CHAPTER IX.
When fourteen days had passed since his departure for Samaria, thecaravan of Naaman again entered the gates of Damascus.
The little maid, learning of this, made haste to seek her mistress.
"Dear mistress," she said, "the caravan of my lord has entered the cityand proceedeth to the palace of Benhadad, the king."
Claudia turned very white.
"And--and what other tidings dost thou bring?" she faltered. "Speak,child; keep me not in suspense."
"I bring no further tidings, my mistress," answered the little maid.
Claudia sank upon a couch, trembling and faint. Leah knelt beside herand kissed her hands.
"Why dost thou tremble and grow pale, dear mistress," she asked. "I didcome to thee at once with the tidings of my lord's return, thinkingthat thou wouldst rejoice and be happy."
"If I knew that he were healed then indeed would I rejoice," saidClaudia. "But if he be not healed my heart will be filled with sadnessand sad indeed our meeting."
"Be at peace, my lady," said the little maid, earnestly. "My lord hasreturned healed of his leprosy."
"Thou hast indeed great faith, child," said Claudia, with a faintsmile. "But only when I hear from the lips of my husband that he ishealed will I believe. But, come and array me, for whether Naamanreturn in sorrow or gladness I will do him honor."
The little maid hastened to put a rich silken robe upon her mistress,binding back her golden hair with a circlet of glittering gems.
"Come," then said Claudia, "thou shalt await with me the coming ofNaaman."
Upon entering Damascus, Naaman had at once sought the palace of theking.
The latter received him most graciously, saying:
"What fortune did attend thy journey into the land of Israel, my goodNaaman?"
"My lord, I return healed of my leprosy," replied Naaman.
"Thou cometh indeed with wonderful tidings," exclaimed the king."Marvelous is the power of this magician of the court of Jehoram. Whatsayeth thy wife, the beautiful Claudia? great rejoicing must indeed behers."
"She as yet knows not that I have returned from Samaria," answeredNaaman. "I did first seek the presence of my king to make known to himthe wonders that have been done unto me."
"Ah," murmured Benhadad, "thou art ever faithful to thy country and thyking."
The proud eyes of the Syrian wavered and fell under the king's kindgaze.
"Ah," he was thinking, "the king knows not that I have forsaken the godof my country for Jehovah Who ruleth over all the earth."
"I will detain thee no longer at present," said Benhadad. "Make hasteto the presence of thy wife with thy tidings of joy. Meanwhile the newsshall go abroad over all the land that Naaman has returned from Samariahealed of his leprosy that all Syria may rejoice and offer sacrifice toRimmon. Say to thy wife that Benhadad rejoices with her that Naamanhas returned healed."
Naaman bent his head to kiss the hand of the king and then left thepalace. As the chariot passed through the streets of Damascus shouts ofrejoicing were heard upon every side; Benhadad had already sent forththe tidings of the healing of Naaman.
Claudia, awaiting the coming of her husband, heard the shouts and criesand turned very pale.
"What means those cries?" she asked of the little maid.
"My lord passes through the streets of Damascus and the people rejoicesthat he is healed," answered Leah.
"Only when I hear from the lips of my husband that he be healed will Ibelieve," again said Claudia.
The servants of the palace then took up the joyous cries; Naaman hadpassed through the gates.
A few moments more and the embroidered draperies were put aside andNaaman stood upon the threshold of the great chamber. And as she lookedinto his face Claudia knew how it was with him. She moved forward andwas folded to his breast. And the little maid, with tears in her eyes,passed out of the chamber, leaving them alone.
After a little while, however, she was summoned to the presence ofNaaman. Claudia, her beautiful face all aglow with happiness, stood byher husband's side.
"Maiden," said Naaman, "Elisha, whose great powers thou didst makeknown to me, has healed me of my leprosy."
"My lord, my heart is indeed glad that thou hast returned healed of thyleprosy," said the little maid.
"And thou, maiden, shall be rewarded," continued Naaman. "Ask of mewhat thou wilt and it shall be granted unto thee."
The little maid fell upon her knees at his feet.
"O, my lord," she cried, "I would return to those who love me andsorrow for me in the dear land of Israel. I crave of thee but onething, my lord--freedom."
"It is granted thee," said Naaman. "Thou art no more a slave."
The little maid caught his hand and covered it with kisses. Claudiastooped and lifted her to her feet.
"It grieves me to part with thee, little one," she said. "But I shallbe glad that thou art happy with those whom thou dost love."
"I shall never forget thee nor cease to love thee," murmured Leah.
"Maiden, hast thou no further desire?" asked Naaman.
"What more could I desire, my lord, since thou hast given me myfreedom?" replied the little maid.
"Thou art poor," said Naaman. "Hast thou never craved riches?"
"Not for myself, my lord," answered Leah. "But I have often wished thatmy parents were not forced to labor so hard."
"Thy parents shall labor no more," said Naaman, quietly.
"What meaneth thou, my lord?" murmured the little maid, bewilderedly.
"Listen to me, maiden," continued Naaman. "I did carry with me toSamaria ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold and tenchanges of raiment with which to reward Elisha should he heal me of myleprosy."
Leah smiled.
"And Elisha did refuse to accept the treasure which thou didst carrywith thee to Samaria," she said.
"Yes," replied Naaman, "but the treasure which Elisha did refuse shallbe thine."
CHAPTER X.
Early upon the morning following a servant came to Leah and said:
"There be a lad outside the gates of the palace who desires speech withthee."
"A lad desires speech with me," said the little maid, wonderingly. "ButI know no lad in Damascus."
"He inquired for the Israelite maiden who is a slave in the house ofNaaman," replied the servant. "'Tis only a ragged beggar lad," and theservant turned scornfully away.
Leah passed out of the palace and ran down to the great gates.
Beyond the gates, for the servant had not permitted him to enter, stooda lad. His coarse garments were soiled and torn, his bare feet werecut and bleeding. The golden light from the rising sun fell upon hisdark curly head.
Uttering a cry of joy, he ran, with outstretched hands, towards thelittle maid.
"Leah! sister! I have found thee at last!" he cried.
She stood motionless, gazing at him with wide, bewildered eyes.
"Isaac! my brother! is it indeed thou?" she cried.
"Yes, 'tis indeed thy Isaac!" he answered. "But, as thou dost see, nolonger a cripple for Elisha has made me whole."
"Elisha has made thee whole," she repeated.
"Yes; listen, and I will tell thee all," said Isaac. "I will speak butbriefly of the sorrow which did fill our hearts when thou wert capturedby the Syrians. Had I not been a helpless cripple I would have goneforth to seek thee. Then one day our mother called our father to herand said, 'Unless thou seeketh help we shall soon have no child, forIsaac will die of his grief for his sister.' 'Where and of whom shall Iseek help?' asked our father. 'Journey to Samaria and seek the prophet,Elisha,' answered our mother. 'Tell to him how heavily the hand ofmisfortune has fallen upon our home. Beg of him to return with thee andheal our son.'
"So upon the morrow our father did borrow the ass of our neighbor andset forth upon his journey to Samaria. In the evening he returned,bringing Elisha with him. That night, sister, while our parents slept,Elisha came and stood beside my cou
ch. I felt the touch of his handupon my limbs and I heard his voice saying, 'With the sun thou shaltrise from thy couch and walk.' Then he was gone and it seemed to meI had but dreamed. When the morning had come and the sun had risen,Elisha was gone, but I did arise from my couch and walk, for I wasstrong and made whole.
"Then did I set forth to seek thee. I was many days in reachingDamascus. I was often hungry and footsore, but I was happy for I wasno longer a cripple. But yesterday I did pass through the gates ofDamascus. There was great excitement upon the streets. The people wereshouting and uttering cries of joy. I learned that they were rejoicingbecause Naaman, a great Syrian general and favorite of the king,Benhadad, had returned from Samaria healed of his leprosy.
"I asked a woman in the crowd who had healed Naaman. 'A great mancalled Elisha,' she replied. 'Tis said that Naaman did hear of thisElisha through a little Israelite maid who is a slave in Naaman'shousehold.' Oh, dear sister, how I did rejoice at her words for I knewthen that I had found thee. I am come to offer myself as Naaman's slavethat I may ransom thee."
Leah put her arms tenderly about his neck.
"Brother," she said, "I am no more a slave; neither shalt thou norour parents labor, for Naaman has made me rich. Oh! dear brother! ourhearts should indeed be filled with gratitude to Jehovah, Israel's God."
END.
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Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Page 12, "widsom" changed to "wisdom" (words of wisdom)
Page 52, "pesisted" changed to "persisted" (persisted the servant)
Page 68, "A" changed to "An" (An hour before)
The Little Maid of Israel Page 9
