A waif--a prince

Front matter

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Dedication

To the Talladega congregation, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which I was pastor when this book was written ; to the Epworth League which I organized in that congregation ; and to my dear friend, Miss Marcie Chambers, of that congregation, who gave me much encouragement in the prosecution of the work, this humble volume is respectfully and prayerfully dedicated by The Author.

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Preface

When you shall have read this book carefully through, you will find not only a reason for, but also a scriptural explanation of, most of the characters named in it. True, there is much fiction, but it is designed to be of that high order which takes the place of a parable, the interpretation of which is, “// is like thisP Much of it is historical, both sacred and profane. I hav^ chosen to put before the reader a beautiful lesson, of a mother’s great triumph over her enemies by an implicit trust in God, in the form of a story based upon and drawn from real Hebrew life in Egypt. Many of the great events recorded in the Bible which covered a period of many years are told, often, in a single verse of Scripture; such, for instance, as Luke ii. 40: “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit,” etc. This verse covers twelve years of childhood life and a mother’s anxious care, shut up in the sacred privacy of the family home. Again, in Luke ii. 51, 52: “And he went down withithem, and came to Nazareth,” etc. These two verses stretch their historic wings over a period of eighteen years^ filled* with boyhood’s dreams and young manhood’s aspirations and hopes. Is it too much, therefore, to suppose that the small bit of history contained in Exodus ii. 10, with which this story opens, covering a period of forty years, contains many scenes of sorrow, joy, hope, and fear, and often thrilling adventures of peril and deliverance.?

With a nation of two millions of people in cruel bondage for four hundred years, it would be difficult to draw too strongly upon the imagination for scenes of real life among them. In all ages and among all peoples life has been real. Mothers have always been mothers, with about the same or at least similar experiences — trials, crosses, victories, and defeats — in all stations and conditions of life. To draw a picture of this from Hebrew life is the purpose and desire of The Author.

Introduction

Mr. Andrews has constructed a pure and profitable story, observing with admirable tact and taste the historical harmonies, illustrating the sacred page with the side lights of Israel’s domestic and social life in Egypt, and enforcing lessons of truth and righteousness for the enlightenment and edification of the young. I am glad to have the opportunity, by the author’s kind invitation, to write a few introductory words, and incidentally to commend the book heartily to the favorable consideration of the Church.

Historical story-telling requires but little, if any, less study and skill than the reproduction of history itself. Imagination may soar, indeed, on a loftier wing, but the tether of fact must always limit the flight. These conditions of success in this difficult field of authorship Mr. Andrews has in general observed with commendable care. The result is a narrative of events that might well have occurred, full of pleasing situations and surprises, and conveyed in an easy and engaging style, which will secure and reward the attention of those for whom it is mainly intended. It is doubtful whether any thoughtful young person, interested in the Scriptures and in life, will read ten pages of this charming story without completing the volume. The book will no doubt enjoy a popularity commensurate with its merits. Jno. J. Tigert.

A WAIF-A PRINCE.

Chapter I. The Country

M emphis is situated on the Nile, about one hundred miles from its mouth, and on the western side. It is said to have had a wall of seventeen miles in circumference. It was also the chief seat of learning and religion at this time. Many magnificent temples were built here, and it was the place of untold idolatrous worship. From its walls the views were magnificent, commanding the surrounding country for many miles. It was also very remarkable for healthfulness, compared to much of the country, and especially the southern portion. The modern city of Cairo is about ten miles north of this ancient site. Memphis was the seat of government during the third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth dynasties of Egyptian history. It suffered great reverses, and was sometimes almost totally destroyed during the intervening dynasties between the twelfth and nineteenth; but the reigning Pharaoh of the nineteenth dynasty restored its magnificence, which it continued to hold for many years. His successor removed the seat of government back to Memphis about the

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year 1300 B.C., where, in all probability, it was at the time of the exodus. But now we are told that its ancient site can only be located by the pyramids which were a little north, and the dikes — embankments built to protect the city from the inundation — which, of course, were built south of the city. Its glory has departed. What secrets of good and evil shall be revealed in the last day and charged to each individual account of those who lived and acted their part in its history, written and unwritten! For many hundreds of years men thronged its .-treets and jostled each other in the rush of its mighty currents of business ; some in luxury, and some in poverty; some in sorrow, and some in joy; some sinning, and some worshiping; some feasting, and some starving; some oppressed, and some oppressing. They have all hurried on with their life work, good or bad, and millions of them are now without monument or history in this world. Their myriad tongues are silent, but their records will identify each when that great day shall come and the secrets of men shall be revealed. What a revelation of unwritten character that will bel Look at those ancient kings as they appear before the King of heaven. Some of them are the wicked oppressors not only of their prisoners of war, but of their own subjects as well. The great Searcher of hearts will not have to excavate and dig up old buried cities to find their records of evil. “ Where are the wages of the oppressed laborers that built your mag-

THE COUNTRY.

II nificent cities?” demands the Judge of all the earth. “Where is the bread of the thousands who labored for you without wages and with but little food? Where are the thousands of little children that you threw into the Nile to become food for its hungry monsters? Where are the tears of the agonized mothers whose little babes perished at your cruel hands?” O, dust of departed royalty! rest in peace till then, but “know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” None dared to hinder or restrain then, but now thou and thy victims are in the hands of a just God who .will be sure to give to all men equal justice.

It will be remembered that at this time there were seven mouths or outlets to the river Nile, covering a distance of about one hundred miles of the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Some of them are very small, being mere drainage for the lowlands along the coast and for many miles inland. Some fifteen or twenty miles from Memphis the river divides into two principal prongs, which continue to diverge till they reach the sea, and are then about eighty miles apart.

The land of Goshen lay between Memphis and the sea on the eastern side, and about twelve or fifteen miles from the city. This portion of the country was at this time densely populated by the Israelites. They had occupied it about three hundred years, and had increased to something near two millions of souls. I have just said that this

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Goshen country lay about twelve or fifteen miles north of Memphis. By this I mean the southern border at the time it was given to the family of Jacob for pasture lands for their flocks and herds. The scriptural name was “ the land of Rameses.’’ But it is more than likely that the tribes, as they increased the number of their families, were permitted to extend their borders down the river until, perhaps, they came within four or five miles of the city, though on the opposite side from it.

When, however, “there arose another king which knew not Joseph,” these immigrants from the land of Canaan began to be regarded with much less favor, and many of their former liberties were taken away. Doubtless long before the time of which I am writing they were much straitened for room for their numerous tribes ; but for more than two hundred years they had known little else but slavery and hardship. They were restricted to this delta region for homes, though as laborers they were taken to different parts of the kingdom. There were two important reasons why they were kept in such perpetual bondage and not even allowed to go when God himself had sent for them and ordered their release. First, the Egyptians feared them as enemies; and secondly, these Egyptians would be greatly damaged by the loss of their labor. Therefore “ their lives are made bitter with service,” that they might be profitable to the king, and also disqualified for doing him harm as enemies.

THE COUNTRY.

Rameses II. was the Pharaoh (the Egyptian name for king) at this time. He was a cruel tyrant, but withal a great builder; indeed, he is said to have been the greatest builder of all the Pharaohs. He erected a great many large and magnificent superstructures at Memphis, although his capital was at Thebes. Yet all this work was done by his prisoners of war and the forced labor of the Hebrews. Wretched people ! Thine oppressor seems now to be rapidly nearing the unbearable point of cruelty.

Chapter II. Two Phases Of Life

I T has been one of those bright days in autumn, so peculiar to that season of the year when the sweltering heat of summer has given way to the cool September breezes, which come sweeping down over the delta from the Mediterranean seacoast, driving away the heavy fogs and imparting a deep blue to the overspreading sky ; just such a day as is needed to quicken the sluggish life-circulation after the depressing effect of the hot summer in this Egyptian climate. The sun is just touching the rim of the western horizon, throwing his slanting rays in a cheerful glow over lakes, rivers, and fields, covering them with a golden shield of light fit to inspire the brush of the artist, but hanging just out of the reach of his glorious art.

Two men, of more than ordinary intelligence in appearance, may be seen walking together along one of those frequented highways leading from the city of Memphis northward through the delta. They evidently belong to some one of the numerous Hebrew families, and are going to their homes in one of the Hebrew villages, with which that part of the country abounds.

“I hear that there has been quite a little commotion in court circles of late,” said Amram.

‘ How so?” inquired Ophron, his companion.

“ Well, you see, Jambres and Jannes, two of the sacred scribes of Pharaoh Rameses 11. , are particularly unfriendly to our people on account of their worship of the living God. Being prominent leaders in the worship of Egyptian idols, they are jealous of all who do not bow down to these gods.* Jambres loses no opportunity to stir more persecution and get heavier burdens laid upon the Hebrews. This time he has resorted to quite a new movement, which I fear will kindle the fire of persecution very much.”

“What new imposition has this old astrologer been getting off now ? ’ ’ asked Ophron sarcastically.

“It is in the form of a new and startling prophecy, and well may you call it imposition when you consider his probable purpose. But God may sometimes use these men to set forth a greater truth than they themselves are aware of. Nothing

*Amenophis IV., who reigned near the end of the eighteenth dynasty, attempted to reform the religion of Egypt, and establish the worship of God instead of polytheism. He went so far as to close the temples and efface the images of the deities. He erected monuments on which the ceremonies of his new worship are found represented. It bears a striking resemblance to the external forms of Israelitish worship in the wilderness as described in the books of Moses. The persecution of the Hebrews began shortly after this period ; ^nd it is supposed that the monotheism of Amendphis IV. had its origin in Hebrew influence, and the reaction which followed may have started the persecution.

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is farther from their purpose than to say anything good of our people, or help in any way to put forward the purpose of God in bringing about the final deliverance of the Hebrew nation from bondage.’’

“ True, but their wicked zeal to keep favor with the king drives them into such nonsensical vagaries that one can scarcely credit anything they say.”

“Yet their influence over the king in the use of these arts is very great, and bodes no good tons.”

“What is the prophecy with which they have alarmed him this time, and how did you learn it?”

“Well, you know that ‘court secrets’ have sometimes leaked out of the royal circles through the young princess, Thermuthis. She is very intelligent, and is said to be as good as she is intelligent, and as beautiful as she is good. She is not much liked by many of the king’s courtiers, and particularly these priests and astrologers, because she is not in sympathy with their hatred of the Hebrews and their abuse of the laborers. She sometimes visits the public works with her father, who is very much devoted to her. He gratifies all her reasonable wishes, and she is never unreasonable. He never restrains her free expression, but rather enjoys and encourages it. This, however, she never does upon matters of business, but it is only when her tender, womanly nature is stirred by some new outbreak of cruelty to prisoners or servants that her ‘ woman’s weapon,’ the tongue, causes some of the would-be wise counselors of his majesty to open the.ir eyes. Very recently she has been making pretty free use of this privilege. Not long since she was present when the king was entertaining some of his friends in the royal guest chamber, when he had these astrologers called to read from their books of prophecy. Among some new sayings of the prophets was this alarming one, uttered by Jambres: ‘About this time there shall be born unto the Israelites a child, who, if allowed to be reared, will bring the Egyptian dominion low, and shall lift up the Hebrews. He shall excel all men who have been before him in virtue, and shall obtain a glory that shall be remembered through all the ages.’ ”

“May the God of our fathers grant it soon to come to pass ! ” groaned Ophron ; “ and yet if the king believe it, alas for our people ! his hand of oppression will fall still more heavily upon them.”

“ True, and these words impress me as being something wonderful, because of their agreement with our ancient records and tradition. Father Ishmael very recently read to us from one of these records how that our father Jacob (otherwise called Israel) strictly enjoined upon his son Joseph, saying: ‘ I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the land of Canaan.’ And when our father Joseph came to die, he said: ‘God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land, and ye shall carry my bones from hence.’ And who can say that he will not also raise up for us a great leader who shall go before us into the land of our fathers? ”

“And how has the saying seemed to affect the mind of the king?”

“ Oh, it has put him all in a rage; and he alternately abuses the old priest for prophesying evil, and then gives vent to his wrath by threatening to exterminate the Hebrew race. This prophecy has become the talk of all the royal circles, and the princess looks upon it as a splendid joke, and tries to comfort her father accordingly. But you see the king has been a great deal perplexed of late with his eastern wars ; for while he has been successful in gaining great victories, yet some of his conquests have not only been very expensive, but also very disastrous to his army.”

Here the conversation of the two friends and Hebrew brothers necessarily terminated, for they had now reached the front entrance to Amram’s dwelling. A bright little boy of two years of age, waited at the gate to spring into the arms of his father, while the wife and a beautiful little girl of five years were at the door also expecting the return of the husband and father. Ophron exchanges the usual friendly greetings with the family, and as he lives about a quarter of a league farther on, proceeded alone, musing upon the strange things which Amram had told him. “What strange things are happening about us? What does it all mean? That old hater of our people is on track of some evil to us, I warrant. And he is only one of many who are willingly cooperating with him. If he can only stir up the su-

TWO PHASES OF LIFE.

perstitious wrath of the king, he will have accomplished his purpose; for then he can easily turn it into the channel of jealousy and bring great trouble upon us, more than we already have. There is no end to the devices of cruelty to be invented by the human mind when aroused by jealous hate. Why, only this very day one of our Hebrew brothers was beaten very severely by one of the taskmasters. As a result, he will not be able to take his place for many days. Then he will be required to do double work for the time he has lost.’’ So ran the thoughts of this Hebrew laborer, which is not an undue representation of their true condition at this time.

Now, since we have seen one phase of life from the standpoint of two of the more fortunate of Hebrew laborers, whose opportunities for learning what is going on about them are far better than many of their brethren, let us now take a view of it from the standpoint of the poor fellow who was so cruelly beaten by the taskmaster, which is, doubtless, only one of hundreds of instances occurring every day. The family may be found in their humble home near what was designated as “No. 14,” which is only one of numerous places where bricks are made. There are more of them now than at any time in all the history of the kingdom of Egypt. This is the most prosperous period of all the known periods of its great history. There are thousands of buildings in process of construction, principally at Thebes, Memphis, and Ta-

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nis. This requires a great increase in the manufacture of bricks, which is done chiefly by the Hebrews.

Here in these yards and mortar-pits may doubtless be witnessed daily most revolting scenes of cruelty to the laborers, and perhaps death itself is no uncommon occurrence. But let not the reader conclude that there are no hearts in all the land of Egypt favorable to the oppressed laborers, or that there are no rebellious, refractory natures among these laborers. For while the great majority of the taskmasters are unfeeling and relentless, yet there are to be found some who are. not only humane but who often try to lighten the burdens of the feeble and overtasked.

But here we are at the entrance of the humble dwelling of the wounded man. How poor! The room is bare of furniture: a few mats used for sitting upon, two couches made of straw such as is gathered from the fields for purposes of brick-making, some wooden boxes and rudely constructed shelves upon which are piled a variety of articles of a very superannuated character. The injured man lay on one of these beds in a delirium of fever. The wife kneels beside him, bathing his hot forehead with cooling water.

“I trust you are better,” she said soothingly, as at that moment he aroused to semi-consciousness.

But, scarcely realizing his true situation, he groaned with pain. Then, for a moment, placing his hand over his eyes, as if trying to collect his confused senses, the dreadful reality of his condi-

TWO PHASES OF LIFE.

tion gradually dawned upon him, and he opened his eyes and sorrowfully replied to his wife’s solicitous half-inquiry: “I know not that I am better. I am in a sad plight. I have doubtless been disabled so that I shall not be in my place for many days. Then, alas ! our daily supply of food, which is meager enough at best, will be cut off by half until I am able for my duties again. But this is not all; I shall, on taking my place again, be required to do double work till my lost time is made up. For this I have great fear lest my enfeebled strength be overtaxed and I shall fail altogether.”

Here the poor fellow, quite overcome by the gloomy prospect, again covered his face with his hands and wept whilst he prayed, saying: “ O God of our fathers, hear thy people’s cry, and deliver them speedily! ” (See Exodus iii. 7.)

Need we linger longer here? To do so would be only to prolong the scene of distress from which you are doubtless glad to turn away. Yet the picture is not overdrawn. Thousands of such things, and worse, were witnessed about this period of the Hebrew bondage. On some of the recently discovered monuments are depicted scenes of these taskmasters beating the Hebrew laborers with rods. Sometimes there w'ould occur a case of rebellion: a Hebrew would resist the Egyptian, as in the case when Moses interfered. But this always brought more trouble. Our next chapter will be an illustration of this.

Chapter III. Another View

N OW, let it be remembered that we are in Egypt, and the time is about fifteen hundred years before the Christian era. Also, do not forget that life then with those who lived was just as real as life is now with us. Although the surroundings are entirely different, yet the influences for good or evil had about the same effect upon human character and human action then as now, or at any other period of the world’s history. Human nature in all of its essential features has ever been the same. There has never been a time when good influences to help men to be better, and evil ones to make them worse, have not existed in some form or degree ; and there have always been found some ready to yield to each of these to their hurt or betterment. While no evil-doer will be excused for his sins on account of a strong influence outside of himself which led him into them, yet no agent of evil will escape the consequences of the evil which he has produced and set in motion. What or who the serpent was that deceived the woman it would be exceedingly speculative to undertake to say, but one thing is certain: the curse fell upon that serpent alone for the part taken in that fatal transaction. ’‘‘Because thou hast done this^^' is the divine reason given. How-

ANOTHER VIEW.

ever good or bad its condition before, now it is changed for the worse. Its food and locomotion both are to be dust and in the dust henceforth.

Sin curses everything and everybody in league with it. Every agent of Satan is partaker of Satan’s curse. So intense is God’s hatred toward wrong that he caused a statute to be put into Israel’s ancient code that even the ox that should kill a man should suffer the death penalty. In reading the history of Jeroboam you are impressed with the fact that that wretched man’s name is never mentioned without the quotation of the blasting shame of his life accompanying it: ‘‘Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.^'" A sin that only involves oneself is dreadful, but to deliberately plan to get others to sin is to invite the curse of God. The following incident illustrates how others may be involved in the consequences, but not the guilt, of another's sins.

As I have before said, all the Hebrew laborers were not amiable by any means, nor were all of the taskmasters heartless characters. Even if it should be true that not more than one in a hundred of the latter was a kind-hearted man — and possibly there were not more — yet even that number proves the truth of the statement. So also if we find a like ratio of refractory laborers, the theory is maintained. And such never failed to bring trouble upon their fellows. It has ever been, and will always be, true that “one sinner destroyeth much good.” Amram was not a common laborer

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in the brickyards; and although he had little or no leisure from work, yet his lot was a much better one than that of those who labored in the mortar-pits. He was a mechanic whose time was taken up chiefly in making and repairing implements for general use at the yards. Such work would keep from four to six men busy at each yard. Amram and Ophron were the chief mechanics at “No. 14,” as it was known. These men, and especially Amram, were far above the average Hebrew in point of intelligence and piety. And when you know that Jochebed, his wife, was altogether his equal, if not even his superior, in some things, you will be prepared to appreciate the additional fact that their two little children were remarkable for their beauty and intelligence. Miriam, the little six-year-old girl, was modest and bright. She was so devoted to truth and right that her mother would not hesitate to trust her in the greatest emergencies. Aaron, the three-year-old boy, was remarkable for his ready speech, quick comprehension, and clear, honest expression.

One day these two children were at play near the public highway when one of the royal carriages was passing, in which was the young princess Thermuthis, accompanied by two of her maids. The carriage was preceded by four horsemen and followed by a like number. The royal lady observed the children as she was passing, and was struck with their singular beauty and intelligent look. The slight acquaintance the reader has had

ANOTHER VIEW.

with this lady is doubtless sufficient to give him to understand that her prejudice against the Hebrews was not so great as to cause her to think it a degradation to speak to one of them. She ordered the carriage and attendants to stop a little while that she might question these children for her own satisfaction.

“Are you Hebrew children?” inquired the princess.

“Yes, ma’am,” quickly answered little Miriam.

“ Do your parents live near here, little girl? ”

“Just up there,” pointing to their humble dwelling.

‘ ‘ What is your name ? ’ ’

“Miriam.”

“And my name is Aaron, son of Amram,” promptly spoke up the little boy, unasked.

“Indeed; and pray who is Amram, your father, of whom you speak with seeming pride?” said the lady, much interested in the ready speech of the bright little fellow.

“ He is Amram, of the house of Levi, and labors at ‘No. 14,’ ” answered the intelligent little boy.

Now, if there was any one thing that a Hebrew father was sure to teach his son more than another, it was to distinguish his family, or “tribe ” to which he belonged. It was not only a matter of record, but of carefully preserved tradition also. Hence the readiness with which this child, who could scarcely speak plainly, answered this ques-

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tion. It sounded so much like wisdom beyond the years of a child that the interest of the princess grew into astonishment. Yet it was no more than what almost any child might be taught to say, and at the same time such was the principal method of education at this period of their history.

“You are very young to know these things. Who taught you these lessons?”

“ My father Amram, and father Ishmael.”

“And who is father Ishmael?”

“He is our prophet-teacher of the law and records.”

Let us pause here in this story long enough to contrast that age with the present. This picture is not highly colored, but only what had been seen and heard in many homes of that oppressed people. To-day we have the advantages of Sunday school and the public sanctuary, and how many children really know the Scriptures? Their “ law and records,” answering to our Scriptures, were very crude and disconnected; and yet about ninety years after the period of which we write the law and commandments were given in form, and the very method of which we speak was enjoined as a custom in their homes forever, viz.. Teach the 7 n m the family. “Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deut. vi. 7.) We have only to follow God’s instructions respecting