Page:Traditions of Palestine (microform) (IA traditionsofpale00martrich).pdf/46

 drawn apart by his last struggle with death. I watched beside him with his mother. She covered her face when his sighs were heard no more. I felt that his heart beat not. I lifted his cold hand, and it dropped lifeless. When I heard the wailings of his mother, I cried, ‘Would that the Prophet had been here!’ Then Rachel stilled her grief, and wrapped the child in her mantle, and departed with her husband to seek the help which her faith deserved.”

“And didst thou not follow?”

“Alas! my father mocked at our faith, and forbade my going forth, and told how Rachel would return mourning, as she went out. I held my peace and watched, fearing only lest the Prophet should have departed. For two long days, I heard no tidings; two nights, my father asked with a smile where was the child. Twice I watched at dawn from the house-top, for the approach of a multitude, or the sound of well-known voices. Twice I prayed through the watches of the night, that this young child might be raised up to glorify the Lord, and to bring faith unto our household, On the third day at even”