one could see happy remembrances combined with some strange foreboding.  Beautiful Sara, who sat on the high velvet cushion with her husband, as hostess, had on none of her jewelry—­nothing but white linen enveloped her slender form and innocent face.  This face was touchingly beautiful, even as all Jewish beauty is of a peculiarly moving kind; for the consciousness of the deep wretchedness, the bitter ignominy, and the evil dangers amid which their kindred and friends dwell, imparts to their lovely features an expression of soulful sadness and watchful, loving anxiety, which particularly charms our hearts.  So on this evening Beautiful Sara sat looking into the eyes of her husband, yet glancing ever and anon at the beautiful parchment book of the Agade which lay before her, bound in gold and velvet.

[Illustration:  HOUSE IN BACHARACH]

It was an old heirloom, with ancient wine stains on it, and had come down from the days of her grandfather; and in it there were many boldly and brightly-colored pictures, which as a little girl she had often looked at so eagerly on Passover evenings.  They represented all kinds of Bible incidents—­Abraham breaking with a hammer the idols of his father and the angels appearing to him; Moses slaying Mizri; Pharaoh sitting in state on his throne, and the frogs giving him no peace even at the table; his death by drowning—­the Lord be praised!—­the children of Israel cautiously crossing the Red Sea, and then standing open-mouthed, with their sheep, cows, and oxen, before Mount Sinai; pious King David playing the harp; and, finally, Jerusalem, with its towers and battlements, shining in the splendor of the setting sun.

The second wine-cup had been served, the faces and voices of the guests were growing merrier, and the Rabbi, as he took a loaf of unleavened bread and raised it with a cheerful smile, read these words from the Agade:  “Behold!  This is the food which our fathers ate in Egypt!  Let every one who is hungry come and enjoy it!  Let every one who is sorrowful come and share the joy of our Passover!  This year we celebrate it here, but in years to come in the land of Israel.  This year we celebrate it as servants, but in the years to come as sons of freedom!”

Then the hall door opened, and two tall, pale men, wrapped in very loose cloaks, entered and said: 

“Peace be with you.  We are men of your faith on a journey, and wish to share the Passover-feast with you!” And the Rabbi replied promptly and kindly: 

“Peace be with you!  Sit ye down near me!” The two strangers immediately sat down at the table, and the Rabbi read on.  Several times while the others were repeating a sentence after him, he said an endearing word to his wife; once, alluding to the old humorous saying that on this evening a Hebrew father of a family regards himself as a king, he said to her, “Rejoice, oh my Queen!” But she replied with a sad smile, “The Prince is wanting,”