onditionsthat she should not be instructed in the Christian faith。 But it mighthave caused confusion； or raised discontent in the minds of theother children if she had been sent out of the room； so sheremained； and now it was evident this could not go on。 The teacherwent to her father； and advised him to remove his daughter from theschool； or to allow her to bee a Christian。 〃I cannot any longer bean idle spectator of those beaming eyes； which express such a deep andearnest longing for the words of the gospel；〃 said he。
Then the father burst into tears。 〃I know very little of the lawof my fathers；〃 said he； 〃but Sarah's mother was firm in her belief asa daughter of Israel； and I vowed to her on her deathbed that ourchild should never be baptized。 I must keep my vow： it is to me evenas a covenant with God Himself。〃 And so the little Jewish girl leftthe Christian school。
Years rolled by。 In one of the smallest provincial towns； in ahumble household； lived a poor maiden of the Jewish faith； as aservant。 Her hair was black as ebony； her eye dark as night； yetfull of light and brilliancy so peculiar to the daughters of the east。It was Sarah。 The expression in the face of the grown…up maiden wasstill the same as when； a child； she sat on the schoolroom formlistening with thoughtful eyes to the words of the Christianteacher。 Every Sunday there sounded forth from a church close by thetones of an organ and the singing of the congregation。 The Jewish girlheard them in the house where； industrious and faithful in all things；she performed her household duties。 〃Thou shalt keep the Sabbathholy；〃 said the voice of the law in her heart； but her Sabbath was aworking day among the Christians； which was a great trouble to her。And then as the thought arose in her mind； 〃Does God reckon by daysand hours？〃 her conscience felt satisfied on this question； and shefound it a fort to her； that on the Christian Sabbath she couldhave an hour for her own prayers undisturbed。 The music and singing ofthe congregation sounded in her ears while at work in her kitchen；till the place itself became sacred to her。 Then she would read in theOld Testament； that treasure and fort to her people； and it wasindeed the only Scriptures she could read。 Faithfully in her inmostthoughts had she kept the words of her father to her teacher whenshe left the school； and the vow he had made to her dying motherthat she should never receive Christian baptism。 The New Testamentmust remain to her a sealed book； and yet she knew a great deal of itsteaching； and the sound of the gospel truths still lingered amongthe recollections of her childhood。
One evening she was sitting in a corner of the dining…room；while her master read aloud。 It was not the gospel he read； but an oldstory…book； therefore she might stay and listen to him。 The storyrelated that a Hungarian knight； who had been taken prisoner by aTurkish pasha； was most cruelly treated by him。 He caused him to beyoked with his oxen to the plough； and driven with blows from the whiptill the blood flowed； and he almost sunk with exhaustion and pain。The faithful wife of the knight at home gave up all her jewels；mortgaged her castle and land； and his friends raised large sums tomake up the ransom demanded for his release； which was most enormouslyhigh。 It was collected at last； and the knight released from slaveryand misery。 Sick and exhausted； he reached home。
Ere long came another summons to a struggle with the foes ofChristianity。 The still living knight heard the sound； he could endureno more； he had neither peace nor rest。 He caused himself to be liftedon his war…horse； the color came into his cheeks； and his strengthreturned to him again as he went forth to battle and to victory。 Thevery same pasha who had yoked him to the plough； became hisprisoner； and was dragged to a dungeon in the castle。 But an hourhad scarcely passed； when the knight stood before the captive pasha；and inquired； 〃What do you suppose awaiteth thee？〃
〃I know；〃 replied the pasha； 〃retribution。〃
〃Yes； the retribution of a Christian；〃 replied the knight。 〃Theteaching of Christ； the Teacher； mands us to forgive our enemies；to love our neighbors； for God is love。 Depart in peace： return to thyhome。 I give thee back to thy loved ones。 But in future be mild andhumane to all who are in trouble。〃
Then the prisoner burst into tears； and exclaimed； 〃Oh how could Iimagine such mercy and forgiveness！ I expected pain and torment。 Itseemed to me so sure that I took poison； which I secretly carriedabout me； and in a few hours its effects will destroy me。 I mustdie！ Nothing can save me！ But before I die； explain to me the teachingwhich is so full of love and mercy； so great and God…like。 Oh； thatI may hear his teaching； and die a Christian！〃 And his prayer wasgranted。
This was the legend which the master read out of the oldstory…book。 Every one in the house who was present listened； andshared the pleasure； but Sarah； the Jewish girl； sitting so still in acorner； felt her heart burn with excitement。 Great tears came into hershining dark eyes； and with the same gentle piety with which she hadonce listened to the gospel while sitting on the form at school； shefelt its grandeur now； and the tears rolled down her cheeks。 Thenthe last words of her dying mother rose before her； 〃Let not mychild bee a Christian；〃 and with them sounded in her heart thewords of the law； 〃Honor thy father and thy mother。〃
〃I am not admitted among the Christians；〃 she said； 〃they mockme as a Jewish girl； the neighbors' boys did so last Sunday when Istood looking in through the open church door at the candles burningon the altar； and listening to the singing。 Ever since I sat on theschool…bench I have felt the power of Christianity； a power which；like a sunbeam； streams into my heart； however closely I may closemy eyes against it。 But I will not grieve thee； my mother； in thygrave。 I will not be unfaithful to my father's vow。 I will not readthe Bible of the Christian。 I have the God of my fathers； and in Him Iwill trust。〃
And again years passed by。 Sarah's master died； and his widowfound herself in such reduced circumstances that she wished to dismissher servant maid； but Sarah refused to leave the house； and she becamea true support in time of trouble； and kept the household togetherby working till late at night； with her busy hands； to earn theirdaily bread。 Not a relative came forward to assist them； and the widowwas confined to a sick bed for months and grew weaker from day to day。Sarah worked hard； but contrived to spare time to amuse her andwatch by the sick bed。 She was gentle and pious； an angel ofblessing in that house of poverty。
〃My Bible lies on the table yonder；〃 said the sick woman one dayto Sarah。 〃Read me something from it； the night appears so long； andmy spirit thirsts to hear the word of God。〃
And Sarah bowed her head。 She took the book； and folded her handover the Bible of the Christians； and at last opened it； and read tothe sick woman。 Tears stood in her eyes as she read； and they shonewith brightness； for in her heart it was light。
〃Mother；〃 she murmured； 〃thy child may not receive Christianbaptism； nor be admitted into the congregation of Christ