"What is this?" he cried, looking down, and discovering that the obstacle was none other than a small brown child; that there were, in fact, three of them, a boy and a girl--and betwixt the two a baby, smaller and browner than either.
"We be listening," said the girl solemnly, shaking the dark curls out of her eyes and looking up at her questioner. "The baby hath gone to sleep because he likes it; we come every day. Wilt thou sit down here? the dust is soft, and the music is like angels singing."
Iddo smiled. "Thou art right, little one," he said; "’tis like the voice of an angel."
"I lift up mine eyes to the hills. Whence cometh my help? My help is from Jehovah, Maker of heaven and earth,"
chanted the melodious voice within, then it dropped to a pleading cadence,
"May He not suffer thy foot to be moved! May He not slumber that keepeth thee! Behold, the Keeper of Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. Jehovah keep thee from all evil! He will keep thy life. Jehovah keep thy coming and going Henceforth and for ever!"
The listener sighed involuntarily; then he stretched forth his hand and laid it upon the bell--paying no heed to the solemn little voice at his feet, "If thou dost pull the rope the singing will stop."
Almost immediately the door opened, and a sweet voice cried, "Ah, ’tis thou, Iddo Ben Obed! Enter, I pray thee," then observing the young man’s serious face, she added, "What hath befallen thee, friend? thou art as solemn as that great image in the desert which men call the sphinx."
"I have reason," answered Ben Obed, "as thou must hear presently."
"I must first speak to the little ones.--Enter, friend, thou wilt find my brother within. Why didst thou not knock, little one?" she continued, stooping to raise the sleeping child, "the sun is too hot for the babe; it breedeth mischief at this season. Stay--I will give thee some pomegranates, then must thou go home where it is cool. To-night if thou wilt come and knock on the door thou shalt enter, then I will sing to thee, and also tell thee a story of how the babe Jesus came through the wilderness to the land of Egypt." And having kissed the smooth brown cheeks in token of dismissal, she watched the two as they trudged away down the street, the sleepy baby toddling between.