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Scripture Bistories.

A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE JEWS AND

QUEEN ESTHER.

JOHN.-In our last conversation, papa, you promised to tell us what book that book was, called the Book of Chronicles. MR. W.-Great care was taken by the Persian government to register every occurrence, however trivial; especially what fell from the king. He was surrounded by scribes (or writers) whose duty was to take note of his words and actions; these people were rarely absent from him, and always were with him in public; they were with him in his festivals, at his reviews of the army; and attended him in the tumult of battle; and registered whatever words fell from him on those occasions; they were equally charged with the registration of edicts and ordinances, which were written in the king's presence, and sealed with his ring, and then dispatched

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by couriers. Such were the sources of the royal journals, or chronicles of Persia, which were deposited in the different capitals of the empire where the king resided-at Babylon, Susa, and Ecbatana.

JOHN.-Thank you, papa.

MR. W.-To return, however, to our story. It appears that at this time the king had a favorite courtier, of the name of Haman, who was an ambitious and wicked man ; every mark of honour and royal favour was bestowed upon this haughty man, to whom all the king's servants about the court were commanded to bow the knee.

All paid him the required homage except Mordecai, the Jew, who refused. This exceedingly enraged Haman; and knowing him to be a Jew, he resolved that not only Mordecai, but his whole raec, should feel the weight of his resentment.

Haman therefore took an opportunity of representing to the king that the Jews were an insolent and lawless people, who, by their religious tenets, embroiled the state, and disturbed the peace of his subjects; that it was not safe to let them live, and that for the good of the empire they ought to be extirpated.

JOHN.-But, papa, the king, who appeared to be so friendly to the Jews, did not believe him?

MR. W.-This wicked favorite possessed such power over the mind of the credulous king, that he implicitly believed him, and gave Haman full power to do as he pleased in the affair.

So he drew up an edict, to which he affixed the king's seal, and peremptorily commanded that on the 13th day of the

12th month, every Jew throughout the Persian dominions should be massacred, without distinction of age or sex.

The publication of this cruel edict, you may imagine, my dear children, threw the Jews into the utmost consternation. They saw no help but in God; for the people, as you remember, were against them. Therefore they implored God's mercy in their prayers.

JOHN.-Did Esther know of this cruel edict, papa?

MR. W.-You shall hear in good time, my dear boy. Mordecai's station did not allow him free access to tell his troubles to Esther. But she was informed he was rending his clothes, and uttering loud and bitter cries, before the gate. She sent Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, to know the cause, and Mordecai gave him a copy of the decree for the destruction of the Jews, to obtain which, Haman had engaged to pay into the king's treasury 10,000 talents of silver-Mordecai desiring her at the same time to show herself unto the king, and make supplication for the people.

Esther, in reply, desired Hatach to tell him, that to go into the inner court without the king's command, was death, except the king should hold out his sceptre in token of his clemency.

Mordecai again replied by the chamberlain, that divine providence had raised her to the crown, that she might be ready to succour her distressed countrymen; that when a whole nation was upon the eve of destruction, she ought to think of saving the lives of her people rather than her own; that if she choose to be silent, God would employ other means for her people's safety.

Esther, who wished well to her people, yielded at last to

his solicitations, and resigned herself to the will of heaven; she only desired that he and the other Jews in Shusan would join with her in prayer for three days; after which time she promised to go to the king, at the risk of her life.

Accordingly, on the third day, she arrayed herself in her royal apparel, took two maids with her, and entered the royal apartment. The king was seated upon his throne, and surprised at her unexpected appearance: he gave her a look which seemed to show displeasure. She almost fainted away upon one of her attendents.

EMMA.-Poor Esther! what a trial it was for her, papa.

MR. W.-Yes, my love, but the king relieved her mind by holding out the golden sceptre, so Esther drew near and touched the top of it. Then the king knowing it must be something of consequence which caused her to break through all the rules of the court, asked what her request was, and further said it should be given her, if it was the half of his kingdom. But all that the modest Esther asked, was, that if it pleased the king, he and Haman would honor her by attending that day the banquet she had prepared; so the king consented, and sent for Haman.

JOHN.-The Queen knew Haman's wicked intentions respecting her people; what made her so honor him, papa ? MR. W.-You shall hear, John; she was not so hasty as you are.

The king and Haman attended the banquet, and when she was again pressed to make her request, all the answer she made was, another request that they would again honor her on the morrow, to which the king again consented.

Then was it that Haman returned to his home in high

spirits, thinking himself firmly seated in the king's favor, and greatly pleased that the queen had so honored him above all subjects; and, being full of himself and his greatness, he was dreadfully mortified when in passing by the king's palace he saw Mordecai sitting at the gate, who took no notice of him whatever; he however restrained his anger at the time, but when he arrived home he complained of it bitterly to his wife and friends. 'Though I am blessed," said he, "with children and wealth-honored by the king-and invited in preference to all others by the queen, yet I consider it nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. Then Zarest, his wife, and his friends, advised him to have a gallows erected, and to solicit from the king an order for his execution next morning, that so he might accompany the king with joy to the queen's banquet. This wicked advice so pleased the bad man, that he immediately put it in execution, and that afternoon had a gibbet erected at his own door.

It happened very singularly that on the very night this had taken place, the king was very restless, and not being able to sleep, he arose and commanded the "Book of the Chronicles," (I have before told you about), to be brought and read to him as a sort of amusement to pass away the time, and as they were reading they came to that place where it was written how Mordecai had discovered the treason of Bigshan and Teresh, the chamberlains, who had sought to take away the king's life, upon which the king asked what reward Mordecai had received for so important a service? and it was answered, none whatever. Now at this time Haman was standing in the outer court, ready to prefer

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