Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-08-16
MONTPELIER, FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1914.

bnt Jochonan refused again; and the prince Of
the Mazlkin opened the door Of q third chamber
which was called the Hall of Diamonds. When
the raob entered, he screamed aloud, and put his
hands over his eyes; for the lustre of the Jewels
dazzed him, as if he had looked upon the noond,y
SUM- In vases Of agate were heapcd diamonds be
yond Enumeration, the smallest Of which was larger
than pigeons egg. On alabaster tables lay anne
thysts opazes rubies, beys, and all other precious
stones, wrought by the hands of skilluI artists be
yond power of computation. The room was light.
ed by carbuncle, which from the end of the hull
poured its everything light, brighter than the rays
OF noonlide, but cooler than the gentle radiance of
the de"y moon. This was a sore trial on the rab
bl but he was Strengthened from above, and he
refused again.
Thou knowest mo, them perceive, o Jocho.
man, son OF Bcn-David, said the prince of the MAJ
iln' - am demon, who would tempt thee 10
destruction. AS thou hast withstood so far ,emDt
thee no more. Thou hast done a service, which,
though value 1t not is acceptable in the sight of
her whose love is dearer to me than the lirht of
lite. Sad hls been that love to thee, nv Rehecca
why should do that which would make thy cure
less grief more grievons? You have vet another
chamber to see" said he to Jochonan, who had
closed his eyes, and was praying fervently to the
Lord, beating his breast.
Far different from the other chambers, the one
into which the rabbi was next introduced was
mean and paltry apartment, without furniture. On
Us h'thy walls hung nnumemble bunches of rusty
Keys, OF all sizes, disposed without order. Among
them, TO the establishment of Jochonnn, hung the
Keys Of his own house, those which he had put to
hide when he came Oh this miserable journey and
he gazed upon them intentlv,
"What dost thou see" said the demon, "that
makes thee look so eagerly? CA he who has re.
fused silver end gold, and diamonds, be moved by
paltry bunch of rusty iron ?"
Ihey are mine own, my lord" said the rabbi ::
them lp If fhpy bo IF,
Take them them" said the demon, putting them
INTO his hand: "thou mayest depart But rabbi,
open not thy house only, when tho returnest 10
Cairo but thy heart also. That thou ddst not open
1t before was that which gave Inc power over thee
II was well that hou didst act of charity in COM
ing with me without reward for it has been thy
salvation. BE no more Rabbi Jochonan the miser"
The rabbi bowed TO the ground and blessed the
Lord Tor his escape. But how" said he cam
TO return for know not the way"
close thine eyes," said the demon. lie did so,
ana, IN the space Of moment, heard the voice of
the prince of the Mezkin ordering him to open
them again. And, behold, when he opened them.
he stood in the centre of his own chamber, in his
house at Cairo, with the keys in his hand
w men he recovered trou his surprise, and had
offered thaDksglvngs to God, he opened his house,
and his heart also lie gave alms to the poor he
cheered the heart of the widow, and ightened the
restitution Of the orphan. His hospitabe board
VIC "Pch w iHe stTuIgcT, ana Ills purse WIS at the
service OF all who needed to share it, His life was
a perpetual act of benevolence, and the blessings
showered upon him by all were returned bountlful-
~ upon hlnl by the hand of God.
But people wondered and said, is not this the
man who was called Rabbi Jochonan the niser p
What hath made the chonGe?' and it became a
saying in Cairo. When it came to The ears of the
RABBI he called his friends together, sad he avowed
his former love Of gold, and The danger to which it
had exposed him, relating al which has been above
told, in the hall Of the palace that he built by
the SIDE OF the river, on the left hand thou GO
est down the course Of the great stream. And wise
men, who were scrIbes, wrote it down from his
mouth, Tor the memory Of mankind, that they might
profit thereby. And1 venerable nan, with beard
OF snow, who had read it in these books, and at
whose feet sat, that might learn the wisdom of
the old time, tod it to NE. Aud write it in the
tongue of England, the merry and the flee, on the
tenth day OF the month Nissan, in the year, accor-
hlng to the lesser stipulation, five hundred ninety
and seven, that thou mayest learn good thereof; If
not, the fault be upon thee.