“I am not admitted among the Christians，” she said; “they mock me as a Jewish girl; theneighbors' boys did so last Sunday when I stood looking in through the open church door atthe candles burning on the altar， and listening to the singing. Ever since I sat on the school-bench I have felt the power of Christianity; a power which， like a sunbeam， streams into myheart， however closely I may close my eyes against it. But I will not grieve thee， my mother，in thy grave. I will not be unfaithful to my father's vow. I will not read the Bible of the Christian.I have the God of my fathers， and in Him I will trust.”
And again years passed by. Sarah's master died， and his widow found herself in suchreduced circumstances that she wished to dismiss her servant maid; but Sarah refused toleave the house， and she became a true support in time of trouble， and kept the householdtogether by working till late at night， with her busy hands， to earn their daily bread. Not arelative came forward to assist them， and the widow was confined to a sick bed for monthsand GREw weaker from day to day. Sarah worked hard， but contrived to spare time toamuse her and watch by the sick bed. She was gentle and pious， an angel of blessing inthat house of poverty.
“My Bible lies on the table yonder，” said the sick woman one day to Sarah. “Read mesomething from it; the night appears so long， and my spirit thirsts to hear the word of God.”
And Sarah bowed her head. She took the book， and folded her hand over the Bible of theChristians， and at last opened it， and read to the sick woman. Tears stood in her eyes as sheread， and they shone with brightness， for in her heart it was light.
“Mother，” she murmured， “thy child may not receive Christian baptism， nor be admittedinto the conGREgation of Christian people. Thou hast so willed it， and I will respect thycommand. We are therefore still united here on earth; but in the next world there will be ahigher union， even with God Himself， who leads and guides His people till death. He camedown from heaven to earth to suffer for us， that we should bring forth the fruits ofrepentance. I understand it now. I know not how I learnt this truth， unless it is through thename of Christ.” Yet she trembled as she pronounced the holy name. She struggled againstthese convictions of the truth of Christianity for some days， till one evening while watching hermistress she was suddenly taken very ill; her limbs tottered under her， and she sank faintingby the bedside of the sick woman.
“Poor Sarah，” said the neighbors; “she is overcome with hard work and night watching.”And then they carried her to the hospital for the sick poor. There she died; and they bore herto her resting-place in the earth， but not to the churchyard of the Christians. There was noplace for the Jewish girl; but they dug a grave for her outside the wall. And God's sun， whichshines upon the graves of the churchyard of the Christians， also throws its beams on thegrave of the Jewish maiden beyond the wall. And when the psalms of the Christians soundacross the churchyard， their echo reaches her lonely resting-place; and she who sleeps therewill be counted worthy at the resurrection， through the name of Christ the Lord， who said toHis disciples， “John baptized you with water， but I will baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
在一个慈善学校的许多孩子中间，有一个小小的犹太女孩子。她又聪明，又善良，可以说是他们之中最聪明的一个孩子。但是有一种课程她不能听，那就是宗教这一课(註：因为信仰基督教和信仰犹太教是不相容的。)。是的，她是在一个基督教的学校里念书。
她可以利用上这一课的时间去温习地理，或者准备算术。但是这些功课一下子就做完了。书摊在她面前，可是她并没有读。她在坐着静听。老师马上就注意到，她比任何其他的孩子都听得专心。“读你自己的书吧，”老师用温和而热忱的口气说。她的一对黑得发亮的眼睛望着他。当他向她提问题的时候，她能回答得比所有的孩子都好。她把课全听了，领会了，而且记住了。
她的父亲是一个穷苦而正直的人。他曾经向学校请求不要把基督教的课程教给这孩子听。不过假如教这一门功课的时候就叫她走开，那么学校里的别的孩子可能会起反感，甚至引其他们胡思乱想。因此她就留在教室里，但是老这样下去是不对头的。
老师去拜访她的父亲，请求他把女儿接回家去，或者乾脆让萨拉做一个基督徒。“她的那对明亮的眼睛、她的灵魂所表示的对教义的真诚和渴望，实在叫我不忍看不去!”老师说。
父亲不禁哭起来，说：“我对於我们自己的宗教也懂得太少，不过她的妈妈是一个犹太人的女儿，而且信教很深。当她躺在床上要断气的时候，我答应过她，说我决不会让我们的孩子受基督教的洗礼。我必须保持我的诺言，因为这等於是跟上帝订下的一个默契。”
这样，犹太女孩子就离开了这个基督教的学校。
许多年过去了。在尤兰的一个小市镇里有一个寒微的人家，里面住着一个信仰犹太教的穷苦女佣人。她就是萨拉。她的头发像乌木一样发黑;她的眼睛深暗，但是像所有的东方女子一样，它们射出明朗的光辉。她现在虽然是一个成年的女佣人，但是她脸上仍然留下儿时的表情——单独坐在学校的凳子上、睁着一对大眼睛听课时的那种孩子的表情。
每个礼拜天教堂的风琴奏出音乐，做礼拜的人唱出歌声。这些声音飘到街上，飘到对面的一个屋子里去。这个犹太女子就在这屋子里勤劳地、忠诚地做着工作。“记住这个安息日，把它当做一个神圣的日子!”这是她的信条。但是对她说来，安息日却是一个为基督徒劳作的日子。她只有在心里把这个日子当做神圣的日子，不过她觉得这还不太够。
不过日子和时刻，在上帝的眼中看来，有甚么了不起的分别呢?这个思想是在她的灵魂中产生的。在这个基督徒的礼拜天，她也有她安静的祈祷的时刻。只要风琴声和圣诗班的歌声能飘到厨房污水沟的后边来，那么这块地方也可以说是安静和神圣的地方了。於是她就开始读她族人的唯一宝物和财产——《圣经·旧约全书》。她只能读这部书(註：1基督教的《圣经》包括《旧约全书》和《新约全书》。犹太教的《圣经》则限於《旧约全书》的内容。)，因为她心中深深地记得她的父亲所说的话——父亲把她领回家时，曾对她和老师讲过：当她的母亲正在断气的时候，他曾经答应过她，不让萨拉放弃祖先的信仰而成为一个基督徒。