The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-29

| coHputatlon L ne room was ughted by
carbuncle, which, from the end of the hall,
poured its ever living light, brighter than the
rays of noontide, but cooler than the gentle
radiance of the dewy moon. This was sore
trial on the rabbi; but he was strengthened
| from above, and he refused again.
"Ihou knowest me, then, 1 perceive, 0
Jochonan, son of Ben David said the prince
| Of the Mazikin.
81 am demon, who would tempt thee to
destruction. As thou hast withstood so far, Il
tempt thee no more. Thou hast done SER
vice, though value it not, as acceptable in
| the sight of her whose love is dearer to me
than the light of life. Sad has been that love
to thee, my Rebecca! Why should do that
which would make thy cureless grief more
grievouss You have yet 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 a mean and paltry apartment, without
|
able lunches of rusty keys, of all sizes, dis
posed without order. Among them, to the
astonishmeut of Jochonan, hung the keys of
his own house, those which he had put to
hide when he came on this miserable journey;
and he gazed upon them intently
"What dost thou see," said the demon,
'that makes thee look SO eagerly Can he
who has refused silver and gold and diamonds,
be moved by paltry bunch of rusty irons'
"They are mine own, my lord" said the
rabbi "them will 1 take, if they be offered
me-"
"Take them, them said the demon, put
ting them into his hand 'thou mayest de-
part. But, rabbi, open not thy house only,
when thou returnest to Cairo, but thy heart
also That thou didst not open it before, was
that which gave power over thee. 1t was
well that thou didst one act of charity in
coming with me without reward for it has
been thy salvation. Be no more Rabbi Joch-
oman the miser.'
The rabbi bowed to the ground, and blessed
the Lord for his escape. 'But how said he,
"am to return for 1 know not why"
"Close thine eyes," said the demon. He
did so, and in the space of moment, heard
the voice of tie prince of the Maxim order
7 ing 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. H
When he recovered from his surprise, and
had offered thanksgiving to God, he opened
his house and his heart also. lie gave aims 10
the moor he cheered the heart Of the widow.
and lightened the restitution of the orphan.
His hospitable board was open to the stranger,
and his purse was at the service OF all VINO
needed to share it. His life was perpetual
act of benevolence, and the blessings showereo
upon him by all were returned bountifully up
ON him by the hand of Goo. a
: But people wondered and said, els not this
the man who was called Rabbi Jochonan the
. misers What hath made the change. and
it became saying in Cairo. When it came
to the ears of the rabbi he called his TRENDS
together, and he avowed his former love OF
gold, and the danger to which it had exposed
him, relating all which has been above told
in the hall of the new palace that he built by
the side of the river on the left hand. as thou
goest down the course of the great stream
. And wise men, who were scribes, wrote 1t
down from his mouth, for the memory OF
mankind, that they might profit thereby
And venerable man, with beard of snow,
who had read it in these books, and at whose
feet sat, that l might learn the wisdom OF