Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-07-28

IA prize Oh HtShSt '"iuN
most costly pearl
such treasure had Rabbi MeIr,
Me great teacher. obtained. lie sat,
ON the Sabbath, in the synagogue, III
structiug the people. In the mean
time, death, who often aims MS POI
sonous shafts against the infant breast,
and spares the aged aud lnfrm, dld,
by an unexpected stroke, deprive the
nareuls oftso goodly sons: both were
Of an handsome shape-bolh, by Ia
theirs care. enlightened III the law.
Hi, partner looked at first on their
bereavement with the feelings OF ten
der mother; but. soon her pie'y shohe
nredominaat. and in the duties oil TIE
wife. each selfish wish was buried
Anx;ous TO save her husband from
those pangs which a TOO sudden know
ledge Of his loss might arise. she NOV
ed the bodies of her sons into her
chamber-laid them on her bed, and
with white drapery concealed them.
In the evening Rabbi Meir return
81 who, with fathers fond sollcl
tnie. manfred "where are my sons
that / may give to them the bIesslng''
"They are gone INTO the synagogue
replied his wife, =,
ST looked around, while there, 10
expectation of their coming, but saw
them not" reioined the Rabbi.
Che reached him IA goblet with wine;
he praised the Lord at the ending OF
the Sabbath, drank and again asked,
"Where are my sons that they may
also drink and partake OF the hleosing'"
s"rheg are not far, she said, and
wishing to change the objects OF his
thoughts, with ready baud prepared
their evening meal Of this he did
partake, aud after giving thanks, his
wii. thus spoke:
"Rabbl, permit me to ask your judg
ment in cause which much concerns
me. A few years since person gave
unto my care some jewels: these
received with pleasure, watched their
safety with an anxious mind, contem
plated with pride thei worth, and dar-
edat length 20 view them as my own,
when in an unexpected hour, mes
sengcr is sent, who, in his masters
name, doth claim my valued charge:
shall I restore these gems to him.
any wife ought not first TO inquire
this" said Rabbi Me'r; wilt thou 'e
lay returning to the owner each one
thai he hath lent lhee?o
"On no" answered she, Gift is un
iust SO to do,-bnt l would not return
them without thy knowledge
She then conducted him TO the cham
Der, walked forward and removed
from the dead bodies their covering
ooh my sons! my sons! cried the ia
Their. in the fitness Of his grief-do [
find you thus? | gave you life, en-
lghtened your meotal eyes 10 the law,
and looked upon you as The solace Of
my declining years, when, on sud
den, | find ysel bereit of you"
She turned from him, wishing to con
ceal the agitation of her mind, bu Gus
ed at length by the violence OF his
grief, she seized him by the hand and
spoke,
rabbi, hast thou not taught me,
that it is contrary to the morals as well
as the religious duties OF men, to re-
fuse restoring what is Entrusted to their
care? 3 hold, the Lord oath given,
the Lord hath taken away, blessed be
the name of the Lord ,"
"Tue name fihe Lord be praised"
reioiued Rabbi Meir, conscious he had
erred at rcplning at His will who is
infalibIe; in murmurlng at his man.
date, who is omnlscirnt.
Il is truly said, Whosoever hath
found a vrtuous wife has a greater
treasure than the most cost J pearl; she
opens her mouth with wisdom, and
in her tongue is the law Of kindness"
The PRAYING Motber.-In a sea.
port town in New England, lived a
pious mother of six daughters AT the
age of sixty she had been, for many
years, subject to disease and infrmi
ty, which confincd her 10 her house,
and almost to her room. To The wri,
Ter of this, she said, at one Of his first
interviews with her; II have not, for
many wears known what it is TO 90 to
tn house Of God il company with his
people, and TO take sweet council with
them But | have another source of
grief greater than this, one, that weighs
down my spirit day and night, while