Page:Meir Ezofovitch a novel, from the Polish of Eliza Orzeszko.djvu/101

Rh These gifts ware small and insignificant; he would not take anything costly; neither did he accept payment for the advice or medicine which he beatowed upon the faithful.

The earliest dawn would see some silent figures glide across the schoolyard and noiselessly deposit some bread, or cake, or an earthen dish of food before his door.

About this time the rabbi would be at his prayers before the open window and fix his eyes, tired with nightly study, upon the far East, towards Jerusalem and the invisible ruins of the Temple. After that he took some of the bread, ate sparingly and threw the remainder to the birds, which at that time would come in clouds, and almost darken the little window. Some with joyful twitter carried the food to their nests, othera perched upon the bent shoulders of their benefactor, even the swallows nesting over the window peeped out at him with fearless eyes. At such time the austere features did relax a little, he was even known to smile. The birds knew him well, not only those in town, but likewise in the wood where he went for prayer and meditation, and to collect the plants of which he composed his medicines. One of his ancestors, Todroz Halevi, had been a physician of great repute in those times, when Israclites devoted themeelves to other sciences than mere religions study. The knowledge of the propertics of plants and drugs had been handed down from generation to generation in the family, and increased their myaterious, almost miraculous reputation. In summer and autumn, a pungent, aromatic smell pervaded the atmosphere of the Rabbi's dwelling; layers upon lsyers of plants were spread upon the floor, to catch the few rays of