Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-01-02
%@-s-s.G D-s-s-3 31s-s-s S-s-slss 900
. THE HERMIT
J A Story Illustrative of the Ways
B of Heaven.
/ BY vOLTAIRE.
BY VOLTAIRE

/ @Ss-s-s-ls-s-s-SSs-s-.-s ss-.-s-SI Is-s.@@
In the reign Of King Moabdar there
lived at Babylon young man nalnet
Zadig. He was handsome, rich ant
naturally good hearted, and at the mo
ment when this story opens he wai
travelling on foot to see the world an(
to learn philosophy and wisdom. Blu
| hitherto he had encountered so muc1
misery and endured so many terrible
disasters that he had become tempted
| to rebel against the will of heaven an(
to believe that the Providence which
rules the world neglects the good ani
let's the evil prosper. In this unhappy
| spirit he was one day walking on the
banks of the Euphrates when he chanc
J ed to meet venerable hermit whose
snowy beard descended to his girdle
and who carried in his hand a scroll
which he was reading with attention
Zadig stopped and made him a long
bow. The hermit returned the saluta
tion with an air so kindly and so noble
that Zadig felt curiosity to speak tc
him. He inquired what scroll was that
which he was reading.
ut is the Book of Destiny" replied
the hermit. would you like to read
itW
He handed it to Zadig, but the lat
ter, though he knew dozen languages
could not understand a word of it. His
curiosity increased.
'You appear to be in trouble" said
the kindly hermit.
"Alas," said Zadig. 81 have cause to
be sor'
'If you will allow me-" said the her.
NIT, Il will accompany you. Perhaps
l may be useful to you. I am some
times able to console the sorrowful."
Zadig felt a deep respect for the ap-
pearance, the white beard and the mys-
terious scroll of the old hermit and
perceived that his conversation was
that of superior mind. The old man
spoke of destiny, of justice, of moral
ity, of the chief good of life, of human
frailty, of virtue and of vice with so
much power and eloquence that Zadig
felt himself attracted by a kind of
charm and besought the hermit not to
leave him until they should return to
Babylon.
Il ask you the same favor" said the
hermit. Promise me that, whatever
I may do, you keep me company for
several days."
Zadig gave the promise. and they set
forth together
That night the travellers arrived at a
grand mansion. The hermit begged for
food and lodging for himself and his
companion. The porter, who might
have been mistaken for a prince, usher
ed them in with contemptuous air of
welcome. The chief servant showed
them the magnificent apartments, and
tom of the table, where the master of
a glance at them. They were, however,
served with delicacies in profusion and
after dinner washed their hands in
golden basin set with emeralds and
rubies They were then conducted for
the night into a beautiful apartment,
and the next morning before they left
the castle a servant brought them each
a piece of gold.
1.-THE master of the house." said Ia
dig as they went their way, appears
to be a generous man, although a trife
naughty. He practices a noble hos
pitality." AS he spoke he perceived
that kind of large pouch which the
hermit carried appeared singularly dis
tended. Within it was the golden basin
set with precious stones which the old
man had purloined. Zadig was amaz-
ed, but he said nothing.
At noon the hermit stopped before
little house, in which lived a wealthy
miser, and once more asked for hos
pitality. An old valet in a shabby coat
received them very rudely, showed
them into the stable and set before
them few rotten olives, some moldy
bread and beer which had turned sour.
The hermit ate and drank with as
much content as he had shown the
night before; then, addressing the old
valet, who had kept his eye upon them
to make sure that they stole nothing,
he gave him the two pieces of gold
and thanked him for his kind atten-
tion. "Be SO good" he added "as to let
me see your master"
The astonished valet showed them in.
"Most mighty signor," said the her.
NIT, II can only render you my hum
Bile thanks for the noble manner in
which you have received US. | beseech
you to accept this golden basin as a
token of my gratitude"
The miser almost fell backward with
amazement. The hermit. without wait
ing for him to recover, set off with
speed with his companion.
"Holy father" said zadig, what
does all this mean? You seem to me
to resemble other men in nothing. You
steal golden basin set with jewels
from signor who receives you with
magnificence and you give it to cur
mudgeon who treats you with indig-
nifty"
"My son. replied the hermit. ''this
mighty lord, who only welcomes trav-
elers through vanity and to display his
riches, will henceforth grow wiser,
while the miser will be taught to prac-
tice hospitality. Be amazed at nothing
and follow me-"
Zadig knew not whether he was deal
ing with the most foolish or the wisest
of all men. But the hermit spoke with
such ascendency that Zadig, who be-
sides was fettered by his promise, had
no choice except to follow him.
That night they came to an agreea-
BILE house of simple aspect and show
ing signs neither of prodigality nor
avarice. The owner was philoso-
pher who had left the world and who