The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-11-03

Make way" said Rabbi Raschi, thrus-
ting his staff betwixt two of the hveried
servants, make way for me-"
The master of the house stood still and
looked at him; then made sign to the
domestics, who fell back and allowed the
old man to pass.
Raschi's cheeks grew crimson. His
hand trembled as he thrust it forth and
laid it on the arm of the wealthy Jew.
'Are you Abraham, son of Gerson?"
he asked in faltering tones.
al am. What do you want with me,
father?"
81 must speak with you. Lead on to a
private chamber"
The merchant obeyed, and brought the
Rabbi into little room hung with blue
silk, fretted with silver.
81 am Raschi ben Isaac" said the old
man, "and l came here to seek you.
hoped to have found pious Jew; find
one living IN pomp and worldhness.
hoped to have found one fasting and pray
ing; l find one eating and traticking. I
thought to have found one the favorite of
God, and l find one the courted of princes
and mobiles. Is this house for Jew-a
child of a despised and outcast race =? EThe
temple lieth waste, and shall we live in
luxury and splendor?"
al feel honored in being visited by the
illustrious Raschi," said Abraham.
''Shamed, Shamed !" exclaimed the
Rabbi. Are you not ashamed before me
to exhibit all this profusion?"
Goods blessing has been on my busi-
ness" said the merchant.
"And how do you recompense him ?"
cried the indignant Raschi. "By neglec-
ting the Giver, by squandering the gift,
Do you fast long? Do you wear the stones
with your knees ?'
"My business occupies my time and de-
mands my energies. I pray, but cannot
pray for long. I cannot fast or my bust
ness would not be attended to-"
"Do you eat of meat, the flesh of beasts
not slain by Jewish butcher?"
"I have even done So"
"Have you partaken of the accursed
flesh of the swine?"
81 fear that have"
"Have you neglected regular daily at
tendance at the synagogue?"
MY attendance has been irregular"
Alas, alas "a cried Rasehi, throwing
down his staff and raising his hands to
heaven. Surely there is injustice IN Par
adise as well as on earth. Here lives a
wicked Jew, a breaker of the law, in
splendor, as king; in another place is
Plous man fearing God macerating his
body, IN want and nakedness, crushed by
poverty, and the kingdom of heaven re-
celves both, and sets both on a level
Woe Is mel" and he would have rushed
from the chamber had not the merchant
stayed him.
rabbi" he said, ~ know my duty to
God and man, and practice it as best I
can"
"Profane one I" exclaimed the old man.
Trust not your own strength. When the
ungodly are green as the grass, and when
all the workers of wickedness do flourish,
then shall they be destroyed" But Just
then there flashed before the RabbI's eyes
that golden throne beside beside his own,
on which was written the name of the
merchant
"Come with me" said Abraham, taking
the old mans hand; tomorrow my
daughter is to be married, and to-day
am going to make presents to the poor of
our tribe. They are now assembled to re-
ceive my aims.
"And to whom is your daughter to be
asked Raschi. "To rich Gen
tile, may be2"
NO" answered the merchant, mildly.
ITO my clerk. He is not wealthy, but he
is upright and useful, and on his marriage
shall make him my partner"
They descended the stairs to the hall,
IN which the poor assembled. The rich
Jew gave them abundant aims. and as
each received his gift he left. One old
woman remained. She pressed forward,
and Abraham extended to her little
purse.
MOP she exclaimed, thrusting the
money aside; II have not come here to
beg, but for advice"
Speak, wherein can advise you?
Draw nearer to me-"
The woman approached him, and began
81 am poor widow, hardly supporting
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 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 rich wife and de-
sert my daughter"
Woman why do you come about this
matter to me-" asked the merchant;
" how can give your Miriam back her
"You can do So" replied the widow,
"for that young man will be tomorrow
your son-in-law."
Don Abraham started back dismayed.
For some moments he did not speak. At
ter while, however, he broke silence, and
said to the old woman.
did the young man love your MariamT'
81 am sure. very sure, he did"
II will inquire into the matter" said
the merchant, turning away.
"Well now" spoke Kaschi, as they as
cended the stairs together. "this is bad
business However, see what must be
done. Be generous, give the young wo-
man, Miriam, decent sum OF money"
Come here tomorrow" interrupted
Abraham "be present at the wedding
By that time shall have decided 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 place
of him who was to be his comrade in Par
adise. 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 descriptions,
Raschi with difficulty pushed his way
through the crowd to the chamber of the
master Don Abraham was dressed in a
blue velvet robe, broidered
with gold pomegranates, of which the
seeds were rubies. Around him We're
clustered the grandees of the town. On
seeing RaschI he, however, advanced to-
ward him and extended to him his hand.
The wedding ceremony soon began; in