st the
chariots halted in front of a mansion, which had the appearance of having
of late undergone a thorough repair. From one of these chariots alighted
several venerable men, their hair whitened with age. Their whole bearing
gave the beholder to understand that they were persons of distinction.
From the other chariot alighted, first a man of middle age, next a woman
somewhat younger, then an aged man and woman, the latter alighting with
great elasticity of step. The countenance of this lady gave evidence that
it had once been the throne of rare beauty.

"Why looketh my brother so thoughtful and sad on this day of general
rejoicing in Judah?" asked the aged lady, directing her address to one of
those who had alighted from the first chariot.

"I am not sad, sister," replied the brother, "but am thoughtful. And what
thinkest thou my mind dwelt upon?"

"Surely, I cannot tell. Some past scenes in Chaldea, peradventure."

"Nay, sister. But I was thinking that seventy and two years ago this very
night, myself and my two brothers here, accompanied by our beloved
Jeremiah, entered this house, and revealed the sad story of our captivity
to our beloved Perreeza."

"Ah, dear Hananiah! and a dark night of sorrow that proved to your almost
brokenhearted sister."

"But I trust that Jehovah hath overruled the whole in the end to the
glory of his great name," said Mishael.

"Surely he hath!" quickly answered Mathias. "Forever blessed be the
memory of that delightful night when these eyes, at the house of
Barzello, rested on the bright charms of the 'Rose of Sharon.'"

"The rose no longer blooms, Mathias!" answered Perreeza. "It's hues are
faded; and, under the pelting storms of life, its petals have well-nigh
withered."

"The tint may fade, and the petals may wither, but sweeter than ever
shall its fragrance continue to perfume the surrounding air," answered
the husband, his face glowing with pure affection. "In that better
country whither we are going, where flowers never fade, and where roses
forever bloom, the 'Rose of Sharon' shall yet flourish in immortal
beauty."

Mathias, Perreeza and the latter's three brothers had been made almoners
of an immense bequest provided in Joram's will for advancing the
interests of Judah. It was stipulated that the fund should not be
employed until the expiration of seventy years of captivity. Joram
believed, with Daniel and the other distinguished Israelites, that the
captivity would