“Let thy young servants find favor in the sight of their kind and noble master,” said Hananiah, “while with deep humility they make known their request.  The illustrious Barzello, we trust, will pardon us for this intrusion upon the time of the King of Babylon’s noble officer, and listen patiently to their urgent prayer.  Thy kind deportment towards thy servants, for these many days, has given them courage thus to stand in thy presence without any painful, distracted fears.  We are the sons of Amonober, the brother of King Josiah, under whose reign, for many years, Judah smiled amid peace and plenty.  Thy servants were early instructed in the religion of our sainted father, who, with our beloved mother, feared the God of Israel, and worshiped in his holy Temple.  While thy servants were yet young, Amonober our father died, and was gathered to his fathers, and today he calmly rests by the side of his illustrious brother, King Josiah.  Thus the best of mothers was left a widow with her fatherless children.  Thy servants, feeling it no less a pleasure than a duty, endeavored to comply with our father’s dying request, by being ever kind to our beloved mother.  Thus time passed away for two years, and our pathway once more seemed to be bright and pleasant, when suddenly our mother died.  Thy servants were called to stand by the side of her couch before she departed, and these were her parting words: 

“’To you, my sons, I commit my sweet Perreeza!  Let her youthful feet be tenderly watched by the eyes of love.  Whisper words of sweet, brotherly affection in her youthful ears.  Oh, deal gently and kindly with the dear, motherless lamb!  Remember the dying request of a mother, and throw your arms of protection around your orphan sister.’

“Having concluded these words, our mother closed her eyes, and gave up the ghost.  This beloved object of a mother’s dying request has been, for many years, the center of thy servants’ joy and happiness, and one smile from our own Perreeza will often turn our darkness into day.  Our love for her is returned with all the ardor of a sister’s pure affection.  The sad news of our destined departure from this our native land has well-nigh overwhelmed her heart with sorrow.  The thought of parting makes her spirit faint; and thy servants are sincere when they assure their compassionate master that they greatly fear that, if compelled to be separated from her brothers, Perreeza will sink under the deep weight of sorrow, and pass away to the spirit land.  In compliance with her very urgent request, thy servants at this time stand as petitioners before their benevolent superior.  We are not here to ask to be released from any demand.  We patiently yield to the stern necessity that calls us away; but we are here, O most excellent Barzello! to ask a favor for another, which, if granted, will always live in our grateful memories:  it is, that Perreeza, our beloved sister, be permitted to accompany us to the land of the Chaldeans.”