Has it been so kept ?" The fan played to and fro, until, becoming impatient, he repeated the question, "Is the record absolutely true ?" "Hillel said it was, and of all who have lived no one was so well-informed upon the subject.

Our people have at times been heedless of some parts of the law, but never of this part.

The good rector himself has followed the Books of Generations through three periods--from the promises to the opening of the Temple; thence to the Captivity; thence, again, to the present.

Once only were the records disturbed, and that was at the end of the second period; but when the nation returned from the long exile, as a first duty to God, Zerubbabel restored the Books, enabling us once more to carry the lines of Jewish descent back unbroken fully two thousand years.

And now--" She paused as if to allow the hearer to measure the time comprehended in the statement.
"And now," she continued, "what becomes of the Roman boast of blood enriched by ages?
By that test, the sons of Israel watching the herds on old Rephaim yonder are nobler than the noblest of the Marcii." "And I, mother--by the Books, who am I ?" "What I have said thus far, my son, had reference to your question.
I will answer you.