and when he
learned that others had doubted and asked her how she had preserved her
faith, she showed his letters to him, declaring her eternal trust.

Israel, in misery and captivity, was mocked by the nations; her hopes of
redemption were made a laughing-stock; her sages scoffed at; her holy
men derided. Into her synagogues, into her schools went Israel; she read
the letters which her God had written, and believed in the holy promises
which they contained.

God will in time redeem her; and when He says:--

"How could you alone be faithful of all the mocking nations?"

She will point to the law and answer:--

"Had not Thy law been my delight, I should long since have perished in
my affliction."

* * * * *

When God was about to created man the angels gathered about him. Some of
them opening their lips exclaimed, "Create, O God, a being who shall
praise Thee from earth even as we in heaven sing Thy glory."

But others said:--

"Hear us, Almighty King, create no more! The glorious harmony of the
heavens which Thou hast sent to earth will be by man disturbed,
destroyed."

Then silence fell upon the contesting hosts as the Angel of Mercy
appeared before the throne of grace on bended knees.

Sweet was the voice which said entreatingly:--

"O, Father, create Thou man; make him Thine own noble image. With
heavenly pity will I fill his heart, with sympathy toward every living
thing impress his being; through him will they find cause to praise
Thee."

Then the Angel of Mercy ceased, and the Angel of Peace with tearful eyes
spoke thus:--

"O God, create him not! Thy peace he will disturb, the flow of blood,
will follow sure his coming. Confusion, horror, war, will blot the
earth, and Thou wilt no longer find a pleasant place among Thy works on
earth."

Then spoke in stern tones the Angel of Justice:--

"And Thou wilt judge him, God; he shall be subject to my sway."

The Angel of Truth approached, saying:--

"Cease! O God of truth, with man Thou sendest falsehood to the earth."

Then all were silent, and out of the deep quietness the Divine words
came:--

"Thou, O Truth, shall go to earth with him, and yet remain a denizen of
heaven; 'twixt heaven and earth to float, connecting link between the
two."

* * * * *

It was customary in Bithar when a child was born for the parents to
plant a young cedar tree, to grow up with the infant. It hap