130 

 THE STAR OF THE EAST. 



A FRAGMENT. 



" Behold wise men came to Jerusalem, saying ' We have seen 

 hit star in the East.' " 



The lamp of the Philosopher burnt dim at the mid- 

 night hour: — but still he bent without weariness 

 over the subject of his studies. His head leant on 

 one hand, and the pale gleaming light shone on a 

 brow wrinkled with deep thought. At times his 

 eye wandered around the room, but it rested not on 

 any external object; his mind was too busy within 

 to mark any signs of an outward world. At length 

 the door of his chamber opened, and a young maiden 

 stood before him, solicitinir his attention by the 

 name of "father." The philosopher turned his 

 head, for a slight sound had reached his ear, but the 

 suppliant's upward earnest look was met by a vacant 

 gaze, for as yet the word had no meaning in his pre- 

 occupied mind. At length a power of recognition 

 came, and with it an air of surprise, as he said, 

 " daughter ! here at this hour?'' ** Father," replied 

 the maiden, " I come to entreat thee to rest; it is 

 now the fourth night since sleep closed thine eye- 

 lids, even for a little while; the spirit must sink 

 with much labour. Deny me not, my father." 

 *' Return to thine own repose, my child," said her 

 parent, " the hours of my watching are not yet over. 

 Disturb ine not again, daughter." At these words 

 the maiden submissively bowed her head and de- 

 parted sorrowfully, as the philosopher again wrapt 

 himself in his dee]) and holy meditations. Gra- 

 dually the light of conviction beamed on his mind, 

 and a smile of ])urest satisfaction gladdened his pale 

 features ; a rush of joyful sensations filled his heart, 

 as closing his eyes he leant back, giving himself uj) 

 to the delightful consciousness of having arrived at 

 along sought-for conclusion. " Repaid, repaid," he 

 murmured, "a thousand times repaid, for all the 

 labour and watching, and ever-wakeful thoughts of 



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