Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-14


worked early and late. The beautiful Sarah
watched the cradle of her children with moth
er's tender affection. Her ambition for her
sons was not that they should become great
but good men; but she hoped they would be-
come a little more successful in life than their
plOdding, lRborious father.
Then came the terrible French invasion, and
those revolutions which cOnvulsed all Ger-
many. Frankfort, Hamburg, Bremen, felt the
shock, and the poor Jews, hunted, pillaged Of
their wealth, denounced, and prosecuted, were
scarcely able to escape with life; while the hOr-
rible cry Of "Down with the Jews!" prevailed
over all other sounds, and deafened the ears Of
the poor Hebrews themselves.
In this time of alarm and confusion, Sarah
Rothschild kept brave woman's heart within
her bosom. She did not bleneh from sorrow,
but grew more glOrously beau tiful and stately
than ever A mother and wife, she lost light
Of herself in heroic love for the dear objects Of
her affection. The house was ransacked and
pillagsd-eveTything Of value was taken by the
lawlesE French soldiery, who scornfully reviled
her husband for keeping such magnificent
woman in so poor a cage. The persecution did
not cease here. Every Jew who put his
head out of doors was required TO take off his
hat to the Christians; and if he ommitted this
act of humiliation he was stoned and abused.
And the proud spirit of Sarah chafed to see
her husband and the brave, beautiful boys, who
dared rebel against the multitude, receive ina
suits and threatenings from even the children
of the Christians. -.-
Years went by. The Prince returned. He
had seen both troubles and joyous times in the
far country which he had flown to as refuge;
and now, with renewed health and strength,
and brave, strong spirit that was determined
to take life as it came, and bear on without
murmuring, he settled quietly down near
Frankfort. All around him were traces of the
recent struggle with foreign power; but as
the grass springs up elastic from the foot that
treads it down, so does a city or nation re-
cover itself after the oppressOr has been tramp
ing within its borders.
The German Prince sometimes thought of
the treasure he had committed to the Jew; but
he knew what his class was reported to have
suffered, and felt that in those times of ex.
tremity, human integrity must fall before the
absolute necessity that surrounded tie unhappy
Jews. He comforted himself that, OF least, the
high bred and stately Jewess and her husband
might have been most essentially benefited by
the deposit he had left with them; and thus the
matter rested in his mind.
One morning, while the Prince was at
breakfast, he was told that person wished to
see him on business. He desired his presence
in the break fast room, and, on his entrance,
Was surprised and gratifed by the sight of lis
old friend, the Jew.
81 came" said he, ''to speak about the prop
ertv left with me-"
"Don't mind that at all my friend, {" interrupted
the Prince, but come and take breafast with
me. Nay, insist and pray, do not mention
the affair. / rejoice that it was there to do you
service in time when you must have needed
it so much Sit down, and, in this admirable
coffee, we will drink away its remembrance
altogether"
The Jew took the profeTed chair.
"Believe me, Prince, your treasure is all safe,
Just as 1 told you. The closet was searched
again and again, and every seam examined
without success. The fine old china, and,
indeed, all our possessions, were sacrificed to
the plundering rapscity of the enemy; but,
thanks to the name of IsTael's God, we were
enabled to keep secret the trust you reposod in
US. YOuT property only swaite your order, to
be restored to you as you gave it"
The prince was astonished. 81 had scarcely
believed in such virtue, my friend, You have
taught me that mans integrity may be incor
ruptible; and henceforth shall have increased
faith in the dignity and purity Ofhuman nature
A few days after this, the prince called at
the house in Juden Strasse, and receiSed his
gridle with not stone missing. In that verv
house the children Of Bon-Eeber were educated
in the principles of honor and justice. Eyery-
where the integrity Of their father was SCUM
ded abroad by the prince who deemed that his
thanks and presents alone were not sufficient.
The world heard the tale; and the humble Jew
received not only the trust but the companions
ship OF princes and mobiles. In all parts of the
commercial world men heard the name with
veneratiOn; and at this day his family are scat
tered about in the grandest cities Europe, the
monarchs of finance, the albters ofChe monev
market, the successful, because honorable, con-
trOllers of the wealth Of nationa.
But though frequently urged to make her
home in one Of the princely palaces in which
they dwell, Sarah Rothschild passed her peace
ful old age in the quaint old mouse in the Juden
Strasse. When her sons, who were princes
In their own right, and noble by their country's
git OF nobilIty-given, too, to merit alone
when they visited her, she received them in
the same room in which they had received their
lessons of truth and honor; and the stately
woman rose up with grace and dignity that
would seem to belong only to a queen, and
laying her hands upon their heads, would bic ss
then in the name of Israers God.
"May their tribe increased is the I,esrtfsIt
thought fall who know their worth and integ>
Eity;: Such is true sketch of the great house Of
R0thsehild.