The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-10-20
Seleet Story.
The Bride and Groom.
A JEWISH LEGEND.


Among the most learned and pious
Jews of the twelfth century, next to
the great Maimoun, or AIaimonides,
of European fame, stands Raschi, or,
as he was more properly called, Schlo-
mo ben Isaac. lie wrote commen-
tary on Thora and on several of the
books of the Prophets, and also on
the Talmud. He was great mathema-
tician, and among his own people was
reverenced for his sanctity and asce-
! ticism. "
His parents lived in Toulon, but
Raschi was born in Troyes, and this
is the reason why his father Isaac and
his mother left Toulon. Shortly af-
ter the birth of the child the good wo-
man walked down.a narrow street. a
cumbrous wagon was being drawn
along it by four stout horses, and the
wagon filed the street. so as to make
it impossible to pass Seeing this, the
woman turned to seek Il side street,
but at that IN ment the car OF young
nobeman drove up he lane toward
her The timid woman ran from side
to side in quest OF corner into which
she might retreat from the two vehi-
cles. ~ p. g.. .''-.-' ~ ''i'. 7--
..Look at the tJewess 7" exclaimed
the driver of the nobleman's ear !;
F'how frightened she is" = Af3G
".Whip the horses run her down" p"
said his master. '-.- 'l.. g.
The two vehicles approached, and
the poor creature, finding no place of
retreat, with a piteous cry shrank
against the wall. AT that moment
the huge wheel of the wagon rolled to-
ward her almost grazing the house
wall Then, suddenly, the wall bow
ed inward, and formed little recess
in which the Jewess stood secure.
"Softer and more yielding are these
stones than your hearts, We Christians"
she exclaimed ''' T"i d
Now when this miracle was known,
it was at once concluded that it was
wrought by magic, and Isaac, fearing
lest it should be the cause of their be-
ing both brought to the stake, fled
precipitately to Troves, and there
Raschi was born. .'.-.. s.1
When Raschi was an old man, and
renowned everywhere for his vast
learning and profound wisdom, and
above all for his great holiness, the
school wherein he taught was crowded
with pupils, and his sayings wee treas
urrd as though they were precious
like gold. He iastcd continually, only
eating what was just sufficient to keep
life in, and what he ate was of poor
quality, and vas mingled with ashes.
He drank nothing save water, and of
that only n littla, once a day. He re-
manned whole nights in prayer, and
when not engaged in teaching during
the day, he stood wrapt in meditation
As he stood at his window one even
ing, two Jews passed, and they were
speaking of him. Il |-i'..j5--.i'. 20 =
+ One said to the other, "Was there
ever in the days of the prophets a
greater saint than is this Rabbi Ras-
chi ?'' -
To which the other replied, Sure
ly, for him there must be prepared
one of the most exalted stations in
Paradise"
Then the Rabbi fell to .nusing on
the place that was to be his in the
Kingdom of God, and he wondered
who would be his companion in
the Land of Light, and sit at his side
in Paradise. With his thoughts fixed
on this theme, he stood long at his
window gazing out over the vine-clad
hills, toward the horizon where the
sun had set, and where its rays shot
upward, kindling the finely attenua-
ted vapor which hung in the air, and
making the blue of heaven green as
grass. Level bars of cloud. burned
like gold in a furnace, and small misty