ctures of scenes in holy legends. The men sat in
their black cloaks and black low hats, and white collars, the women, in
wonderful glittering garments of Lombard stuffs, wore on their heads and
necks ornaments of gold and pearls, while the silver Sabbath lamp cast
its festive light on the cheerful, devout faces of parents and children.
On the purple velvet cushions of a chair, higher than the others,
reclined, as custom requires, Rabbi Abraham, who read and sang the
_Agade_, while the gay assembly joined in, or answered in the appointed
places. The Rabbi also wore the prescribed black festival garment, his
nobly-formed, but somewhat severe features had a milder expression than
usual, his lips smiled through his dark-brown beard as if they would
fain say something kind, while in his eyes 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 sett