The Jewish advance. (Chicago, Ill.) 1878-1881, 1880-07-02

Eiiakom were lying. The two moved
closer to one another. A figure appear
ed in the open window. 1t was that of
the stranger from Jerusalem. 1t alight-
ed upon the floor without the slightest
sound and moved ghost-like toward the
centre of the room. There it sat down
upon the floor crossing it's legs and ges-
ticulating in a manner as if it were en-
during the greatest tortures. 1t then
began to strike it's breast with its left
hand while with it's right it drew from
its capacious pockets and bosom the sill
yer vessels which had been lost, deposi-
ting them On the floor in the order in
which they had been served at the we'd
ding This done it arose from the floor
and glided from the room as quietly as
it had come.
did you see, Nahum ?" whispered
Eliakom. Your silver is here"
Yes, I see" was the reply, For
heavens sake, do ot.speak I"
A few minutes afterward a slight
mumur was heard outside Another
figure appeared in the window 1t was
that of the bleeding peasant. Eliakom
shrank together in CONSERVATION.
" Put your hands around me-" whis-
pered Eliak0m. or lam lost p Nahum
silently complied with the request. The
bleeding ghost moved slowly toward the
bed, grasping the air with itg.hands, as
if desirous of catching something. It
was already near the bed, and with its
next movement would encounter Ella
koms head But suddenly the Baal-
Shem appeared in the. window with one
leap he was between3the ghost and the
bed. Selling the former with both hands
he uttered in a very xeepvoioe.: Here
thou art in my powqSS5-son-of Topheth !!
Give up thy evidence, or will condemn
thee to eternal anguish !" The ghost
struggled fora moment, and having been
forced upon its knees by the Baal- -Shem,
it took out from its bosom piece of
bread soiled with blood which the holy
man snatched from his hand and hid in
his breast. He then pronounced some
mystic words, and the ghost disappeared
through the window. The holy man
then contemplated the piece of bread
with an air of misgiving, placed it under
the pillow of the two bed companions,
stretched his hands over their heads and
pronounced solemnly and slowly the fol-
lowing blessing:
" May the Merciful give you peace
and rest, and may He enable you to live
in such manner that your old age shall
be an atonement for all the sins you
have hitherto committed" And he van
ished through the window, which closed
Of itself behind him.
With the dawn of morning the two
bed companions arose to narrate the
wonders they had seen. There were no
end of the marvels they could tell, and
the blessings which, they poured upon
their benefactor. AS nobody but Ella
kom and his son knew the history of the
peasant, the appearance of his ghost
was explained in different ways, And no
one could ever doubt the truth of their
story after seeing the substantial evil
dence that was displaye din support oft.
On the following Monday the Baal-
Shcm returned to the village and found
Nahum and Eliakom waiting for him at
the inn. Nahum was admitted into his
presence first, and dismissed after
short interview, during which the holy
man gave him his advice and blessings
and accepted the gifts which were offer
ed him. Eliakom was then introduced
Having narrated all that he had seen on
the preceding Saturday night, he showed
the old man the piece Of bread which
was surrendered by the ghost The
Baal-Shem took it in his hand and ex
amining it said that it was not quite so
large as it had been originally. He re-
gretted to see that with all the trouble
he had taken to rescue the evidences