See Judges xi.

ON the preceding sketch was shown the lofty and undaunted spirit with which the patriotic maiden received her father's sad greeting, and the ready and cheerful submission with which she accepted the sacrifice imposed upon her. It is a moment of national triumph -and rejoicing, and she is mindful now only that the Lord had taken vengeance for her father upon the enemies of her people. But tenderer feelings find place in her heart, as the sorrowful truth that she is thus to be yielded up, in the pride and blossom of her youth, forces itself upon her; but even then she pleads only that her sacrifice may be delayed. "And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows. And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed. And she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel that the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year." This tenderly sweet and mournful picture by M. Dore is in keeping with the Spirit of the incident, as will also be found the following poem, one of the most chaste and beautiful of the" Hebrew Melodies," entitled by the author the "Song of Jephthah's Daughter” Since out country, our God, O my sire!

Demand that thy daughter expire; Since thy triumph was bought by thy vow. Strike the bosom that's bared for thee now. And the voice of my mourning is o'er, And the mountains behold me no more; If the hand that. I love lay me low,

There cannot be pain in the blow! And of this, O my father, be sure- That the blood of thy child is as pure As the blessing I beg ere it flow, . And the last thought that soothes me below. Though the virgins of Salem lament, Be the judge and the hero unbent! I have won the great battle for thee, And my father and country are free! When this blood of thy giving hath gushed, When the voice that thou lovest is hushed, Let my memory still be thy pride, And forget not I smiled when I died.