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king for a decree, representing the Jews to be a worthless race of outcasts-of different religion-difficult to govern, having no union, no alliance with the Persians, and a stain and blot upon the national escutcheon; and to fix the wavering policy of the king, particularly in losing subjects who produced revenue, he promised the king ten thousand talents of silver, upwards of nine millions of dollars. The king, without reflection, without inquiry, without the caution and deliberation due to so important and sanguinary a measure, gave his signet ring to Haman to affix to the decree, and the fate of all Israel was sealed-all we might say, because there were but few remaining at Jerusalem, and they were without a home or a temple. The decree went forth "to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, on one day, even on the thirteenth day of Adar, and all the spoils were to go into the king's coffers." This was a thunderbolt to the poor Jews-they had done no wrong, they were peaceable and industrious-always kind and obedient to the laws, and yet were singled out for sacrifice. Well, indeed, might the inspired historian say, on issuing the decree," The city of Shusan was perplexed." "The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shusan was perplexed," and in all the provinces there was fasting, wailing, weeping, sackcloth and ashes. How this cruel edict fell on Mordecai, we can readily imagine.

He had been the cause-the innocent cause, of this intended destruction of his people; his refusal to bow before Haman had been revenged by this sanguinary edict. What was to be done? He was in agony of grief-he rent his clothes-dressed himself in sackcloth-went round the city, bewailing, "crying with a loud and bitter cry," until he reached the palace, and there he sat, the picture of misery and despair. Queen Esther, on hearing of it, was exceedingly grieved, and sent a confidential messenger to know what had troubled him, and another dress for him to wear instead of his tattered clothes. He refused to be comforted, and informed the messenger of the whole nature of the cruel decree, and he demanded that Esther should interpose with the king, to save the life of her people.

Never was a woman placed in a position so delicate and embarrassing. She knew that a decree of Persia could not be recalled. She knew that by the laws, she did not dare present herself before the king to ask a favor, unless he first had touched her with his sceptre in token of confidence and love. The king also had allowed her to remain in her own apartments for thirty days-besides, Mordecai, her father, had commanded her to conceal from the king that she was a Jewess, and now his orders were to confess the fact, and pray for the lives of her people;

what was to be done in this dire extremity? Mordecai saw, at once, the difficulty of her position, but he was determined to overcome every obstacle.

He had asked nothing for himself-his child was queen, yet he sat at the king's gate as usual, as an humble porter; he wanted to 'save Israel from slaughter, and she must, under Providence, be the instrument. Again he urges her interference-animates her to action, appeals to her heroism, her duty-nay even to her fears, "Think not," said he, "within thyself that thou shall escape in the king's house more than all the Jews;" and after presenting the subject to her in every possible form, he says to her solemnly and emphatically, "If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall their enlargement and deliverance arise from another place, but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed." Here was a touching appeal-sufficiently powerful to overcome the timid fears of any woman. In a moment her resolution was taken; she determined to save her people. "Go," said she to Mordecai, "gather together all the Jews that are at present in Shusan, and fast ye for me. I also, and my maidens, will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law, and if I perish, I perish." How calm, how pious, how firm! Fast and pray with me in this dreadful extremity, and then I will venture to make the fearful request of the king, and if I perish, why I perish. From fasting and prayer, and inward meditation, come faith and consolation-she felt all its influence, and was buoyed up with the hope of success. Never, to our recollection, was any measure, any important step managed with so much skill and diplomacy, as Esther managed to render this frightful decree null and void. With an aching heart, but with a joyful countenance, she entered the royal presence as a suppliant.

Although uncalled for, although separated from her for some days, he could not behold her beauty, her modest deportment, her suppliant position unmoved, but holding out the sceptre to her, the sign of royal protection, he said in a voice mild and benignant, "What wilt thou, queen Esther, and what is thy request? It shall be given thee even to the half of the kingdom." Here were delightful, soothing words of encouragement, of hope, of confidence. Another woman, on the moment, would have fallen at the feet of the king, and asked for the revocation of the frightful decree against the lives of her people; her heart would have poured forth its grief, and she would have communicated to the king all she wished, all she feared. But Esther was too politic-she had too much tact and address to lay herself open by this course to a refusal-she knew that women had no right to interfere in affairs of state, and she had great reason to apprehend that the king

might answer, Take half my kingdom, gold and jewels of countless value, but thou knowest, queen Esther, that the decrees of the Medes and Persians alter not. This would have been too heavy for endurance; she did not therefore rashly put to sea in a frail bark, with all the kindness and encouragement of the king's manner, but simply asked the favor of the king and Haman honoring a banquet with their presence, which she intended to give.

Who could refuse a request so reasonable, so desirable, so agreeable? It was granted; the king accepted the invitation for the ensuing day. Haman, the prime minister, should also come, and Esther retired, rejoiced that thus far her plans had succeeded. Words could not describe the joy of Haman when the invitation and commands of the king were sent to him. To attend a banquet given by queen Esther to the king, to be the only guest invited, where was his power, his honor to extend? Overjoyed at his good fortune, he left the palace for his own house, but at the gate there sat Mordecai, again unmoved, and "when Haman saw Mordecai, in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai," and repaired forthwith to his house, called a council with his wife, Zeresh, and friends, and portrayed all his power, his wealth and influence, the high honor destined him by the queen, but what were riches, honor, power? "All this," said he, "availeth me nothing so long as 1 see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting at the king's gate."

The whole nation was to be destroyed in twelve months, but hatred and revenge called for an immediate object-the delay was too great, and a victim was forthwith required; it was Mordecai, and the wife of Haman and his friends counselled him to make a gallows fifty cubits in height, and demand of the King his consent that Mordecai be executed thereon, and he did order that gallows to be so erected. While this revengeful and cruel plan was devising, the hand of Providence was directed towards the preservation of Mordecai, and the downfall of his implacable enemy. The King was restless and perturbed. On that night the King could not sleep, and on calling for the chronicles of Persia, they read the record of Mordecai's services in detecting treason, and saving the King's life. Struck with the injustice done to him, he soon ascertained that neither riches nor honor had been conferred on Mordecai, and at that time the King asked, Who stands in the court? and the servants answered, Haman standeth in the court. He came to solicit the permission of the King to hang Mordecai, at the very moment the King was reflecting how he could reward him for his fidelity.

When Haman stood before the King, he said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honor?

Self-esteem and vanity made up a great portion of Haman's character, and believing that he alone deserved the highest honor from the King, he answered unhesitatingly, "Let him be clad in royal apparel, with the royal crown upon his head, set him on the King's horse, lead him through the streets of the city, and proclaim, thus shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honor." We can imagine the rage and disappointment of Haman when the King said, "Do even so to Mordecai, the Jew, who sitteth at the King's gate." There was no evasion, no escape from this degradation this bitter disappointment, and he led Mordecai throughout the city in triumph, and then returned in grief and anguish to his own house, and in the midst of this grief and mortified pride, orders came from the Queen to attend the banquet to which he had been especially invited. He was in no frame of mind to enjoy this royal festival, but there was no avoiding it, and he went with the chamberlains; "so the King and Haman came to the banquet with Esther, the Queen." This banquet, or rather this private festival-this confidential meeting to which Haman had been invited, was the time and place intended by the Queen to make the request she had contemplated making of the King, and he remembered it-demanded to know her will, to express her wishes, to speak her desires-she should have it, yea even to the half of the kingdom. What then must have been his emotions when he saw Queen Esther prostrate at his feet, with uplifted hands and streaming eyes, saying, "If 1 have found favor in thy sight, O King, and if it please the King, let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request." What must have been his amazement at hearing these words! "Ask thy life ?-thy life in danger?-thy people-what people-what danger threatens thee?" Such must have been the thoughts of the King, while Esther proceeded in an impassioned agony of grief-" For we are sold, I and my people-to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish."

The King at once saw that some dark plot, some foul conspiracy had been set on foot, and hastily demanded, "Who is he, and where is he, who durst presume in his heart to do this?" We can imagine, better than describe the horror of Haman, when the Queen, rising in all her majesty, and pointing expressively and indignantly at the prime minister, the great counsellor of the King, exclaimed, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman."

The truth flashed upon him at once. Esther was a Jewess, and it was her people that Haman intended to have destroyed. The King rose from the banquet, and darting fierce glances at the wicked minister, rushed into the garden for air and reflection. It was then that " Haman stood up to make a request for

his life to Esther the Queen, for he saw that evil was determined against him," and such was his terror and agony-his apprehension and aberration of mind, that he threw himself on her couch as the King entered enraged against him, and the attendants muffled Haman's face as a doomed man, and hurried him out of the presence.

The sequel is known; "they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai," the Israelites were allowed to defend themselves on the fatal day, and they destroyed those who went against them-the city of Shushan was rejoiced-the Lord had again saved his people.

Every circumstance in this eventful and interesting history carries with it its moral. We see virtue triumphant, and vice punished-error defeated, and tyranny destroyed. Honor is for ever due to Queen Esther. Religion and history have consecrated her in the hearts of her people-her firmness and consistency, her truth, piety and courage, are examples of the purest, the highest character, even to the present age in which we live.

THE RAVEN.

BY EDGAR A. POE.

ONCE upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-

Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;-vainly I had tried to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow-sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lencre-

Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me-filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door-
Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door ;-

That it is, and nothing more."

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