The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-06-17
An Eastern Legend.
BY WILLIAM d. wEEDEN.

Rabbi Ben Levi was a man Of God. He
spent his days in the temple, he made sac
rifice, he argued with the doctors of the
law, he gave aims to the poor.
But his heart was heavy and his spirit
was sad. The smoke of the altar soothed
him not, the incense stifed him, and the
music gave him no peace. He read that
God made man in his own image and he
sought this image everywhere, but beheld
it not. He left the ways of men, and dwelt
in hermits cave, praying and fasting
In the night an angel came into the cave,
saying Rabbi, thou hast pinned to see
thy God. 1t is well but know that first
thou must lose myself, not in the law, but
in thy fellow Never look upon thy
own face; but see thyself in thy brothers.
Then, on the first day of the month, 90 to
the bottomless spring of Zobah, and in its
depths thou shalt see the Father of men,"
The Rabbi went into the city, and into
the temple; but he staid not there
Through all the city he sought the hearts
of his fellows; he cheered the stranger !;
he fed the hungry; he cooled the hot lips
of the leper, when all had left him he
watched by the dying be lifted up the
mourner. Into all sorrow and into all Joy
went Ben Levi. The people wondered, and
touched their foreheads; but he smiled at
their folly, knowing that he in whose heart
God dwelt must be sound in his mind
The wise men looked askance, saying that
he must be giving himself over to the
Chaldean magic but he Rugged his secret,
knowing between God and his children
there is no magic.
When the month was ended, he went to
the lake, as the rays of the morning sun
lighted it's clear waters. Trembling, he
looked !; and from the pure liquid came
back face which was as the features of
one seen in a dream. 1t was himself, and
yet not himself. Fearing that he should
see himself in second glance, he fed away
to his work in the city. His heart beat
higher, and his strength was as the strength
of two No duty was too heavy and no
care was too mean for his simple ZEAL
Another month came. The face of Ben
Levi was worn and wan but his eye shonc
with a light brighter than the light of
human eye. AS it pierced the crystal of
the lake, which grew deeper in it gaze, the
face it beheld was as the face of an angel
Still he lived on, and spent his whole force
in his daily toll.
The months passed and Ben Levi was
seen no more in the ways of the city
Good men sought and found him, as he lay
in the cave. They thought him dying but
the Rabbi held to the promise of the Lord,
and awaited the end of the month They
watched by him; but when day dawned
the watchers slept. Softly Ben Levi stole
away, and dragged his failing steps to the
waters he loved. Deep down amid the hills
lay the mirror of Heaven. The sunlight
flowed down the hillsides bearing rock and
tree, grass and leafy shrub, sky and cloud
and fitting mist, down into the bosom of
the earth. The tree shape was transfig-
ured, the sky color was glorifed as by the
leaf color mingled in the bosom of the
waters. Not many images, as these words
tell, but the harmonies of one great image,
came forth to the pure eye of Ben Levi
He was filled with new life for he saw
that the garment of God was spreading
before. His heart rose, then sank within
him for he knew that mortal man may
not see God and live. His poor body trem-
bled, and he gave yearning look toward
the world behind but, with a mighty
effort, pressing forward, he threw his glance
into the lowest depths, where he should
behold the Father of men. With faint
cry, he fell back. His soul had fled.
The watchers came. They saw in the
water only rock, and tree, and cloud but
on the face of Ben Levi they saw smile
which was as the smile of God