Page:Meir Ezofovitch a novel, from the Polish of Eliza Orzeszko.djvu/261

Rh asked what he was to do if the time for prayers arrived during 8 journey and he could not turn his face to the east, because the storm and dust would blind his eyes. A great many came crying and bewailing their miserable lives, and asked the sage to look into the future and tell them how long it would be till the Messiah arrived. The greater part of the people did not want anything, asked neither questions nor came for advice; they simply wanted to see the revered Master, breathe the same air with him, and fill their gonls with the words that dropped from his lips, and see the light of his countenance.

It was evident that Isaac Todros felt and appreciated his high position. He attended to all their wants with the greatest gravity, zeal and patience. He explained and put the people right in points of the law, inflicted panances upon sinners gave physic to the eick, advice to the ignorant without changing his position, only fixing his either stern or thoughtful eyes npon those that came to him. Several times wlien the people wailed and complained, entreating him to foretell the coming of the Messiah, his dark eyes grew misty. He loved those that came to him with their troubles and felt for them. Big beads of perspiration stood upon his forehead, and his breath came hard and fast, but he still went on with- his ministrations in the deep conviction that he was doing his duty, with a fervent faith and belief in all that he was doing and teaching, and the disinterestedness of a man who does not want anything for himself, except the little black hut, a scanty meal, and the tattered garments he hed worn for many years.