THE JEWS DELIVERED.

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COXXIII.
JHE pEWs PELIVERED.

HAT day, Ahasuerus gave
Haman’s house to queen
Histher; and he called
Mordecai, and gave him
the ring which Haman

had worn, and honored him very
much. Ahasuerus knew that EHs-

ther was a Jewess, and that Mor-
decai was her relation, because she
had told him. There was no need
to keep this a secret any longer.
But Esther had not yet all she
wanted ; so she went to the king
again, and when he held out the
sceptre, she said, “If it please the
king, let it be written to reverse the
letters which Haman wrote to de-
stroy the Jews. How can I bear to
see the evil that shall come upon
my people? How can I bear to see
all my family destroyed?” Ahasue-
rus was very willing to do as Esther
wished; so he told her to desire
Mordecai to write letters in the
king’s name, to reverse the cruel
command of Haman; and to send
them to all the provinces of the
kingdom. Then Mordecai wrote
the letters, and sealed them with the
king’s ring, and sent them by post
on horses, and mules, and camels.

In these letters, the king com-
manded the Jews to gather them-
selves together on the thirteenth of

 

the month of Adar; and to be ready |

to defend themselves, and to fight,
and slay, and destroy all their ene-
mies who should try to hurt them.
Then Mordecai went out of the
palace, to tell the good news to all

the poor sorrowing Jews in the city.
He was dressed in royal garments,
blue and white, with a great crown
of gold upon his head, That was a
happy day for the Jews! They
threw off their sackcloth, and wiped
away their tears, and began to re-
joice, and to praise God who had
done such wonderful: things for
them. All was feasting and joy,
and gladness, among the Jews
throughout the land, wherever the
posts came! We may be glad too
when we read about their happiness ;
and let the story teach us to trust
in their God in all our troubles;
for He is the same kind and power-
ful God now, that He was then.

At last, the day came in which
the Jews were to have becn slain.
Their enemies had hoped to destroy
them all; but God had determined
to deliver His people, and they were
safe. The Jews gathered them-
selves together, as Ahasuerus com-
manded; and the rulers of the pro-
vinces helped them to fight against
their enemies, and to destroy those
who hated them. Very many of
these cruel enemies were slain; and
amongst them, the ten sons of Ha-
man, who were hanged upon the
gallows which their father had.
made. |

When all their enemies were sub-
dued, the Jews made a great feast
on the fifteenth day of the month
Adar. It was a very joyful day;
and they determined to keep it
every year, that they might not for-