The meal was prepared, and the elders arose from beside the fountain to place themselves on cushions around the table. A venerable man with hoary locks took the place of honour, the middle place, on the middle cushion. The seven-branched lamp shed a bright light around, from its one and twenty flames. The slaves had strewed the table, the cushions, and the floor with the flowers of spring. Sallu came with a silver basin, poured water on the hands of the guests, and when he had wiped them sprinkled on them the fragrant nard. The most delicate productions of fertile Egypt were served up; among which the mother had not forgotten the fish of the Nile, that her son might taste them once more before his departure. Helon lay before Elisama, or, as it was called in the east, in his bosom. Elisama, acting as father of the house, blessed the bread. He spread both his hands over it, and said, “Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, King of the world, who causest bread to grow out of the earth;” and the rest answered “Amen.” As this was an entertainment, the wine also was blessed. Elisama took the cup with both hands, then holding it with the right, at the height of a yard above the table, he praised the Lord and said, “Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, who hast given unto us the fruit of the vine;” and the rest again replied, “Amen.” The bread and wine were blessed with both hands, that the fingers might be a remembrance of the number of the commandments. This done, he repeated the twenty-third Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the soft flowing waters, He refresheth my soul, He leadeth me in the straight path For his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff comfort me. Thou preparest a table for me In the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over Surely goodness and mercy follow me all my life, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. This was the prayer with which the festive meal was usually hallowed in Israel. The guests helped themselves and enjoyed the feast. When the last dish was removed, Elisama began: “It is long since I repeated that beautiful psalm, with such a feeling of devotion as to-day. One might think that it had been written expressly for the feast on the evening before our departure for the Holy Land. 'Happy the people that know the sound of the trumpet!'” Helon’s kindling glance, thanked Elisama for thus expressing the sentiment of which his own heart was full. But one of the elders replied, “The sound of the trumpet is heard also in Leontopolis, and the psalm might be repeated with equal propriety, before a journey to the nome of Heliopolis.” “I always maintain,” said Elisama, “that Israel is Israel nowhere but in the Holy Land.”