was mild, his speech admonishing. But Isaac understood him not, his soul would not rise to him ; he embraced Abra- ham's knees, he besought him at his feet, he begged for his young life, for his beautiful hopes, he recalled the joy in Abraham's house when he was born, he reminded him of the sorrow and the loneliness that would be after him. Then did Abraham raise up the youth and lead him by his hand, and his words were full of consolation and admonishment. But Isaac understood him not. He ascended Mount Moriah, but Isaac understood him not. Then Abraham averted his face for a moment; but when Isaac looked again, his father's countenance was changed, his glance wild, his aspect terrible, he seized Isaac and threw him to the ground and said: "Thou foolish lad, believest thou I am thy father? An idol-worshipper am I. Believest thou it is God's com- mand? Nay, but my pleasure." Then Isaac trembled and cried out in his fear: "God in heaven, have pity on me, God of Abraham, show mercy to me, I have no father on earth, be thou then my father!" But Abraham said softly to himself: "Father in heaven, I thank thee. Better is it that he believes me inhuman than that he should lose his faith in thee."
When the child is to be weaned, his mother blackens
her breast ; for it were a pity if her breast should look sweet
to him when he is not to have it. Then the child believes
that her breast has changed ; but his mother is ever the
same, her glance is full of love and as tender as ever.
Happy he who needed not worse means to wean his child!
II
It was in the early morning. Abraham arose betimes and embraced Sarah, the bride of his old age. And Sarah
