Page:The New Monthly Magazine - Volume 098.djvu/347

Rh of his own speculations, and of the failure of a foreign mercantile house with which he had had large dealings, become utterly ruined; and not only did he leave Hamburg a beggar, but he had also been attacked and severely handled when making his escape from his creditors. And though all the right-minded inhabitants of the city disapproved of the ill-treatment he bad received, yet there was not much pity felt for him on account of his conduct to his father, who was respected as a really upright man.

Their late tribulations and adversity had checked the arrogance of the Hamburg Jews; and they also began to resort more to their synagogues, and to pay more attention to their priests. A deputation waited upon old Philip Moses, and expressed the wish of the congregation that he would return among their community, saying that they had made arrangements to provide for his maintenance, and that he should be entirely independent of all his relations. They acknowledged that what he had often predicted to them had come to pass, and they now felt inclined to honour him, as a true servant of Jehovah, upon whom a prophetic spirit had descended.

"Will ye turn from the evil of your ways, O Israel!" exclaimed the old man to the messengers of the congregation. "If ye will do this, the Lord will let the light of His countenance shine once more upon you. 'They that trust in the Lord, shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed.' 'We will go into His tabernacle; we will worship at His footstool.' 'He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel;' and my heart shall rejoice before I go hence, and ascend into Father Abraham's bosom."

When Philip Moses went with Benjamina to Dr. Veit and his son, to bid them farewell, to thank them for all their humanity and goodness, and to pray that blessings might be returned to them tenfold, the two young people looked sorrowfully at each other, and tears came into their eyes.

"Oh, Benjamina!" exclaimed the younger Veit, "I see that you love me, as I have long loved you;" and before she had time to answer, he had seized her hand, and suddenly they dropped on their knees before the old men, while the young painter asked their blessing.

Both Dr. Veit and the rabbi started back in consternation.

"Could I have dreamed of this, my son," said Dr. Veit, "I would never have brought you back from Rome. The difference between your religion"

"Benjamina is a Christian at heart," said the young man, abruptly, as he rose from his knees, and assisted the trembling girl to rise. "By the sick couch of this excellent old man she read our holy Scriptures, and their divine truths have enlightened her soul."

"Is this true, Benjamina?" exclaimed Philip Moses, turning very pale.

"Yes, dear grandfather, it is true," replied the young girl, as she threw herself at his feet, and clasped her arms round his knees. "It was the word of Christ that I read to you, when, in the darkness of your soul, you cursed the day of your birth; it was the word of Christ that gave you peace when you would have denounced eternal perdition to your people!"

"You are a Christian at heart, Benjamina, and you love this