Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-05-07

den ray of light had darted on his mind
"speak on"
"Aarou Ben Rabiat is well stricken in
years, and liveth alone-rchcs to him are
as the dust of the eartt-tllcre is private
way from thy house to his"
"Stop, STOP" cried the agitated man,
grasping the arm Of the temptcr, convulsive-
~ "what wouldst thou Shall 1 peril my
soul in this thing Zorah, Zorah thy words
are pleasant TO my ears as the murmur Of
falling waters in the desert, but the bitterness
of death is in their observation-disclosures, in
this also will obey thce.''
"About it then Instantly" SAID Zorah, ris-
ing; "thou knowest the private passages into
the old miscr's chamber take this dagger
thou mayst need it and when thou hast Sc
cured the treasure, return quickly hither,
and all things shall be ready for OR flight.
Abimclech, whose scruples had, by this
time, completely vanished, was no less eager
than his impctuous mistress to accomplish the
deed-he darted, with incredible speed,
through the now silent streets, and quickly
reached his own dwelling. Lighting small
lamp, he entered private passage, which,
in time of danger, had been contrived bet
ween the two houses, and in few moments
he found himself in the strong chamber of
of Aaron Ben Rabiat.
Around him lay Golfers Of gold and silver
coin, and caskets charged with precious
stones, that trembled with varied but inces-
SAINT lustre in the sickly beams Of the lamp
which he bore. He had raised one jewel
box to his eyes to exemlne il more closely,
when, slipping from his fingers, it fell on the
floor with loud crash: and the next mo-
mcnt the alarmed miser rushed into the apart
ment. Seeing stranger, at such an hour,
IN the sanctuary of the god of his idolatry,
he uttered piercing scream, and throwing
himself upon the robber, grappled him with
an almost supernatural strength. Vainly did
Abmelech endeavor to escape from the old
mans grasp, or to still his screams-every
moment increased his danger-he heard the
steps Of persons ascending the stairs-not an
nstan, was to be Iost-the dagger which
Zorah had given him was in his girdle-hc
drew it, and plunged it to the heart of the
old man. A piercing shrek rang through
the chamber, and the unfortunate Aaron
/ DcH RuUlut lclI llltiltSS VII tiIC llOOis
of providing for his safety, the guilty rabbi
stood petrifed over the quivering body Of his
victim, watching the life-stream swelling
from his side in bubbling tide. When
the persons attracted by the pubicans
screams entered the room, he made no at
tempt to escape, but surrendered himself
quietly into their hands. He was instantly
hurried away TO prison, and, amid the revl-
ings of the crowd, was plunged into moi
some dungeon, to await the public ignominy
of trial on the following day, in the sight OF
that people before whom he had set himself
up as an example righteousness. Dashing
himself recklessly on the earth, he lay with
ing in bitter agony, cursing the hour of his
birth and the fatal madness which led his steps
from the paths of virtue when, suddenly
ray of light illuminated his prison-t was
Zorah her eyes dark orbs still shone with
undiminished lustre, but there was in the
proud smile Which curlcd her elevated lip
an expression of demoniac triumph, which
chilled the rabbits blood. Hiding his face
in his hands, he exclaimed
"False tcmpter, BECOME. have done thy
bidding and, 10 innocent blood is upon my
hands. am broken and trodden under foo
like dcfled thing. The cup of my pride
has been filled with gall. Depart, therefore
. pray thee, lest, in the bitterness of m;
. pride has been filled with gall. Depart
therefore, pray thee, lest, in the bitterness
Of my wrath, curse thee Also"
"Rabbi Abimclcch, it is said the vain
glorious man shall fall in the snares of hi
: own heart. The time is come, and tho,
f couidst not stand FAST"
"Racca art thou there = shouted Abb
. mclech, as he recognized IN the speaker tn,
: voice of the mendcant to whom he hat
given aims at the Watergate on the previous
evening.
S Burning with rage, he seized the prophe
of evil by the throat; but the strength of tn
old man far exceeded his own, and he fun
; him to the earth with violence that shool
, his frame. Starting up, he beheld not tn
e old beggar of the Watergatc nor the temple
S ZOrah. He was alOne-not in the dungeon
f of prison, but seated in his little chamber
n witha yellow harvest moon streaming throug
the lattice. Several minutes elapsed bcfor
S he could convince himself that the horrors h
C had undergone were but the airy painting O
a dream; and then, prostrating himself o
: the ground, he exclaimed, in the fulncss @
o his heart
sit is Il lesson from the Lord was prou
of my own strength, aed when the temple
h came, was delivered to the evil one"
}, From that day forward, the Rabbi Abb
: mclech walked in the paths of humility. II
: had experienced the dangers of self-con6
dence, and he learned to pity rather tina
] condemn those, who, like himself, had fal
il len in the struggle with THE TEMPER.
u VESUVIUS, HERCULANECM an,
!. POM Dell uSlA