TALES OF A JEWESS. CHAPTER I. BLIGHTED HOPES-THE LOVER DETECTED-THE MANIAC. Serene, accomplish'd, cheerful, but not loved; Yet ne'er betraying this in conversation.-BYRON. "No mamma! It never can take place, unless you wish to see your only daughter pine and die of a broken heart! Can you expect me to love a person whom I do not know, and who has never sought my love, merely because the Rabbi says it 'ought to be so?"" Such was the pathetic appeal of Judith to her mother, one day, when they were together alone. "Oh, my daughter!" exclaimed her affectionate mother, "this proceeds from our having allowed you to mingle too freely with Christians! How have you dared to speak so disrespectfully of your good teacher? I fear, I shall have to mourn over an excommunicated (a) child! Do you not know that love is out of the question; and that our religion makes us look you out a husband, whom, if the Rabbi also wishes you to have him, you dare not refuse?" "Well, mamma, let this rest for the present; and do please tell me, did you not marry for love?"—"Yes, alas! my child, I did: and I will briefly tell you my history: then judge if you ought not to bend to the decision of your parents. "I was the elder daughter of the Burgomaster of Amsterdam; and, at the time I speak of, no other Jew was permitted to remain in Holland; and he was allowed only, on giving his firm promise, that he would not attempt to proselyte, nor even let it be known out of his family, that he belonged to our persecuted race. He was a good, just, and holy man; strict to his religion, and firm in his principles. "The revolutionary war, as history will tell you, then raged. The French took possession of Holland; I and my sister-who is your aunt, and the mother of your affianced husband-with all the female part of the family, hid ourselves. (a) For this and similar references, see Notes at the end of the Volume. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. 3 Your aunt, a most beautiful girl, was, owing to sickness, unable to be removed; so your grandfather inked her face all over, bound up one of her eyes, scented her with assafoetida, and so disfigured her, that it was impossible to enter her room without feeling disgust. In this state she was left to her fate. The soldiers entered; but when they saw her, they were horror-struck at the noisom appearance of the negro woman, as they supposed her to be; and thus she escaped their violence. "After the French were peaceably settled, the officers gave a ball, at which, of course, my father and family were obliged to be present: there, for the first time, I met your father. He was a remarkably handsome man, highly accomplished, and paid me very marked attentions. The next morning, your grandfather called me into his study, and thus addressed me: 'Caroline, you have never disobeyed your father; but, last night, you displeased me much, by receiving, with so much apparent pleasure, the attentions of that French officer. Remember, he is a Christian, and a Catholic! Though he did not know you to be a Jewess, you know yourself to be one; and never will I consent, nor forgive your having any suitor than such as I shall look out for you. You are seventeen years of age, and shall shortly be mar |