Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-05-06
$oings out and
III, with a self
coin into the
sger;a $40 ! ! !
us and pinnacIes Of the TempI


Thrown their dark shades across
Rbrook of Cedron, even unto the base
III the Mount of Olives, to bestow this last
gerah of forty in an aims, according to a
vow which made last Penticost, and bel
hold thou art here to receive it."
"Precious is the gift which cometh
from the heart, more precious than the
Arabian frankincense, and sweeter than
the rich honey of Heborn. If might
know my lords name, my heart would
not forget it when lift up my voice in
prayer to the Ruler of Israeli" said the
stranger respectfully.
al am called Rabbi Abimelechp
"He whom men term { The sinless 2
whose voice is as the neigkng of a
war-horse in the Temple-whose works
are the works Of righteousness-who
clothes the naked, feeds the hubgry, and
give aims Of the tenth part of his sub
stance :" asked the stranger.
"The same," answered the self. .glorif-
ed Rabbi; sand now. letme pray thee,thy
name and in what city thou art a dweler?''
"Alas p answered the stranger, Z" am
as reproach to my Kindred, and my
name is a defilement to the lips of an Is
raelite."
Unfortunate man! in what hast thou
offended against the law!"
I" In this thing have ] offended. Be-
hold, | went forth at the last vintage sea.
son into the vineyards, and the vintagers
were pressing the grapes in the wine
presses; and the red wine ran into the
watts, even the red wine of Lebanon-and
being weary with the toll and the heat O
the day, ! was tempted, and in foollshness
did drink of the wine, which should
have beenean abomination unto me, see.
ing that am aNazarite from my youth
The scrupulous Rabbi shrank from the
degraded Israelite as from tainted lc.
per, and elevating his brow, said, with
a sanctimonious air, "The day Of the
wise man is pleasant, but the feet of the
fool treadeth in the mire."
"Stop," said the stranger, as the Rabb
was departing. dis not also said that the
I vain glorious man shall fall in the snare.
ofhs own proud hearth" Rabbi Alb
:. imelech, thy life has been righteous, bu
fire hath not yet tried, nor water purifi
ed thee. See that thou stand fast aohe'
the time cometh."
At these words the stranger, witt
more alertness than his seeming feeble
ness indicated, turned into an obscure
street, while Abimelech, pondering OF
the warning of the strange man, tool
his way toward his own dwelling. Or
reaching his house, Abimelech retired tc
his own chamber. 1t was small close,
or oratory on the house-top, furnished in
a style of simplicity approaching to rude.
ness, and its cold cherries appearance
was increased by the dim twilight
There was still, however, sufficient light
for Abimelech to distinguish female fig.
: ure standing in thoughtful attitude in
the centre of the apartment A rich
mellow ray fell from her shape, which
exceeded in height the usual standard
other sex, but was so exquisitely proper.
toned as to convey only an idea ofgrace-
full dignity to the behoIder Her eye,
as she turnedit-upon Abimelech, seemed
dark and lustrous, and her smile was as
a sunbeam upon the bosom of the still
waters. The Rabbi stood motionless, for
he never before had beheld so much
beauty a new pulse stirred in his bosom,
and an unusual fire burned in his veins.
At length he found words to express his
admiration and astonishment. "Fair
damsel," cried he, "thy visit is unfore-
seen; but thou art more welcome to my
chamber than the pleasant odour Of the
young vines in the spring"
81 am," said the abashed Intruder,
while aroseate blush overspread the mar
bic whiteness of her soft cheek and lofty
brow, T" | am, as you may perceive,
a stranger and Gentle, unworthy to
come beneath the roof of the far-famed
Rabbi Abimeech, the words of whose
/ lips are wisdom, and whose precepts are
as pearls Of great price. Nevertheless,
let thy handmaiden find favor in thy
sight, and turn aside, | pray thee, unto
my lodgings, which are nigh at hand,
and let thy handmaiden rejoice in the
light of thy countenance, and in the
sweet sound of thy voice." The Rabbi,
though surprised at this novel address,
felt strange sensation thrill through his
frame. Gazing upon the lovely speaker,
his resolution began to waver, and, al
most unconsciously, he permitted him
self to be led out by his unknown visiter.
Proceeding at rapid pace toward the
western quarter of the city, they at
lenotb stonned before a honse of hand