72. THE DREAM.

BESIDE the waters of Babylon there dwelt, at the time of the captivity, an Israelite, named Uri, with his wife and children-an upright man; but the spirit of murmuring and discontent had come upon him: for he found fault with God, because he had forsaken his people, and said: Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him, and what profiteth it us to call upon his name? Uri moreover doubted the promise whereby the Lord cheered the captives, by the lips of the prophets, and said: Who will deliver us from the hand of the mighty? It is not possible. Therein Uri did evil, and grieved all those who believed in the Lord, and hoped for the deliverance of Israel. But the Lord had patience with Uri, for the sake of his former righteousness.

One day, when Uri had murmured and complained much on account of the oppression of his countrymen by the stranger, the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon him, and Uri dreamt and had a vision.

It seemed to him that he went forth with his wife and children from Babylon, into his own country, to the mountains of Bethlehem. There he had built a hut under the shade of palms and olive-trees,

and sheep grazed in the pastures round about, and the ears rustled in the corn-fields. Then was his heart filled with joy, and he said to his wife and children: Let us now be of good cheer, for all our sufferings are at an end.

But lo! the sun was suddenly overcast, and the darkness of night succeeded: thunder rent the heavens, and the earth quaked, so that the door-posts and the whole hut shook. Uri hastily laid hold of his wife and children, and led them forth into the field. Scarcely had they arrived there when the house fell with a great crash, and the field shook under their feet, as though the earth were about to open and to swallow them up. Uri, pale and trembling, again caught hold of his wife and children, and fled with them to a rock, which they perceived by the glare of the lightning, and where they sought refuge in order to recover from their fright. The earthquake, however, recommenced more fearfully than ever the earth opened before their eyes-and, O horror! the rock began to sink into the abyss. Wife and children shrieked aloud; but Uri covered his face, saying: We are lost; God himself cannot rescue us from this peril! With these words he awoke. And behold! his wife lay by his side, and his children slept around him; he was still in the

land of Babylon, The Lord be praised, said he, that it was but a dream!

But the Angel of the Lord stood at the foot of his bed, and said: It was I who caused this dream to pass before thee. I touched thy brow, and the moment of awaking hath put an end to thy distress. Fear not, Uri; only believe!

And Uri humbled himself before the Lord, and said: I have sought thorns on grapes, and he believed, comforted his people, and encouraged the brethren. And after these days, Cyrus issued a deeree, that Israel should return into his own land.

73. THE SHEPHERD OF THEKOA.

AMOS, the shepherd, and minstrel of Thekoa, descended from the mountains to Jerusalem, and went forth among the people and sang his sublime hymns. But the people, though he rebuked the sins and the servile spirit of Israel, listened to him with delight. For he sang with energy and sweetness, and clothed severe Truth with the lovely images of simple pastoral life. And his songs penetrated the hearts of the people,

Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, went to

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Amos the shepherd. For he thought in his heart: Amos shall teach me how he composeth his poems, and singeth them so as to gain the hearts of the people. And the priest of Bethel imagined that he should soon surpass the simple swain of Thekoa in the art of song. But Amaziah was not a priest after the heart of God, but a priest of the golden calves, and flattered King Jeroboam, and beguiled the people, in order that he might gratify the lusts of his heart.

He went, therefore, to Amos, and said: Who art thou that speakest in such impressive words, that the multitude give ear unto thee?

Amos answered, and said: I am a shepherd of Thekoa.

Then asked Amaziah: How then hath thy father educated thee, or what school of the prophets hath taught thee the art of song?

Amos answered, and said: I am neither a prophet nor a prophet's son. I have passed the days of my youth in tending my father's flock, and gathering sycamore fruit.

Then said Amaziah in amazement: Who then bestowed on thee the art of song, and taught thee to speak with power?

The Spirit of the Lord, replied Amos.

Tell me, then, said Amaziah, in what temple did he appear to thee, and in what sanctuary hath he manifested himself?

Amos answered, and said: In his sanctuary on the mountain of Thekoa, which extendeth to the uttermost ends of the earth.

Then Amaziah was wroth, and said: Thou speakest in obscure words. I understand thee not. The Spirit, replied Amos, understandeth what is of the Spirit.

But Amaziah comprehended not the words of Amos, the shepherd and bard; for the Spirit of God was not with him. And he went to the king, and said: Amos exciteth sedition against thee, and his words will bring ruin upon the land.

Thus spake Amaziah, for he knew not the spirit which filled Amos. But Amos returned to his mountains.

74. POLYCARP, OR, THE KINGDOM OF TRUTH.

POLYCARP, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, left that city when the persecution began to rage more fiercely, and repaired with Crescens, his faithful