THE WIDOW OF EPHESUS

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 49, 29 February 1864, Page 3

THE WIDOW OF EPHESUS

An Ephesian matron, having lost her husband, was so overwhelmed with grief that she was unable to go through all the funeral ceremonies ; but when they were concluded, she declared she would not only renounce the world and all its vanities, but would pass the little remnant of her days in the tomb, beside his body, weeping over the remains of the dear departed. This resolution she at once carried into effect, and in the tomb she took up her abode. Food was to be brought to her now and then by her maid, and all Ephesus was full of admiration at such devotion, even unto death. It so happened that three malefactors had recently been executed, and their bodies gibbetted close to the " cave of sorrow," where the widow passed her lonely days and nights. She was now on the eve of the fifth day of her vigil, and had only just illumined her lamp for the night, when a dreadful storm arose. A sentry had been stationed to watch the gibbet lest any of the friends of the criminals should come to steal the bodies, and the rain coming down in torrents, he thought he could very safely leave his post for a time, and immedialy made for one of the tombs hard by. It so befel that he entered the one where sat the inconsolable widow. Humbly begging pardon the soldier exchanged a few words of explanation with the mxrarner, craving permission to remain till the storm had abated. This was accorded, and at his departure the soldier obtained leave to take shelter there again, whenever more rain fell or the night was unusually cold. The soldier, it appears, " had a tongue in Ms head, " for history intimates that he talked over the widow and her maid also when she came with provisions, so that he not only got a supper, but by the maid's advice to the Avidow, his suit for her hand was not received with much indignation. A few nights after, the sentry, on returning to his post, found, to his consternation, that one of the dead bodies had been stolen from the gibbet ! He immediately rushed back to the tomb, telling the widow what had happened, and that his life would pay the forfeit. He had deserted his post through his. devotion to her, and therefore he had betterdie. at her feet. So saying the soldier prepared to fall tipon his sword ! , He was prevented slaying himself by the widmv's entreaties, and her maid then coming in, also helped to prevent the rash act. But as the soldier would lose his life directly the loss was discovered, it was suggested-^- whether, by the maid, or by herself— that the -place of the lost body might . easily be supplied' by the one 'close at hand '("• the gentleman; named in ; the margin"), and that the , soldier's: life would be preserved as the future husband of this inestimable' widow, on the principle? that a live; dog is better than a dead lion. Accordingly tne "dead lion ''was, carefully; ;takeionfc of tlie toiab, carried to the sentry's post; and replacing the lost boddy on the gibbet, the sentry -was found next morning ' walking up and down in. bib 'patrol with the most soldierlike demeanor.