Year: 1879




the God of Israel, and did everything
that was abominable in the sight of God.
With bloody sword Titus pierced the
curtain that covered the holy ark, and
drops Of blood issued from the curtain
the tyrant rejoiced, and said that his
sword has pierced the heart Of Israels
rock,-he did not know that the blood
was the blood of the sacrifices which the
high-priest had sprinkled upon the cur
tain on the day of atonement. After he
had conquered our holy land, the tyrant
went in ship in order to return to his
country with the plunder of Jerusalem
and the captives of Judah when tre-
mendous storm arose on the sea, furi-
Gus and terrible hurricane, which dis
turbed the sea to it's utmost depths; the
ship was lifted up and clashed against
rocks, until every one believed that she
would break and sink into the mighty
waters. Titus then lifted his hand
against God, and with naughty tongue
he exclaimed


"The God Of the Hebrews is only
mighty when fighting in rivers or on
seas. He sank Pharaoh and his army in
the Red Sea, he drowned Sisra and his
mighty troops in the brook Kishon, but
on the dry land he is feeble and power
less; let him come and fight with me on
the dry land, and we will see if he can
stand before my sword p


He was still speaking when the tenn
pest abated, the waves desisted, the wa
ters of the sea flowed as smooth as oil,
and the ship foated safely and quietly
until it reached it's destination. No
sooner, however had Titus left the ship
and put his foot upon the dry land, when
voice from heaven exclaimed


Now, jester the smallest of my
creatures is proceeding to fight with
thee ON the dry land prepare thyself
like a man and vanquish him if thou
canst p


At the same moment he was sur
rounded by swarm of insects, and the
youngest and smallest Of them entered
one of his nostrils, whence it ascended
to his brain and pierced him increasingly.
In vain did the doctors labor, in vain did
they advise and experiment, no COUNSEL
wisdom or might could prevail against
the insect Once Titus passed by the
door of smith, and from the noise made
by the hammer the insect ceased pecking
his brains. From that time on Titus
ordered that some one should constantly
hammer and make a noise in his pres
ence but the insect soon became ac-
customed to the noise, it awoke from it's
temporary lethargy, and began pecking
Titus brains as before Finally the in
sect pierced the tyrant's brain, and alb
sorbed his life blood day and night, until
it became as large as young dove, it's
peck turned into copper, and its nails
became as hard as iron, and it did not
Cthc lung UclOIe LlCuS ulou Ill fearful
pain and terrible agony.*


Behold p Shimeon would say: Be
hold understand the Interpretation of
this parable, and from my own expert
ence [ comprehend the moral which this
fable is intended to teach us. For alas
that insect is also pecking at my brain,
that insect is also sucking my life's blood
by day and by night, and that insect is
the remorse which the wicked man en-
dures after he knows and recognizes his
sin and wickedness those pangs are
like insects in the transgressor brain,
like worms in the depths of his heart,
and like poison in his reins and bones
And though through worldly cares and
the rush Of affairs the pain may cease,
and the pangs diminish, they are only
sleeping, and they will awake with re-
newed strength and increased energy
they will sting like serpents and pierce
like scorpions, until they finally consume
the sinners bones, and drag his mourn
full carcass down to the grave. Alas