Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-05-06

tootS HONOA huClCSS, Ill tlllS dlSO VIII
obey thee"
$50 about it then, instantly said 10:
rah. raising "thou knowest the private
passage into the old miser's chamber
Take this weapon--thou mayest need it
--and when thou has secured the treas
ure, return quickly hither, and all things
shall be ready for our flight"
Abimelech, whose scruples had by this
time completely vanished, was noless ca
ger than his impetuous mistress to ac-
complish the deed; he ran with incredi-
BILE speed through the now silent streets,
and quickly reached his own dwelling.
Lighting a small lamp, he entered a pri-
vate passage, which in times Of danger
had been contrived between the two
houses, and in a few minutes found him
selfin the strong chamber Of Aaron Ben
Rabiat,
Around him lay Golfers filled with
gold and silver coins, and caskets charged
with precious stones, that trembled with
varied but incessant lustre in The sickly
beams of the lamp he bore. He had rails
ed one jewel box to his eyes, to examine
it more closely, when, slipping from his
fingers, it fell to the floor with loud
crash, and the next moment the alarmed
miser rushed into the apartment. See
ing stranger, at such an hour, in the
sanctuary Of the god of his idolatry, he
uttered a piercing scream, and throwing
himself upon the robber, grappled him
with almost supernatural strength
Vainly did Abimelcch endeavor to es-
cape from the old mans grasp, or to still
his screams: every moment increased
his danger: he heard the steps Of per-
sons ascending the stairs: not an instant
was to be lost; the dagger Zorah had
given him was in his girdle; he drew it,
and plunged it into the heart of the old
man. A piercing shrek rung through
the chamber, and the unfortunate Aaron
Ben Rabiat fell lifeless on the floor. In
stead Of providing for his safety, the gull
ty Rabbi stood petrifed with horror
over the quiyering body of his victim,
watching the life-stream yelling from
his side in bubbling tide. When the
persons attracted by the publican's
screams entered the room, he made no
attempt to escape, but surrendered him
selfqnietly into their hands. He wa:
instantly hurried to prison, and amidst
the revellngs of the crowd, was plunget
into dark, noisome dungeon, to awai
the public ignominy of a trial on the fol
lowing day, in the sight of that people
before whom he had set himself up as ar
example ofrighteousness. Dashing him
selfon the earth, he lay writhing in bit
ter agony, cursing the hour Of his birth
and the fatal madness which had led his
steps from the paths of virtue when sud
denly ray of light Illuminated his pris
on-he looked up-it was Zorah. Hel
eyes dark orbs still shone with undimin
lshed lustre; but there was in the prouc
smile which curled her elevated lip ar
expression of demoniac triumph, which
chilled the Rabbits blood. Hiding his
face in hi. robe, he exclaimed:
False tempter, begone. have done
thy bidding-and lol innocent blood is
upon my hands. I am broken and trod'
den under foot like defled thing. The
cup Of my pride has been filled with gall
Depart, therefore, Ipray thee, lest in the
bitterness ofmywrath | curse thee also.
Rabbi Abimelech, it is said the 'vane.
glorious man shall fall in the snare his
own heart The time hath come, and thou
couIdst not stand fast"
"Racca art thou there shouted Alb
imelech, as he recognized in the speaker
the voice of the mendicant to whom he
had given aims at the water-gate on the
previous evening. Burning with rage.
he seized the prophet Of evil by the
throat; but the strength of the old man
far exceeded his own, and he flung him
to the earth with a violence that shook
his frame. Starting up he beheld, not
.theold begger of the Water-gate, nor
the tempter Zorah. He was alone, not
in the dungeon Of prison, but in his
little chamber, with a ayellow harvest
moon streaming through the lattice
Several minutes elapsed before he could
convince himself that the horrors he had
undergone were but the ary painting of a
dream, and then prostrating himself up
on the ground, he exclaimed in the full
ness of his heart, it is, a lesson from the
Lord was proud of my own strength,
and when the trial came, l was deliver
ed to the evil one"
From that day forth the Rabbi Abim-
elech walked in the paths Of humility
He had experienced the dangers ofself-
confidence, and he learned to pity rather
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