Martha Read Online Free PDF

marry.”
    â€œYou are very brave, dear friend. You have a household to take care of, but if God looks with favor on you, perhaps there shall yet be someone.”
    Martha shrugged. “Perhaps, one day.”
    They sat in silence for a while and listened to the birds calling to one another among the olive trees.
    Martha glanced at her friend. “Have you had word of your father?”
    â€œNo,” Esther said softly and large tears slipped down her cheeks. “He will not know I am to be a bride. He shall never see my wedding, or bounce grandchildren on his knees.”
    â€œI also pray that God will have mercy on him. That he will be cleansed and returned to you one day.”
    Esther wiped her cheeks with one hand and nodded slowly. “May the God Who Sees be merciful.”
    Martha was suddenly aware the shadows were lengthening as the sun began its descent behind the mountains. It was nearly time to close the Sabbath. The two friends rose and walked slowly down the dusty road toward the village. As they came to the place of parting, Esther reached out and suddenly embraced Martha. “I will miss having such a friend.”
    Tears sprang to Martha’s eyes and she nodded. She watched Esther walk away and her heart was heavy.
    As Esther’s wedding day dawned, Martha opened the small chest and lifted out the deep blue shawl she’d woven to give to a future mother-in-law when she was betrothed. She smoothed the soft material with her hand, then carefully folded it over her arm and joined her family as they walked to Esther’s home.
    Music came from the small courtyard. A young man in the village played his flute and some of the women the tambourine and small cymbals. The sound lifted Martha’s spirits. This was a day for happiness. She would not be sad to mar her friend’s wedding day.
    Esther’s mother, Judith, had made places for the pallets of the groom and his parents who had arrived the evening before, and now she was putting them away in the storage room for the day.
    Esther came to the gate to welcome them and Martha held out the shawl. “It is my wedding gift to you. When you wear it, you must think of me and know that I will remember you also.”
    Esther took the shawl and her eyes were moist. “I will treasure it always.”
    The two young women entered Esther’s home to prepare her for the simple wedding.
    Tobias had arranged for four young men to hold the huppah, the canopy brought from Jerusalem by Abijah, the rabbi who taught the young boys in the village. He would also perform the ceremony.
    Martha brushed Esther’s long hair until it shone. It would be the one day she would wear it down her back. Then Martha, Mary, and Judith helped Esther into her wedding dress and arranged the bridal veil over her headband of coins. She slipped her feet into the new sandals Tobias had given her and was pronounced ready.
    Micah was standing in a corner of the courtyard with his parents. As Martha observed him, his eyes darted back and forth, watching the festivities. He didn’t smile, and Martha felt a stab of concern for Esther. Was Micah nervous? Perhaps because there was no place for him to gather friends as he would in his own village. He had no friends here. Her tender heart went out to him, and when she caught his eye, she gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile.
    The canopy was held in place and Micah moved into position under it as Tobias proudly led Esther into the courtyard. Walking in a slow circle around the huppah , with his sister on his arm, Tobias stood tall as, in the place of his father, he entrusted Esther to her new husband.
    Neighbors and friends joined in the music and dancing and brought what they could spare as gifts. A couple of chickens, bread, pillows stuffed with feathers, wine, and date cakes. Martha was glad the young couple would stay there for their wedding night and leave with Micah’s parents for