Title:  The Young Captives A Story of Judah and Babylon

Author:  Erasmus W. Jones

Release Date:  June 30, 2004 [EBook #12792]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of this project gutenberg EBOOK the young captives ***

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THE YOUNG CAPTIVES

A Story of Judah and Babylon

By Erasmus W. Jones

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1907

PREFACE.

This volume is the fruit of my leisure hours; and those hours in the life of a pastor are not very abundant.  That the story has suffered from this, I do not believe.  Whatever its defects may be, they are not owing to “the pressure of other duties.”  So, dear reader, if this little work proves a failure, let not that deep calamity be attributed to any lack but the lack of ability in the author.

The semi-fictitious style of the writing, while displeasing to some, will be well-pleasing to others.  “What I have written I have written;” perhaps in a way peculiar to myself.  I know of some who could write charming books on this subject in a very different and perhaps a far superior style; but these I dare not try to imitate.  I must write in my own way.  It may be inferior to the way of others; but then it is much better to move around on your own limbs, even if they are rather “short metre,” than to parade abroad on stilts in mid-air.

In the colloquies, I have not thought it best to follow strictly the Oriental style.  However pleasing this might have been to some, I am well persuaded that it could not meet the approbation of the generality of readers; and as the great design of the work is to bear with weight upon some of the corrupt usages and wicked policies of the present day, I thought it advisable to shape the phraseology in conformity with modern usages.

In the prosecution of this work, I have consulted the following authorities:  Josephus, Rollins’ “Ancient History,” Smith’s “Sacred Annals,” “Daniel, a Model for Young Men,” by Dr. Scott, Clarke’s, Henry’s, Scott’s, and Benson’s Commentaries; with some other smaller works.

In following the “Youths of Judah” through their various trials, at home and in a land of strangers, I have received much genuine pleasure and lasting profit; and that the reader, likewise, may be greatly pleased and benefited, is the sincere desire of his unworthy servant, Erasmus W. Jones.

THE YOUNG CAPTIVES

A STORY OF JUDAH AND BABYLON

By Erasmus W. Jones.

CHAPTER I.