Page 18 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

As the guide halted in front of the great gate of the temple, Lord Ashpenaz ordered
the train to stop and everyone to dismount. The camels must not enter the spacious

grounds of the temple, lest the sacred precincts be profaned. The temple attendants met
them at the gate and conducted them over stone-paved walks past well-kept lawns to
the rear of the great shrine. The temple itself, largely vine-covered and its exposed
stonework discolored by many a storm showed signs of age. But the two-storied

building behind the temple, to which the young captives were assigned, was fresh with
newness, obviously of recent construction.

Entering the high-ceilinged hall-way they saw on the right, through an open door,

the spacious dining room, well appointed with teak-wood tables and chairs inlaid with
mother-of-pearl. On the left side of the hall-way was a parlor with comfortable chairs,
divans and great ward-robes in which were contained books and scrolls, and selected
works of art adorned the walls. This great salon served the dual purpose of a lounging

room and library.

The long flight of stairs to the second story led up from the hall-way. Up these steps
the guest-captives were led and shown the beds they would occupy in the unpartitioned

dormitory above. The young scholars were not even required to carry the little baggage
they had brought from their homes. The temple attendants treated them with great
deference and gave them quick and efficient service.

Lord Ashpenaz saw that his charges, fifty-two altogether, were comfortably placed,
and just before taking his departure said: “Now, my young friends, this will be your
place of abode. These environments are strange to you, but you will be reasonably
comfortable, and I trust will not miss too much your homes that you have left. The

temple attendants are at your service, and you may ask them for what you need. You
have already made good progress in the Chaldean tongue, but Merodach, here, is fairly
conversant with Hebrew and will help you if you fall into difficulties. He will be in
immediate charge, but I shall see you from time to time. I must hasten, now, and report

our arrival to the king. Farewell, then, for now.” The young men were grouped around
to hear the words of their genial host, and as he turned to go, they bowed deeply, while
Daniel as spokesman said: “We thank you, Lord Ashpenaz, for your unfailing kindness

toward us. We shall rejoice to see you as often as you can come. And now farewell, and
may the blessing of Jehovah rest upon thee.” With a pleasant wave of the hand, he was
gone.