Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1851-185?, 1852-11-10

tuun tuOu spOrlesI Win the gray mars OF age
thy days are numbered Wo unto him who
insults the hoary head /"
The stranger made some excuse, and they
journeyed on some little further in silence
The darkness grew less; and the astonished
rabbi, lifting up his eyes, found that they had
come to the gates of city which he had
never before seen. Yet he knew all the cities
Of the land Of Egypt, and he had walked but
half an hour from his dwelling in Cairo So
he knew not what to think, but followed the
man with trembling
They soon entered the gates Of the city,
which was lighted up as if there were a festi-
val in every house. The streets were full Of
jewellers; and nothing but a sound Of joy
could be heard But when Jochonan looked
upon their faces, they were the faces Of men
panied within and he saw, BY the marks they
bore, that they we're Mazikin.* He was ter
rifed in his soul; and by the light Of the
torches, he looked also upon the face Of his
companion, and, behold! he saw upon him.
too the mark that showed him to be demon.
The rabbi feared excessively; almost to faint
ing but hc thought it better to be silent;
and sadly he followed his guide, who brought
him to a splendid house, in the most magnif-
cent quarter Of the city.
Enter here, said the demon to Jochonan,
for this house is mine. The lady and the
child are in the upper chamber" And. ac-
cordingly, the sorrowlul rabbi ascendcd the
stair to find them.
The lady, whose dazzling beauty was shrou-
ded BY melancholy beyond hope, lay in bed
the child, with rich raiment, slumbered on
the lap Of the nurse, by her side
have brought to thee, light Of my eyes"
said the demon, "Rsbecca, beloved Of my
soul have brought thee Rabbi Jochonan,
the wise, whom thou didst desire. Let him.
then, speedily begin his Office. shall fetch
all things necessary; for he is in haste to de-
part"
lie smiled bitterly as he said these words,
looking at the rabbi, and left the room, fol.
lowed BY the nurse.
When Jochonan and the lady were alone,
she turned in the bed towards him, and said l.
Unhappy man that thou art knoWest
thou where thou hast been brought ?"
i do" said he, with a heavy groan 4" 1
know that | am in the city Of the Mazikin =
Know then. further" said she-and the
tears gushed from eyes brighter than the dia-
mond-" know then, further that no one is
ever brought here, unless he hath sinned be-
fore the Lord. What my sin hath been i'm
ports not to thee; and seek not to know
thine. But here thou rcmainest forever
lost, even as am lost" And she wept again.
The rabbi dashed his turban on the ground
and tearing his hair, exclaimed, "Wo is me
Who art thou, woman, that spealiest to me
thus ?"
II am Hebrew woman" said she, the
daughter of a doctor of laws, in the city Of
Bagdad and, being brought hither, it matters
not how, am married to prince among the
Mazikin, even him who was sent for thee
And that child whom thou sawest. is our first
born; and could not bear the thought that
the soul Of our innocent babe should perish.
] therefore besought my husband to try to
bring hither priest, that the law Of Moses
blessed be his memory should be done
and thy fame, which has spread to Bagdad,
and lands farther towards the rising Of the
sun, made me think Of thee. Now. my hus-
band, though great among the Mazikin, is |
more Just than the other demons and he |
loves me, whom he hath ruined with a love
Of despair SO he said, that the name Of Joc-
honan the wise was familiar unto him, and
that he knew thou wouldst not be able to re-
fuse. What thou hast done, to give him pow
er over thee, is known to thyself"
Il swear, before Heaven" said the rabbi, |
I" that have ever diligently kept the law, and
walked steadfastly according to the traditions
Of our fathers, from the day Of my youth up
ward. have wrongcd no man in word or
deed; and have daily worshipped the Lord
minutely performing all the ceremonies there
to needful"
"Nay, said the lady call this thou might
est have done, and more, ard vet be in the
power Of the demons. But time passes; for
| hear the foot Of my husband mounting the
stair. There is one chance Of thine escape. "
"What is that, o lady Of beauty" said the
agonized rabbi
Eat not, drink not, nor take fee or reward
while here; and as long as thou canst do thus
the Mazikin have no power over thee dead or
alive. Have courage, and persevere."
AS she ceased from speaking, her husband
entered the room, followed by the nurse, who
bore all things requisite for the ministration
of the rabbi. With heavy heart, he per-
formed his duty and the child was numbered
among the faithful. But when, as usual, at
the conclusion Of the ceremony, the wine was
handed round to be tasted by the child, the
mother, and the rabbi, he refused it, when it
came to him saying,
"Sparo me, my lord, for / have made a
vow that / fast this day +; and | will eat no.,
neither will | drink" Ii
'Be it as thou pleaseth," " said The demon, Il
win not that thou shouldst break thy VOW "
Aud he laughed aloud.
So the poor rabbi was taken into chamber
looking into garden, where he passed the
Of the night and the day, weeping
and praying to the Lord, that ho would delly-
er him from the city Of demous. But when
the twelfth hour came, and the sun was SET
the prince Of the Mazikin came again unto
him, and said,
Eat now, | pray thee, for the day Of thy
VOW is past.v And he set meat before him.
(" Pardon again thy servant, my lord, said
r. NJ a. IL. 4 -. ltnr