The royal captives, on arriving in the city, were conveyed, according
to the strict orders of Barzello, to certain appropriate apartments,
prepared for their reception, and nothing requisite to their comfort
and entertainment was left wanting. On the very first day of their
arrival the God-fearing youths found themselves to be favorites in a
land of strangers. The God in whom they trusted gave them adequate
strength for their peculiar trials. They found themselves in possession
of energy of spirit and courage, that was truly a source of wonderment
to themselves. They thought of friends and home with all the fervor of
pure affection; but it was not accompanied with those painful,
agonizing emotions that are wont to accompany the remembrance of native
land and absent friends; in regard to which state of mind they could
well adopt the language of one of their happiest monarchs: “This is the
Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our sight.”
It was about the ninth hour. The youthful group were seated together.
“Well, cousin,” said Azariah, smiling and looking round the apartment,
“this has more the appearance of being guests of royalty than poor
captives of war.”
“Yea, truly,” replied Daniel; “and in this we clearly see the
loving-kindness of our God, by whom princes rule and kings govern.”
“Our kind friend, Barzello,” said Hananiah, “has promised to call on us
ere the sun sets.”
“And he will certainly fulfill his promise,” said Mishael.
“We have proved him a genuine and a wise counselor,” said Daniel.
“And his loving-kindness shall ever remain deeply graven on our
memories,” said Azariah.
“Perreeza hopes,” said the sister, “that it may be her good providence
to be always near the good man, where she may often see his smiling
face.”
“Our excellent master, under the direction of the King of kings, will
order all things for the best,” said Hananiah.
“Let us always remember the parting admonitions of our good Prophet,”
said Mishael, “and calmly submit our all to the wisdom of the Keeper of
Israel.”
“Even so, amen!” replied the others.
Quick footsteps were heard without. The door opened, and Barzello
entered the apartment. The youths unitedly arose, and bowed low, in
humble token of respect to the noble officer.
[Illustration: Barzello entered the apartment]
“I trust my young friends from Judah find these apartments a
comfortable resting place.”
“Thy servants,” replied Daniel, “are overwhelmed with thy kindness, and
hope, in some sphere, by a true and honest deportment, to be able to
show their benefactor that his kindness is duly appreciated.”
“And how does our young maid of Judah feel after her long journey?”
asked Barzello, as he smilingly approached Perreeza.
“Thy maid of Judah is in good health; and being so well provided for on
her journey, she experienced but a very slight inconvenience.”
“But she must be further provided for. She must have a permanent home
in the vicinity of her brothers. An officer of the king, in the city,
with whom I am well acquainted, having learned something of the history
and deportment of this your sister, would desire her, if not contrary
to her wishes, to be an inmate of his house, and a companion for his
only child—a maiden of sixteen summers. Would this be acceptable to the
young damsel?”
“Abundantly acceptable, most kind Barzello!” said Perreeza. “Thy young
handmaid is ready at any time to do the pleasure of her protector.”
“Then I will accompany thee thither without any delay.”
Perreeza withdrew to another apartment, and in a short time, returned,
attired in her rich native costume, and giving Barzello a sign that she
was ready, they both left the apartment. Soon Perreeza found herself by
the side of her kind friend, in a richly-ornamented chariot, that
hurried them through the wide and busy thoroughfares. Perreeza was
somewhat astonished at the greatness and grandeur of this Gentile
metropolis.
“Your Babylon is truly a great city,” said she.
“The greatest on record. How in thine eye compares its beauty with the
capital of Judah?”
“In the ornamental—in splendid gardens and bubbling fountains—Babylon
surely stands far superior.”
The chariot halted, and Perreeza found herself in front of one of the
most beautiful mansions she had ever beheld.
“And is this the officer’s mansion?” asked Perreeza, gazing with a
degree of astonishment at the great structure.
“Yea, this is it, fair damsel. But thou appearest somewhat embarrassed.
Let the maid of Judah have no fears, for I have every confidence that
she will do well.”
“Is the noble officer at home?” asked the maid, endeavoring to appear
composed.
“He is about the premises, and will soon be in,” replied Barzello, with
a smile.
“What delicious flowers!” cried Perreeza, breathing a little easier.
“Babylon abounds with the like, fair damsel. But come, let us enter,
for the officer’s daughter is in haste to behold the youthful maid from
the land of Judah.”
Barzello ascended those steps of spotless marble, and, with a degree of
freedom that seemed to surprise his young companion, he entered a
spacious apartment, richly furnished and beautifully ornamented, where
Jupheena was ready to receive them, with loving smiles of welcome.
“Jupheena, this is the young maid from the land of Judah, of whom thy
father spoke,” and, directing his language to Perreeza, at the same
time giving Jupheena a glance that was readily understood, he said,
“and, young damsel, this is the officer’s daughter of whom I spoke.”
The two maidens, as if by a magic spell, were drawn to each other’s
arms.
“I shall leave you for a short period, Jupheena,” said the officer;
“thy father will soon return; when he comes, thou wilt be most happy to
present to him thy young companion,” and Barzello left the apartment,
and thus the two fair ones were left together.
“I am happy to see my young friend from Judah,” said Jupheena. “I have
been deeply affected by thy history, and that of thy noble brothers. I
trust, that in the absence of thy friends, we shall be able to make
thee happy.”
“Since we left our beloved Jerusalem, and even before, we have
experienced naught but kindness from the noble officers of the king,
especially the most excellent Barzello. His sympathies have well-nigh
overwhelmed us, and we shall love him as long as we live, and implore
the blessing of the God of Israel to rest upon his household. Was it
not he that kindly spoke of thy young handmaiden to thy father?”
“I am not aware who it was that first spoke to my father of the maid of
Judah,” replied Jupheena, smiling, “but Barzello, surely, is deeply
interested in thy welfare.”
Barzello again entered, and Perreeza looked for the other officer, but
no other officer was present. Jupheena arose, and, taking her young
companion by the hand, led her to her father.
“Maid of Judah, I have now the pleasure of presenting thee to my own
dear father, the king’s officer, under whose roof I trust thou wilt
find a welcome home.”
“And this is his only daughter, Jupheena, of whom he spoke,” said
Barzello, highly delighted. “I trust the maid of Judah will find her a
pleasant companion.”
Such was the effect of this innocent piece of deception on the mind of
young Perreeza, that all the response she could make, was to fall on
the neck of her young companion, and weep aloud. But those tears were
tears of joy; and those lofty walls were witnesses to the fast falling
of other tears than those shed by the maid of Judah.
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!” cried Perreeza, when partially
recovered, “who hath given me favor in the eyes of this people! May
Jehovah smile upon his servant Barzello, and upon his lovely daughter,
who thus throw open their door to welcome an orphan maid of Israel.”
“Thou shalt find under this roof a welcome home,” said Barzello,
affectionately taking Perreeza by the hand; “in Jupheena thou wilt find
a worthy companion and an affectionate friend.”
“Thy daughter,” answered Jupheena, “will always esteem it a high
pleasure to add to the happiness of her young friend.”
“And Jehovah assisting me,” cried the Hebrew maid, “I will endeavor so
to walk before my kind protectors as to be always worthy of their
friendly regard.”
“If it be pleasing to thy young friend,” said Barzello, addressing
himself to his daughter, “she may be again conducted to inform her
brothers of her new home.”
“My brothers will be overjoyed,” answered Perreeza, “to learn of the
happiness of their sister; and to me, it will afford the greatest
pleasure to convey to them the joyful intelligence.”
“If it will please my daughter,” said Barzello, “she may accompany us.
What sayest thou, Jupheena?”
“Thy daughter most gratefully accepts thy kind offer.”
“Our young friend, peradventure, will be pleased to see her brothers
and cousin without any delay, while Jupheena will accompany her father
on an errand of business at the house of an officer nearby. Thou mayest
inform thy brothers and cousin that we shall call and see them
presently.”
Perreeza embraced the opportunity, and, thanking the officer with one
of her peculiar smiles, hurried to their apartment.
“Back again, precious Perreeza!” cried Azariah, hastening to meet her.
“And did our sister see the king’s officer and his young daughter, of
whom Barzello spoke?”
“I did!” exclaimed his sister, while unusual joy beamed in her
countenance.
“And from thy countenance I am prepared to judge that the interview has
been a happy one,” said her cousin Daniel.
“Never was there a happier interview, cousin. The noble officer’s
kindness is unbounded, and his daughter is one of the loveliest beings
I ever beheld.”
“Perreeza, I trust, will not forget the kindness of Barzello, in the
warmth of her gratitude to her new friend,” said Azariah.
“Never fear that, my dear brother. The remembrance of Barzello’s
kindness is too deeply graven on Perreeza’s heart to be ever forgotten;
and while I remain under the roof of the king’s officer, I shall daily
become more and more deeply indebted to the kind Barzello.”
“It must be that through his kind interposition our beloved sister
found so good a home,” said Mishael, “and if this officer, under whose
roof she has found a shelter, partakes of the spirit of Barzello, her
home must be a happy one. Perreeza, does he appear like unto our noble
friend?”
“The very image of him!” said the sister, laughing heartily. “Now,
brothers and cousin, let Perreeza undeceive you on this point. This
noble officer, whose house is to be my future home, is none other than
our own illustrious Barzello himself. This truth was made known to me
in a way that well-nigh prostrated me. Oh, brothers, is not this
delightful?”
“Praised be Jehovah!” broke from the lips of the youths of Judah.
“For conversation we have but a short time,” said Perreeza; “Barzello
and his lovely Jupheena are below, and will be here in a few moments,
and from hence I accompany them to their home. Hark ye! I hear their
footsteps.”
Barzello, with a smiling countenance, entered the apartment, leading by
the hand his beautiful daughter. Perreeza ran to meet her young
companion, while the four youths were not wanting in appropriate
obeisance to the noble officer; all of which was closely watched by the
smiling young Chaldean maid.
“Have our young friends received any communications from any of the
king’s officers since our last interview?”
“Thy servants have received no communication from any source, since the
departure of their kind friend, about the ninth hour,” answered Daniel.
“To-morrow morning, peradventure, ye shall learn the pleasure of the
king in regard to your future course; and I trust ye will find that our
noble monarch is not wholly unmindful of your former rank and station
in your own land.”
“Permit thy unworthy servants once more,” said Azariah, “to
acknowledge, with grateful hearts, thy kind regards for their beloved
sister, whom thou hast taken as an inmate of thy hospitable mansion.
Perreeza will always delight to do thy pleasure, and to be the obedient
servant of thy amiable young daughter.”
“Your sister, while under my roof, shall not be looked upon in an
inferior light. The chosen companion of my daughter will command due
respect from those in high circles. The maid of Judah need not feel
embarrassed, for her literary attainments will compare favorably with
the most polished maidens of her own age in Babylon. She is not a
_captive_. With the noble feeling of a sister’s heart, and of her own
accord, she accompanied her brothers to a land of strangers. She is as
free as any daughter of Chaldea; and therefore my Jupheena will be
happy to introduce her to her friends in her real character, as a
youthful maid of the royal line of Judah. In thus drawing a line of
distinction between yourselves and your sister, far be it from me to
think that your present relation to our government renders you, in any
_real_ sense, inferior to others—’tis but a name, and will soon be
forgotten; for it is in the power of the king to elevate you, not only
to proper citizenship, but to high rank and prominent stations in the
government.
“Your sister will now accompany us home. Any article she wishes
conveyed thither, shall be sent for without delay. Now, my daughter,
are we ready?”
“All ready, father, unless Perreeza has aught unfinished.”
“I have naught to hinder,” answered Perreeza, with a trembling voice.