The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-11-21

81 am dying" said she, but my bitterest
sorro" is in leaving my poor little baoe, VINO
must perish thus alone in the desert. a. ..
The poor mother for one moment thought %
asking the kind old man totake her child, but
she say that one of his water bottles had been
broken by some accident, and tn at he had
hardly enough water to cross the desert.
Ben Ha-Zeiah had had the same thought,
but he calculated the quantity of water re-
naming to bin, and said to himself that 1t
was impossible.
There, in the pfesen g of s1he mother's do
spair, with the wal of the in1Ant 80 soon to be
an orphan, in - ears, he Thought OF his own
child.
'Woman." said he, 1T will take your babe,
and will care for him as for my own. Rill
save his life. even at the cost of my own"
The mother died, invoking blessings on his
head.
Ben-Ha Zelah resumed his journey across
the desert, placing before him on the saddle,
the infant, who at first wept, then laughed in
the patient nurse, pulling his beard, or tang
ling the reigns of the camel. The old man
who had become rs gentle as q mother, sought
every means which affection could suggest to
amuse the helpless little creature, so strangely
given to his charge-sometimes with the gold
|tassels of his briale, sometimes with his bright
fire arms. sometimes by rafting in his ears
the gold sequins in his purse. Again he would
sing to him lullaby, long forgotten. The
child was pleased withnach new amusement
devised by the old want, but it was only for
q l6 " mOmeDIS, FAnu WIS again IODklUR ABOUT
for something he had not yet seen.
How much all resemble children.
Poor old Ben.Ha-Z sah knew not what to do
to satisfy this restless craving for amusement
Suddenly he Thought of the beautiful little
box, which the child had not seen, and drew it
| out from the folds of his robe.
The child eagerly grasped this new play
| thing and turned it about in every possible
way.
To the amazement of the old Jew, there WI as
slight sound, as of some small object rolling
abont in the box.
The child shouted with delight. The old
man was breathless and trembling. He grasp
| ed the bax convulsiuely from the hands of the
! infant, who held it out to him smiling. He
opened it. His blood frozs in his veins with
| an emotion not of terror but of JOY and hope.
! He beheld in the box pearl, pure and more
beautiful than any he had ever seen.
| Speeches. with emotion he could only raise
his eyes to heaven in wordless prayer OF
gratitude.
Then he heard voice which seemed to fill
the immensity of the desert, and nevertheless
was as low and sweet as the loving murmur OF
| a fond mother.
SO Ben-H-Helahl every tear which thou
| shalt dry. is a pearl which thou dost create"
Ben Ha-Zelah looked about him. All around
| him was tho desert. Before him, in his arms
the little babe, suddenly grown calm, and
smiling in his face.
| A few more days and his journey through
the desert was ended. Bat many were the
privations he endured that tho helpless little
infant, now go dear to him, might not wantss
Ben-Ha-Zelah was rich, and now he vas
good. His goodness made use of his riches to
dry the tears of misfortune-there are as many
alas! in this world of suffering, as there are
dewdrops on a&Nummer's morning-and very
soon his box was quite full
When he againsaw his child, the mysterious
sleep was unbroken. She came not to welcome
him, but sput the pearl necklAce a4dat her
| beautifoIthroat, And she awoke, smiling.
ooh! what q levely necklace papa" she
cried.
at is the first have ever given thee, my
darling" said the happy father, shut hope
it may not be the last. My pearl basket is
now empty, but trust in God that may fill
it many times before die"