"This great army steadily drew nearer and nearer. Do you think the brave soldiers guarding our city trembled with fear as they looked forth from the watch-towers and saw them?"
"Not so, father. A Jew fears nothing."
"You are quite right. But now, let us return to Jerusalem as she stood then. A triple wall, thirty feet high, had been built around the city, except where it was separated from the rest of the country by deep ravines. One wall was quite enough to protect it in such places. Many watch-towers had been set up around the city. It seemed impossible to take it by surprise at any point.
"The temple stood on Mount Moriah in all its glory. But it was not a temple alone. It was also a strong fortress."
"How could the Romans take the city, even if their numbers were so great?" asked Solomon.
"They could never have won, except for one thing. Our people were not wholly united. A party of them under the high priest, Ananus, felt there was no hope. They believed it would be wisest to give up at once and make peace.
"But the others said, 'No, we will fight to the end, and will drive our enemies from the city.' If every one had felt from the first as these did, all would have been well. It was too late when the different parties agreed to work for one end.
"The Romans threw immense stones into the city. They cut down the trees in all the country round, and made towers from which they hoped to fire and destroy the buildings inside the walls.
"They succeeded, for they soon made an opening in the outer wall. Then the second wall gave way before the mighty force. And all this time those Romans, who were stationed across from the city on the Mount of Olives, were throwing such huge stones from their great engines that the houses and people inside Jerusalem were being destroyed, both by day and by night.
"Worse still! they began to lack food and to suffer from starvation. They could not hold out much longer. The time soon came when the last wall was broken down and Titus marched through the streets of the city.
"It was very strange that it was the anniversary of the day when the first temple was destroyed by the soldiers of Babylon.
"'It is on fire! The glorious temple is burning!' cried our people, as they saw the flames. A Roman soldier had kindled the fire without the knowledge of Titus, who had not wished to injure this wonder of the whole world.
"Some of the priests threw themselves into the flames. Before it was destroyed, Titus, with his captains, entered the holy place. The Roman general cried, 'It is more beautiful than I even imagined. Its riches are a perfect marvel.'
"The golden candlesticks and tables and cups, the sweet spices of which the priests made incense, the precious stones, were laid at the feet of the conqueror."
"What did he do with all this wealth?" asked Esther.
"He carried most of it back to Rome. But he rewarded the bravest of his soldiers with crowns of gold and chains of silver.
"He had fought for many days before Jerusalem gave up. In that time the country around us had been ruined. The forests had been cut down for the making of engines of war. The herds of cattle had been killed to furnish food for the army of Titus. The harvests had been gathered for the same purpose. As for the people themselves, more than a million were killed and the rest were made the slaves of the Romans."
"Don't feel bad, papa," said Esther, lovingly. "That was a very long time ago."
"Yes, Esther, but our people have been scattered over the world ever since then. We shall never be happy till we are once more the rulers of this city."
"Mother told me a story, the other day," said Solomon, who had not spoken for a long time. "It was about a family who lived here when Titus appeared before our gates. I think she told it to make me brave."
"What is the story, Solomon?" asked his father.
"There was a brave man in our city. He was of noble blood and true to his faith. He had a faithful wife and seven sons. You shall hear how brave and true they were.
"The Roman army began the terrible siege. Before it was over, the brave noble was killed, but his wife and children lived. After Titus entered the city, he heard of this family. He ordered them to be brought before him.
"As they stood in his presence he spoke to each in turn. He offered them freedom if they would give up their faith and bow down before his gods. But not one of them hesitated. They had not a single thought of giving up their faith in the one living God. No, not for the sake of life.
"One by one they were led away to death. At last, only the youngest son was left before the conqueror. Titus was moved to pity for the beautiful boy. He really wished to save him. He said, 'My child, see! I will drop my ring for the sake of the gods. If thou wilt pick it up, thy life shall be spared.'
"The boy looked up at him firmly. He answered, 'It shall lie there where you dropped it. I am afraid of no living man. I fear only the thought of life without the One God.'"
"Of course, he followed his brothers. But what became of the mother?" asked Esther.
"She begged to die with her sons. She said Abraham had built one altar on which to sacrifice to God. She had built seven! And she spoke truly."
"It is a noble story of noble people," said the children's father. "There were many like them in that old time. Let us hope there are still many in the world."
CHAPTER II
THE GAZELLE
"Shall I help?" asked Solomon.
"Yes, indeed. Take the seeds in the skirts of your coat and come along," was the answer.
Solomon and Esther were visiting some friends in a village near Jerusalem. It was the month of December and the time to plant the crops in Palestine.
"After we have scattered the grain," Solomon's friend Levi said, "the camel shall help us plough the ground. Then the seed will take care of itself."
It did not surprise Solomon to hear of a camel drawing a plough.
Levi's camel was as useful to him as horses are to farmers in America. Solomon and Esther had been at their friend's many times when the great, slow, clumsy animal helped his master about the farm and garden.
"He isn't handsome, but I love the dear old fellow," said Levi. "He is more patient than most camels. I know he is slow beside some of his fellows, but he cannot help that." Levi stroked the camel's head.
"There, see! He likes to have me notice him as well as my new pet."
The camel bent his head down toward his master, with a look that said as plainly as words, "I love you, master, for you are kind to me."
"What is the new pet, Levi?" asked Solomon.
"When I get through my sowing, you may go into the house and call Esther. Then you two shall see it together."
Solomon could hardly wait for Levi to finish his work. But at last the seeds were all scattered.
"I won't go at the ploughing just yet. I am tired, and it is warm. We will rest awhile. I know you are anxious to find out what I have to show you. I got it for my wife, Rebecca."
Levi was a young man and had been married only a short time. He was very fond of his pretty wife, and liked to have surprises for her. He led the way to the house where Esther was talking with Rebecca.
"Solomon wishes to see our new pet," he said. "Have you told Esther about it?"
"Not yet. We will all go together," answered the young Jewess.
They went out to the stable and Levi pointed to a bed of straw over in the corner. There something lay curled up and sound asleep.
"It's a gazelle. Oh, what a beauty!" cried Esther. "It's only a baby still."
"I never saw such a little one before," said Solomon. "May I take it up in my arms?"
The