The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-04-09
TIE DIH0RGE FEAST

Joseph OF sidon-rioher man, they said,
In the city was not-had ten years been wed
And dearly loved bis wife, but not child.
Bies sing their union, had upon them smiled;
Hence he grew sad rejecting his broad lands
At death must all pass into alien hands,
And so he said one day unto his wife:
Ours, though happy is q ehidless life;
No heir you've born to me and we must part"
His wife-though she was very sad at heart,
Loving her husbnnd weII-no answer made;
The law spoke plainly and must be obeyed.
Tuey went to Rabbi Simeon the Wise
And told unto him their perplexities,
And he, when they had spoken, said "Your life
Fnese ten years has been ever free from strife,
Aud am glad that when your marriage ends
You part as you have Hved-the best of friends.
Wen do recoIlect-how swift time hies!-
Your wedding: those were rare Festivities
Song, banquet, dance your friends had gathered
there,
The happy, in your happiness to share.
Why should you not observe in the same way
Your day of parting as your marriage day?
Make grand feast and to your friends ope wide
Your doors, array yourselves as groom and bride,
Eat, drink, be merry, and then come to me
And will give you the desired decree.
They thanked the Rabbi wise and fastened home,
And to the festival their friends babe come.
Never sach feast had in the city been,
Nor bride and groom IN such gay raiment seen.
Joyous the wife was, although sad at heart,
Knowing, the feast DER, that they twain must part
And oft glance she cast along the board
Toward the husband whom she so adored
Rudy and white was my beloved them"
She thought, "and cbiefest of ten thousand men
His head Of most fine gold, his locks of jet;
His eyes eyes of doves and fifty set
His cheeks q bed of spices, and his bps
Like lilies from which myrrh understanding drips;
Daughters of Jerusalem, I said, attend;
For this is my beloved and my friend'"
And Joseph too was moved, rejecting: $50
1t was we Toasted but ten years ago.
dow fair thou vert, my loye-behold, how fair 4!
Thou hadst doves eyes within thy locks; thy hair
i was like purple and thy teeth did seem
A flock of sheep that came up from the stream
Even-shorn, and thy lips scarlet thread;
Among the lillies--ah thou vert all fair
ny love; my love, no spot in thee was there"
And raising up cup of wine he laughed,
Then sighed, as he the generous liquor quaffed:
" We have been happy, and had Heaven to US
Sent children happy had we lived on thus"
And filing up the cup, replied his wife:
g Let me-for mine has been happy life
Take something to recall it when 60"
Her husband answered to her: "Be it So
Take what thou wilt; pledge thee in this wine
Whate'er is here and thou wouldst have is thine"
The feast went on, and all drank long and deep,
And Joseph in his chair fell fast asleep.
He walked; the room in which he oped his eyes,
Its furniture he could not recognize
When his wife entered and he sked her What
Dwelling is this? How came to this spot ?"
1t is my fathers house," she said. " you swore
should take with me when I left your door
Nhate'er held. most dear, and never guessed
# all was in the world I loved you best.
brought you here asleep"
g We shall not part"
Her husband said, and strained her to his heart.
Nor did they part till death but long ere then
bod gave them gift of children, so that when
Joseph of Sidon died he left his lands
n his children's and children's children's hands.
N, Y WORLD