The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1863-10-30
All for the Best.

All 1of Cne beSt,S f"' "l
Rabbi Akibo, compelled by violent per-
secut'on to quit his native land, wandered
over barren wastes and dreary deserts. -
His whole equipage consisted Of a lamp,
which he used to light at night in order to
study the law; cock which served him
instead of a watch, to announce to him
the rising dawn and an ass en- which he
rode.
The sun was gradually sinking beneath
the horizon, night was fast approaching,
and the poor wanderer knew not where to
shelter his head, or where to rest his wca-
ny limbs. Fatigued, and almost exhaus-
ted, he came at last near to a village -
He was glad TO fud it Inhabited, thinking
where human beings dwclt there dwelt
also humanity and compassion; but he
was mistaken
He asked for a nights lodging; it was re.
fused. Not ole of the inhospitubla inhab-
itlnts would accommodate him, he was
tn retore obliged to seek shelter in a
uei2hboring wood. @".
at is hard, very hard" said he, "not to
find a ho,pitable roof to protect me against
the inclemency of the weather; but God
is just, and whatever he does is for the
best" .''
lie seated himself beneath tree, light
ed his lamp, and began to read the law
He had scarcely read u chapter when a
violent storm extinguished his light.
"What!" exclaimed he, "must I not
be permitted even to pursue my favcrite
study? But God is just, and whatever
He does is fur the best"
He stretched himself on the bare earth,
willing, if possible, to have few hours
sleep. He had hardly closed his eyes,
when fierce wolf came and killed the
cock.
"What misfortune is this? CALCULATED
the astonished Akibo "My companion
is gone Who then will henceforth ava
ken me to the study of the law {? But
Gpd is, just; He knows best what is'good
for Us poor m0rtals. -, Is. ..t.....
Scarcely had he finished the sentence
when terrible lion came and devoured
the ass.
"What is to be done ?" exclaimed
the lowly wanderer my lamp and my
cock gone -; my poor ass too is gone-all
is gone! But, praised be the Lord, what
He does is for the best" ..
He passed sleepless night, and early
in the morning went to the village to see
whether he could procure horse or any
beast of lurdeu to enable him to pursue
his journey; but what was his surprise
not to find single person alive.
1t appears that band of robbers had
entered the village during the night, muir
Tered its inhabitants, and plundcred their
houses. AS soon as Akibo had sufficient
Iy recovered from she ama2ement into
which this wonderful occurrence had
thrown him, he lifted up his voice and
exclaimed :: ..r
"Thou Great God, the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, DOW | know by expert
eDce that poor mortal men are short sight
ed and blind, often considering as evils
what is intended for their preservation
But Thou alone art just, and kind, aud
mercful. Had not the hartl-hearted peo-
pie driven me, by their inbospitality, from
the village, | should assuredly have shar-
ed their fate. Had not the wind have
exhausted my lamp, the robbers would
have been drawn to the spot, aud murder
ed me. perceive also, that it was Thy
mercy which deprived me of my compan-
ions, that they might NOT, by their noise,
give notice to the handitti, aud tell them
where | was taking my rest. Praised be
Thy name forever and ever" ,.-