Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-01-13
SIceping Seventy sum n, ers.


u.
The story of the R1hbi Coniah Ias been
reproduced for the Jewish Messenger, Ind ia
chiefly remarkable for it's resemblance in one
or tw" particulars to the world .ronown story
Of Rip Van Wlnklc, which Washington If
wing gave to the world, and which has hecn
revived in tho drama by Mr.. Joseph Jeffcr
son. The Rabbi wns Icarued above his pecrs,
aud mnnn rnvnran ond him far hiu m,
efndi,ion. But he perceived not the ncccssi
ty Of that charity and forcthnnght which
should incucc individuals to make provision
fer those coming after tl,cup, and therefore he
received the stern lesson
An old man was planting n carob tree, and
displayed heartness which seemed to ndi
cate that he expected to enjny the results
Of his labor. Coninh regarded him with as
tonishlncnt und certain degree Of contempt,
for it is tradition of the Talmud that IL
carob tree does not bear fruit I'LL seventy
years after it has been planted.
do you expect to eat Of the fruit of this
tree 7" the Rabbi asked, with shrug of dis
dnn.
"tnbbi," answered the old man mcekly,
but with dignity, "when was little child
this field abounded with carob trees laden
with fruit. My fathers had planted then,
for NE; plant this tree for my children"
C"niah turned away murnuring: "For
his children Blind, how blind We are. We
live |" this -orla hu. brief perina. and yr.
| presume to provide for those that will come
after us. They must die as well as We -
Our existence was not given US merely for
this world. Eve:5 man ought to copsidc,
his heavenly life, and forcgo all care or intcres,
about the few days thut he and others viii
spend here. What 10 our lot, or the lot ou,
children, is of little account. We arc des
tined for heaven, and that is enough"
While he was meditntng in this manner
Coniuh lay down upon the ground. Feeling
tho sensation of hunger, he drew forth from
his pocket peice of bread, and ute, contiuu
ing his rcfeetions. Presently he becan.e
dro@$y, and fttr asleep. He awwoke not Ill
that day, nor during That night. Tho day
returned, and the night b. gun again, and still
he slept, Thus passed many days and nights
during which he evoke not. A wall of stone
was erected over him by miracle, and shu
hin. from the sight Of mcn.
Thus cor years he lay incarceratca as in
tomb. Generations passed away, md dnnmcc,
ons events occurred to change tho aspect 8
tho world. Finally seventy years were nc
complished, and the stony sepulchrc dsap
pcared, restoring Conial to the light Of day
lie uwokc as the Gun asccnded the n,erdian
and exclaimed
"vcrily, have slept long. It was littl
before the dusk Of evening whom lay down
aud how the sun is midway in tho sky."
He arose ana walked to the place whore h
had reproachcd the old man who planted th
tree for postcrity. Behold, it was full,
grown, and boy stood near it eating Of il,
fruit Coninh occosted him:
"My young friend, who planted that oaroI
tree 2" ..r ,.....t
.'Not l." replied the youth "for it require
many years for sdoh d tree to maturo an,
!, yield its fruit. My fathor declared to M
that my grandfather planted it."
Coniah hoard this with q feeling Of horror
nTheye eau be no mistake, said he to Hin,
'-.sE,