He listened in wonder as he next received a command from God to seek the ruler of Egypt, who was now treating the people of Israel with great cruelty. He must give the Pharaoh a message. It was this,--that God commanded Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the desert. At first Moses feared to do this. But the Lord caused some miracles to be performed before his eyes. Then he had faith, and became brave enough to do as God commanded him. He went with his brother Aaron to the ruler of Egypt. He told him that he had received word from Heaven ordering him to lead the people of Israel out into the desert to take part in a feast. The cruel Pharaoh did not believe in God. He was angry with Moses and refused to let the people go. Moses now showed the power the Lord had given him. He lifted his rod and commanded ten plagues to come down on the land of Egypt. This was to punish the Pharaoh and force him to free the Israelites. One by one the plagues fell upon the country. The waters were changed to blood, and great numbers of frogs appeared upon the land. Besides these creatures, there were swarms of lice, flies, and other pests. The people of Egypt became sick. The land was covered with darkness. The Pharaoh was frightened and promised to let the Israelites leave his country. Then the darkness lifted and the plagues ceased. But as soon as this happened, the Pharaoh broke his promise. The troubles began again. Pharaoh made fresh promises, only to break them again as soon as the plagues stopped. At last, God sent an angel into Egypt to kill all the first-born of the people. The Israelites, however, were not to be harmed. Moses told them to smear their door-posts with the blood of a lamb. The angel moved from house to house, doing as the Lord had directed. But when he came to a door-post marked with the blood of a lamb, he passed it by, and no one within was harmed. Esther's father told the story that evening, as though the children had never heard it before. Yet they had listened to it every year since they could remember. The blood of a lamb! Yes, the people in olden time had good reason to sacrifice a lamb at the Passover. It was well named the Passover, in memory of the angel's passing over the homes of the Chosen People. CHAPTER IV. THE ORPHAN "DEAR me! How my head aches," said Esther. "I do wish those dogs would stop barking." The little girl had been ill for two or three days. The hot days of summer had brought on a fever. The doctor had said, "Keep the child quiet. All she needs is rest. She has played too much in the sunshine." But how could poor little Esther have quiet? The street dogs were noisy enough in the daytime, but when night came, it seemed as though every single one was wide awake and quarrelling with his neighbours. "They have no home, and are almost obliged to fight, to get enough to eat. I am sorry for them," said Esther's mother.