when I assert, that Judea, having enjoyed her sab- 
 baths, is even now prepared to yield a thousand-fold 
 return to the patient cultivator. I speak of what is 
 certain, when I say, that the path opens before us, for 
 restoring, according to the sure word of prophecy, the 
 dispersed of Judah to their inheritance ; and I appeal 
 to you, to bear it ever in mind, that each successive 
 event of these marvellous days, is tending to that is- 
 sue. I ask you to watch ; to seize every occasion of 
 facilitating our return ; not for our sakes, but for your 
 own. God's purposes towards us cannot fail, though 
 the whole world were banded together against us ; but 
 I love England, I desire to see her noble lion supreme 
 among the nations ; and to insure this, I would see 
 him ever closely allied to the Lion of Judah. As 
 Christian men, you are bound to love the beloved of 
 the Lord's soul, whom he hath indeed given for a time 
 into the hands of her enemies, but towards whom He 
 purposes most glorious things, to His own eternal 
 praise. We gave you the Bible, there is not in that 
 sacred volume a hne not written by a Jew ; — search, 
 then, in its pages, for the record of God's everlasting 
 love to us, and grasp the blessing sealed to those who 
 bless his Israel. • One portion of that record I will re- 
 peat : — " Behold, I will gather them out of all coun- 
 tries whither I have driven them in mine anger, and 
 in my fury, and in great wrath ; and I will bring them 
 again into this place, and I will cause them to dwell 
 safely, and they shall be my people, and I will be 
 their God ; and I will give them one heart and one 
 
406 
 
 way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of 
 them, and of their children after them : and I will 
 make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will 
 not turn away from them to do them good : but I will 
 put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart 
 from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them 
 good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly, 
 with my whole heart, and with my whole soul. For 
 thus saith the Lord, Like as I have brought all this 
 great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them 
 all the good that I have promised them." This is 
 our charter ; on this covenant we rely, and may it be 
 England's privilege, to labour in our cause, that she 
 may rejoice in our joy, when our tribes shall assemble, 
 and our cities be built, and the land of Israel rest in 
 imbroken peace, under the sure shadow of Judah's Al- 
 mighty Lion ; — for unto Him shall the Gentiles seek, 
 AND His rest shall be glorious !' 
 
 THE END. 
 
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