A JEWISH HERO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5997, 5 February 1881, Page 7

A JEWISH HERO.

In a little village in Hungary there lived many years ago a Jew who gained his living by carrying goods from place to place. He was so upright and honest that it was commonly said of him, " You might fill his waggon with a load of ducats without securing in any way, and not miss a single coin." Summer and winter, rain or fair, he might be seen driving his horse and well-laden waggon, sometimes here, sometimes there, gaining his livelihood and that of his wife and children literally by the sweat of his brow. He was so strong too, and powerfully made, that often without assistance he drew tile unfortunate animal out of the heavy hous which still exist, and render the roads in that part of the country in rainy weather almost impassible. One day a carriage drawn by two horses appeared in sight, while the carrier with his heavy load was painfully toiling through the deep mud. " Get out of the way," cried the coachman of the empty carriage. "It is you who should give place," said the Jew, "for you have two horses and no weight to carry." "Dog of a Jew ! tike that!" exclaimed the coachman, hitting the carrier a heavy stroke with his whip. Our gi ; antic friend could not stand this, and seizing a piece of wood which was beside him, he iiit the coachman an unfortunate blow which killed him on the spot. Much concerned, ho placed tiie body within the carriage, returned homo at once, aiul communicated the occurrence to the chief of the police, giving himself up as guilty of murder. Committed to prison, lie quietly awaited his trial, while general consternation reigned throughout the community, in which the honest carrier was held in high esteem. Friends were not lacking, who spared neither money nor trouble in their efforts to save the unfortunate 7nan ; his hitherto blameless life and the fact of his haying had no intention whatever of committing murder, also pleading strongly in his favour. The day of trial arrived ; the examination began ; sympathy for the prisoner was so general that the very questions put to him were worded in such a manner that he might easily have cleared himself from the charge of murder. "ICo, gentlemen," lie said, " it may be that in the eyes of human justice that I am not guilty and do not deserve death, but I cannot live with such a heavy weight upon my conscience ; therefore I beg to be allowed to suffer capital punishment as the onlv expiation of my crime. One favour only" I ask ; that my remains may be interred in our own cemetery, that I may sleep amongst my own people, and may bo buried quietly in the early morning, according to the rights of our religion." His request was granted, but there were tears in many eyes when the sentence was pronounced. A few days later a small, sad procession w.u seen quietly wending its way to the Jewish cemetery, people of all creeds uniting to pay this last respoct to one who, although he had died the death of a criminal, was none the less innocent, and as true a hero as many of those who have played a leading part in the world's history.—Jewish World.