On the journey to Babylon, nothing of note transpired. The royal
captives continued to receive peculiar marks of attention and very
clear demonstrations of regard. They readily and justly concluded that
all this originated in the generous heart of Barzello; and thus he
became more and more endeared to them.
The King of the Chaldeans’ return to Babylon, at the head of his
victorious army, was hailed with loud acclamations of joy. The great
capital of his extensive empire was filled to overflowing with exulting
thousands, to welcome the victorious monarch from a brilliant campaign.
Proud banners floated in triumph on the high turrets, while a thousand
minstrels filled the air with their high-sounding melody.
Nebuchadnezzar was as yet but a young monarch. He spared no pains to
render himself acceptable to his people, by a worthy deportment and a
liberal encouragement of all improvements throughout his realm, and
especially within the city of Babylon. At this period, he was greatly
beloved by his subjects, and his popularity was plainly visible in the
unbounded welcome with which he was received and escorted to the royal
palace.
Not far from the king’s palace stood a splendid mansion of broad and
lofty dimensions. Within the enclosures, everything was arranged with
faultless taste. In front, large beds of roses unveiled their charms,
and sent forth their sweet fragrance. Each side was well ornamented
with shrubbery, and the rear beautified with a garden abundantly filled
with delicious fruits. With the permission of the reader, we will now
enter. In a richly-furnished apartment within this noble edifice, sat a
man of commanding exterior, attired in rich, military official costume.
Caressingly on his bosom leaned a young damsel, over whose head sixteen
summers might have gently rolled. Joy and gladness beamed in every
feature of her lovely countenance.
“Oh, happy day! Father is home again! Jupheena will now be happy. The
time of thy absence seemed long and dreary; but thou art back again in
our happy home!”
“Yea, my child, I am really home again, and am happy to find my sweet
Jupheena as well and as sprightly as ever.”
“But my dear father has happily returned sooner than we expected; thy
stay in Egypt was but short.”
“Short, indeed, my daughter. Pharaoh-Necho, when he saw our powerful
legions, soon came to terms of peace; and in this I admire his wisdom.
From Egypt, we marched into the capital of Judah, and gained an
entrance without resistance.
“My stay in Jerusalem, thou knowest, was but short, and my facilities
for observation were not very favorable; but owing to peculiar
circumstances, I became partially acquainted with those in Judah who
left deep and happy impressions on my mind. I found a few young men of
the kingly line, who, in my opinion, were far superior in mind to any I
ever had the pleasure of beholding.”
“Dear father! that is saying much. Then they must have been very
different from their royal relation, of whom thou speakest.”
“Thou hast well said, my daughter. Happy would it have been for that
distracted nation if one of those youths had graced the throne of
Judah, instead of the profligate Jehoiakim.”
“Then it appears, surely,” said the daughter smilingly, “that true
excellence and superiority are not confined to Chaldea. But I hear
nothing in praise of Judah’s _maidens_.”
“The maidens of Judah are fair—some of them exceedingly fair. Thou wilt
wonder, perhaps, to hear that the peculiar grace and artless eloquence
of one of these maids of Judah so affected thy father’s heart, that he
could not refrain from shedding tears.”
“And have these interesting captives arrived in the city?”
“Yea, my daughter, they are already in Babylon.”
“And shall not thy daughter have the pleasure of seeing this orphan
maid of Judah?”
“Yea, verily! this day thou shalt see her; and if thou art well pleased
with her and with her society, she may be an inmate of my house, and a
companion for my daughter.”
“But can the young maiden converse in Chaldee?”
“She speaks our language, my daughter, with a degree of fluency that is
really astonishing. It is evident that her attainments are quite
superior, and that all the advantages which Judah’s capital could
afford have been lavished upon her.”
“Oh! it will be delightful to learn beautiful stories of other lands,
and have such a sweet and lovely creature for my companion; I am almost
impatient to see her.”
“I will have her conveyed hither without delay. If I mistake not, the
maiden will be delighted to tarry under the roof of one whom she calls
her ‘bountiful benefactor.’ Thy father will now leave for a short
season, to attend to some business matters of importance. In two hours
I return.” And kissing his sweet Jupheena, the soldier hurried out of
the apartment. A chariot stood ready at his door, into which he
stepped, and was hurried away to another part of the city.