Select POetry.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4350, 9 December 1882, Page 1

Select POetry.

THE BEST IN THE HOUSE.

TKOM THE TALMCD.

Once lived in Sidon a pious pair,

Who just ten years united wore,. Their love to each other was tender and true, Yofc one thought to both was bitter as rue; Wherever they prayed, -and fretted, and cried, -- That Heaven to thorn had children denied; The husband it vexed, that no heir came, To inherit his goods and preserve his name. So after the custom of days of yore,

They willed to bo man and wife no more, And went to tho Rabbi Ben Jochai,

And prayed him for ever the knot to untie. Tho noble Rabbi withheld hia hand,

Krom loosing the heart-uniting band ;

He said—" This evening keep in your homo, A parting feast, and I'will come; -vA.nd*wfrwe ware OitomfAwhtiu you were wed, So let the last hour of your love be sped; And thus the whole city shall know what is true, * ■ - No hatred or enmity parteth you;

Then while the good wife to' her father goes. A bill of divorcement I will compose." So neighbors and friends were bid to the feast, To see in what friendship marriage ceased, When all were gay with tho good things of life, „ Up roso tho mail and spake to hia wife; " Oh, thou whom mino I must no more-call, Of tho goods in my house take the best of all; And bear it with thee to thy father's home To show that in anger thou dost not come, And witness in what blameless way

Thou hast ruled in my house unto this day." She thanked him and pledged him in loving

cup, Until to cover his sorrow up, To stiflo the son so of hidden griof, And give to pent regret relief,

Too much of the cheering wino he drank, And into unconscious slumbor sank. . ' Sho called hor servants and bade them take him .t : To her father's houso, and by'no means wake him; And there they undressed him and put him to bed, He knowing no more than the sleeping dead, But when in tho morning he oponed his eyes, He .nibbed them'and fixed thorn in blank

surprise. - '• " Where ami?" ho shouted ! " and how did

I como ? ■> /» Why am I not i» my house.at home ?" And while he pondered and puzzled his brain, Camo tho smiling wife to his side again. '• Good morning," she eaid, with no word of

reproof; - And how hast thou slept noath my father's roof?" " Thy father," ho cried, " how is this, I pray?" She answered— " My loving lord didst say, • Of all good things in jny house that bo, Take tho best of all to thy homo with thee'— So of all precious things I chose the befit one, And thou art my best. Thy will was done." Tho sturdy husband rejoiced aloud - " But thou art the. best in tho world," he

criod, " Come back to my homo, thou hast my heart, For nought but death us two shall part." Joyously hastened they home one in twain, No word of parting was o'or hoard again j The pious Rabbi joinod his prayer

To that of the doubty-wedded pair; And Heaven's best blessing withheld no

more— Soon a cradle stood on the old house-floor, Whence gazed the bright eyes of a lovely boy In the face of the parents, who cried with joy— " The best of all gifts in tho beautifal earth, To wedded hearts is a baby's birth." ':.