The Van Buren press., 1869-07-13

and Abraham extended to her little
purse.
"Nor she exclaimed, thrusting the
money aside; 81 have not come to beg,
but for advice
'Speak wherein can advise you
Draw ncarea to me-
The woman approached him, and be-
Gan al am poor window, hardly sup
porting four children. All my hope was
fixed on the marriage ofmy eldest daugh
ter, to him, to whom my dear husband,
now no more, had betrathed her. lie
was All 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 our penury'
But, alas his eyes have been blinded by
prosperity, and he is about to marry a
rich wife and desert my daughter"
"Woman! why do you come about
this matter to me 2" asked the merchant
how can give your Miriam back hcl
betrothed ?"
"You can do so," replied the widow,
- for that young man will be tomorrow
your son-in law
Don Abraham started back dismaycd.
For some moments he did not speak.
After awhile, however, he broke silence,
and said to the old woman,-
"Did the young man love your Mi
riam Z"
81 am sure, very sure. he did
~ will inquire into the matter said
the merchant, turning away.
"Well, ncw,' spoke Raschi, As they
ascended tile stairs together "This is
a bad business. However, I see what
must be done. BE generous, give the
young woman, Miriam, decent sum OF
money"
"Come here morrow" 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 bctook himself to the pal
ace of him who was to be his comrade in
Paradise There he found throng OF
guests, Of all ranks, filling the room.
Music played, and the tables groaned un-
der viands the richest and most rare
descriptions. Raschi with difficulty push
ed his way through the crowd to the
chamber of the master. Don Abraham
was dressed in magnificent blue velvet
robe, brodercd with gold pomegranates,
Of which the seeds were rubies. Around
him were clustered the grandces Of the
town. On seeing Raschi he, however,
advanced towards him, and extended to
him his hand.
The wedding ceremony soon began In
the court all was prepared an awning
was spread the bride veiled and in white,
was led forward by two ladies. Then
came the bridegroom accompanied by two
gentleman, and the guests followed, each
with lighted taper in the hand. From
a balcony a band played, and choirs sang.
A Rabbi read abound and distinctly the
contract, aud the acceptance of the bride
groom into partnership with himself, as
Abraham's donation of the bride. Then
the bridegroom took a gold ring and
placed it on the brides finger, with these
words: Z" BE to me wed by means of this
ring, according 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
and all the people shouted
F." Masel tob!" (good luckD
Don Abraham, when this ceremony
was concluded, stepped up to the bride,
and gently raised the veil from her face.
"God Of our fathers y cried the bride
groom, staggering backwards, ait is
Miriam !"
The crowd remained silent, as though
turned to stone, for the bride was not
Abraham's daughter, but the child ofthe
poor widow.
II must explain this puzzle" said the
merchant, smiling on the company
"this girl was betrothed to this youth, by
her father on his death bed They were
brought up together and loved one an
other. knew nothing of this; aud when
| found that the young man was worthy
and useful in the business, ! proposed to
him that he should be my son.in law.
Out Of gratitude for past favors, and In
the hope Of being able, rs my partner, to
assist his poor relatives. ho yielded to
my persuasion, and promised to marry
my daughter. Only yesterday did as
certain the circumstances Of his previous
engagement; knew then the reason OF
his frequent fits Of depression. His heart
was elsewhere. Through me, however,
shall two hearts never be saddened, ]
have made him my partner aud given
him the widows daughter to wife,
The newly married couple fell at his
feet, thanking him with tears, and the
people gave great shout OF applause.
The Raschi. laying about him with his
staff, beat himself way through the mul.
tituds and pressing up to the merchant,
he burst into tears, and moving himself
on his neck embraced him, and raising
his hands, cried. f." Yes you are worthy
to reach Gan Eden! PARADISE. Glory
be to God, who has given me such man
as thou, to DO my companion for etern-
ity! Glory be to God, who has not
made one rough road alone to Paradise,
but has made many roads besides; who
has prepared q throne, not for the fast
ing ascctc and contomplativc alone, but
also for him who can do what is right
and just freely"
II Tennessee paper perpctratea the