“Can there be a world without a Creator?” replied the youth.  “Of thy gods ’tis said, ‘mouths they have, but speak not.’  Of our God the Psalmist says, ‘By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.’  Thy gods have ‘eyes but see not,’ but ’the eyes of the Lord run to and fro in the whole earth!’ Thy gods have ‘ears but hear not,’ but of our God ’tis written, ‘The Lord hearkened and heard.’  Of thy gods ’tis said, ’a nose they have but smell not,’ while our God ‘smelled the sweet savor.’  ‘Hands have thy gods but they touch not,’ while our God says, ’My hand hath also founded the earth.’  Of thy gods ’tis written, ’feet they have but walk not,’ while Zachariah tells us of our God, ’His feet will stand that day upon the mount of Olives.’”

Then said the cruel one:—­

“If thy God hath all these attributes, why does He not deliver thee from my power?”

The lad replied:—­

“He delivered Chananyah and his companions from the power of Nebuchadnezzar, but they were righteous men, and Nebuchadnezzar was a king deserving of seeing a miracle performed, but for me, alas, I am not worthy of redemption, neither art thou worthy of a demonstration of God’s power.”

“Let the lad be slain as were his brothers,” commanded the tyrant.

Then spoke Hannah, the mother of the boys:—­

“Give me my child,” she cried, “oh, cruel king, let me fold him in my arms ere thou destroyest his innocent young life.”

She threw her arms around the lad, clasping him tightly to her bosom, and pressing her lips to his.  “Take my life,” she cried; “kill me first before my child.”

“Nay,” he answered, scoffingly, “I cannot do it, for thy own laws forbid; ’Whether it be ox or sheep ye shall not kill it and its young in one day.’”

“Oh, woe to thee,” replied the mother, “thou who art so particular to regard the laws.”  Then pressing her boy to her heart, “Go, my dear one,” she said, “say to Abraham that my sacrifice hath exceeded his.  He built one altar whereon to sacrifice Isaac; thy mother hath built seven altars and sacrificed seven Isaacs in one day.  He was but tempted; thy mother hath performed.”

After the execution of her last son, Hannah became insane, and threw herself from her house-top.  Where she fell, she expired.

Happy are ye, ye seven sons of Hannah; your portion in the future world was waiting for you.  In faithfulness ye served your God, and with her children shall your mother rejoice forever in the eternal world.

* * * * *

Moses Maimonides, one of the greatest of Jewish commentators, and a descendant of Rabbi Judah, the compiler of the Mishna, was born in the city of Cordova, Spain, March 30, 1135.  His father was somewhat advanced in life when he married, and it is said that he entered into the conjugal state through having dreamed several successive times that he was wedded to the daughter of a butcher in his neighborhood; the lady whom he did actually marry.