Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-02-09
TEIE gEngHIER:
A TALE OF JERUSALEM.
BY T. s. COYNE.

IT was fast approaching the eleventh hour
the busy hum of the Holy City had sunk int
comparative stiffness, ana save some Struggling
wayfdrers, and field laborers returning from
their daily toll, few passengers were to be seer
in the streets of Jerusalem. One mlddle-aget
man alone kept his seat in the War Gate, look
iDg with placid smile along the rugged roa1
which led down to the valley of Jehos aphat: Z
silver gerah was held between his fingers, as il
the act of giving aims; but for some minutes lie
object appeared on whom il might properly be
bestowed. He rose from his seat, and gather
ing his flowing robe around him, was preparing
to depart, when the figure of an aged man tot
terting slowly up the steep, arrested his atten-
ton. The oil man was meanly clad; and, as
he leant feebly on his staff to take breath after
his toilsome ascent, his glance rested upon the
person of the sage Rabbi Abmeech, for it was
he who sat in the gate distributing his daily
aims to the poor, the hungry, and the wayfar-
err.
s:The Lord direct thy goings out and thy
comings in" said the Rabbi, with a selt-satls-
fed smile, dropping the coin into the extended
palm of the stranger. "Lo! Ihave tarried from
the ninth hour, until the towers and pinnacles
of the Temple have thrown their dark shadows
across the brook of Cedron, even unto the base
of the Mount of Olives, To bestow this last ge-
rah of forty in aims, according to vow which
[ made last Pentecost, and beheld thou art here
to receive it,"
"PrecIous is the GIFT which cometh from the
heart, more precious than the Arabian franklin
ceDse, ana sweeter than the rich honey of He
bron. fl might know nv lords name, my
heart would not forget it when lift up my voice
in PRAYER to the Ruler of Israeli said the strang
err respectfully.
Il am called the Rabbi Abmelech."
Gle whom men term the The nless!-whose
voice is As the neighng of a war-horse in the
TempIe-whOse works are the works of rlsh-
teouSness-who clothes the nakei, feeds hung
nv, and gives aims of the tenth part of his sub
stance?' asked the stranger.
''The same, answere the seif-gloriiei dab
BIZ: sand now. let me pray OF thee they max,
and in what city thon art dweller!
'Alasl' answered the stranger, 81 am as a
reproach 10 my kindred and my name is de-
Element to the lips of an IsraeIita.'
Unfortunate man in what hast thou offended
against the lawT
"In this thing have offended. Behold,
went forth at the last vintage season into the
VINEYARDS, and the vintagers were pressing the
grapes in the wine presses, and the red wine of
Lebanon-and. being weary with the toll and
heat of the day, was tempted, and ia foolish
ness did drink of the wine, which should have
been an abomination unto me, seeing | am a
Nazarite from nv youth
The scrupulous Rabbi shrank from the de-
graded Israelie as from tainted leper, and ell
waiting his brow, said, with sanctmonious air,
s'The way of the wise man is pleasant, but the
feet of the fool trcadeth in the mirc."
''Stor," said the stranger, the Rabbi was
departing. SIS it not also said that the vain
glorious man shall fall in the snares of his own
proud hcart!' Rabbi Abimelcch, thy life has
been righteous, bat fire hath not yet tried, nor
ichea The time c0me,h!'
AT these words the stranger, with more alert
ness than his seeming feebleness indicated,
turned in an obscure street, while A5im- lech,
ponderng on the warning of the strange mao,
took bis way towards his own dwelling. On
reaching his house AbImclech retired to his
own chamber. 1t was d small closet or OratO-
~ on the honse-t0p, furnished in a STYLE Of sim
pI;city approaching TO ru lenes>, and its cold.
claerless a,np4;aGre was increased by the dim
twilight. There was still. however, suilici mt
ligh; for Abim Iech tn distinguish Il female fig
ure standing in a thoughtful attitude in the cen
tire of the apartment. a rich mellow ray fell
mon her shape, which exceeded in height the
usual standard of her sex, but was 50 exquisite
lv prooOrtioned as to convey only an idea of
graceful dignity to the heholder. Her eve, as
she turned it upon Abim6ecll. seemed dark and
lustruus. and her smile was as sunbeam upon
the bosom of the still waters. The Rabbi stood
motione,s. for he n yer had behpl 50 much
beauty: a new pulse stirred in his bosom, and
an unusual fire burned in his veins. A. length
he found words to express his admiration an
astonishment. .'Fair damsel,'' cried h. ''tbv
visit is unforeseen: but thon art more welcnme
to my chamber than the pleasant order of the
young vines in the spring season."
81 am said the abashed intru Ter, while a
roseate blush overspread the marble whlteness
of her soft cheek and lofty brow, 81 am, as yon
may perceive, a stranger and gentle, unwor-
thy to come beneath the roof of the tar-famcd
Rabbi Abimelech, the words of whose lips are
wisdom, and whose precepts are as pearls OF
great price. Nevertheless, let thy handmalden
find favor in thy sight. and turn aside, pray
thee unto my lodgings, which are nigh at hand.
and let thy handmaden rejoice In the light OF
thy countenance, and in the sweet sound of thy
voice."
The Rabbi, though surprised at this novel adj
dressed, felt strange sensation thrill through
his frame. Gazing upon the lovely speaker,
his RESTITUTION pegah 10 waNti' NM aiho',
unconscously, he permitted himself TO be leo
out by his unknown visIter. Proceedlng AT
raoid Dape towards the western part of the city,
thew at length stopped before house of hand
some exterior, but which Abimelech could not
remember ever having seen before. single
tap at the door caused it to open, and the Rabbi,
still following his mysterious conductor, enter
ed hall, feebIy, lighted with a single lamp =
Here she motiOned him tn remain for a short
time, and disappearing through passage, the
Rabbi was left alone to mediate upon the strange
adventure in which he was engaged. But he
had little time allowed him for reflection, ere
the heavy folds of a curtain, which overhung
small door, were partially withdrawn, and q
fair hand, and a sweet, scft voice, invited hin
to enter. He approached, lifted upthe curtain