Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24

The Gift of Providence
Continued from page
Continued from page 8

ened by the cries of his sister. He slept with
Simon in the third room of the apartment, and
his appearance recalled to the mother that no
one had eaten any breakfast.
Now that the doll has been destroyed"
she asked where are you going to get money
There isn't a spoonful of sugar in the house,
and we owe the grocer nearly ten dollars. He
won't trust us for another penny"
The talk of food reminded the weeping
wall for the broken doll to the cry for coffee and
rolls. I'm tngry:." she shouted. Il want
to eatl'
Simo, oook advantage of the distressful
situation to s1ft the jewels through his fingers,
letting them fall on the tissue paper like strings
of iridescent sparks.
A ARONSON looked about helplessly He
= = thought he had intrenched himself IN the
inherent honesty of his nature; but the suffer-
ing of those who were near and dear to HIM
disarmed him. Perhaps he felt measure of
self contempt for the weakness that was pulling
at the roots of the rugged determination he had
made not to profit by the strange chance that
put the gems into his possession; but he made
no effort to justify himself in his mind. He
of the shoulders, said:
Take one, only one, and bring back the
money!"
From that day Aaronson's home took on
|
furnishings, until the apartments assumed an
appearance of luxury; and on Rosh ha-Shanah
the family, including Sarah, who no longer
worked as servant, sat in the synagogue,
respondent in their new holiday clothes. But
all the fervency that he put into his prayers
did not dispel the narrowing fear that gripped
Aaronson's heart, nor calm the raging turmoil
of his mind.
A ARONSON sat at the head of the table,
4 ~ a.
meal. It was after the second days services OF
the most solemn Jewish holy day, with the
exception of the Day of Atonement. When
the food was eaten and the dishes cleared from
the table Aaronson rose slowly and deliberately.
His eyes swept the circle of faces around him;
there was something in his appearance that
compelled attention. The lines of his face
had grown resolute his brow was contracted IN
deep thought. For moment he stood there,
rigidly placid, but possessed OF new strength,
you, Simon. On this day all the inhabitants of
the earth pass in review in the heavenly court
before the Almighty as sheep pass for examl-
nation before the shepherd. The three Judg-
haze bssn tSe |
be given life and happiness; to the wicked will
be apportioned misery and death. Those
whose sins are offset in equal measure by their
good deeds, have nine days left before Yom
Kippur in which to purge themselves of their
closed and our fates sealed.
"How can dip the bread into the honey and
say, May it please the Lord our God, and
God of our fathers, to renew for us good and
sweet year! with the knowledge of a black
crime on my hearth Will the Lord listen to
my prayer for forgiveness, when my pockets are
stuffed with things have stoleni No! 1t
will be mockery for me to appeal on Yom
Kippur for favorable judgment, with the
profits of my sin in my possession. ! want to
live; want God to grant long life to my
family. And, unless my atonement is real, the
wrath of the Almighty will be visited on me
and mine. For my wife's sake, for my child
ren's sake, for my own salvation, will take
the jewels to the police and ask them to find
the owner!
"Aaronson, what has happened to your"
demanded Simon. What wrong have you
committed? l tell you the stones were sent
to you by Providence. Will you cast off the
gift that was given to you? They have brought
you food and shelter and comfort; they have
made your New Year one of plenty. Are you
responsible to God for the act of another. a
stranger? By disposing of the gems judiciously,
all of us can live in luxury for the rest of our
lives. Will you deliberately plunge into the
black pool of poverty from which the diamonds
rescued you only month ago? You have no
proof that the man stole them. You don't