of night, while hundreds of delighted spectators made
the welkin ring with cheers. They soon reached the wide portals of
Joram's mansion. The charioteers alighted. The bridegroom and bride first
entered, the guests following in regular order. "They that were ready
entered with him into the marriage, and the door was shut."

. . . . . . .

The celebration was over. The company had retired. Quietude was restored.
The Joram family, with one additional gem, was once more left to the
peacefulness of its own mansion. They were all quietly seated. Joram
arose, and slowly approached the old harp, the friend of his early days,
and inspected it with fondness, while the thoughts of other years fast
crowded upon his memory.

"My dear father, and my dear Uncle Esrom!" said Perreeza, smiling, "now
that they are all gone, let us have one dear little song from thee."

"Ah, precious child!" said Esrom, at the same time brushing away a
fugitive tear, "I play so seldom nowadays, I fear I would not appear to
very good advantage among such fine performers."

"Nay, father! but thy playing is far superior to our best performances."

"Well, Perreeza, I will try; but I fear my song will make thee sad."

"Sadness at times, dear father, is far more profitable to the mind than
hilarity."

"True, my daughter! True! We both know it by experience."

The Hebrew took the harp, and, in tones peculiar for their sweetness,
sang a plaintive melody.

CHAPTER XVI.

GREAT success attended the reign of the King of Babylon. His powerful
legions had proved victorious in every clime. In addition to Judea, he
had subjugated Egypt, Syria, Phoenicia, and Arabia. Peace once more was
proclaimed, and the great body of the army was called home. The monarch's
popularity was unbounded, and his praises were loudly trumpeted on the
wings of every breeze, from east to west, and from north to south. The
Chaldean empire rose still higher in glory, while numerous tributaries
continued to pour their streams of gold into its already rich treasuries.

The afternoon was warm and sultry. The king reclined on an easy couch
within a bower, in the palace garden. His mind was occupied with
reflections on the past and thoughts of the future, and thus ran the
soliloquy of the mighty potentate:

"Yea, the years are passing! On looking back they seem but short. But
where has more been accomplished in so short a period? Ah, Ki