herconsciencefeltsatisfiedonthisquestion,andshefounditacomforttoher,thatonthechristiansabbathshecouldhaveanhourforherownprayersundisturbed.themusicandsingingofthecongregationsoundedinherearswhileatworkinherkitchen,tilltheplaceitselfbecamesacredtoher.thenshewouldreadintheoldtestament,thattreasureandcomforttoherpeople,anditwasindeedtheonlyscripturesshecouldread.faithfullyinherinmostthoughtshadshekeptthewordsofherfathertoherteacherwhenshelefttheschool,andthevowhehadmadetoherdyingmotherthatsheshouldneverreceivechristianbaptism.thenewtestamentmustremaintoherasealedbook,andyetsheknewagreatdealofitsteaching,andthesoundofthegospeltruthsstilllingeredamongtherecollectionsofherchildhood.

oneeveningshewassittinginacornerofthedining-room,whilehermasterreadaloud.itwasnotthegospelheread,butanoldstory-book;thereforeshemightstayandlistentohim.thestoryrelatedthatahungarianknight,whohadbeentakenprisonerbyaturkishpasha,wasmostcruellytreatedbyhim.hecausedhimtobeyokedwithhisoxentotheplough,anddrivenwithblowsfromthewhiptillthebloodflowed,andhealmostsunkwithexhaustionandfaithfulwifeoftheknightathomegaveupallherjewels,mortgagedhercastleandland,andhisfriendsraisedlargesumstomakeuptheransomdemandedforhisrelease,whichwasmostenormouslyhigh.itwascollectedatlast,andtheknightreleasedfromslaveryandmisery.sickandexhausted,hereachedhome.

erelongcameanothersummonstoastrugglewiththefoesofchristianity.thestilllivingknightheardthesound;hecouldendurenomore,hehadneitherpeacenorrest.hecausedhimselftobeliftedonhiswar-horse;thecolorcameintohischeeks,andhisstrengthreturnedtohimagainashewentforthtobattleandtovictory.theverysamepashawhohadyokedhimtotheplough,becamehisprisoner,andwasdraggedtoadungeoninthecastle.butanhourhadscarcelypassed,whentheknightstoodbeforethecaptivepasha,andinquired,"whatdoyousupposeawaiteththee?"

"iknow,"repliedthepasha;"retribution."

"yes,theretributionofachristian,"repliedtheknight."theteachingofchrist,theteacher,commandsustoforgiveourenemies,toloveourneighbors;forgodislove.departinpeace:returntothyhome.igivetheebacktothylovedones.butinfuturebemildandhumanetoallwhoareintrouble."

thentheprisonerburstintotears,andexclaimed,"ohhowcouldiimaginesuchmercyandforgiveness!iexpectedpainandtorment.itseemedtomesosurethatitookpoison,whichisecretlycarriedaboutme;andinafewhoursitseffectswilldestroyme.imustdie!nothingcansaveme!butbeforeidie,explaintometheteachingwhichissofullofloveandmercy,sogreatandgod-like.oh,thatimayhearhisteaching,anddieachristian!"andhisprayerwasgranted.

thiswasthelegendwhichthemasterreadoutoftheoldstory-book.everyoneinthehousewhowaspresentlistened,andsharedthepleasure;butsarah,thejewishgirl,sittingsostillinacorner,feltherheartburnwithexcitement.greattearscameintohershiningdarkeyes;andwiththesamegentlepietywithwhichshehadoncelistenedtothegospelwhilesittingontheformatschool,shefeltitsgrandeurnow,andthetearsrolleddownhercheeks.thenthelastwordsofherdyingmotherrosebeforeher,"letnotmychildbecomeachristian;"andwiththemsoundedinherheartthewordsofthelaw,"honorthyfatherandthymother."

"iamnotadmittedamongthechristians,"shesaid;"theymockmeasajewishgirl;theneighbors'boysdidsolastsundaywhenistoodlookinginthroughtheopenchurchdooratthecandlesburningonthealtar,andlisteningtothesinging.eversinceisatontheschool-benchihavefeltthepowerofchristianity;apowerwhich,likeasunbeam,streamsintomyheart,howevercloselyimayclosemyeyesagainstit.butiwillnotgrievethee,mymother,inthygrave.iwillnotbeunfaithfultomyfather'svow.iwillnotreadthebibleofthechristian.ihavethegodofmyfathers,andinhimiwilltrust."

andagainyearspassedby.sarah'smasterdied,andhiswidowfoundherselfinsuchreducedcircumstancesthatshewishedtodismissherservantmaid;butsarahrefusedtoleavethehouse,andshebecameatruesupportintimeoftrouble,andkeptthehouseholdtogetherbyworkingtilllateatnight,withherbusyhands,toearntheirdailybread.notarelativecameforwardtoassistthem,andthewidowwasconfinedtoasickbedformonthsandgrewweakerfromdaytoday.sarahworkedhard,butcontrivedtosparetimetoamuseherandwatchbythesickbed.shewasgentleandpious,anangelofblessinginthathouseofpoverty.

"mybibleliesonthetableyonder,"saidthesickwomanonedaytosarah."readmesomethingfromit;thenightappearssolong,andmyspiritthirststohearthewordofgod."

andsarahbowedherhead.shetookthebook,andfoldedherhandoverthebibleofthechristians,andatlastopenedit,andreadtothesickwoman.tearsstoodinhereyesassheread,andtheyshonewithbrightness,forinherheartitwaslight.

"mother,"shemurmured,"thychildmaynotreceivechristianbaptism,norbeadmittedintothecongregationofchristianuhastsowilledit,andiwillrespectthycommand.wearethereforestillunitedhereonearth;butinthenextworldtherewillbeahigherunion,evenwithgodhimself,wholeadsandguideshispeopletilldeath.hecamedownfromheaventoearthtosufferforus,thatweshouldbringforththefruitsofrepentance.iunderstanditnow.iknownothowilearntthistruth,unlessitisthroughthenameofchrist."yetshetrembledasshepronouncedtheholyname.shestruggledagainsttheseconvictionsofthetruthofchristianityforsomedays,tilloneeveningwhilewatchinghermistressshewassuddenlytakenveryill;herlimbstotteredunderher,andshesankfaintingbythebedsideofthesickwoman.

"poorsarah,"saidtheneighbors;"sheisovercomewithhardworkandnightwatching."andthentheycarriedhertothehospitalforthesickpoor.thereshedied;andtheyborehertoherresting-placeintheearth,butnottothechurchyardofthechristians.therewasnoplaceforthejewishgirl;buttheydugagraveforheroutsidethewall.andgod'ssun,whichshinesuponthegravesofthechurchyardofthechristians,alsothrowsitsbeamsonthegraveofthejewishmaidenbeyondthewall.andwhenthepsalmsofthechristianssoundacrossthechurchyard,theirechoreachesherlonelyresting-place;andshewhosleepstherewillbecountedworthyattheresurrection,throughthenameofchristthelord,whosaidtohisdisciples,"johnbaptizedyouwithwater,butiwillbaptizeyouwiththeholyghost."

theend.

1872