Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-12-21

disposed of in the cities OF tho Adriatic
at a great profit. Then, with new
cargo, he sailed for Constantinople,
where he bought carpets. perfumes, pea
cock feathers, ivory and ebony, which
his clerks exchanged on tho coast OF
Dalmatia for lumber, which was bought
from him in advance by the Venetians
By this means he multiplied ten times
in six months the sum which he had re.
ceivod
But che dag that he was in bark on
the Bosporus with Greek women he
was taken by pirates and brought cap
tive into Egypt. Happily his gold and
his merchandise were safe. The pirates
sold him to Saracen lord, who, having
put his feet in irons, commanded him
to cultivate the wheat which is beauti
full in that country. He offered ransom,
but the daughter Of the Saracen lord,
who loved him, dissuaded her father
from surrendering him at any price. He
filed his irons with the instruments that
he used to cultivate the fields, fed,
reached the Nile and went out to sea.
After eight days of travel i'll a Span
ish ship, which had picked him up, Il
tempest threw him OH the coast of Dali
malta. The entire crew was drowned,
and Fahio, supported by chicken coop,
reached the coast with great difficulty.
He fell insensible and was brought to
the house OF a widow, who was quite
beautiful and whose name was Loretta.
When he regained consciousness, he
was surrounded by perfume Of myrtles
and roses, and he saw from his window
garden which descended gradually to
the sea. Mime. Loretta took her violin
and played tenderly Fabio, i'll his
gratitude. kissed her hands a thousand
times. Then he asked what was the day
of the month When she told him, he
began to groan and to lament at the
thought that in "a hours the year would
be ended, and tho date would come
when be would fail to return the 500
ducats which he had borrowed from
tie jew Eieazer. Nine. Loretta having
asked the cause of his despair, he made
it known to her. AS she was woman Of
great piety and very faithful to the Holy
Mother Of God, she sympathized with
HIM There was no difficulty in obtain
ing the SEQ ducats, but none could
think of going from the coast of Dali
| malta to Venice in "a hours in bad
sea and with contrary winds ''Let Us
have the money in the first place." said
Fabio.
When a servant OF his hostess had
brought the money to him, the noble
merchant asked for bark, which he
filed with bags containing the ducats.
Chen lie took from Nine Loreta's ora
tory an image Of the Virgin with the
infant Jesus, which was made Of cedar
wood and was very venerable. He plac-
ed it in the bark near the rudder, and
he said to the image:
Madam. you arc my security. The
Jew EleaZer must be paid tomorrow.
NJ honor and yours are at stake, mad
am, and also the renoWn Of your Son.
What q mortal sinner like me may not
do you shall surely accomplish, pure
star OF the sea, you whose breast nour-
ishes the one who walked on waves.
Take, this money to tie Jew Eleazer, in
the Ghetto of Venice, SO that the Jews
will not say that you are bad security"
Having pushed the bark in the wave,
he took Off his hat and said softly:
"Adieu, madam For long time tho
merchant and the widow followed the
bark with their eyes. The night fell. A
furrow OF light was traced in the peace
full sea.
The next morning Eleazer, having
opened his door, saw i'll the narrow Ca
nal of the Ghetto a bark loaded with
bags and guided by a little figure of
black wood Respondent with the clear
ness Of dawn. The bark stopped before
the house where was carved the seven
branched golden candlestick. The Jew
recognized the Virgin Mary and the in
FAINT Jesus, security of the Christian
merchant Echo.