Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends. Gertrude Landa

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СКАЧАТЬ hobble, and when they reached a house at the back of the synagogue, he leaped from the ground, spreading his coat wings as he did so, to a window about twenty feet from the ground. The next moment a door opened, and Bar Shalmon, to his surprise, saw that the boy had jumped straight through the window down to the door which he had unfastened from the inside. The boy motioned him to enter a room. He did so. An aged man, who he saw was a rabbi, rose to greet him.

      "Peace be with you," said the rabbi, and pointed to a seat. He clapped his hand and immediately a table with food appeared before Bar Shalmon. The latter was far too hungry to ask any questions just then, and the rabbi was silent, too, while he ate. When he had finished, the rabbi clapped his hands and the table vanished.

      "Now tell me your story," said the rabbi.

      Bar Shalmon did so.

      "Alas! I am an unhappy man," he concluded. "I have been punished for breaking my vow. Help me to return to my home. I will reward thee well, and will atone for my sin."

      "Thy story is indeed sad," said the rabbi, gravely, "but thou knowest not the full extent of thy unfortunate plight. Art thou aware what land it is into which thou hast been cast?"

      "No," said Bar Shalmon, becoming afraid again.

      "Know then," said the rabbi, "thou art not in a land of human beings. Thou hast fallen into Ergetz, the land of demons, of djinns, and of fairies."

      "But art thou not a Jew?" asked Bar Shalmon, in astonishment.

      "Truly," replied the rabbi. "Even in this realm we have all manner of religions just as you mortals have."

      "What will happen to me?" asked Bar Shalmon, in a whisper.

      "I know not," replied the rabbi. "Few mortals come here, and mostly, I fear they are put to death. The demons love them not."

      "Woe, woe is me," cried Bar Shalmon, "I am undone."

      "Weep not," said the rabbi. "I, as a Jew, love not death by violence and torture, and will endeavor to save thee."

      "I thank thee," cried Bar Shalmon.

      "Let thy thanks wait," said the rabbi, kindly. "There is human blood in my veins. My great-grandfather was a mortal who fell into this land and was not put to death. Being of mortal descent, I have been made rabbi. Perhaps thou wilt find favor here and be permitted to live and settle in this land."

      "But I desire to return home," said Bar Shalmon.

      The rabbi shook his head.

      "Thou must sleep now," he said.

      He passed his hands over Bar Shalmon's eyes and he fell into a profound slumber. When he awoke it was daylight, and the boy stood by his couch. He made a sign to Bar Shalmon to follow, and through an underground passage he conducted him into the synagogue and placed him near the rabbi.

      "Thy presence has become known," whispered the rabbi, and even as he spoke a great noise was heard. It was like the wild chattering of many high-pitched voices. Through all the windows and the doors a strange crowd poured into the synagogue. There were demons of all shapes and sizes. Some had big bodies with tiny heads, others huge heads and quaint little bodies. Some had great staring eyes, others had long wide mouths, and many had only one leg each. They surrounded Bar Shalmon with threatening gestures and noises. The rabbi ascended the pulpit.

      "Silence!" he commanded, and immediately the noise ceased. "Ye who thirst for mortal blood, desecrate not this holy building wherein I am master. What ye have to say must wait until after the morning service."

      Silently and patiently they waited, sitting in all manner of queer places. Some of them perched on the backs of the seats, a few clung like great big flies to the pillars, others sat on the window-sills, and several of the tiniest hung from the rafters in the ceiling. As soon as the service was over, the clamor broke out anew.

      "Give to us the perjurer," screamed the demons. "He is not fit to live."

      With some difficulty, the rabbi stilled the tumult, and said:

      "Listen unto me, ye demons and sprites of the land of Ergetz. This man has fallen into my hands, and I am responsible for him. Our king, Ashmedai, must know of his arrival. We must not condemn a man unheard. Let us petition the king to grant him a fair trial."

      After some demur, the demons agreed to this proposal, and they trooped out of the synagogue in the same peculiar manner in which they came. Each was compelled to leave by the same door or window at which he entered.

      Bar Shalmon was carried off to the palace of King Ashmedai, preceded and followed by a noisy crowd of demons and fairies. There seemed to be millions of them, all clattering and pointing at him. They hobbled and hopped over the ground, jumped into the air, sprang from housetop to housetop, made sudden appearances from holes in the ground and vanished through solid walls.

      The palace was a vast building of white marble that seemed as delicate as lace work. It stood in a magnificent square where many beautiful fountains spouted jets of crystal water. King Ashmedai came forth on the balcony, and at his appearance all the demons and fairies became silent and went down on their knees.

      "What will ye with me?" he cried, in a voice of thunder, and the rabbi approached and bowed before his majesty.

      "A mortal, a Jew, has fallen into my hands," he said, "and thy subjects crave for his blood. He is a perjurer, they say. Gracious majesty, I would petition for a trial."

      "What manner of mortal is he?" asked Ashmedai.

      Bar Shalmon stepped forward.

      "Jump up here so I may see thee," commanded the king.

      "Jump, jump," cried the crowd.

      "I cannot," said Bar Shalmon, as he looked up at the balcony thirty feet above the ground.

      "Try," said the rabbi.

      Bar Shalmon did try, and found, the moment he lifted his feet from the ground, that he was standing on the balcony.

      "Neatly done," said the king. "I see thou art quick at learning."

      "So my teachers always said," replied Bar Shalmon.

      "A proper answer," said the king. "Thou art, then, a scholar."

      "In my own land," returned Bar Shalmon, "men said I was great among the learned."

      "So," said the king. "And canst thou impart the wisdom of man and of the human world to others?"

      "I can," said Bar Shalmon.

      "We shall see," said the king. "I have a son with a desire for such knowledge. If thou canst make him acquainted with thy store of learning, thy life shall be spared. The petition for a trial is granted."

      The king waved his scepter and two slaves seized Bar Shalmon by the arms. He felt himself lifted from the balcony and carried swiftly through the air. Across the vast square the slaves flew with him, and when over the largest of the fountains they loosened their hold. Bar Shalmon thought he would fall into the fountain, but to his amazement he found himself standing on the roof of a building. By his side was СКАЧАТЬ