Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-01-29
THE TIE MPTER.
A HEBREW TALE,

One middle-agcd man alone kept his seat in
the Water-gatc, looking with placid smile
along the roap which led down to the valley
of Jehoslaphat. A silver gcral,. was held
between his fingers, as in the act of giving
aims; but for some minutes no object APP
pcarcd on whom il might properly be be-
slowed. He rose from his seat, and gather
ing his cloak around him, was preparing TO
depart, when the figure of an old man, tot
tering slowly up the steep, arrested his at
tent,on. The old man was mcanly clead,
and as lie lcant fcebly on his staff to take
breath, after his toll some ascent, his glance
rested upon the person of the sage Rabbi
Abimelech-for it was he who sat in the gate
distributing his aims to the poor, the hungry,
and the wayfarcr.
"Thc Lord direct thy goings-out and thy
comings-in," said the rabbi, witha self-satis-
fed smile, dropping the coin into the extend
cd palm of the stranger. "Lo l have tar
rcd from the ninth hour, until the towers
and pnnaccs of the temple have thrown their
dark shadows across the brook of Ccdron,
even unto the base of the Mount of Olives,
to bcstow this last of forty gcrahs IN an aims,
according to a vow whicl, made last Pente-
cost and behold, thou art here to receive
it,"
Precious is the gift which cometh from the
heart more precious than the Arabian
trankinccnsc, swectcr than the rich honey of
Hebron. If might know my lords name,
my heart would not forget il when lift up
my voice in prayer TO the Ruler of Israeli"
said the stranger respectfully.
81 am called the Rabbi Abmelcch."
Gle whom men term the sinlcss-whosc
voice is as the neighlng of a warlorse in the
temple whose works are the works of right
teousncss who clotllc the naked, feeds the
hungry, and givcth aims of the tenth part of
his substance!" asked the stranger.
"The samc," answered the self glorificd
rabbi, ''and now let me pray of thee they
name; and in what city art thou dwcllcr!"
"Alas !" answered the stranger, 81 am a
rcproach to my kindred, and my name is "A
delllcmcnt to the lips Of an lsraclitc."
"tnfortunatc man. in what hast thou Of
Tended against the law! -
"In this thing have offended. Behold,
went forth a, the last vintage season into the
vineyards, and the vintagers were pressing
the grapes into the VINE presses; and the
red wine ran into tho watts, even the rcd wine
Of Lebanon; aud being weary with the toll
and heat of the day, was tempted, and, in
my fooisl,ness, did drink of the wine which
should have been an abominaton unto me,
seeing that am a Nazari,c from my you'll" v
The scrupulous rabbi shrunk from the de-
graded lsraelitc as from tainted lepcr, and
eIcvating his brow, said with "A sanctimo-
NOUS air, "Tle way of the wise man is
pleasant, but the feet of the fool tread in the
mirc."
"Stop," said the stranger, as the rabbi
was departing. SIS it not also said tina, the
vain glorious man shall fall in the snarcs Of
his own proud heart? Rabbi Abimelccl,t thy
life has been righteous but fire hath not We,
tried thee, nor the water purified thee. SEE
that thou stand fast mhcn the time cometh.'
AT these words the stranger, with more
alcrtncss than his seeming fecblencss indi-
Gated, turning into an obscure street, Will,
Abimclech, bordering on the warning of the
strange man, took his way towards his OWL
dwelling. Upon reaching his house, Abr
mclcch retired TO his private chamber. Ii
was small closet, or oratorio, on the house.
top. furnished in a style of simplicity APP
preaching to rudcncss, and cold, its cherries
appearance being increased by the dim twi.
light. There was still, however, sufficient
light for Abimclech to distinguish female Fl.
CURE standing IN thoughtful position in the
centre of the apartment. A rich, mellow
ray fell upon her figure, which exceeded If
height the usual standard of her sex, but We
so exqusitely propor'ioncd, as to convey
only an idea Of graceful dignity in the be.
holder. Her eye, as she turned it upon abb
melech, seemed dark and lnsrous, and hcl
Is smile was the sunbeam on the bosom of the
still waters. The rabbi stood lhundcr-struck
for he never before had bcIlcId so much beau.
ty; new pulse stirred IN his bosom, and al
unusual fire burned in his veins. At length
he found words to express his admiration ant
!, astonshmcnt.
"Fair damsel," he cried, "thy visit IS un
foreseen but thou art more welcome to M,
chamber than the pleasant odor of the young
vines III the spring season. In what can
do thee scrvc.."
81 am" said the abashed intruder, Will,
ne roseate blush ovcrsprcad the marble white
y. ness of her soft check and lofty brow, So
n. am, as you may perceive, IA stranger and
ce Gentle, unworthy to come beneath the roo
ct, of the far famed Rabbi Abimccch, the word
"a of whose lips are wisdom, and prcccpts ar,
Of as pearls Of great price; nevertheless, L.
in thy handmaiden find favor IN thy sight, an,
Oh turn aside, pray thee, unto my lodgings
- which dre nishTal hand, and let thy hand
- -. maiden rejoice in the light of thy countc
e. nance, and in the sweet sound of thy voice
:" The rabbi, though surprised at this mor
ne than novel address, felt strange sensation
al thrill tl'ro' his frame. Gazngupon the love
~ speaker, his resolution began to wavc
er and almost unconscious y he permitted him
It'll sell to be led out by his unknown visitor
ms Proceeding alta rapid pace toward the west
ge ern quarter of the city, they at length stop
nt ped before house of handsome exterior, b.,
which Abimelech could not remember @
y, having seen before. A single tap at the doc
b. caused II to open, and the rabbi, still follow
~ ~ ing his mysterious conductor, entered ha
~ fecbly lighted by single lamp. Here sh
ar motioned him to remain for short time, AN
10 disappearing through passage, the rabl