Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=YwYwAAAAYAAJ (Harvard University) 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. TOILERS OF BABYLON A Novel BY B. L. FARJEON AUTHOR OF "PERIL OF RICHARD PARDON" "GREAT PORTER SQUARE" "AUNT PARKER" ETC. _For life the prologue is to death And love its sweetest flower And death is as the spring of life And love its richest dower_ NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE 1889 B. L. FARJEON'S NOVELS. * * * AN ISLAND PEARL. Illustrated. 8vo, Paper, 30 cents. AUNT PARLER. 4to, Paper, 20 cents. CHRISTMAS ANGEL. 12mo, Paper, 25 cents. GOLDEN GRAIN. Illustrated. 8vo, Paper, 35 cents. GREAT PORTER SQUARE. 4to, Paper, 20 cents. JESSIE TRIM. 8vo, Paper, 35 cents. JOSHUA MARVEL. 8vo, Paper, 40 cents. LOVE'S HARVEST. 4to, Paper, 20 cents. LOVE'S VICTORY. 8vo, Paper, 20 cents. MISER FAREBROTHER. Illustrated. 4to, Paper, 25 cents. SELF-DOOMED. 12mo, Paper, 25 cts. SHADOWS ON THE SNOW. Illustrated. 8vo, Paper, 30 cents. THE BELLS OF PENRAVEN. 4to, Paper, 10 cents. THE BRIGHT STAR OF LIFE. 12mo, Paper, 25 cents. THE DUCHESS OF ROSEMARY LANE. 8vo, Paper, 35 cents. THE KING OF NO-LAND. Illustrated. 8vo, Paper, 25 cents. THE NINE OF HEARTS. 12mo, Paper, 25 cents. THE PERIL OF RICHARD PARDON. Ill'd. 8vo, Paper, 30 cents. THE SACRED NUGGET. 12mo, Paper, 25 cents. TOILERS OF BABYLON. 8vo, Paper, 40 cents. * * * * Published By HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. ==>_Any of the above works will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price_. TOILERS OF BABYLON. * * * * * * CHAPTER I. The horse was very old, the caravan very dilapidated. As it was dragged slowly along the country roads it shook and creaked and wheezed, protesting, as it were, that it had performed its duty in life and that its long labors justly entitled it to permanent repose. The horse, with its burden behind it, had long ago given over complaining, and, although its plight was no less woful, was demonstrative only through physical compulsion. With drooping head, lustreless eyes, and laboring breath, it plodded on, with many a longing look at tempting morsels out of its reach.