The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-05-26
SluTH0R eF-Hr I3AAcS- @
APT XV--CoNr1NUED.

l. VI
LAY on, Levi, lay onw
Nay" answered the strong rabbi,
1.-THE boy will die. Let us leave him
here for this night"
LAS thou sayest."
Again there was silence. Soon the
rays OF light ceased to shine through
the crevices Of the outer shutters, and
sleep descended upon the quarter OF
the Jews. Still the scene in the Wis
ion changed / I.
Lord, if it be thy will that l die.
grant that | may bear all in thy name.
grant that l, unworthy, may endure
in this body the punishment due me
In spirit for my sins. And if it be
thy will that l live, let my life be
used also for thy glory"
The voice ceased and the cloud OF
passing time descended upon the Wis
ion and was lifted again and again.
Il believe" it said, always. .'Do
what you will, you have power over
the body, but l 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 II mighty
spirit, and it rang in the ears of the
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
h elders began to congregate to-
gether at evening before the house OF
Lazarus, and to talk with him and
with each other, debating how they
might break the endurance of his son
and bring him again into the syna-
gogue as one of themselves.
"He is possessed of a devil" they
said. ''He will die and repent not. -"
He has not repented, " said Lag
arus, from his place. Neither many
stripes, nor cold, nor hunger, nor
thirst, have moved him to righteous
ness. 1t is written that he shall be
cut off from his people,"
1--WE will not let him CO." said the
dark man, and an evil smile fickered
from n face to another as a FREELY
futters from tree to tree in the night
AS though the spirit of evil had
touched each one in turn.
1--WE will not let him CO." said each
again.
Lazarus also smiled, as though in
assent, and bowed his head a little be-
fore he spoke.
Il am obedient to your judgment.
1t is YOURS to command, and mine to
obey. If you say that he must die,
let him die. He is my son. Take
him. Did not our father Abraham
lay Isaac upon the altar and offer
him as a burnt sacrifice before the
Lord?'
LET him die" said the rabbis.
Then let him die, " answered Laza-
rus. 81 am yourservant, 1t is mine
to obey"
His blood be on our heads" they
said. And again the evil smile went
round.
ut is then expedient that we de-
termine of what manne his death
shall be-" continued the father, in
clining his body to signify his sub
mission.
.tIt is not lawful to shed his blood, ~
said the rabbis. '.And we cannot stone
him, lest we be brought to Judgment
of the Christians. Determine thou
the manner of his DEATH"
MY masters, if you will - It, let
him be brought once more before us.
Let US all hear with our ears his de-
NAL, and, if he repent at the last, it is
well, let him live. But if he harden
his heart against our ~entreaties, let
him die. Levi hath brought certain
pieces of wood hither to my house,
and is even now at work. If the
youth is still unborn in his belief, let
him die even as the Unbeliever died
by the righteous judgment of the Ro-
MANS
LET it be so. Let him be cruel
fied!" said the rabbis with one voice.
Then Lazarus rose and went out,
and, in the vision, the rabbis remained
seated, motionless in their places,
awaiting his return. The noise of
Lewis hammer echoed through the
vaulted chamber, and at each blow
the smoking lamp quivered a little,
casting strange shadows upon the
evil faces beneath its light. At last
footsteps, slow and uncertain, were
heard without, the low door opened,
and Lazarus entered, holding up the
body of his son before him.
II have brought him before you for
the last time" he said. ''Questikm
him and hear his condemnation out OF
his own mouth. He repents not,
though / have done my utmost to
bring him back into the path of right
eousness. Question him, my masters,
and lot us see what he will say"
WI and exhausted with long hun
ger and thurst, his body broken by
torture, scarcely any longer sensible
to bodily pain, Simon Abeles would
have fallen to the ground had his
father not held him under the arms.
'.Hearest thou, Simon, son of Laz-
arusP" asked the rabbis. ''Knowest
thou in whose presence thou stand
estp"-
II hear you, and l know you all"