t home?" Martha asked, as they laid
the box down in the principal room.

"It is gold, mother--gold to be used for the relief of the poor and
distressed, for those who have been made homeless and fatherless in
this war. It was a gift to me, as I will tell you, tomorrow; but I
need not say that I would not touch one penny of it, for it is
Roman gold. But it will place it in our power to do immense good,
among the poor. We had best bury it, just beneath the floor, so
that we can readily get at it when we have need."

"It is a great responsibility, my son," Simon said; "but truly,
there are thousands of homeless and starving families who sought
refuge among the hills, when their towns and villages were
destroyed by the Romans and, with this store of gold, which must be
of great value, truly great things can be done towards relieving
their necessities."

The next morning, John related to his family the various incidents
which had befallen him and Jonas since they had last parted; and
their surprise was unbounded, when he produced the three documents
with which he had been furnished by Titus. The letters, saying that
the favour of Caesar had been bestowed upon John as a token of
admiration, only, for the bravery with which he had fought, and
ordering that all Romans should treat him as one having the favour
and friendship of Titus, gave them unbounded satisfaction. That
appointing him procurator of the whole district bordering the lake
to the east surprised, and almost bewildered them.

"But what are you going to do, my son? Are you goiug to leave us,
and live in a palace, and appear as a Roman officer?"

"I am not thinking of doing that, father," John said, with a smile.
"For myself I would much rather that this dignity had not been
conferred on me by Titus; and I would gladly put this commission,
with its imperial seal, into the fire. But I feel that I cannot do
this, for it gives me great power of doing good to our neighbours.
I shall be able to protect them from all oppression by Roman
soldiers, or by tax gatherers. There is no occasion for me to live
in a palace, or to wear the garments of a Roman official. The
letter of Titus shows that it is to a Jew that he has given this
power, and as a Jew I shall use it.

"While journeying here from Rome, I have thought much over the
matter. At first, I thought of suppressing the order. Then, I felt
that a power of good had been given into my hands; and that I had
no right