Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 5, 2025
This had been a favourite song of Naomi's mother, and it was from Ruth that Fatimah had learned it in those anxious watches of the early uncertain days when she sang it over the cradle to her babe that was deaf after all and did not hear. Naomi knew nothing of this, but she heard her mother's song at last, though silent were the lips that first sang it, and it was her chief and dear delight.
So she betook herself to an upper room, and gave strict orders to Fatimah and Habeebah that Naomi was to be kept from her altogether, that sight of the child's helpless happy face might tempt her soul no more. And there in her death-chamber Israel sat with her constantly, settling his countenance steadfastly, and coming and going softly.
"Yes, yes," said Fatimah; "but you can never go to her any more. She is in the women's apartments " Then a great hoarse groan came from Israel's throat. "Poor child, it was not her fault. Listen," said Fatimah; "only listen." But Israel would hear no more. The torrent of his fury bore down everything before it. Fatimah's feeble protests were drowned. "Silence!" he cried.
She paused again, and then, as though to banish thought, she began to sing in a low voice that was like a moan. Presently her singing ceased, and she spoke again, but this time in broken whispers. "How soft and glossy her hair is! I wonder if Fatimah will remember to wash it every day.
"She's right," said a shrill voice. "He deserves it," snuffled a nasal one. "At least let us drive him out of the town," said a third gruff voice. "To his house!" cried a fourth voice, that pealed over all. "To his house!" came then from countless hungry throats. "Come, let us go," whispered Fatimah to Naomi, and again she laid hold of her arm to force her away.
After awhile the little one fell asleep at her mother's bosom, and, seeing this, Fatimah would have lifted her away and carried her back to her own bed; but Ruth said, "No; leave her, let me have her with me while I may." "No one shall take her from you," said Israel. Then she gazed down at the child's face and said, "It is hard to leave her and never once to have heard her voice."
Remember this girl Naomi, this offspring of sin, this accursed and afflicted one, still blind and speechless!" Then the voices of the crowd came to Naomi's ears like the neigh of a breathless horse. Fatimah had laid hold of her gown and was whispering. "Come! Let us away!" But Naomi only clutched her hand and trembled. The harsh voice of Reuben Maliki rose in the air again.
"The palace!" he said in a bewildered way. "The women's palace the women's " and then broke off shortly. "Fatimah, I want to go to Naomi," he said. And Fatimah stammered, "Alas! alas! you cannot, you never can " "Fatimah," said Israel, with an awful calm. "Can't you see, woman, I have come home? I and Naomi have been long parted. Do you not understand? I want to go to my daughter."
Death! Oh, oh! With a helpless, broken, blind look he was standing in the middle of the floor with the slipper in his hand, when a footstep came to the door. He flung the slipper away and threw open his arms. Naomi it must be she! It was Fatimah. She had come in secret, that the evil news of what had been done at the Kasbah and the Mosque might not be broken to Israel too suddenly.
Then Israel remembered Naomi. Where was the girl, that he had not seen her that morning? They answered him that she had not yet left her room, and he sent the black woman Fatimah to fetch her.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking