The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-11-11
inc Family Circle.
the BOND-NiAIDEN
on, THE MERCHANT HEART.

or, THE MERCHANTS HEART.
Matthias, the Levaniinc merchant,
had spent his whole life, from his boy
time upward, in travelling for the sake
Of gain, TO the East and TO the West,
and to the islands Of the South Seas
lie had returned TO his native place,
Tarsus. in the full vigor of manhood
and was reported to have amasscd great
wealth. His first step was 10 make Il
prudent call upon the governor, and to
present him with a purse and a string
of pearls, in order TO bespcak his good
will. lie then built himself a spacious
palace in the midst of garden on the
borders of stream, and began 10 lead
quiet life. resting after the tatigues OF
his many voyages. Most persons con-
sidcred him to be the happiest of ner-
chants; bot those who were introduced
TO his intimacy, knew that his constant
companions were thought and sadness.
When he had departed in his youth, he
had left his father and mother. his bro
thcrs and sisters, in health, although
roor: hut, when he returned in hopes
10 rild the remainder of their days, he
found that the hand of death had fallen
upon them every one, and that there
was no one 10 share his prosperity and
n bligh, came over his heart.
The gossips in the bazaars soon be
gan 10 talk of his case, and it was thcr
that Hanna, the Christian tailor, one
day said in loud voice to his opposite
ncighhor the Jewish moncy-changer, i
will lay the valuc of my stock that the
merchant Matthias will find consolation
in marriage; that lie will choose ih'
most beautiful Of our maidens and tha
he will found family which shall be
celebrated in this city ms long as its pos
terity cndurcs.'
To this the jew replied:
What is the value of thy stock =
Three jackets returned upon thy hands
q rusty pair of scissors. an old stool and
some bundles of thread Verify tn,
risk is not great.
The Christian said prayer or tive
to himself that he might not curse hi
neighbor, and then answered:
Il will throw in Zarifrh, the ebon.
black girl whom ] honghl last spring t.
follow my wife when she goes out will
the little Gorgcs to the gardens. Wha
savesl thou now !!
The Jew pondered while, lcanlnI
his grey beard on the breast of his cat
tan. lie remembered that forty year
ago be, too. had returned from trave
with his money-bag>. and had found hi
house desola,e: and that he had devo
ted himself ever since 10 moody retec
ton, and 10 the heapinc Of mntboub up
on mabJoWJ The thought had there
fore become fixed in his mind that whe
the middle time of life comes, there ca
remain no affection in the heart, eithe
of Christian. or of jew. or of Mahom
MADAM, but for gold. So he said: 'Le
the odds be equal. will venture fiv
hundred pieces against thy five hnndre
peces. that within five years the met
chant Matthias does not take 10 his be
som wife
Agreed = cried the Christian Th
neinhbors were called in as wiinesse
and every one laughed at the absurdii
of the dispute.
Matthias was not long in lcarnin
that Il wager had been laid upon his #
turc life and, in passing through Il,
bazaar, he stopped one day and sal
TO The Christian, son Of rashness, wh
hast thou ri,ked more than the whoI
of thy savings upon q matter which
only known TO Heaven have lool
cd upon all the maidons of my peopl
and no emotion has stirred wiihin M
Verify thou will become a prey 10 ih
jew
NV Lord replied the tailor, smilinI
4, !. impossible for a good man TO ?.
main all his life alone. II thou wi
come 10 my house aud see nay vile an
p my ntle Gorges dancing IN the arms
the ehonv.black girl, Zarifeh. thou wi
!, surely releni and seek at once TO he
am. Perhaps thou hast not well looI
cd around thee. There is Miriam u
daughter Of our baker. who Is Of maze
, tic presence, being a. big as ihyse
She will suit thee 70 a hair and,
thou desirest. nv wife shall make pr
posal. for thee this afternoon
Matthias laughed and inowned ~
!. went on. and the lew chuckling in h
beard laid
%. Hanna. for how much wilt ~
. free ihvself from thy wager W
ihon pay a hundred pieces and let all
said =
Bot thc Christian replied
In five year. saint Philo'ea We
4 seav Stone as big rs this stool W
= h.r l-scs auA her lrar in Eve yea
!. ,be heart of ihi, man may m"li..
Malthiss went uoi on BE way D.
Z, moved after o.. conversation With q
. Christian tailor lle began TO ihi
= ,bs, rerhaps. INDEED De- va wenn
I. awsy ~. life u.~lr.,ly in solitude
~ Thcre vas certainly No beauty and