The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1869-07-01
and Abraham extended to her q little

and Abraham extended to her a little
purse.
"No% she exclaimed, thrusting the
money aside; II have not come here to
beg, but for advice"
"Speak, wherein can l advise you ?
Draw nearer to me-"
The woman approached him, and be.
gan: "I am q poor widow, hardly sup
porting four children. All my hopes was
fixed on the marriage of my eldest
daughter to- him to whom my dear hus-
band, now no more, had betr0thed her
He was an orphan; brought up in our
house, and when he left US he gained an
honest and respectable livelihood and
hoped, when he married my Miriam, that
we should have been raised from OuI
penury. But, alas! his eyes have been
blinded by prosperity, and he is about to
marry rich wife and desert my daughter.
"Womani why do you come about this
matter to me?" asked the merchant
chow can give your Miriam bacA hel
betrothed?"
"You can do So" replied the widow
"for that young man will be tomorrow
your sop-inlsw."
Don Abraham started back dismayed
For some moments he did not speak
After q while, however, he broke
silence, and said to the old woman,
"Did the young man love your Miriam?'
al ana sure, very sure, he did"
II will inquire into the matter" said
the merchant, turning away.
"Well now," spoke Raschi, as they as
cended the stairs together, this is bad
business. However, see what must be
done. Be generous, give the young
woman, Miriam, a decent sum of money
"Come here tomorrow" interrupted
Abraham be present at the wedding. By
that time shall have decided for myself
what is best to be DONE"
On the morrow, at the appointed hour,
having finished his morning prayers, the
Rabbi Raschi betoOk himself to the palace
of him who was to be his comrade in
Paradise. There he found thrOng OF
guests, of all ranks, filing the rooms
Music played, and tables groaned under
viauds of the richest and most rare des-
criptions. Raschi with difficulty pushed
his way through the crowd to the cham
Der Of the master. Don Abraham was
dressed in q magnificent blue velvet robe,
broidered with gold pOmegranates, OF
which the seeds were rubies. Around
him were clustered the grandees of the
town. On seeing Raschi he, however, ad.
vanced toward him and extended to him
his hand.
The wedding ceremony soon began; in
the court all was prepared an awning was
spread the bride, yelled in white, was led
forward by two ladies' Then came the
bridegroom accompanied by two gentle
men, and the guests followed, each with a
lighted taper in the hand. From balcO-
ny a band played, and choirs sang. A Rabbi
read aloud ard distinctly the contract,
and the acceptance of the bridegroom into
partnership with himself, as Abraham
dOtation of the bride. Then the bride
groom took a gold ring and placed it on
the brides finger, with the words: Be
to me wed by means of this ring, accord
ing to the law of Moses and of Israel"
The Rabbi then gave the pair his bless
ing. A crystal goblet was raised in the
air and then shivered to atoms on the
pavement, and all the people shouted
Masel tob w (good luck y
Don Abraham, when this ceremony was
concluded, stepped up to the bride, and
gently raised the veil from her face.
"God of our fathers !" cried the bride
groom, staggering backward, cit is
Miriami'
The crowd remained silent as though
turned to stone, for the bride was mo-
Ahrabam's daughter, but the child of the
poor widow.
81 must explain this puzzle said the
merchant, smiling on the company
This girl was berothed to this youth by
her father on his deathbed. They were
brought up together and loved one
another, l knew nothing of this; and
when l found that the young man was
worthy and useful in the business, pro
posed to him that he should become my
son n-law. Ont of gratitude for past
favors, and in the hope Of being able, as
my partner, to assist his poor relatives
he yielded to my persuasion, and prom
ised to marry my daughter. Only yes
terday did | ascertain the circumstance
of his previous engagement; knew then
the reason of his frequent fits of depres
sion. His heart was elsewhere. Through
me. however, shall two hearts never be
saddened. have mace him my partner
and given him the widows daughter tC
wife"
The newly married couple fell at his
feet, thanking him with tears, and the
people gave great shout of applause.
Then Raschi, laying about him with his
staff, beat himself a way through the mul
titude, and pressing up to the merchant
he burst into tears, and throwing him
self on his neck embraced him, and rails
ing his hands, cried: "Yes! you are
worthy to reach Gan Eden Paradise)
Glory be to God, who has given me sucf
a man as thou, to be my companion fol
eternity Glory be to God, who has no
made one rough road alone to Paradise
but has made many roads besides who
has prepared throne, not for the fasting
ascetic and contemplative alone, but als'
for him who can do what is right and jus
freely !"-Once Week.