ill, and hath sent me to ask thee if he shall recover of this disease. See here are forty camels, loaded with all that is rich and rare of Damascus, which my master lays at thy feet, hoping thou wilt deign to look into the future, for him."

God's

"Oh, Elisha! Holy prophet!" said Hazael, "I came | one of which, Joram was severely wounded, and returned from thy son, Benhadad, king of Syria. He lieth in bed to his mother, at Jezreel, to be cured of his wounds. Ahaziah followed him, leaving the army in command of Jehu, a man of great valor, and a skilful soldier. purposes were not yet fulfilled upon the wicked house of Ahab: by his humility, he averted the evil from himself, but the time was come to destroy the rebellious race from the land. Elisha was commissioned to anoint Jehu king, in place of Joram, king of Israel. He sent the young prophet, who had attended him to Damascus, to fulfil the mission.

Elisha looked for a long time mournfully upon Hazael, for, by his prophetic power, he saw in him the ruthless conqueror of Israel. "Go tell thy lord he will not die of this disease"-at last, he said; "and yet, I foresee, he will die of a more cruel death."

Elisha gazed upon Hazael, until the tears ran down his aged cheek; and then, turning from him, the man of God wept bitterly.

"Why weepest thou, my Lord ?" asked Hazael, rising. "Alas, Hazael! it is because I can foresee all the evil which thou wilt do to the children of Israel. Thou wilt burn their strong holds, and slay men, women, and even children, in the cruelest manner."

||

As Hazael returned over the plain, he sank into deep musing. He should be king of Syria! How his ambitious heart leaped within him at the thought! And the conqueror of Israel !-but he would be a merciful conqueror, and Elisha should find he was not so wicked as be imagined. Elisha had prophesied Benhadad should|| die, and he would quietly await that event.

"What said the prophet?" asked the feeble Benhadad.

"He told me, thou shouldst surely recover of this disease."

This joyful news so excited Benhadad, as to act favorably upon him, and before the night he was nearly well. Hazael began to grow uneasy. He doubted the truth of Elisha-and, forgetting his resolution of awaiting his master's predicted death, and not willing to rely upon God's will, he determined to murder the king. Early in the morrow, ere day had yet appeared, and all the palace asleep, Hazael crept softly into the king's chamber. The old man lay in the heavy slumber of an exhausted invalid. Hazael dipped a thick cloth in water, and pressed it upon the king's face until the spirit had fled. Then, when the murderous deed was executed, and Hazael was gazing upon his victim, did the words he had spoken to Elisha, the day before, occur to him-" Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing!"-and Hazael saw he had not read his heart aright. that I have begun, I must go on!" he said, bitterly. Away to my soldiers !—they must proclaim me king." Hazael was anointed king of Syria.

But, now

The words of Elisha, regarding Hazael, were soon proved to be prophetic. He ravaged Israel with fire and sword, and brought upon the country all the evils which Elisha had predicted. Joram, the son of Jezebel, and Ahaziah, Athaliah's son, united their forces and besieged Hazael in the city of Ramoth Gilead, which he had lately conquered. Various skirmishes took place; in

According to his instructions, the youthful prophet repaired to Ramoth Gilead. Jehu and the other captains were feasting in the guard-room, when the prophet entered. "I have an errand to thee, oh, captain!" he said. "Unto which of us?" asked Jehu.

"Even to thee, Jehu, son of Jehosaphat!"

Jehu arose and followed the prophet into an inner room. The prophet opened a horn of perfumed oil, and poured it on his head, saying-"Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: I have anointed thee king over Israel. Thou shalt be my avenger, to smite the house of Ahab. And thou shalt avenge me of Jezebel, who hath shed the blood of my servants. The dogs shall eat her in the portion of Jezreel!' His mission over, the prophet opened the door and disappeared.

Jehu returned thoughtfully to the feast.

"Is all well?" asked one of the guests-" What said this mad fellow to thee?"

Surely ye know him and his communication," said Jehu; “ ye have sent him."

"Indeed, we know not. Tell us what he said." "He hath anointed me king over Israel, in place of Joram, my master."

Jehu was a favorite with the soldiers, and the son of Jezebel was hated; so that they joyfully received the news, and determined to proclaim him at once. For want of a throne, they covered the stairs, which ran up outside the house, with their scarlet mantles, and, placing Jehu on high, sounded upon their trumpets, and proclaimed Jehu king of Israel.

The warder upon the watch-tower of Jezreel reported to Joram the approach of a body of horse and chariots. Joram knew not whom they were, or if they came in peace or war.

"Let some one go out to meet them, and ask the leader if he come in peace," said the king. The horseman approached Jehu, who was standing in his chariot. "Thus asks king Joram," he said: "Is it peace?" "What hast thou to do with peace?" replied Jehu. "Get thee behind me."

The messenger did as he was ordered, and joined the train of Jehu. A second messenger was despatched, who also remained with the approaching party.

The city now became alarmed, and gathered upon the walls to watch the troop. Joram sent for the watchman, to inquire more particulars. "I know not who they be, my lord," he said; "but, their driving is like that of Jehu, the son of Jehosaphat, for he ever driveth furiously."

"It is Jehu," said the king, "and perhaps bearer of news from the army. Make ready the chariot, and I will ride out to meet him."

Jehosheba, the sister of Ahaziah, by another mother, was a woman of great and good qualities, and tenderly attached to her brother. She wept sorely for his death, and acted a mother's part to his young orphans. She was wife of Jehoiada, the high priest of the temple, and lived with him within the precincts of the holy house.

Joram and Ahaziah, each in his chariot, left the city, and met Jehu, just by the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite. Then sank the heart of Joram within him, when he recollected it, for many prophets had denounced judg-"Ahaziah hath been some time dead," she said one day ments against him and his house, for the great iniquity of his father and mother. The chariots stopped.

"Is it in peace thou comest, Jehu?" asked Joram. "What peace is there for any," said Jehu, "when the wickedness and witchcraft of thee and thy mother, Jezebel, are so many ?"

66

Treason!-Treachery !-Oh, Ahaziah !"-cried Joram, and turned to fly, but an arrow from Jehu, the avenger, brought him low, and he sank down dead in his chariot.

"Throw him upon the field of Naboth," said Jehu, to his captain, Bidkar. “Now have the words of the Lord come to pass, which thou and I heard when we rode behird Ahab: 'I have seen the blood of Naboth,' said the prophet; and I will revenge me here, in this very field,' saith the Lord."

1

Canst

to her husband, " and I have not seen any preparations
towards anointing his son as king in his stead.
thou tell me, Jehoiada, why is not done?"

66

Hadst thine illness not prevented thee from visiting the palace, Jehosheba, thou wouldst have known”—replied the high priest, in a sad accent.

What is the young Zezron dead?" she asked, in alarm.

"Not yet," said her husband, gloomily. "Now that thou art strong enough to hear the terrible news, know that Athaliah hath seized upon the sovereign power, and hath imprisoned the young princes in the palace!" This was a great shock to the tender heart of the princess. "Alas! my sweet young nephews!" she said, while tears bedewed her face, "they are in the hands of a cruel tigress! Can we not do something, Jehoiada? Let me go to Athaliah, and surely she will listen to my prayer, and let them depart to their uncle's, or to my care, for, I fear me, she will not yet be satisfied with this cruelty."

"No, Jehosheba, seek not Athaliah. Thy prayers, be well assured, cannot soften the heart of that accursed woman."

When Ahaziah, king of Judah, saw the deed, he fled; but was pursued by the people of Jehu. "Smite him also in his chariot," cried the avenger, and Ahaziah was soon dead. Bury him," said Jehu, "for he is the son of the good Jehosaphat, but deserves death, for his mother's sake, and because he joined himself with the ungodly Joram." The news of the king's death spread consternation over Jezreel, and they beheld the conqueror's entrance with fear and trembling. His errand, how-princes for life!" ever, was not to the people, but to their rulers. He sought the palace of Jezebel.

Jezebel inhabited the ivory palace which her husband, Ahab, had built. She had decked herself out, and painted her face, in order to dazzle the conqueror, and stood at a window awaiting his approach. Upon her head she wore a golden net, or caul, surrounded by a gauze shawl, as a turban, while chains and ornaments of gold hung over her cheeks, her neck and arms, and little golden|| bells tinkled at her feet. But, in vain were all these mufflers, crisping-pins, and rings, and jewels called in play: they could not avert her fate. In spite of her design to win Jehu, her natural evil temper broke forth, and, in a taunting accent, she cried out, Thou wilt repent this deed, Jehu! Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?"?

Jehu looked up at the windows, which were crowded with slaves and attendants. "Who is on my side? Who!" cried Jehu. Many voices called out their willingness to join him. "Throw down, then, that wicked woman. Let the dogs eat her, according to the words of the prophet." They threw her down, and Jehu rode over her. “Go, and bury her," he said, afterwards, “ for she is a king's daughter." And the words of the prophet were fulfilled!

66

Eager for sovereign power, and devoid of natural feeling, Athaliah resolved, when she heard the death of her son, to seize upon the throne. The natural heirs, how-, ever, stood in her way; and these, although they were her own grand-children, she doomed to death.

"She surely will not imprison all those noble young

"Alas! their lives will not be long, I fear!" Jehoiada turned from his wife's tears, and retreated to the temple. Here he bent in prayer to God, that he would look in pity upon Judah, and avert from it the threatened evil. For Jehoiada had not revealed to Jehosheba the fact of the intended massacre of the innocent princes, which had been told him in confidence, that morning, by the captain of the royal guard.

That night, Jehosheba, unable to sleep, arose and walked in the marble court before her apartment. There she remained some time, reflecting upon the situation of her nephews, to whom, particularly the young Joash, then just a year old, she was very much attached. She could not rest easy without doing something for them, and was busily resolving plans for their benefit, when she was aroused by the sound of trampling horse, and rattle of armor. She ascended to the wall, and beheld a troop of soldiers enter the palace gate. Soldiers at midnight!-her heart sank, and she fell back against the parapet in a cold tremor.

What could it mean! Some deadly event was in progress, and her thoughts turned with affright towards the royal children. But Athaliah could not be so cruel -so wicked! A sudden shriek as from a death-stroke, awoke the silence of night. Jehosheba started as if her own heart had been pierced. She turned toward the palace, where a miserable scene met her view; from the balconies and terraces of the women's apartments, were children and females rushing apparently in the wildest affright. Some soldiers ran in pursuit of them, whom

the wretched princess recognised as the queen's own band, who were notorious as performing every bloody deed which the queen might dictate.

men.

The cries of children and women almost aroused the princess to madness, for she doubted not the cruel Athaliah had given over the young princes to slaughter. | Could she stand there and look on without helping them! But what availed her feeble arm against those ruthless Jehosheba rushed from the wall, and had nearly regained her apartment, when another loud wail arrested her steps, and she determined, at whatever risk, to seek the palace, and endeavor to save one of her nephews. There was a private way built by Soloman, which led to the palace, and over this, Jehosheba wildly rushed, resolving to die with, or save her nephews. She sought the women's apartments, and found the court filled with

soldiers.

way.

rooms.

"You cannot pass in, lady," said one. "Away! I am the Princess Jehosheba!" At the majestic wave of her hand, the soldiers gave A dreadful sight met her eye on entering the Dead and dying children and nurses, who had faithfully defended them, were lying around. Bloody and brutal soldiers opposed her path, but Jehosheba struggled through, for she had thought of the infant Joash, and sought to conceal him, at least. The deadly deed would have been over ere this, but there were a few devoted servants of the house of David, who resisted the soldiers' bloody purpose. All were killed except those in the last apartment. At the door stood two faithful eunuchs, disputing the soldiers' entrance. Jehosheba endeavored to force her way through.

der of the people repairing to the idol fanes, which Atha-
liah had reared in many places. The glory had departed
from the house of God; its gold was stripped off-its
walls broken down, and the golden utensils decorated
the altars of Baal.
At the end of these six years,

Jehosheba thought the favorite moment had arrived to
restore Joash to the throne of his fathers. Athaliah, by
her rapacity-her cruelty and unlicensed passions, was
universally detested, and the people began to sigh for
release from her tyranny. The measure of her iniquities
was full, and God had commanded her downfall. Jehoi-
ada, as a preliminary step, called to his council some of
the Levites whom he could trust, and some officers who
he knew were disaffected towards Athaliah. After swear-
ing them to secrecy in the temple, he revealed to them
the fact of the existence of one of the royal princes.
They were all rejoiced at the news, and vowed to serve
him, and place him upon the throne. These were com-
missioned to go to the several towns and cities of Judah,
and collect all the Levites who had been dispersed, and
send them to the temple. All the nobles of Judah who
had fled from Athaliah's tyranny, were also to be let into
the conspiracy. All was ready. The day, a festival
day, arrived, and the people summoned by the High
Priest, on pretence of an unusual fast, crowded the
courts before the temple. Each one who was in the
secret, was instructed in his part. They were divided
in three bands-one at the court gate, and one at the
outer gate. The courts were filled with people, who
awaited in silence the commencement of the religious
ceremonies of the day. Jehoiada, the High Priest,
entered the upper court from a side cloister, leading by
the hand a young boy of seven years, and followed by the
The High Priest
advanced to the head of the steps leading to the lower
court, that all might behold him.

"Forbear, princess," cried one of the eunuchs, "the Princess Jehosheba and his nurse. fiends will kill you, also."

Jehosheba was not to be daunted. She dodged through their swords, and entered the apartment. She gazed wildly around; there were several children and young persons there, of the royal blood, all weeping and clinging to their attendants in the greatest terror.

Cowering in a corner, sat a nurse, pressing in her arms an infant. It was the young Joash, now the only living child of Ahaziah. Jehosheba seized the infant, and concealing it under the wrapper she wore, beckoned the nurse to follow, and rapidly left the room. The faithful eunuchs were dead, and the soldiers, busy with their prey, cared not to stop her, for they were not ordered to murder any except the royal children. Struggling through blood and ribald soldiers, and severely wounded, the heroine Jehosheba at last saw herself in the temple court.

Jehoiada was awakened from his slumber by sobs of anguish. He arose hastily, and beheld his beloved Jehosheba covered with blood, lying senseless upon the floor, while a strange nurse and infant were weeping over her.

Six years was Joash concealed in the temple; the secret of his escape from the massacre being only known to his aunt, uncle and nurse. In the temple, one was more secure than in any place in Jerusalem, for it was then only frequented by a few faithful Jews, the remain

"Ye men of Judah!" he said, "ye have heard how our God hath sworn he will establish the throne of David

for ever, and hath said David shall never want an heir to his throne-then why suffer ye the daughter of Jezebel the seed of Sidon, on the throne of our glorious king." A murmur of astonishment interrupted Jehoiada. “Men of Jerusalem, I have called ye here this day to know if

ye

will serve Baal or Jehovah."

"We will worship the Lord our God!" cried several voices.

"And I have called ye here to know," continued Jehoiada, "if ye will serve the daughter of Jezebel, or a son of David!"

"Down with Athaliah!" exclaimed a few who were in the secret.

"Behold, then, this youth. It is Joash, your lawful prince, the son of Ahaziah, saved from the massacre by the heroism of his aunt, the Princess Jehosheba, who, with the prince's nurse, are here to corroborate the tale."

Loud acclamations of joy from all, which seemed to come from the heart, resounded from the throng. The High Priest then placed the prince by the marble column, the usual stand of the king when in the temple, and after anointing him with the holy perfumed cil, placed the diadem of David upon his head. Then the silver trum

Original.

as they said in England, after Johnson came out alone

SKETCHES BY LAMP-LIGHT.-No. II. with his Dictionary, while the whole forty of the French

BY JOHN NEAL.

THE NEW-ENGLANDERS.

every

Academy-as the English people believe to this daywere only talking about theirs. Notions we have-but are they well-founded? Are they distinct and clear, and generally received? I am afraid not. Let us see, therefore, if something more definite and ship-shape may not be found-something of a substantial and touchable character-something, at least, which will bear to be represented in body-colors.

THE New-Englanders are, in sooth, a peculiar people, and somewhat over-zealous of good works. In the first place, notwithstanding all that others have said of them, and all that they have said of themselves, they have a decided character; and not only a decided, but a national In the first place, then, be it understood every where— character;—a character, which, though not well under- henceforth and for ever-that the New-Englanders, and stood any where, is acknowledged every where; and is, they only, are the Yankees; and that no true Yankee in fact, such as to set them apart from other peoever was, is, or can be, born a single hair's breadth beple and kindred and tongue, on the face of the earth, yond the geographical boundaries of New-England;not excepting the Jews-whom they certainly do' resem- which, be it further understood, is no longer the "State" ble in their history, if not in their character; nor the of New-England, any more than Virginia is the "island Scotch, whom they are supposed greatly to resemble, if of Virginia," as they have long supposed in the British not in every thing, at least in all the great leading essen- House of Lords-but a confederacy, or sisterhood of retials of character; in their shrewdness, their coolness, publics, under the name of Massachusetts, Connecticut, their seriousness, their hardihood, unconquerable perse- Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. verance, and their thriftiness-not to mention their nig- This truth-which persists, and will endure no excepgardliness and wariness, which we take to be any thing tions whatever-even though both parents and all the but characteristic of either people; just as the reputed progenitors of both may have been full-blooded Yankees, nastiness of the Scotch, growing out of their own jokes, ever since the landing of the Fathers; and though the and the exaggerations of Auld Reekie, is no more cha-issue may have happened by accident or surprise, at a racteristic of the Scotch than it is of the Irish or English, husking-frolic or a sleigh-ride, just over the line,-this as a people. truth, I say, lies at the very foundation of all genuine, Yes-a peculiar people, the New-Englanders are ac-hearty, unadulterate New-Englandism; though, out of knowledged to be, even among themselves; but, in what that peculiarity consists, and by what idiosyncrasies or individualities they are distinguished from every other people, or even from their brethren out of New-England, in the Middle, the Southern, and the Western States, would appear to be still unsettled. You may know a New-Englander, the moment you set eyes on him, as readily as you may an Irishman, or an Englishman; and the stage representations and caricatures of New-England notions, habits, opinions, and language, so common of late, have done much toward bringing the rest of the world acquainted with what they have taken it into their heads to call New-England character. But, is it so? Have they, as a people, any such well-defined and settled notions of Brother Jonathan, as of John Bull, or Pat, or Sawney, or the French impersonation of national Nor can this be wondered at, when you take it into character, as they get it through the wretched carica- view, all that we have suffered at home and abroad, as a tures, the print-shops, and the boards of English thea- people, by the presumption of those who are not, never tres?-where the Frenchman is always represented as were, and never can be Yankees, though born, perhaps, either a cook or a dancing-master, with spindle-shanks, within a few yards of the right place—in the middle of a a weazen face, powdered hair, a cocked hat, a queue, river, it may be, or right across the line. And then, too, and, maphap, with a sword, and a white apron over his just to think of what we have to put up with, from the arm, bowing and smirking, and full of the most ridiculous unpardonable stupidity, the blundering ignorance, of the self-complacency; while John Bull, honest John Bull, British Reviewers, and the House of Lords-with whom, is always pictured with a huge red face, a bag-wig, a botas with the great multitude over sea, every living creatle nose, a warm waistcoat, a mug of porter, and a big ture, born, no matter how, no matter where, and no matpaunch-always overflowing with bluff good nature, and ter why, within the territory of the United States-the a sort of robustious magnanimity; always ready for a woodchuck, beaver, and buffalo, hardly excepted-is a quarrel, and just as ready for a make-up; boastful and Yankee-a ginooyne Yankee: as if it were not bad brutish—without any suspicion that he is either, or that, enough to be supposed a nation of blacks or mulattos— if he was, it would be any body's business, or that honest our language, a gibberish-our religion, a hoax-and John Bull would be any the worse for it-honest John our government, a failure; as if the portraitures of Bull, who has beat forty French, and can beat forty more, || Matthews, and Hackett, and Hill, were delineations of

New-England, it may be questioned, and at Edinburgh, where they put up Audubon, the ornithologist, for a Yankee, because he happened to be born of French parents in St. Domingo, it is never acknowledged. No matter what may be said by Grotius, or Puffendorf, or Vattel, or Burlamaqui-we are a law to ourselves in this matter, and we should no more think of admitting the pretensions of a person to the dignity of unquestionable Yankeeship, merely because he happened to be born of Yankee parents in the house of our ambassador abroad, or within a fort, or on board a national ship, over which stars and stripes of Yankee-land happened to be floating at the time, than we should of adopting the issue of a cariboo, a beaver, a catamount, or a moose, whelped under similar circumstances.