Belles-Lettres
The Baal-Shem's Letter
ONCE upon a time the Baal-Shem came, with some of his followers, within the neighborhood of Brody. While still a few miles from the city it seemed best to him to seek lodgings for the night, and he turned to a small inn which was kept by a pious Jew. The host, recognizing his guest as the Master, did everything a willing heart and a well-appointed house made possible, to do homage to the Baal-Shem. The next day after breakfast when the visitors were preparing to continue the journey, the Baal-Shem addressed his host: "If thou hast any wish it shall be granted if thou impartest it to me this day."
"Master," said the other, "forsooth I can say nothing to you, for God has blessed my worldly condition exceedingly."
When the holy man heard this, he smiled gently, and said, with a familiar air:
"Well, since I am not able to grant thee any request, my friend, wouldst be willing to do me a small service?"
With this he stepped to the table, wrote something on a piece of paper, folded and sealed it, and wrote the address to which he wished to have it delivered. Then he approached his host and said:
"Behold, here I have written and it is necessary that thou givest it as soon as thou mayest to the heads of the congregation at Brody. whose names thou shalt find written on it."
The master of the house was delighted to undertake the errand, took the letter, placed it in his vest pocket carefully, and said:
"This very day a household errand takes me to town. I shall go there at once and deliver the letter."
Then the Baal-Shem smiled again, tapped the inn-keeper on the shoulder, and said:
"Well, friend, be not in too great a hurry; there is no need of great haste. Meanwhile, wouldst thou like to accompany us a little way?"
Thereupon the other rushed into the little room near the stable, where he kept his best harness in a trunk. As he was bending down, to pull it out from underneath the dust of the trappings, the letter fell from his pocket and slipped among the harness, falling to the bottom of the box. The man in his hurry did not notice this. And so he went to attend to the coach, and accompanied the Baal-Shem part of the way. It was late when he returned, and he was compelled to delay his visit to Brody. After some days, indeed, he went there, but he had forgotten about the letter.
The year had not completed its course, when travelers brought the news to the inn-keeper that the great Master, Israel Baal-Shem, had departed this life and entered the "world of reality." Then a great sadness came over the inn-keeper because it was not ordained for him to meet the master again, in this world. Then in the mirror of his thoughts rose visions of the day when his house had been honored by the presence of the Baal-Shem. The master