eason that he has hitherto obeyed the
command, he must not now seek to destroy what we have commenced under
the guidance of the Most High. To you, Gabriel, I answer that my son
probably will not tarry among our foes, but obedient to my summons,
will join us, like Uri, the first-born of Hur. What still detains him is
doubtless some important matter of which Hosea will have as little
cause to be ashamed as I, his father. I know and trust him, and whoever
expects aught else will sooner or later, by my son's course of action,
be proved a liar."

Here he paused to push his white hair back from his burning brow and,
as no one contradicted him, he turned to the worker in metals, and added
with cordial friendliness:

"What angered me, Uri, was certainly not your purpose. That is a good
one; but you have measured the greatness and majesty of the God of our
fathers by the standard of the false gods of the Egyptians, who die and
rise again and, as Aaron has just said, represent only minor attributes
of Him who is in all and transcends everything. To serve God, until
Moses taught me a better counsel, I deemed meant to sacrifice an ox, a
lamb, or a goose upon the altar like the Egyptians; but your eyes, as
befell me through Moses, will not be opened to Him who rules the world
and has made us His people, until, like me, you, and all of us, and
probably my son also, shall each have kindled in his own breast the
sacrificial fire which never goes out and consumes everything that does
not relate to Him in love and loyalty, faith and reverence.
Through Moses, His servant, God has promised us the greatest
blessings--deliverance from bondage, the privilege of ruling on our
own land as free men in a beautiful country, our own possession and the
heritage of our children. We are going forth to receive His gift, and
whoever seeks to stop us on our way, whoever urges us to turn and creep
back into the net whose brazen meshes we have burst, advises his people
to run once more like sheep into the fire from which they have escaped.
I am not angry with you; your face shows that you perceive how foolishly
you have erred; but all ye who are here must know that I heard only a
few hours ago from Moses' own lips these words: 'Whoever counsels return
and the making of covenants with the Egyptians, I will denounce as
a scorner of Jehovah our God, and the destroyer and worst foe of his
people!'"

Uri went to the old man, gave him his hand, and deeply con