The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-08-14

Draw near to me-
Tlfo woman approached him, nnd began:
: an. a poor widow, hardly supporting
four children. All my hopes were fixed
on the marriage of my eldest daughter
to him to whom my dear husband, now
no more, had betrothed her. He was an
orphan, brought up in our house, and
when he left US he gained an honest aud
respectable livelihood and hoped when
he married my Marian, that we should
have been raised from our peaury. 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 p asked the merchant;
how can / give your Mariam back her
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 while, however, he broke silence
and said to the old woman:
"Did the young man love your Miri-
| am ~
Il am sure. very sure, he did.
II will inquire into the MATTER" said
TIE merchant, turning away.
''Well, now," spoke Raschi, as they as
cended the stairs together, this is bad
business. However. I see what must be
done. BE generous, give the young
woman, Miriam, a respectable sum of
money"
ssCome here tomorrow, interrupted
Abraham s'bc 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 pail
ace Of him who was to be his cemrade in
Paradise. There he found a throng of
guests, of all ranks, filling the rooms.
| Music played, and tables groaned under
viands of the richest and most rare de-
scrirtions. Raschi with difficulty pushed
his way through the crowd TO the cham
| Der of the master Don Abraham was
dressed in a magnificent blue velvet robe,
broidered with gold pomegranates. of
| which the seeds were rubies. Around
him were clustered the grandecs of the
town. On seeing Rasch he, however,
advanced toward him and exteedcd 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 gentlemen, and the guests followed,
each with lighted taper in the hand.
From balcony band played, aud choirs
sang. A Rabbi read aloud and distinctly
the contract, and the acceptance of the
bridegroom into partnership with himself,
| as Abraham's donation of the bride.
Then the bridegroom took gold ring
and placed it on the brides finger, with
the words: Be to me wed by means of.
| this ring, according to the law of Moses
and of Israeli
The Rabbi then gave the pair his bles-
sing. A crystal goblet was raised In the
air and then shivered to atoms on the
pavement, and all the people shouted
"Masel tob !" (good luck !'')
Don Abraham, when this ceremony
was concluded, stepped up to the bride,
and gently raised the veil from her face.
ssGod of our fathers p cried the bride
groom, staggering backward, lit is Mi
| riam 7,
The crowd remained silent as though
turned to stone, for the bride was not
Abraham's daughter, but the child of the
poor widow.
"I must explain this puzzle" said the
merchant, smiling on the company. "This'
| girl was betrothed to this youth by her
| father on his deathbed They were
brought up together and loved oneanoth-
er. I knew nothing of this and when
/ found that the young man was worthy
and useful IN the business, proposed to
| him that he should become my son-in-
law Out Of gratitude for past favors,
and in the hope of being able, as my