"Is it possible that my father may yet be breathing on earth, living--the life of an apostate!" The idea haunted Zarah like a spectre. There was only one hope which had power to lay it: "If living, he may be spared for repentance. God is merciful; He judgeth not severely; He delighteth in receiving His wanderers back. Did not Nathan say to penitent David, 'Thou shalt not surely die;' was not even the guilty Manasseh restored to his throne? Oh, the son of the pious Hadassah, a woman of such faith and prayer, can never be lost!" After such meditations, the burdened heart of Zarah would find relief in fervent supplications for her father. Her filial affection came to the aid of her religious obedience. "God will not hear prayers," thought Zarah, "from one in whose heart an idol is enshrined. For my father's sake, as well as my own, let me strive to give unreserved obedience to my Lord." So, endeavouring to overcome one grief by the help of another, and to cast a veil over both, Zarah passed weary day after day, letting no murmur mar her offering of meek submission. She would even speak cheerfully to Hadassah, and sing to her songs of Zion, which the aged lady delighted to hear. There was one song especially dear, in which Hadassah had herself woven prophetic promises into verse. The rhymes might be rude, and altogether unworthy of their theme; but when softly warbled by Zarah's melodious voice, they appeared to the aged listener like the very breathing of hope. LAY OF ZION. "Jerusalem, thou sittest in the dust, God's heavy judgment on thy children lies; But He in whom their fathers put their trust Shall bid thee yet, as from the grave, arise.[1] Oh, Zion, discrowned Queen! A throne awaits for thee;[2] For glorious thou hast been, All glorious shalt thou be.[3] "Behold the white-winged ships from Tarshish strand,[4] Shall bear thy sons and daughters o'er the wave; All nations call thee blessed, delightsome land,[5] Which God of old to faithful Abraham gave.[6] Oh, Zion, &c. "Ephraim with Judah God shall then restore,[7] The Hand that severed, now uniteth them; Ephraim shall envy, Judah, vex no more,[8] All shall rejoice in thee, Jerusalem. Oh, Zion, &c. "Assyria, Egypt, shall with Israel join,[9] (The land where Daniel trod the lion's den, The land where Pharaohs bowed at Apis' shrine), Oppressors once--but more than sisters then. Oh, Zion, &c. "God shall a wall of fire round thee abide,[10] To guard thee as the apple of the eye;[11] Rejoicing as the bridegroom o'er the bride.[12] For He hath pardoned thine iniquity.[13] Oh, Zion, &c.