Father, have I sinned against the law?

The question seemed to exasperate his father who at last cried out: of
what value may be thy Hebrew studies and a knowledge of the language, if
the law be not studied with Azariah? Does not the Book of Leviticus ever
lie open before thee? How has the law been affronted? The law given by
the Lord unto Moses. My own son asks me this. "And if a soul sin and
hear the voice swearing and is a witness whether he has sinned or known
of it, if he did not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity." Was
there no swearing at thy cock-fight? Plenty, I reckon. All day was spent
listening to swearing, hearing the name of the Lord taken in vain: a
name we don't dare to pronounce ourselves. Joseph sat dumbfounded. So
Azariah never taught thee the law? All the time goes by wasted in the
reading of Greek plays. We read Hebrew and speak it, Joseph answered,
and it was your wish that I should learn Greek. And, Father, is there
any reason to worry over a loss of repute? For my sin will be known to
nobody but God, unless told by thee, and thou'lt keep it secret. Or told
by Azariah, Dan answered moodily, who never teaches the law, but likes
Greek plays better. Well, thou shalt hear the law from me to-night, for
I can read Hebrew, not, belike, as well as Azariah, but I can read
Hebrew all the same. Mother, hand me down the Scriptures from the shelf.




CHAP. IV.


Well, Dan, you must make up your mind whether you are going to look out
for one who will teach him better, or let him remain with Azariah, who