salem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he
sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold,
and with goods, and with beasts, besides the free-will offering for the
house of God that is in Jerusalem."

This proclamation was received by the captive Jews with gladness and
great joy. Measures were immediately put forth for the accomplishment of
the enterprise; the king, in the meantime, continuing to give every
encouragement to these measures, in the firm conviction that he was under
peculiar guidance of the God of heaven.

. . . . . . .

A brighter day never dawned on the plains of Judah. The brilliant rays of
the morning sun were seen flashing upwards from behind Mount Zion, like
so many messengers in uniform, proclaiming the near approach of their
sovereign master. Presently, the great regent of day himself, in slow and
silent majesty, made his appearance, and once more smiled on the City of
the Great King. At an early hour, multitudes were seen pouring into the
city, from east, west, north, and south, and on each countenance might
have been read a degree of excitement and animation. This was the
twenty-fourth day of the second month, in the second year after the
return from Babylon; and on this day was to be laid the foundation of the
temple of the Lord. This was well understood throughout the land; and we
wonder not that from cities and villages, from hill and valley, the
emancipated Hebrews hastened by thousands to witness a scene at the
thought of which their hearts throbbed with intense emotions. By the
sixth hour the great multitudes had congregated to witness the solemn and
joyful ceremony. There stood the priests, with their long, flowing robes,
with trumpets in their hands. There, also, stood the Levites, and the
sons of Asaph, with cymbals to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of
David, king of Israel. The builders had laid the foundation. Then the
trumpets were blown, and the sons of Asaph struck their cymbals. Songs of
praise ascended on high, and they gave thanks unto the Lord.

The ceremony was over. The concourse was dismissed, under the benediction
of the priests, and the masses moved homeward in all directions.

Two chariots of magnificent appearance, drawn by beautiful steeds, were
seen leaving the ground. They drew much attention from the crowd, as they
leisurely drove through the winding streets of Jerusalem. At la