The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-03-02
HEKREM TALES.

IttUffN HttAa etltCltN from the VIII
tings of the ancient Hebrew saees. The
following specimens are given:
Compelled by violent persecution
to quit his native land, Rabbi Akiba
wandered over barren wastes aud drea-
~ deserts. lils whole equipage consis-
ted of a lamp, which he used 10 light NJ
night, in order 10 study the law /; q cock,
which served him instead of "a watch To
announce TO him the rising dawn; and an
ass, on which he rode.
The sun was gradually sinking be-
meath the horizon, NIGHT was fast APP
preaching, and the poor wanderor knew
not where To rest his weary limbs. Ia
tigued and almost exhausted, he came at
last near a village. lie was clad 10 lind
ii inhabited, thinking, whero human be-
ings dwelt, there dwelt also humanity
and compassion , but no was mistaken.
He asked for Il nights lodging ; il was
refused. Not one of the |mhospitable
inhabitants would accommodate HIM.
lie was therefore Obliged 10 seek shelf
er in a ueighboring wood. it IS hard
(said he) not 10 find a hospitahle roof 10
protect me against the mgiemencv oflhe
weather, ba God is jusf. and aedatcrc,'
bc does Is J0r tie host lie seated him
self beneath a tree, ligited his mp, aud
began to read the Lo@. lie had
scarcely read "A chapte when 4 violent
storm e%Xtinguishod the light, What! :
exclaimed he, must not be permitted
even to pursue my favorite study Int
God as jast, and whateoey he d0cs Is for
The best
He stretched himself on the bare
earth, willing, if possible, to have a few
hours sleep.-lle had scarcely closed
his eyes, when u fierce wolf came and
killed the cock What new misfortune
is this 2 calculated the astonished Aki-
ba-' My yigllant companion is zone !
Who then, will hencelorth awaken me
10 the study ofthe law But, God IS
Just he kaoWS best wkat Is good TO-,
as poor mOrtatS. '-Scarceiy had he fin
tshed the sentence, when a terrible lion
came and deyoured the ASST What Is
10 be done n0wt' cxellimcd the lonely
wanderer, { My lamp and my cock are
gone; my poor ass, too, IS gone-ll Is
gone! But praised he the Lord, phat-
eUer he d0cs isJor the best He pass
cd a Slceploss night, and early IN he
morning went 10 the village, 10 see
whether he could procure a horse OF aay
beast OF burden, TO enable him to pun
sue his journey. But what was hrs sur
prise, not to ind a single individual a.
live
1t appears that a band Of robbers
had entered The village during the night,
killed It's inhabitants, and ~plunduled then
houses. As soon as Akiba had suiii-
clently recovered from the amazemont
INTO winch this wonderful occurrence
had thrown him, he lifted up his voice
and exclaimed, 'Ihou great God, the
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, now
/ know by experience, that poor mortal
men are short sighted and blind : often
considering as evils, what IS intended lol
Their preservation Bm thou alone art
Just, and kind and merciiul! Had not
the hard-hearted people driven nc by
their inhospltality from the village, |
should asasredly have shared their fate.
Had not the wind %cxtinguished my lamp,
the robbers would have been drawn 10
tie spot, and have murdered ne. | per-
celve also tiat it was thy mercy which
deprived me of my two companions ,that
they might MOI, by their noise, give no
tee to the banditti where ! was. Prals-
ed, then, be thy lame for ever and ev-
er =
'1p0togue-ALExANDRR TIE GREAT.
Pursuing his journey through droa-
ny deserts and uncultiYated GROUND, A
%leXander came 10 a small %rjvulet, whose
waters gllded peacoablyalong thcir shei-
wing banks. Its smooth unrullled sur
face was the image OF co|ntoninicrf, ma
seemed in its silence TO say-th,s IS the
abode of tranquility aud peace. All
was still not a sound was heard, save
those soft Inurmuring tones which scene
ed 10 whisper into tire car Of the wear
traveller come and partake Of NJ
lures bounty and TO complain that
such offers should be made in vain. To
a ~contempIative mind, such a scene
might have suggested a thousand de-
Ightful reflections. But what charm
could it have for the soul Of an Alex
lander, whose breast was filed with
schemes Of ambition d conquest; whose
eye was faIniliarized with rappae and
slaughter and whose eais were accus-
toned to the clash Of arms-to the
groans ofthe wounded and dying On
wrrd, therefore, he marched, yet, over
come by fatigue and hunger, he was
soon obliged 10 stop he seated himself
on one Of the banks of the river, took a
draught Of water, which he found of a
very fine favor, and very refreshing ,
he then ordered some salt fish, with
which he was well provided. IN he