P s 35^3 H3 1303 annaj) anii fjer Class ^$5M23_ Book ■ Oj( r> "K H Copyrightl" \^0 3 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. a HANNAH AND HER SEVEN SONS Tyranny. HANNAH AND HER SEVEN SONS AN INCIDENT OF THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS BY THE SYRIAN MONARCH ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES, 167 B.C. BY MINNIE DESSAU LOUIS 3 ^ ^ > ILLUSTRATED BY ELMER E. CARLSON SECOND EDITION 1903 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 102 West 75th Street NEW YORK LIB^affV nf CONGRESS Two OoBies l?ereivetl OCT 18 1904 /v Cooyrtgrht Entry CLASS <^,XXc. No. 6OPY B Copyright, 1902, by MINNIE DESSAU LOUIS TROW PRINT, NEW YORK All is desolate and dark. To me there's no light Since they took from the world my treasures so bright. My children ! My children ! Beats yet my heart When all of its strings are thus riven apart ? Yet for Israel's God this suffering I bear. And would bear a greater, if greater there were. 7 All is desolate and dark. To me there's no light Since they took from the world my treasures so bright. Hannah and her Seven Sons Oh ! how the whole scene is burned into my brain ! I see the vile Syrians with faces hke Cain Rush over my threshold and ruthlessly seize All my seven fair sons, while I on my knees With tears and implorings beseech them to wait; —Hope whispers that time might avert their sad fate; I knew 'twas but yester the old scribe they slew. The old Eleazar to Israel so true, 9 Hannah and her Seven Sons On my knees I implore them to wait but a day ; They mock at my pleading ; then drag us away And cast us in prison ; but leave us not long; The Bigot his triumph will show to the throng. With wickedest pleasure he calls for the first Of my beautiful boys, the one that I nursed In the flush of my youth when Judea was free ; lO CIS ^3 13 e ■i-j B (U o c o Hannah and her Seven Sons — Oh God ! keep his heart firmly true unto Thee. — Ha ! The king commands homage to him and his gods. He looks up to Heaven, nor falter his words : " God forbid that homage to thee I should show ; Israel's God is my God ! To none else will I bow." They lead him to death, my first born ! my pride ! And now tear my second fair boy from my side 12 Hannah and her Seven Sons And place him in front of the con- queror's throne : — Thou wilt not, my son, thy religion disown. — His answer is ready ; he quick makes reply : " My brother bowed not, and no more will I ! " "Why not?'' asks the tyrant. ** Be- cause," says my boy. And his face grows resplendent with heavenly joy, " Our second commandment tells all, — even thee. No other gods shalt thou have before me. 13 ♦* God forbid that homage to thee I should show ; Israel's God is my God ! To none else will I bow." Hannah and her Seven Sons Death follows his brave words. My third boy they take ; — Be still, my wild heart — not yet must thou break.— My third one ! My hero ! How prince- ly his port ! *' No other God shalt thou worship! is taught In my pure religion ; more gladly I meet The fate of my brothers than bow at thy feet." These proud words the death-blow as guerdon receive. 15 (U t-" 5j a B^ i— ^ >^ ^ >^ ^ "^ ^ 'W) ^ ^ s Wh o (U <^ (L> -d H Hannah and her Seven Sons My fourth boy they take ; will the tyrant achieve Any conquest over his soft, gentle heart ? — Fear not, my sweet son ! Bear brave- ly thy part ! — Yes! he too is faithful! He utters these words : " He that sacrificeth to all other gods Save the Lord only, shall be wholly destroyed." Alas ! he too is slain ! how widens the void In my sore-stricken heart. Ha ! now my fifth lad 17 Hannah and her Seven Sons They drag to the tyrant, who, already mad. Becomes doubly enraged at these words of my son : " Hear, O Israel ! The Lord our God, He is One ! " With this watch-word of faith he yields his young life. Now they come for my sixth. His spirit is rife With scorn and contempt for the des- pot's vain power ; Nor scourges nor threats will cause him to cower. i8 Hannah and her Seven Sons "Why so obstinate?" asks the tyrant, more mild. — Waver not, my dear son, thou'rt Judea's true child ! — "Think/st thou Fm affrighted? My God is still here ; He is mighty and terrible ! Him only I fear ; And thou too wilt one day acknowl- edge His might. And suffer that thus thou hast usurped His right.'* They take him to death in his fresh, joy- ous youth, 19 O ^ I ^ &0 (L) Hannah and her Seven Sons That thus he pronounces the stern words of truth. What horror is this? My youngest ye'll take ? My baby? My darling? Oh! for the sake Of the mother who bore you, spare me this son ! My six have ye murdered ! Will ye leave me not one ? They heed not my pleading, but drag him away ; Oh, Father of Heaven ! Is this but one day ? 21 LofC. Hannah and her Seven Sons But see! The base murd'rer speaks kindly to him. — My sweet precious child, do nothing to dim The lustre that shines from thy six brothers gone ; Be true to thy God e'en though thou'rt undone. — Now the king hands him treasure, and tells him to live. And promises all, if allegiance he'll give. See ! . Now does he cast his ring on the ground. Now shows him his dead brothers lying around 23 >r^ Hannah and her Seven Sons And tells him their fate will be his if he dare Refuse to stoop for it.^ — Still lies the ring there ! '^Think'st thou that I fear thy threats?" says my boy ; " Our God is the great King of Kings ! Then why Should I give allegiance to other than He?" " If thy God is so great why saves He not thee From my power?" asks the king. ** Because," he replies, 25 Hannah and her Seven Sons And in his young face a grandeur doth rise, " I am not worthy redemption from thee And thou art not worthy God's greatness to see." " Slay the kd like his brothers ! " the tyrant commands. Oh ! Cruel king, ere thou steepest thy hands In the blood of my little one, let me be slain. I cannot endure this mountain of pain. " Nay, thy own laws forbid," the tyrant doth say ; 36 Hannah and her Seven Sons " Sheep nor cow with its young shalt thou kill in one day." Oh! woe to thee, murd'rer, our laws to pervert! The God of our race will inflict thy desert. Come, my sweet angel I My lamb 1 Ere we part. Come kiss thy poor mother ! Come nearer my heart ! — Oh courage ! — My dear one, tell Abraham there. My sacrifice hath his much exceeded ; where 27 *Tis for God's glory ; His will be done ! Hannah and her Seven Sons He built one altar I have built seven ! He offered one Isaac ; all mine have I given ! A little longer! A little longer! Fare- well, my son ! 'Tis for God's glory; His will be done I There ! There are my children, my dear treasures, all ! They see me. And now they beckon and call 29 pi Yes ! Yes ! My Beloved ! I'm coming ! I come ! Hannah and her Seven Sons To come join them there in that beauti- ful place. Yes! Yes! My Beloved! quick, quick will I trace My steps to our house-top, and thou canst reach there And with thy strong arms draw me up through the air. We'll cheat the mad tyrant, and dwell in our home. Yes ! Yes ! My Beloved ! Vm coming ! I come ! "OCT 1<