The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-11-21
Translated from the French.l
THE PEARL NECKLACE.

TbereAiyed at Cordova, many years ago, an
old Jew who had three passions: he loved
science, he loved gold, he loved his only child,
who bore the sweet name of Rachel. He loved
science, not for his own sake, not because it
was the means OF the acquisition of truth, but
for himself, that is to say, through pride.
wAs gold, very much because it gave him the
means of providing luxuries for his darling
child, greatly also because without it he could
not have made the costly experiments neces.
sary in the pnrsuit of science.
He loved his daughter alone, with the pure
and DISTINGUISHED, but passionate tenderness of
paternal love. In word he was savspt, Il
father, aJew.
His name was Rabbi Ben Ha Zslab, and he
practiced medicine. He wrought such
derful cures that very soon his fame spread
through Spain, and from all parts of tho
kingdom people came in crowds to consult
him. He received his patients in the after
noon. In the morning he slept, it was said
but how his nights were passed none knew,
and many were the speculations concerningit.
This only was known, that they were passed
in o secret chamber, of which he alone pos
se6sed the key, and il had been observed that
this mysterious apartment was sometimes
illuminated with many colored flames, blue,
red, or green, while dense smoke issued from
the chimney.
Tho police of the kingdom at length re-
solved to penetrate the mystery, which seemed
to them very suspicious. Everything is sus.
pioious to the police of all countries.
One evening, Rabbi Ben tia Zelah saw two
dark, grave men watching his house. He
listened and heard these words of sinister i'm
port:
"To-morrow, at dawn, We will know
whether this wretch is a money coiner OF a
magiciau."
The conscience of the poor old Jew did not
reproRch him, for his life was pure and iRno-
cent; but he had had great experience of the
world, aud held as an Rxiom that innocence is
worth absolutely nothing in court of justice.
He went still further, he considered it an
aggravating circumstance He often quoted
the old Arabian proverb: "lf were accused
of having stolen aud pocked the grand Mosque
at Mecca, I would immediately run of fast
as 1 could" He said that justice game
of cards-and he was no player.
What misauthropio ideSs! How different
would his conclusions had been had he lived
nowadays However, as he had not the hap
piness of living in that Eden of Justice, France
of 1866, he put the philosophy of the proverb
into practice and left Cordova that very night,
morning at dawn the two dark grave men,
found an uninhabited, dismAntled dwelling
which made them still more dark and grave.
Rabbi Ben.Ha-Zeiah, disguised as O msr-
chant and mounted on stroRg mule, passed
rapidly through Spain, On either side of his
saddle, and Vecurely fastened to it was o long
wicker basket, in the shape of n cradle. Ben.
Ha-ZelAh looked from time to time at these
baskets with satisfaction, mingled with sad
Rsss, and then urged on his mule, casting m any
= backward glance, to be quite sure he was not
pursued. In one of the baskets were his
peacefully the young daughter of 4he fugitive.
Having reached q small seaport town, the old
Jew took passage in o vessel which was about
30 sail for Egypt
Rabbi Ben.Ha- zelah had often heard of the
caliph Aohmet Reschid, who was celebrated
throughout the East for his love of science.
and the high consideration in which he held
scientific men. AS for impostors, charlatans
and empires, he held them in sovereign con-
tempt and took real pleasure in impaling
them.
This good prince Teigned in Cairo. Thither
Ben-Ha-Zelsh bent his steps; for he believed
himself, and With reason, to be q true ssvant.
The profound and extensive requirements of
the old Jew, together with his astonishing
skill in everything appeEtaining TO the healing
had been in Cordova, and he was at once made
court physician.