The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-05-29

Nor distance, nor time, love, shall sever
My hsart-so devoted--from thine @i
s., g THuBBER cARrHA.
THE RABBI
81 AND THE DEAD TAx-GATIERER.
By j. HonwIrz.
Rabbi was accustomed to visit lonely burial
place, situated far from the noisy haunts ofmen,
where he daily passed some hours in contempla-
ton among the tombs. "
Once, upon entering this silent city ofthe dead,
he was met by man who carried upon his
shoulders bundle of faggots, which would have
been NO light burthen for an OK The man seem
ed, however, to move as swiftly and easily as if
he carried no load. The Rabbi, requesting him
20 stay, spake il this wise -: :,
Ny son why dost thou labor SO hard lfthou
arta slave, will ransom thee: if poverty forces
thee to labor thus, will assist thee" E,
But the man said :-ssMy lord, let me 60.
dare not stand still
Rabbi Akiba again questioned him: cart thou
man or an evil spirit Z" sEa4 zsf
3 ..Neither my lord" answered the man; ssbut
am . dead man compelled to daily enter the
forest and hew wood which bear to certain
place, where I pile it, and kindle it with FIRE.
Lam then cast upon the burning pile; but no
sooner have the flames consumed me, than am
dayly toll and suffering;
Then spake Rabbi Akiba 81 conjure thee to
tell what were thy sins ?"
ii The dead man answering, said "While liy-
ing, i was a gatherer of taxes from the rich
took but little, that might please them and
gain their favor; but the poor oppressed, taking
nearly their all. !" 49, 5.se7 5ssas4 ~. !
muir Of many hollow-toned voices was heard in
the distance At this the dead man trembled,
b II may not tarry longer, Rabbi Dost thou
not hear the voices of evil spirits calling upon
me They will eangered greatly if I come not
SOON 81 tlfi.. Ii Or. sss5 s:sE sa3, 7<a5 81,
Then Rabi Akiba said :--.sUnhappy spirit, /
pity thee, and will not detain thee much longer.
But before we part, would have thee inform
me if there is ought can do to redeem thee out
of the Gehennam?" ia .5.'1s'' .4' 5'
The spirit answered 81 have often heard the
evil spirits say concerning me, IF he had son
who would pray for him when ten are gathered
together; who would praise and sanctify the name
Of the Most High; he might suffer less, and e.
ven gain entrance to the Gan Eden, or abode
of the blessed. But, alas! know not that
have son. A son or daughter suppose have,
vet know not which; and even if my wife has
blessed me with a son, who was there to teach
him the law, that he might pray for me Alas!
did not leave my wife in abject poverty!''re-l,-
Then spake the Rabbi; .What is thy name:."
ssMy name was Hannah. !" AZ -. +.
ssAnd thy wife So asa.3aEf... .saresG s,5
aShushmirah my lord" ..5,'- r..
"Where didst thou reside ?" p.
In Alduka." T.sssa 5a.. 81. sl.7 .1-
Scarcely had the dead man uttered the last
words when he disappeared.
Rabbi Abika, lost in his reflections, with slow
and pensive steps wandered back towards the ci,
ty. He Immediately gave orders to have his ass
saddled, and after embracing and blessing his
wife and children, he departed on long and un-
certain journey to find Alduka, the former resi-
dence Of Hannah. He wandered over sandy
deserts, crossed seas, made inquiries from town
to town, until he came near the vicinity of that
where Aaninah used to live '@" ~
The sun was just disappearing from the hori-
ron and waiting its golden rays to another hem
isphere, when some maidens came out of the
town to draw water from certain fountain, Rab-
bisAkiba addressed them thus:
"Young maidens, peace be unto you: can you
inform me where one Hannah used to live ?"
They knew not. He entered the town and
made inquiries from house to house. The in
habitants were all astonished that such man as
as Rabi Akiba should inquire after so wick
ed a family, each one adding on pronouncing
the name Of either Hannah OF his family, "May
their name and memory be blotted out from a.
mong Israel" None know what became of
them. The Rabbi at last arrived at the house
Of an humble widow, who after mentioning her
surprise that such man as Rabbi Akibah sho'd
inquire after so low and wicked family, inform
ed him that Hannah had died long ago, and
that there was no doubt that he was resident
Of Gehinnam, or place Of evil spirits. He then
inquired what became of Haninah's widow
She answered, she knew not He then inqui-
red if Hannah had child living. She answer
ed that he had son; but even he had not been
instructed in the rites Of his religion. Indeed,
the people of the town would have no commun-
ion with Rabbi Akiba, on account of the inter-
est he seemed to take about that mathematical
family This, however, did not slacken Rabbi
Akibah's exertions he left no place unscarch-
ed, until he found the lad. 3iiil,g Hs4sds,#ss
As soon rs he got possession Of him, the good
man took the boy with him to the city Of Hebron,
and solely occupied himself from morning until
evening, with his instruction, in order TO enable
him TO say his prayers, In vain did he try eve,
~ method; the lad had no capacity to receive
instruction. This grived Rabbi Akibn, much
and he gave himself up to Hastings and praye,
for forty days on account of the lad that the Lore
God, the Most high, the Holy One, blessed b.
He, might open the lads heart and enlarge his
mind. 4ht3e
A voice then came from heaven and called
out, .Akibst Atiba! Why prayest thou !,
The Rabbi answered, 80! Lord God for tn
08ke Oh AUIuHuAiS AbuuC 0Au S0VoUS nave AACAS
upon HaDinah's son, enlarge his capacity, tina
he may be able to receive my instruction. saes
The voice then answered, ssTeach him. !" 4
Rabbi Akiba thereupon renewed his exertions
and ia short time, the lad was able to pray, 4
read ! part Of the law, and even to perform III.
eighteen blessings, before q congregation. Ha
pinah was soon released from the Gehinnam
and entered into the Gan Eden, the abode 0
bliss.
"A vision then appeared 70 Rabbi Akiba, in
dream, and called him Akiba?"
He answered, "Here am !.
The vision then uttered these words, "Tht
Holy One, blessed be He, shall give thee thy
fewsxd ia this world 70 come. am Hannah
md through thy exertionsl have inherited ever
laSGing bliSas ~ s 81
Then Rabbi Akiba exclaimed, aThy name,
Lord, 9endureth for ever, aud thy memorial, c
Lord, throngh bout III generations''
m this tory w ne instructed that piou.
aon nav raise his father from the Gehinnam 4
the abodes Of the blessed. Therefore LET every
one bring ND his children to the study Of the ho
Iws1.w s;efv md 0ood deeds gsd