empty handed; that she would give him "of her flock, and of her barn, and of her winepress, of all in which the Lord her God had blessed her," as the Lord had commanded by Moses in the law.* But Sallu replied, "Nay but I will remain with thee: it is best for me to be here." The elders had now arrived.

"This youth," said one of them, "will be a servant of thy house. Come together to the gate."

The elders, with Helon, his mother, and Sallu, went through the covered way, as far as the gate which opened to the outer court. Sallu stood beside the gate-posts. The elder asked him, "Wilt thou not leave Helon?" Sallu replied, "I will not leave him; for I love him and his house." Then Helon took an awl, and piercing his ears against the door-post, made him his servant for ever. The elders pronounced a blessing, and Helon put a ring through the ears of Sallu, as a sign that he was become his property. The youth bounded for joy, and exclaimed, "I have bought thee

* Deut. xv. 14,

with my blood. Wilt thou not now take me with thee to the Holy Land ?" "Go," said Helon, "to look after the camels, and prepare thyself for the journey."

The mother invited the elders to partake of the farewell supper with her and her son, at which Elisama was also to be present. They consented, and went back with her into the inner court (the Thavech.) Helon remained awhile behind, to inspect the preparations for the journey. The slaves were equipping three statel ydromedaries, which, young, high-spirited, and fleet, deserved the name of ships of the desert. They had taken a long draught at the well, while the slaves laid in order the baggage which contained the food and clothing of the travellers, and presents for their host in Jerusalem. In the east, the expressions of friendship were made by deeds rather than by words, and the travellers destined for their host costly caftans, Egyptian linen, a robe of thread of gold, and some books written on papyrus. The camels, kneeling down, received the burthen on their backs.

Helon's uncle, Elisama, who was to be his guide on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, arrived, examined the preparations, and appointed to the slaves the hour of departure. Helon and he then went together into the inner court, where the elders were sitting under the palms beside the fountain, and enjoying the refreshing coolness of the evening. This inner court, around whose sides ran a portico and a gallery, was paved with green, white, yellow, and black marble. An awning of various colours was stretched over it to shelter from the burning rays of the sun; and in the middle was the fountain with its lofty palms. In Alexandria, as in the east generally, this was the place for the reception of visitors.

The meal was prepared, and the elders arose from beside the fountain to place themselves on cushions around the table. A venerable man with hoary locks took the place of honour, the middle place, on the middle cushion. The seven-branched lamp shed a bright light around, from its one and twenty flames. The slaves had strewed the table, the cushions, and the

floor with the flowers of spring. Sallu came with a silver basin, poured water on the hands of the guests, and when he had wiped them sprinkled on them the fragrant nard. The most delicate productions of fertile Egypt were served up; among which the mother had not forgotten the fish of the Nile, that her son might taste them once more before his departure. Helon lay before Elisama, or, as it was called in the east, in his bosom.

Elisama, acting as father of the house, blessed the bread. He spread both his hands over it, and said, "Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, King of the world, who causest bread to grow out of the earth;" and the rest answered "Amen." As this was an entertainment, the wine also was blessed. Elisama took the cup with both hands, then holding it with the right, at the height of a yard above the table, he praised the Lord and said, "Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, who hast given unto us the fruit of the vine;" and the rest again replied, "Amen." The bread and wine were blessed with both hands, that the fingers might be a

remembrance of the number of the commandments. This done, he repeated the twentythird Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,
He leadeth me beside the soft flowing waters,
He refresheth my soul,

He leadeth me in the straight path

For his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of

death,

I fear no evil, for thou art with me;

Thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Thou preparest a table for me
In the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy follow me all my life,

I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

This was the prayer with which the festive meal was usually hallowed in Israel.

The guests

helped themselves and enjoyed the feast. When the last dish was removed, Elisama began: "It is long since I repeated that beautiful psalm, with such a feeling of devotion as to-day. One might think that it had been written expressly for the feast on the evening before our departure for