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THE BABE OF THE BULRUSH ARK.

We hope our young readers who have read the "Boys of THE BIBLE," will excuse us in giving this extract from it. We insert this in the hope that those who have not seen the book may be induced to save their money until they can obtain a copy.

*

There was the babe, safe in its mother's arms. Jochebed looked happy, Miriam was delighted, and even little Aaron seemed to share in their joy. The baby was saved, and the tale of its deliverance is now told.

JOCHEBED.

Come, seat thee near me, Amram;
And let me tell thee how this came to pass.
All night I lay in dreadful agony.

Thoughts of my babe and of his coming death
Kept my eyes waking through its tedious hours.
At length I fled for refuge to our God—the God
Of our forefathers. And to him I told

The sorrows of my heart, and prayed his help.
When presently, just ere the morning dawned,
As if the light had come with it from heaven,
I thought me of the wording of the charge-

Cast

every son into the rolling river

And then, oh! was it not from heaven my husband?
I thought how I might save my child alive

And yet obey the edict.

* Published by Winks & Son, Leicester, or Simpkin & Co., London. Price 2s.

AMRAM.

But how, my Jochebed?

How cast thy helpless babe into the river

And yet preserve it?

JOCHEBED.

Thou shalt hear.

I soon contrived the plan. And hence it was That thou didst find me cheerful at thy waking. Yes; quick as lightning did I sketch the picture. In my mind's eye 'twas done, and I felt happy; At least I felt relieved of present fear.

AMRAM.

Go on, and tell me all. What didst thou do?
JOCHEBED.

As soon as thou wert gone I waked up Miriam,
And bade her go and fetch me bulrush stalks;
Of these I formed that little ark, and daubed it,
As thou now see'st, inside and out with pitch
And slime well set; and taking my sweet babe,
I gave him suck. When he had drawn his fill
And sunk in slumber on my arms, I kissed him,
And, with full heart commending him to God,
I laid him in the ark. Miriam and I

Then took our precious charge down to the river, And choosing a right place among the flags,

We laid him on the waters.

AMRAM.

So far 'tis well.

But how preserve him from the crocodiles?

How keep the babe alive? And more than all,
How is it he is here, whilst you and Miriam
Seem to have lost all fear of further danger.
JOCHEBED.

Listen, and I will tell thee, son of Levi.
And when thou hearest thou wilt bless the Lord,
The God of Abraham, for his wondrous mercy.
It was not without trembling I committed
My baby to the waters. But my heart
Trusted in God. On Him, because I knew
He cared for me, I cast all my care.

The monsters of the deep are in his hands,
And he can turn or guide them where he pleaseth.

AMRAM.

All true and good my Jochebed. But how Wouldst thou afford it nourishment?

How shelter it at night secure from danger?

JOCHEBED.

I should have done all that a mother would do. Miriam each day might watch the little darling, And call me when it needed; and at night We might have hidden it as best we could. But well I knew that in all this was danger. And now I tell thee, Amram, that my hopes Of saving my sweet child from further harm Were placed on One of whom thou little thinkest, When on the stream I left him.

AMRAM.

Who could that be?

JOCHEBED.

The Princess.

AMRAM.

Pharaoh's daughter?

JOCHEBED.

Yes: Pharaoh's daughter. Often had I seen
The princess with her maidens pass that way
To wash them in the river. So I watched,
And when I saw them coming from the palace,
I placed my little bark full in their view,
Close by the river's brink. And then I fled

Home to my

house.

AMRAM.

Well: and what then?
JOCHEBED.

Miriam shall tell thee. "Tis a joyful story.

AMRAM.

Come, Miriam, let me hear it. For of joy I have had little lately. Sorrow has been, For many days, the portion of my cup.

MIRIAM.

Dear father, 'tis indeed a joyful story

I have to tell thee! No sooner had you left us
At early sunrise, than my mother told me

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