s."

This officer stood high in the estimation of the king. He was calm,
dignified, and deeply experienced in all things pertaining to the duties
of his office. For a long time he had served as a confidential servant of
the king's father, and was highly honored by young and old at the court.
This dignitary was soon on his way towards the house of his friend
Barzello.

"Good-morning to my friend Ashpenaz," said Barzello, with a welcome
smile.

"And a good-morning to our excellent Barzello," was the hearty response.

"And how do things move on at the palace?"

"Oh, pleasantly. Our young monarch is bent on thorough reform in all
deficient quarters."

"Babylon needs reforming; and may he never pause until the work is
perfected. Long life to our good monarch!"

"Ah! my good Barzello, if all that is to be accomplished, he needs a long
life indeed. But I have but a short time to tarry. The king desires a
number of the royal captives of Judah and Egypt to be placed under proper
instructions to prepare them, after three years' training, to be royal
waiters at the palace. In thy wisdom thou art to select from among them
the most perfect in body and mind, and deliver them over to my charge;
and, according to the orders of his majesty, I shall immediately place
them under suitable teachers."

"This will be attended to without delay," answered Barzello. "Of those
from Egypt, there are quite a number of youths of high origin, and who,
for aught I know, may possess superior powers of mind. I have had no
great facilities to test their capacities. Of those from Judah, there are
only four that I can with confidence recommend to the care and charge of
my worthy friend. These four are noble specimens of humanity--beautiful in
bodily form and complexion, and truly amiable and excellent in mind. I
will assure my worthy friend that, of all the acquaintances I ever formed
among men, and they have been quite numerous in different lands, none
ever impressed me so favorably as these four youths from the land of
Judah. They worship no god but the God of the Hebrews. In this they show
but their faithfulness and their consistency. My worthy friend will
pardon my warmth in speaking of these children, for there are incidents
connected with their history, which I need not now mention, that have
greatly endeared them to thine unworthy friend; and I have no doubt that
thou wilt find them to be all they are recommended to be."

"I have all conf