loves of helpin' men and wimmen, is God's cause too, and God will take care
of His own. Herods full of greed and frightened selfishness may try to
break her heart by efforts to kill the child she loves, but she will hold
it so clost to her bosom he can't destroy it; and the light of the Divine
will go before her, showin' the way through the desert and wilderness
mebby, but she shall bear it into safety."

"You spoke of Herod," sez he dreamily, "the name sounds familiar to me. Was
not Mr. Herod once in the United States Senate?"

"Not that one," sez I. "He died some time ago, but I guess he has relatives
there now, judgin' from laws made there. You ask who Herod wuz, and as it
all seems a new story to you, I will tell you. When the Saviour of the
world wuz born in Bethlehem, and a woman wuz tryin' to save His life, a man
by the name of Herod wuz tryin' his best out of selfishness and greed to
murder Him."

"Ah! that was not right in Herod."

"No, it hain't been called so. And what wuzn't right in him hain't right in
his relations who are tryin' to do the same thing to-day. Sellin' for money
the right to destroy the child the mother carries on her heart. Surroundin'
him with temptations so murderous, yet so enticin' to youthful spirits,
that the mother feels that as the laws are now, the grave is the only place
of safety that God Himself can find for her boy. But because Herod wuz so
mean it hain't no sign that all men are mean. Joseph wuz as likely as he
could be."

"Joseph?" sez he pensively. "Do you allude to our venerable speaker, Joe
Cannon?"