Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-03-24
Akiba and RebeCCa.


I'm ofthe Romans, my hero and heroine
f.rd Their paths iu lie were widely
H9erent. but destiny Intervene them
until they became one. To the wales
near jerusalem there wandered youth
of fine physical appearance. His eyes
were brown. bis locks were like the
,sycp's. and his stature was above the
,yenge. His brow was noble, and
,,bsn ore looked at him the thought
occurred that he was fitted for better
,tiprs than that offending 1ocks This
sbcphcrd lad. instructed chiefly by les.
SONS from nature aud SO plainly uur.
wrcd. was destined TO play very
important pasi In the history Of DIS
country.
Those acre stirring times; IL was an
axe in which heroes could rise and fall.
The Jews chaicd under the Roman
yohc;thcy longed for freedom, and this
rDoch was 10 variable that men OF the
loves, rank could rise TO be al the head
fthc nation. II they had any talent In
ppu0ds of danger mems energies are
more active, and latent genius is apt TO
become apparent more quickly in peril
ous days than iu days Whctc all is sun.
shine and prosperity our hero bad
many opportunities for disuneuI hing
himself go we need not Doe suVu cd
that he gained ail that men strive ioE
one summer day. while 400 Was serene
and nature seemed at her best. fir
maid came along the path She bad aIl
the loneliness OF her race, Her eyes
we're large and black. She was ~ grace.
h.l form, and her skin Wus of lly white
ness. She showed hy her bearing that
her station in life was lofty. She saw
Akiba. and TO see him was Co love him,
although he was Of lOWly birth. Tie
maid cared not TOT wealth, nor rank,
sue thought only OF the qualities OF the
man on whom she would bcsiuw her
hand and heart Being noble herself
she was attracted by The fine elements
ol hkibas character Men and maids
lived and loved in those days as they
do today, sometimes ] think that they
loved more faithfully than we
The fair Rcbccca lived Ia luxury
Her father was great man IN his city.
She had attendants, TO minister TO every
one OF her wants. Fine dresses aud
Jewels were hers, but though reared In
40 this splcudoL her heart was free
from pride, and her mind oQuallgd her
beauty. U wealth makes happiness she
certainly possessed Do. for her wishes
were granted as soon as they were
known.
After seeing Akiba this luxury be.
came dslHsiciul Co her because she
knew Obs Die was ordered loo different
manner Her affections were conferred
unuu him lly day aud 10y night she
thought OF the noble mlu whom she
saw by the brooksIdc.
Often did she seek those green lanes,
and soon they became well acquainted.
Before many weeks elapsed. in the
m.l1, Of the grassy plains and beside
tlc mufmuriug stream, they vowed
eternal love, nor was their love but
common dtoss. it was pure aud heart.
iclt, 10 was not merely verbal pledge,
but b was a love which cndurc,h Tor
ever.
When Rcbecca's father. Jochanan,
heard tina, She loved O shepherd. he
was exceedingly wrolh. What, said
he shall my daughter marry a stupid
brrrai' The daughter who Is the pride
OF my house. the daughter for whom
hoped TO obtain better position than
even can give her shall not demcan
herself % can prevent H.
on purim. when the whole nation
fc.oiccs because Hayman's machinl-
lions failed through the intervention OF
the good Queen Esther. Nurse Sarah
told kcbCcCa that her father wished 10
speak with her. She went to his study
and as soon as She entered, her father
man OF commanding mien. arose and
liked upon her stern aud unrelcntInE
eye Foolish maid, dost thou think of
wedding a beggaH Thiukest thou that
the great house Of lochanan will degrade
Itself by nn alliance with the common
hgtdl Know that our name has been
unsullied for centuries, our family has
ranked with princes, and now, thou, the
daughter ON whom ! relied for sollcc
in mine age, thInkcst r' deserving father
and home for bcgglE II thou wilt
we'd that shepherd, my house viii be
forever closed against thee, Choose
between father and riches ON the one
hand. and bCggtTy and your stupid
shepherd on the other hand.
q. father. said the weeping maid,
speak not so unkindly OF Akibt; even
d his fathers did not dwell in palaces,
that does not make him OF the common
herd. Your daughter would not we'd q
man who was unworthy OF her His
character makes HIM equal 10 any
prince Gold aud rank do not make
lhe man. In my estimation, integrity
and purity Of thought and action en-.
noble q man, not birth nor ancestry
Though Akiba is poor, he Is nobler than
many Of our friends whom thou dr, glad
10 welcome to our house
Long they argued, The father was
InilrXibIc, and the daughter would not
yield. Then lochanan assembled his
household, and s0lemnly declared unto
them, "Hcnceiouh am childlcs5, my
daughter disobeys me, SO / declare unto
you and before God that she IS no
daughter Of mine, let her go her way
know her not
slowly Rcbecca left the home Of her
childhood Not one glance did she cast
behind. nor did she wayer IN her pur-
pose. She was willing to exchange
pomp for a loving heart, for she knew
that wealth cannot buy this great treas
urg A love that Outlasts beauty, station
and riches was worth more TO her than
gold or Gncry, Love laughs at threats,
and in her hear, there was nothing but
contenlment and pleasure, ior now she
could we'd Akiha. Her lover was an
honorable man, and would not seek the
wealthy heircss, but be would not
hesitate for a moment 10 wed the poor
and homeless stranger
She came IN AEtbulg hut and said.