The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-12-30
THE COMPANION OF PARADISE.
BY HENRY A. MILES.
From Old and New for December.

There has come down to us quite a
body of Hebrew legends, which have
attracted little notice, but are worthy
Of study. Many of them are far more
beautiful and instructive than the le-
gends of the Roman Catholic Church
These deal largely in astounding mir
more frequently founded on natural
events, and offer no violence to proba-
hility. Beautiful aspects of Divine
Providence, sweet and tender hui
mainly, the duty of cheerful resigna
ton and trust, take the place of the
wild stories Of Saints with which the
Golden Legend" abounds; while we
are occasionally surprised at the simple
and beautiful manner in which are sug-
gested glimpses of what we call, at the
present day, the most advanced spirit
ual truth.
We offer to our readers little story
Of this kind. 1t is found in "Christi,
ami ed Ebrei Nei Media Evo," by Prof.
Giuseppe Levi, published In Florence
IN 1866, from the celebrated press of
Monnier, in that city. We translate
from the Italian the Legend which is
Our aim has been to present the
story in its essential facts, without any
attempt at Geographical translation.
We have therefore felt at liberty to
omit some sentences, to blend others
together, and, while we follow the or
der of events, to give, in the idiom of
orr own language, a narrat We which
we think will reward attention.
Rabbi Solomon of Worms, had reach
ed his sixtieth year. He was uow en-
ployed wholly in the thought of heav-
en- and eternity. Passing in review the
sacred studies and honored words of
his long life, he would at times aban-
don himself to realizing confidence of
being welcomed after death among the
blessed, and admitted to taste eternal
felicity. Ia the ecstacy of his hope he
would imagine himself as already in
heaven, seated on throne of gold
crowned with gems, at banquet of ce-
lestial Joys, for which no human tongue
has named.
But at that banquet the blessed sit
opposite one another, two by two; and
the souls of each couple are mingled
together as one, so that they have one
sense, one Joy for eternity.
Who Will he be lis companion at that
celestial feast
The desire to know this took such
hold npon the mind Of Rabbi Solomon
that he could not abandon 1t. 1t ac-
companied him in all his studies, in
has watchings and dreams, without one
moment Of respite. OF course, God
alone could reveal to him that grand
secret Of heaven SO to God he applied
himself devontly. BY long fasts and
protractcd and fervent prayer, he tried
to obtain the favor so dear to him.
One night it seemed in his sleep that
there stood before him female form
Of angelic aspect, and a voice which
sounded more than human said to him,
"Your companion of paradise shall be
Abraham Ben Gerson, called the Right
eous, in Barcelona.
abraham Ben Gerson ~ said Rab-
bi Solomon to himself, when he awoke.
This is a strange thing. ! do not know
such man, and never heard of him. :"
Now, the good Rabbi had imagined
that his companion would be one of
those great doctors whose fame then
filed the Hebrew world. Only such a
person was worthy, as it appeared to
| him, to be at his side IN heaven. And
that name, SO obscure, so unknown,
sounded in his mind as an affront.
"Never MIND, at length he said to
himself. This may be one Of those
learned men who through great mod
esty jealously hide from the world their
wisdom, and the sanctity Of their
works, and i'll the secrecy of domestic
life pass all their days in secret study"
SO IN imagination he represented his
future companion as venerable old
man, with his long beard covering his
breast, leaning on his elbow over the
sacred writings, worn, wasted, and
tieshless, through fasting and prayer,
absorbed late at night in profound and
devout meditation.
Then there entered into his mind
ardent desire to know in this world
that holy old man who was to be his
inseparable companion in eternity, and
to form here one link in that intermin
able chain which would there forever
JOIN them together. He resolved to 90
to Barcelona to find his predestined
companion.
Arrived IL that city he made imme-
date inquiries for one Abraham, called
the Righteous. But no one could give
him the least account of such person.
Among the Hebrews of that place there
were many who bore the name of Abra-
ham but no one Of these could merit
the title righteous.
Rabbi Solomon was bewildered. $50
the celestial vision has not Knocked me
But perhaps my future companion SO
hides the sanctity Of his life that
no perfume of it has got abroad. T
will inquire farther. 1 do not see how
| can be mistaken
Accordingly he said to the first per-
son he met, who, for reverence of this
rabbl's vast learning kept his eye fixed
on the ground and his head bowed
down. eve omit the title ri hteous.
which may be the source OFF, me mis-
take. Pray tell me if YOU snow one
Abraham Ben Gerson ~
abraham Ben Gerson," said tho
man IN reply, with voice of great sur
prise, mingled with disdain. "Abra-
ham Ben Gerson' Is it of him. most
renowned rabbi, that Won speak 2 Do
you want any account of that fellow
Who could possibly give to him the
title righteous? Oh, holy rabbi, you
can have nothing to do with him, A
wretch He calls himself Hebrew,
but he is worse than q Gentle. He
never puts his foot into the synagogue.
He eats-horrible to say flesh pre-
pared by Christians. 1t would be bet
ter if he were baptized. There would
be one hYpocnte less. /