Margery could not look when Abraham, snatching up the sword, held it high over the child’s head, and it was only when she heard a gentle voice that she dared to take her hands from her eyes.
“Abraham, My servant dear!”
“Look up! He’s not going to be hurt,” whispered Colin. “The angel has come. Two angels!”
With great relief Margery gazed at them. They were beautiful, she thought, with their long golden wings, and their white gowns; and she loved them for coming to save poor little Isaac.
She saw that Abraham had dropped his sword, and she heard his trembling voice saying,
“Lo, Lord! I am already here.”
“Lay not thy sword in any manner
On Isaac, thy dear darling!”
replied one of the gracious angels, while the other pointed to a ram which was struggling in a thicket of bushes close by, and bade Abraham sacrifice the animal instead of his only son.
Then Abraham rejoiced, and offered praise to God: