Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-15

Christian part Of the city. A single loud
cry for help would have brought rescue, a
few words to the rescuers would have reused
mob OF fierce men, and the two men would
have paid with their lives for the deeds they
had not yet committed. But Simon Abeles
uttered no cry and offered no resistance.
He had said that he feared not death, and
he had spoken the truth, not knowing what
manner of death was to be his. Onward
! they sped, and in the vision the way they
traversed seemed to sweep past them
so that they remained always in sight
though always hurrying until the Christian
quarter was passed, before them hung the
chain of one of those gates which gave ac-
cess to the city OF the Hebrews. With
jeer and an oath the bearded sentry watched
them pass-the martyr and his torturers.
One word to him, even then, and the butt OF
his heavy halberd would have broken Lewis
arm and laid the boys father in the dust.
The word was not spoken. On through the
filthy ways, on and on, through narrow
courts and tortuous passages to dark, low
doorway. Then again the vision showed an
empty street, and there was silence for
space and horror of long waiting III the
falling night.
Lights moved within the house, and then
one window after another was bolted and
barred from within. Still the silence endured
until the ear was grown used to it and could
hear sounds very far of, from deep down be-
low the house itself, but the walls did not
open and the scene did not change. A dull
noise, bad to hear, resounded as from be-
meath vault, and then another and another
the sounds of cruel blows upon human
body. Then pause.
"Wilt thou renounce it?" asked the voice
of Lazarus.
''Kyrie eleison, Christie eleisonl' came
the answer, brave and clear.
'Lav on, Levi, and let thy arm be
strongp'
And again the sound of blows, regular,
merciless, came up from the bowels of the
earth.
''Dost thou repent? Dost thou renounce7
Dost thou deny?"
81 repent of my sins-I renounoe your
ways-I believe in the Lord"
The sacred name was not heard. A
smothered groan as of one losing conscious
ness in extreme torture was all that came up
from below.
'Lay on, Levi, lay onp'
Nay" answered the strong rabbi, "the
boy will die. Let US leave him here for this
night. Perchance cold and hunger will be
more potent than stripes, when he shall
come to himself"
LAS thou sayest," answered the father in
angry reluctance
Again there was silence. Soon the rays
of light ceased to shine through the crevices
of the outer shutters, and sleep descended
upon the qnarters of the Hebrews. Still the
scene in the vision changed not. After a
long stiffness clear young voice was heard
speaking.
Lord, if it be Thy will that die, grant
that may bear ali in Thy name, grant that
1, unworthy, may endure in this body the
punishments due to me in spirit for my sins.
And if it be Thy will that 1 live. let my life
be used for Thy glory"
time descended upon the vision and was
lifted again and again. And each time |
the same voice was heard and the sound of |
torturing blows, but the voice of the boy |
was growing weaker every night, though it |
was not less brave,
Il believe" it said, always. do what |
you will, you have power over the body, |
but 1 have the Faith over which you have
no power"
So the days and the nights passed, and
though the prayer came up in feeble tones
IT was born of mighty spirit, and it rang
In the ears OF the tormentors as the voice of
an angel which they had no power to silence,
appealing from them to the tribunal of the
Throne of GOD Most High.
Day by day, also, the rabbis and the
elders began to congregate together at even
ing before the house of Lazarus aud to talk
with him and with each other, debating how
hey might break the endurance OF his son
ind bring him again into the synagogue as
,ne CT themselves. Chief among them in
heir councils was Levi, the short-handed,
1evising new tortures for the frail BODY to
bear and boasting how he would conquer
he stubborn boy br the might of his hands
@ hurt. Some of the rabbis shook their
reads.
"He is possessed of DEVIL" they said.
He will die and repent not"
But others nodded approvingly and
vagged their filthy boards and said that
When the fool had been chastised the evil
pirit would depart from him.
To be continued nest Sundap.1