III.

THE RETURN.

Fourteen suns their course have sped :

Spinning for her daily bread,

Still an exile from her home, Struggled Ruth with want to cope, Waiting God's own time, in hope,

But the shepherd did not come.

At her window, with her rock,
She is sitting; tufts of stock,

In a pitcher, scent the air.

As the sun upon her shines,
Mark the many silver lines

Traced among the raven hair.

On this day a Rabbi great
Seeks the city in high state,

With the pupils by him led.
There are gathered in the street
Citizens their guest to greet,

Calba Shebua at their head.

Ruth but little heeds the throng,
Murmuring a plaintive song,

As the spindle briskly twirls.
She is dreaming of a lad

With a shepherd's crook, who had

Eyes of blue and amber curls.

But there bursts from her a sigh,
Starts the torrent to her eye,

As her haughty father nears;
Falls the spindle, and the line

Of the flax that she doth twine

Twinkles with her threaded tears.

With a glance of hard disdain,
Cutting her with cruel pain,

At his daughter Calba stares.
O'er her work she bows her face,
Praying God would of His grace

Soothe the anguish that she bears.

When she lifts her head, a shout

From the eager mob without

Tells her he of high renown

Is approaching in the street.
Sounds the tramping of the feet

As he passes through the town.

Slowly, midst a concourse great
Of disciples who did wait

On the lessons that he taught,
Passed the Rabbi, tall and fair,
With blue eyes and amber hair,

And a forehead full of thought.

Calba Shebua, his white head

Bending, with his hands outspread,

Touching with his brow the ground,

Said, 'Oh! highest in repute,

Rabbi! we in thee salute

Lofty wisdom, lore profound.

*

'Out of Jamnia * hath report

Tidings of thy learning brought;

Higher honour for our place

None than this, that thou shouldst deign

Us to visit. Oh, remain,

And our little city grace!

'We our servants, homes, and land,
Rabbi! place at thy command,

Only,-here with us abide !'

'Hold! disciples round me gather!

Thou hast promised, ancient father,'
Suddenly the stranger cried.

There was silence through the crowd:
Then he spoke, 'fore all, aloud,

'Rabbi, hear me ! wilt thou take

Me as inmate of thy house,

Give thy daughter as my spouse?

Calba Shebua, answer make!'

Jamnia, at the time of the Maccabees, was a large and populous After the destruction of Jerusalem, it became the seat of the Rabbinical schools.

haven.

L

'Oh, how gladly!' faintly spoke Calba, as suspicion broke

Dimly on his troubled brain.

'Hear him!' Then the stranger turned Whither long his heart had yearned, Thither now his fingers strain.

'My disciples! bend your glance On my wife-in speechless trance,

Leaning at yon open pane.

All I have, and all I know,

I to yonder woman owe,

She gave all, that I might gain.

'Oh, true woman! holy, pure,

Ready meekly to endure,

In thy sweet, unselfish love; God-made woman! man were vile But for thee to reconcile

Him to labour; and to prove

Mainspring of all actions high,
Ready, impulse to supply,

And his sluggish nature move.