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lie。'〃
What could the Hebrew expect when a Christian preacher could use such
language about a petition breathing the very soul of humanity？
Happily； the true human spirit is encroaching on that arrogant and
narrow…minded form of selfishness which called itself Christianity。
The golden rule should govern us in dealing with those whom we call
unbelievers； with heathen； and with all who do not accept our
religious views。 The Jews are with us as a perpetual lesson to teach
us modesty and civility。 The religion we profess is not self…
evident。 It did not convince the people to whom it was sent。 We
have no claim to take it for granted that we are all right； and they
are all wrong。 And； therefore； in the midst of all the triumphs of
Christianity； it is well that the stately synagogue should lift its
walls by the side of the aspiring cathedral； a perpetual reminder
that there are many mansions in the Father's earthly house as well as
in the heavenly one； that civilized humanity； longer in time and
broader in space than any historical form of belief； is mightier than
any one institution or organization it includes。
Many years ago I argued with myself the proposition which my Hebrew
correspondent has suggested。 Recognizing the fact that I was born to
a birthright of national and social prejudices against 〃the chosen
people；〃chosen as the object of contumely and abuse by the rest of
the world；I pictured my own inherited feelings of aversion in all
their intensity； and the strain of thought under the influence of
which those prejudices gave way to a more human； a more truly
Christian feeling of brotherhood。 I must ask your indulgence while I
quote a few verses from a poem of my own； printed long ago under the
title 〃At the Pantomime。〃
I was crowded between two children of Israel； and gave free inward
expression to my feelings。 All at once I happened to look more
closely at one of my neighbors； and saw that the youth was the very
ideal of the Son of Mary。
A fresh young cheek whose olive hue
The mantling blood shows faintly through；
Locks dark as midnight； that divide
And shade the neck on either side；
Soft； gentle； loving eyes that gleam
Clear as a starlit mountain stream；
So looked that other child of Shem；
The Maiden's Boy of Bethlehem！
And thou couldst scorn the peerless blood
That flows unmingled from the Flood；
Thy scutcheon spotted with the stains
Of Norman thieves and pirate Danes！
The New World's foundling； in thy pride
Scowl on the Hebrew at thy side；
And lo！ the very semblance there
The Lord of Glory deigned to wear！
I see that radiant image rise；
The flowing hair； the pitying eyes；
The faintly crimsoned cheek that shows
The blush of Sharon's opening rose；
Thy hands would clasp his hallowed feet
Whose brethren soil thy Christian seat；
Thy lips would press his garment's hem
That curl in wrathful scorn for them！
A sudden mist； a watery screen；
Dropped like a veil before the scene；
The shadow floated from my soul；
And to my lips a whisper stole：
Thy prophets caught the Spirit's flame；
From thee the Son of Mary came；
With thee the Father deigned to dwell；
Peace be upon thee； Israel！〃
It is not to be expected that intimate relations will be established
between Jewish and Christian communities until both become so far
rationalized and humanized that their differences are comparatively
unimportant。 But already there is an evident approximation in the
extreme left of what is called liberal Christianity and the
representatives of modern Judaism。 The life of a man like the late
Sir Moses Montefiore reads a lesson from the Old Testament which
might well have been inspired by the noblest teachings of the
Christian Gospels。
Delilah； and how she got her name。
Est…elle bien gentille； cette petite？ I said one day to Number Five；
as our pretty Delilah put her arm between us with a bunch of those
tender early radishes that so recall the rosy…fingered morning of
Homer。 The little hand which held the radishes would not have shamed
Aurora。 That hand has never known drudgery； I feel sure。
When I spoke those French words our little Delilah gave a slight；
seemingly involuntary start； and her cheeks grew of as bright a red
as her radishes。 Ah； said I to myself； does that young girl
understand French？ It may be worth while to be careful what one says
before her。
There is a mystery about this girl。 She seems to know her place
perfectly；except； perhaps； when she burst out crying； the other
day； which was against all the rules of table…maiden's etiquette；
and yet she looks as if she had been born to be waited on； and not to
perform that humble service for others。 We know that once in a while
girls with education and well connected take it into their heads to
go into service for a few weeks or months。 Sometimes it is from
economic motives；to procure means for their education； or to help
members of their families who need assistance。 At any rate； they
undertake the lighter menial duties of some household where they are
not known； and； having stoopedif stooping it is to be considered
to lowly offices； no born and bred servants are more faithful to all
their obligations。 You must not suppose she was christened Delilah。
Any of our ministers would hesitate to give such a heathen name to a
Christian child。
The way she came to get it was this： The Professor was going to give
a lecture before an occasional audience； one evening。 When he took
his seat with the other Teacups； the American Annex whispered to the
other Annex； 〃His hair wants cutting；it looks like fury。〃 〃Quite
so；〃 said the English Annex。 〃I wish you would tell him so； I do；
awfully。〃 〃I'll fix it；〃 said the American girl。 So； after the
teacups were emptied and the company had left the table； she went up
to the Professor。 〃You read this lecture； don't you； Professor？〃 she
said。 〃I do；〃 he answered。 〃I should think that lock of hair which
falls down over your forehead would trouble you；〃 she said。 〃It does
sometimes；〃 replied the Professor。 〃Let our little maid trim it for
you。 You're equal to that； aren't you？〃 turning to the handmaiden。
〃I always used to cut my father's hair；〃 she answered。 She brought a
pair of glittering shears； and before she would let the Professor go
she had trimmed his hair and beard as they had not been dealt with
for many a day。 Everybody said the Professor looked ten years
younger。 After that our little handmaiden was always called Delilah；
among the talking Teacups。
The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl。 I should not
be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal； some fancy
or whim；possibly nothing more； but springing from some generous；
youthful impulse。 Perhaps she is working for that little sister at
the Blind Asylum。 Where did she learn French？ She did certainly
blush； and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken
about her in that language。 Sometimes she sings while at her work；
and we have all been struck with the pure； musical character of her
voice。 It is just such a voice as ought to come from that round
white throat。 We made a discovery about it the other evening。
The Mistress keeps a piano in her room； and we have sometimes had
music in the evening。 One of The Teacups； to whom I have slightly
referred； is an accomplished pianist； and the two Annexes sing very
sweetly together；the American girl having a clear soprano voice；
the English girl a mellow contralto。 They had sung several tunes；
when the Mistress rang for Avis；for that is our Delilah's real
name。 She whispered to the young girl； who blushed and trembled。
〃Don't be frightened；〃 said the Mistress encouragingly。 〃I have
heard you singing 'Too Young for Love；' and I will get our pianist to
play it。 The young ladies both know it； and you must join in。〃
The two voices； with the accompaniment； had hardly finished the first
line when a pure； ringing； almost childlike voice joined the vocal
duet。 The sound of her own voice seemed to make her forget her
fears； and she warbled as naturally and freely as any young bird of a
May morning。 Number Five came in while she was singing； and when she
got through caught her in her arms and kissed her； as if she were her
sister； and not Delilah； our table…maid。 Number Five is apt to
forget herself and those social differences to which some of us
attach so much importance。 This is the song in which the little maid
took part：
TOO YOUNG FOR LOVE。
Too young for love？
Ah； say not so！
Tell reddening rose…buds not to blow！
Wait not for spring to pass away；
Love