"Gadara, beyond Judea.
"The bearer, beloved, is one of the disciples of Jesus. His name is
Bartimeus. He was blind and poor, and subsisted by begging; and, as
you see, his sight is restored, and he insists now on going from
town to town where he has been known as a blind man to proclaim what
Jesus has done for him. This letter cometh beseeching thee, maiden,
that as we love one another unfeignedly, so may we soon be united in
that holy union which God hath blessed and commanded. But, having
much to say hereupon, I will not commit it to paper and ink; but by
to-morrow, or the day after, I trust to come to you, and speak with
you, dearly beloved, face to face, upon those things which now come
to my lips. Farewell, lady. Peace be with you, and all in your house.
Greet thy friends in my name, letting them know that we shall shortly
be with you."
"Oh, that the mighty Prophet had come one day sooner!" cried Mary.
"What woe and anguish would have been spared poor Ruth and his
mother! But the will of Jehovah be done!"
We hear now, dear father, the voice of the governor of the funeral,
bidding us come down to bury the dead.
Farewell, my father. I know you will shed a tear to the memory of the
noble youth whose death has this day filled all Nain with mourning. As
I look from the lattice, I see the concourse of people to be immense,
filling all the street. Now, may the God of our father Abraham preserve
and keep you, and suffer us once more to meet face to face in joy and
peace.
Your dutiful and sorrowful daughter,
Adina.