New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-17
TIE jews GIFT.
N IT. = Ut
From The Atlantic MONTHLY

The Abbot willed IT, and it was done.
They hanged Elm high IN an iron cage
For the spIteiul wind and the patient sun
10 bleach him. Faith, twas Il crdei age!
Just for 40 crime they hanged ann there.
When one Is a jew, why, one remains
A jew to the eud. though ne swing III ar
From year to year IN n suit ot chains.
Twas MAY. and the buds into blossom broke,
And the Al pie bOaghs were pink anu white
What gre wsOme fruit was thai On TOE OAK,
Swaying and s~aying day anu night!
The miller, urging MS ,icbald marc
over the crCss-road, "pped ana Ieereu;
But never an urchID ven. ed therc
For fear of the dead-mans long, white beard.
A long. White beard like cardcd wool
Reaching down 10 tie very knee
Ora proper sort with which 10 pun
4 hereto Jew to the galows-tree!
Piteous wOmen-folk turned away,
Having no heart Tor such thing;
Bni the Dlackbirds on the aider-5pray
For very JOY of 1t seemed u sing,
Whenever a monk went shuiiling by,
10 the convent over against the hlll,
He would lift pltiess piOils eye, , -, -,
And muttcr, The Abbot nut ava GlUS Will!
And tic Abbot himself slept no whit less,
But rather the more, FOR this hls deed:
And the Nav moon filled, and the loveiness
OF Springtlde Hooded upland and meal.
Then Al odd thing CHANGED. 4 certain clown,
On a certain morning breaking stone
BY the hillside. saw, rs he glanced dONn II,
Tia, the heretIc's lOug hite beard WAS gone
Shaved a. clean aud close as you choose,
As close and clean AZ hts polished pate
Like wIllErc spread the marvellous news
From the ale-hOuse bench to the convent gate
And tbe GOOD foil, flocked from far and near
And the monks trOOpcd down the rocky height:
Twas a miracle. that was very clear
ne devil had shaved the Israc lite
Where Is the Abbot! Quick, 20 EEL
Summons him. knave. sdeath atraigntWay!
The devil hath sent ms barber nom NELL
Perchance there will be the devil to pay
Now. lad that had climbed an aldcr-tree,
The better to overlook the rest,
Suddenly gave shout OF Elee
At finding WOndrOuS DllchO S-hest'
Then suddenly lang II from ms hand,
For lol IT was woven Of human bar,
Plated and braided, strand upon strand
No marvel The hcrctlcS cnln Was bare!
Silence fell upon priest and clown.
Eacn stood rivcted III his place;
The brat that tugEed at hiS mothers gown
Caught the terror that blauchgd her lace.
Then one, patriarch, bent ana gray,
Wise with the grlet OF years tOurScOre,
Picked up mis- stan. and took his way
BY the mountain patti to the ADooss door
And bravely told this thing of the nest,
How the birds had never touched cheek or eye,
Rut dalutily plucked the fleece from The breast
TO bulid mono tor 1heir young thereby.
Surely II they were not ateard
Gods little ChOriStcrS, Tree OF gulleD
To serve themselves of the Hebrew beard,
II was tnat he was not wholly vile
Perhaps they saw with their keener eyes
Tue grace that we missed, but which God sees:
Ali. but he reads AL hearts likewise,
TIE good In those, and the gMilt III these.
Precious Is mercy, y my L)rdV
Humbly the Abbot bowed MS lead,
And making gesture OF accord
What would you have The knaye is dead"
"Certes. the man is dead No doubt
Deserved to die rs jew, ne died;
But now he hath served HE sentence OUT
with a dole or two thrown IN OeSdel,
Suffered all that he may OF men-
WHY not earth him. and no more words !"
The Abbot ponderei, and smiled, and then
"Well WE'LL since nc gave his beard to the
birds p THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH.