A PIECE OF PAPER
One of the Narratives of a Roumanian Wanderer
Translated From the Hebrew for The Maccabaean.
VI.
And I saw a deep pit, wherein Jewish children were cast alive, and immediately interred. The day was long past since the pit was covered over but the earth above was still moving.
All Jewish communities were laid waste. The streets were full of bodies, heads, remnants of hands and feet. These were of the slaughtered of my people!
I beheld a small boat plying on the river with two beautiful and delicate Jewish maidens, held by their captors, on board. Their parents, brothers and relatives had been killed atrociously by these murderers. They had pity, however, on these two maidens, and decided to act favorably with them —to convert and marry them. One of these women was continuously gazing into the water, as her only savior and redeemer. Her lips whispered "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One!" Instantly, she leaped into the water and sank like a stone. . . .
The other girl was then put under special guard. Her captor began to look at her graciously and kindly. He caressed her smooth neck with his hands, the hands that had killed her father, and said: "Would that you join my people and my God. You should be the happiest of women. I, myself, would marry you."
She was brought into a certain room, where the murderer addressed her in begging tones: "Stay here for a while, I shall soon return and take you to the church. The happy moment is approaching!" He
(Concluded)
left and locked the door. The girl sought something with which to destroy herself. Her heart yearned to God and her face expressed infinite sorrow, because she could not find anything to serve her purpose. Suddenly, she observed some shoes, with a blood-stained piece of paper attached to one of them, standing in a corner. She tore off the paper and read: "No weapon that is formed against these shall prosper!"
Her face began to shine, her eyes to sparkle. A happy idea flashed in upon her. "Yes! I am safe! Indeed I am! I was born a Jewess, and shall die a Jewess!...."
The steps of the murderer were heard. He came to inform her that all preparations towards her conversion were completed. She then said, pretending: "Because my life has been so endeared to you, that, while you arose to exterminate my family, you had pity on me and let me live,—nay, you even intend to elevate and exalt me, I have resolved to delight you by revealing to you a great secret, which will enable you to defy any weapon, no matter how mortal it may be!"
"Is there such a secret? And you, my beauty, know of it?" the murderer asked, and passionately looked at the girl, who appeared bright and animated.
"Instantly you will be convinced that my words are true: Just load your gun and charge a bullet into my heart. The bullet will pass through my body, but I will not be injured, and will live!" Her face shone and expressed the utmost degree of happiness when she spoke.
The gun was loaded; the girl was