Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-11-08
A CHARMING STORY.
THE BOND = NJ AID EN-,
Or, the Merchants Heart.

Matthias, tho Levantlne 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 lsIanls Of the South Seas.
He had returned to his native place.
Tarsus. in the full viror Of manhood,
and was reported 10 have amassed great
wealth. His first step was 10 make
prudent call upon ths eovernAr, AMI 10
present him with IA purse AMI striny oi
pearls, III order TO bcspeak his sool will.
lie then bull, himsclfa spacious palace,
ia the midst OF garden on the borders
Of a stream, and hegan to lead quiet
life, resting after the furisues Of his many
voyages. Most persons consislere ! him
to be the happies, of merchants. but
those who were introduced to his nti.
macy knew that his constant compan.
ions were thought anil sadness. When
he had dspartel in his youth, he hal left
his father and his mother. his hrolhers
and sisters, in health, although poor;
hnt, when he returned in hopes to eIll
tho remainder Of ;hcir days, he fonnl that
the hand of death hal fallen upon them
every one, and tina, there was no one 10
share his prosperity, and blight cam
over his heart.
The sossips in the bazaafs soon b gan
TO talk of his case, and it was then lbat
Hanna, the Christian tailor, one dav
said in a loud voice to his opposite
ncighbor, the Jewish money changer, 81
will lay the value of my stock Ma: the
merchant Matthias will find consola-
ZION in marriage; that he will choose
the mos, beautiful of our mailens; and
that he will found family which shall
he celebrated in this city so long as its
pos,eritv endures." To this the Jew re.
piled: What is the value Of thy stock!
Three jackets returned upon thy hands,
rusty pair of scissors, an old stool and
some bundles Of thread? Verify, the
risk is not great" The Christian said
PRAYER or two TO himself, that he might
not curse his neishbor, and then answer
ed: al will throw in Zarileh, the ebony,
black girl whom bought last spring tc
follow my wife when she goes out witt
the little Gorses TO the gardens. Wha
sayest thou now?" ..-
The Jew pondered awhile, leaning hi
gray heard on the breast OF his cal!an
He remembered that forty years. before
he too, had returned from travel witt
his money. bags, and had found Ri
house desolate; and that he had devote'
himself ever since to moody reflection
and to the heaping of mahboub upo'
mahbou6. The thought had therefor
become fixed in his mind that when IN
middle time Of life comes, there can re
main nc affection IN the heart, either, g
Christian. or of Jew, or Of Mahomma
dan, but for gold. So he said: "Let tn
.olds be equal. j will venture five hun
dred pieces against thy FIVE hundre
pieces, that within five years the mercf
ant Matthias does not take 10 his bosoI
a wife."'-"Agreed!" cried the Christian
The neighbors were calle in as witns
ses, and every ono laughed at the absurt
'ity Of the dispute. .l' ~ Y.
= Matthias was not long in learnin
that wager had been laid upon his ll
sture- life; and, in passing throus h Il
bazaar, he stopped one day-and sa
sternly to the Christian tailor: "Son
'rashness, why Hast thou risked more tha
the whole ofthy havings, upon a matt
which is only knowh to Heaven? ! ha
looked upon all the maidens Of my pc
pie, and NO emotion has stirred with
me, Verify thou wilt become q prey
I'd isMyt Lord,% replied the tailor, ssoni
yiag,"it is impossible fora good mar, /,
eretnain allahis life alone. ~ lf thousw
come 10 my house and see my wife Al
my little ,Gorges dsncing in ths arms
The ebony black girl, Dsrifs),. thou "
.esurelysrelsnt and seek atoncs to be al
am: Perhaps thou hast not Hook
around thee. There is Miriam I
daughter of our baker, xhhbs sis aof mai
saia presence. being = as Big Is ot!Ey,s,s
She will suitsthee 10 q, hair; and, shsth
i4dsdrSst,o ,omy wifs'shalh make propos'
bafofsthss tliis tSfternoofi.. Matthias1ang
| ed ana ffownsa, ind wsnt On; and Z